'Next-gen' McDonald backed for Aussie job

"Next-gen" coach Andrew McDonald could be the calming presence Australia's players want from their next leader.

Australian white-ball quick Kane Richardson believes McDonald is perfectly suited to the full-time coaching job that has been vacated by Justin Langer, ending a successful four-year tenure.

His senior assistant McDonald will take the reins for Australia's upcoming campaigns against Sri Lanka, a five-match Dettol T20I series beginning in Sydney on Friday, and Pakistan, an all-format tour including three Tests that gets underway next month.

Whether the former Test allrounder, who has built up an impressive coaching resume and earnt rave reviews for his tactical nous since he retired from playing in 2016, will apply for the full-time job is not yet known.

Former England and NSW mentor Trevor Bayliss has also been linked with the role, but Cricket Australia is yet to confirm the process to find Langer's replacement.

Test captain Pat Cummins, who praised McDonald for his personable style on Wednesday, has told Cricket Australia he and his national teammates want a calm and collaborative senior coach.  

Speaking on the Unplayable Podcast, Richardson gave McDonald a ringing endorsement and suggested his leadership of the Renegades was a major factor in his decision to sign a monster five-season BBL deal with the club.

"He's obviously very different (to Langer) in terms of the way he communicates, the way he talks about cricket," said Richardson.

"The way he played his cricket was very different. 'Ronnie' wasn't intense. He was competitive but he played in a really good Victorian team where … he was just calm, relaxed.

"He was always someone who you could easily speak cricket with. I had one year (playing) with Andrew at South Australia when his career was finishing and that's where I got an insight into how he worked.

"He was just one of those guys who broke the game down really simply and communicates it really well.

"When he became Renegades coach and I came out of contract, I just knew I wanted to play for him because I felt like I'd get better.

"I think he's just a next-gen coach in terms of the way he goes about it. He's very forward-thinking.

"Players love him – not that that always matters – but I think it helps when people are listening and buying in, that's half the battle as a coach.

"I don't know if he wants the job full time, but I'm sure he'd do a really good job if it he wants it."

Since retiring from playing in 2016, McDonald has proved a popular mentor first at domestic level with Leicestershire, Victoria and the Renegades, and then with the national men's team since being appointed as an assistant to Langer nearly two-and-a-half years ago.

That came after he carved out a successful career at first-class level, averaging nearly 40 with the bat and 29 with his medium pacers, that was highlighted by earning four Test caps in 2009, all against South Africa.

McDonald has strong relationships with national captains Cummins and Aaron Finch, who he played with at Victoria and at club level in Geelong, while he has also coached in the Indian Premier League and holds a contact to lead the Birmingham Phoenix in the United Kingdom's Hundred competition.

"It's not my place to speculate on who is going to get the job," Cummins told reporters on Wednesday. "But I think he's been brilliant in his time in and around the group.

"He's a really good people manager. He knows how to get the best out of each individual and I love working with him.

"I don't know about the process (to appoint a new coach) or who is going to go up for it. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for it, but as the interim I'm excited to work with him over in Pakistan."

Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann has been among those to suggest the current head-coaching role across all formats currently provides an unsustainable workload for one person.

There has been no indication CA wants to split the coaching jobs into Test and white-ball roles, but chief executive Nick Hockley has endorsed a "project-focused approach" to upcoming series.

Cummins said he did not feel strongly either way about whether the new coach takes over all the teams but conceded it is a demanding job for one person.

"I think back to Justin, he's had four years in the role – cricket doesn't have an off-season. It's three formats, it's a big role," said the fast bowler. "I think that's been pretty consistent with past coaches.

"It's probably unlike any other coaching role in other sports so I'd be open to anything."

Dettol T20 Series v Sri Lanka 2022

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head*, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa

*unavailable for first three matches

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando

February 11: First T20, SCG, 7.10pm AEDT

February 13: Second T20, SCG, 7.10pm AEDT

February 15: Third T20, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm AEDT

February 18: Fourth T20, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT

February 20: Fifth T20, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT

All matches broadcast exclusively on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports. Radio coverage by ABC Grandstand