Canberra [Australia], June 20: Former Australian Test captain and current Adelaide Strikers coach Tim Paine has been named head coach of Australia A for three major series set for the latter half of 2025, as per ESPNcricinfo.
Paine, who previously served as a wicketkeeper-batter, will take on a consultancy role that spans the Australia A men’s program, support for the national women’s team, and his ongoing coaching responsibilities with the Strikers in the Big Bash League.
Paine will oversee Australia A during a series of three 50-over matches and two four-day games against Sri Lanka A in Darwin this July. He will also lead the squad on a multi-format tour of India in September and October, followed by a one-off four-day match against England Lions expected later in the year.
The 40-year-old brings substantial coaching experience, having worked as an assistant with Australia A and other development teams. He supported head coach Adam Voges during the 2023 Australia A series against New Zealand and worked under Lachlan Stevens during India A’s tour last season. Paine also led the Prime Minister’s XI in a match against India in Canberra.
Following Stevens’ departure from Cricket Australia, Paine steps in to lead the Australia A setup. He will be joined by Adam Griffith, newly appointed national pace bowling coach; Scott Prestwidge, assistant coach of the Australian women’s team; and Trent Keep from Northern Territory Cricket.
Meanwhile, Griffith is temporarily filling in as bowling coach for the senior men’s Test squad in the Caribbean, as Daniel Vettori is unavailable due to family reasons.
Additionally, former wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is set to join the Australian coaching staff as an assistant for the T20I series in the Caribbean. Wade had previously served as a consultant coach during Australia’s white-ball series against Pakistan.