Craig McDermott’s appointment as Australia’s Test-specific bowling coach is a window into the future, according to interim one-day coach Steve Rixon.
McDermott was this week given the task of getting Australia’s fast bowling contingent in order for the return Ashes series starting next month.
But current bowling coach Ali de Winter remains in charge of the one-day and Twenty20 demands.
Rixon has taken over the reins of Australia’s limited overs tour of India, just as he did last year when he took charge of a tri-series tournament against Afghanistan and Pakistan in the UAE.
It allows the recently-appointed Darren Lehmann to both wind down from a gruelling Ashes campaign in England – but also prepare for the return series.
He argues that with the demanding international schedule players and coaches are put through in the modern day, splitting the roles is a natural progression.
Rixon, who also fills the role of fielding coach for Australia, has felt for a division of the major coaching roles would be beneficial for some time.
“As you can see I’m here giving Darren a break and you do need a break. It doesn’t matter how much you think you don’t – you do need a break.”
It’s a system embraced by England, who have Andy Flower coaching the Test team, with former off-spinner Ashley Giles in charge of ODIs and T20s.
And Rixon, who is also the fielding coach of the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, would like to see it introduced by Cricket Australia.
“I think it’s the way to go, England have done that quite successfully,” Rixon said.
“They are two different games and they need to different view points and the T20 sits alone as a different item all together, I see that is way of the future.”
Australia have blooded new captains in the shorter formats, most recently handing George Bailey the T20 captaincy – while also asking him to lead the ODI side in India in the absence of Michael Clarke (back).
“I think it is (a good way to build Australia’s coaching and leadership) as far as giving them experience in certain roles, so the more you do it from a pressure point of view, the better you are going to become,” Rixon said.
“George has done a great job from captaincy point of view and obviously coaches will be getting great value of this particular this tour. “