Summary Australian head coach Darren Lehmann has ended the tenure of assistant coach Steve Rixon.
SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian head coach Darren Lehmann has ended the tenure of assistant coach Steve Rixon, saying he no longer fits into his plans for the team.
Lehmann is keen to use more specialist consultants, with Shane Warne last week named as spin coach ahead of Australia s World Twenty20 campaign in Bangladesh.
"I ve taken the opportunity to look at our current coaching structure and the levels of support I feel we need moving into the future," Lehmann said in a statement late Wednesday.
"I ve mentioned previously that I believe our players can really benefit from more dedicated skill-based training, which means more regular support from technical experts to help work on specific areas of performance."
Lehmann, who took over as coach for the Ashes series in England last year, said he wants various specialist coaches and experts working with the team when needed.
"In recent times, that s included people like Mike Young to work on fielding while Shane Warne is going to work with our spinners in a short-term capacity ahead of the ICC World Twenty 20," he said.
"These changes to how we support our players means it is no longer necessary to have a full-time assistant coach travelling with the team.
"Steve has made an outstanding contribution to Australian cricket over a long period of time and played an important role with the national team since 2011."
Former wicket-keeper Rixon, who played 13 Tests for Australia and later coached New Zealand, said the plan was always for him to depart after the World Twenty20, which takes place in March-April.
The 59-year-old told The Australian newspaper he was keen to take on a new role with a national Twenty20 side, possibly the West Indies or Sri Lanka.
