McDonald still seeking clarity on Aussie coaching job

Australia's interim men's team coach Andrew McDonald, the frontrunner to take over the position full-time, has revealed he has spoken to Cricket Australia about taking the job.

But the former Test allrounder remained coy on whether he wants the role full-time after leading the Test side to their first series victory abroad in six years.

McDonald has emerged as the clear favourite to succeed Justin Langer and has earned strong public endorsements from numerous players, including Test captain Pat Cummins.

Trevor Bayliss, the Sydney Thunder coach who been touted another contender, was on Monday evening confirmed as the interim coach of Hundred side, London Spirit. 

Cricket Australia is running a global recruiting search to find the right candidate, with McDonald indicating that he was still awaiting further detail on the job's demands.

"With a few more gaps in this one-day series I've had the opportunity to speak with Cricket Australia," McDonald said ahead of a one-off T20 against Pakistan in Lahore that follows a 1-2 ODI series defeat.

"Whether that becomes a follow-up conversation, we'll wait and see.

"It will be pretty much like the other people who have no doubt spoken to Cricket Australia.

"Within that, there was no great detail or clarity on what the role would look like. That's probably something that will be built into the next few steps (or) however many steps there are to the process."

Langer's predecessor Darren Lehmann has been among those to suggest Australia should consider splitting the role into white- and red-ball coaches, but CA chief executive Nick Hockley has previously indicated an "overarching head coach" is desired.

There is an acceptance however that one person cannot lead the side on every tour given the jam-packed schedule has only been intensified by series and tournaments postponed due to the pandemic.

McDonald declined on Monday to give his opinion on what the job should entail.

"I'll probably get more detail and clarity on that moving forward," he said. "I don't really want to openly share what I think it should look like because that might put people in difficult situations throughout the process."

The 40-year-old has previously suggested a "greater conversation" is required on what is expected of international coaches, with England also currently in the market for a new mentor.

"It's not just as simple as saying, 'There's a job there, would you like to do it, yes or no?'" McDonald said in February. "I think it's a great opportunity for a greater cricket conversation that two of the bigger cricket nations are embarking upon. I'm fascinated to see where that lands."

Langer, who has been linked with the England job, had his four-year tenure with Australia ended in acrimonious circumstances earlier this year when CA offered him a six-month contract extension.

It came following weeks of intense speculation that pitted former teammates of the ex-Test opener, incredulous Langer's job came under question following T20 World Cup and Ashes victories, against current players who wanted a more collaborative coach. 

Cummins has since praised McDonald, who operated as the side's senior assistant under Langer for two years, for his performance as the interim head coach. 

"He's been fantastic, which is not unexpected," Cummins said last month after sealing a 1-0 Test series win over Pakistan.

"He's just a great operator. The boys absolutely love him. He's very diligent, very thorough and strategic and organised. He's a huge part of this tour win. It's not my place to employ the coach but 'Ronnie' has been fantastic."

Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022

First Test: Match drawn

March 12-16: Match drawn

March 21-25: Australia win by 115 runs

Pakistan ODI and T20 squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique*, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq*, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Saud Shakeel*, Shaheen Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir (*ODIs only)

Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben McDermott, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Adam Zampa

March 29: Australia win by 88 runs

March 31: Pakistan win by six wickets

April 2: Pakistan win by nine wickets

April 5: Only T20I, Lahore

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports