Australia’s assistant coach, Daniel Vettori, will be leaving his duties mid-way through the opening Test against India to attend the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24 and 25. This clashes with the Perth Test scheduled from November 22 to 26. Vettori, who is also the head coach of IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, will complete the final preparation for the first Test before attending the IPL auction. He will then rejoin the team for the remainder of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Cricket Australia’s national development coach, Lachlan Stevens, will be filling in for Vettori during the Perth Test. Additionally, Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer will also be missing out on commentary duties for Channel Seven due to their commitments as head coaches of Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL auction.
Vettori’s dual roles as assistant coach for Australia and head coach for Sunrisers Hyderabad highlight the increasing overlap between international and franchise cricket. Despite his absence, the Australian team is supportive of Vettori’s commitments to the IPL and have made arrangements for Stevens to step in during the Perth Test.
This situation underscores the challenges faced by cricket coaches who juggle responsibilities across different formats and competitions. Vettori’s temporary departure serves as a reminder of the global nature of cricket and the demands placed on individuals involved in both international and domestic leagues.
