Former Test fast bowler Craig McDermott will return as Australian bowling coach ahead of the Ashes series.
McDermott shocked Cricket Australia when he quit his post in May 2012 after a successful 12 months in the role.
But the 48-year-old returns in a revised role specialising as Test bowling coach, with the incumbent Ali de Winter moving into a new position overseeing the limited overs’ pace bowlers.
During his previous tenure, McDermott was credited for revitalising quicks Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus and he was also behind the blooding of James Pattinson, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc into Test cricket.
His philosophy was simple, wanting Australia’s pace attack to bowl full and swing the ball.
At the time McDermott said he was quitting as bowling coach because of the impact of touring life on his young family.
However, the narrowed role means McDermott won’t have to spend as much time on the road and can work with the State and BBL teams in Australia.
“Appointing coaches to specific roles is something the Team Performance Department has been considering for some time,” said general manager of team performance, Pat Howard.
“Given the amount of cricket played now in all three forms of the game, we’ve been considering our coaching structure to get the best out of the players across the varied formats.”
Head coach Darren Lehmann said with the ICC World Twenty20 and the 50-over World Cup coming up over the next two years, it was important to specialise the assistant coaching role.
McDermott said he was happy to be back.
“There is obviously a huge focus on regaining the Ashes this summer and I’ll work as hard as possible to prepare our bowlers for the challenge ahead,” he said.
De Winter said he enjoyed coaching the T20 and 50-over formats and was excited by the “challenge” of his new role.