Adam Griffith took 169 first-class wickets © Getty Images
Justin Langer will take his Western Australia assistant Adam Griffith to the Caribbean as Australia’s interim bowling coach while the search for a new full-time pace mentor intensifies.
The triangular series in the West Indies, which will also feature South Africa, had been slated as Langer’s chance to step in as national coach while Darren Lehmann takes some time out at home. However the decision to take Griffith along with Langer reflects Cricket Australia’s search for a mentor to replace Craig McDermott, who departed when his contract expired after the World Twenty20.
The South African Allan Donald is believed to be a contender for the long-term role, having lost out to McDermott back in 2011. Other names in the mix include Ryan Harris and Shane Bond. Griffith though will have a chance to make an impression in the Caribbean, having previously spent time with Australia’s Under 19s team.
“We are excited to have Adam join the team for the tour of the West Indies,” Lehmann said. “Western Australia have some talented young fast-bowlers that have developed under Adam’s watch and it’s great to be able to offer him the chance to work with the Australian side under Justin Langer.
“It’s a credit to the standard of our state coaching system to be able to offer these opportunities to young coaches and I am sure both Adam and the players will benefit greatly from this experience
Griffith has been with Western Australia since Mickey Arthur’s time as state coach, and was briefly the man in charge following the resignation of Lachlan Stevens in 2012. He has worked fruitfully with the likes of Joel Paris in his time with the Warriors.
“The opportunity to work with Australia’s premium bowlers is incredibly exciting,” Griffith said. “The West Indies and South Africa have some of the most destructive white-ball batters in the world and preparing to play them in Caribbean conditions will be a great challenge.”
Graeme Hick, the former England batsman who coaches at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, will also head to the West Indies as part of Langer’s support staff. The group to go with Lehmann to Sri Lanka for Tests and ODIs in July will likely be named next month.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo