Australia’s former bowling coach Craig McDermott says he has dealt with personal issues which forced him to quit the role in May 2012 after a highly successful year in the job.
The former Test spearhead is now a consultant to Ireland, who play Australia in their opening Group B clash in the World Twenty20 in Colombo on September 19.
Australia are ranked ninth, just ahead of the semi-professional Irish side, after George Bailey’s men lost their three-game series to Pakistan in Dubai 2-1.
Quick bowlers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins and opening batsman Shane Watson and David Warner are in top form after leading Australia to a thumping 94-run win over Pakistan in Monday night’s game three, however McDermott is confident Ireland can cause an upset.
“Ireland have got a well balanced side,” McDermott said from Colombo.
“If they play to their ability, which they have in the past in T20s and qualified, they’ll give Australia and the West Indies a good run for their money.
“They’re here to win and my job is to help them win, along with the other coaches. We’ll just see who comes out on top on the 19th.
“We’ll be working hard as a coaching staff and a playing staff to produce a cracker of a match.”
McDermott is working with with Ireland for the tournament which goes for three weeks.
His stint with Cricket Australia ended with McDermott’s shock resignation after his philosophy of encouraging the pacemen to bowl full and attack the stumps had paid dividends with youngsters such as Cummins and James Pattinson showing enormous promise.
McDermott, 47, says he’s now ready to work full-time again.
“I said when I stepped down that I had some things I wanted to deal with personally, and I went away and did that,” McDermott told www.cricinfo.com.
“While I was doing that I worked at (Cricket Australia’s) Centre of Excellence and worked with the Australian Institute of Sport intake this year, and also with the Under 19s leading into the World Cup.
“That came to an end, then I had a couple of weeks off and the opportunity came up to work with Ireland here.
“I’m keeping my options open. If something becomes available with CA that’s fine.”
