Mike Hussey, David Saker appointed to England's World Cup coaching staff

Mike Hussey, David Saker appointed to England's World Cup coaching staff

Cricket

Michael Hussey and David Saker have been added to England men's coaching set-up for T20 World Cup.

LONDON (Web Desk) - Michael Hussey and David Saker have been added to England men s coaching set-up for the T20 World Cup in Australia next month.

Hussey, the former Australia international who currently works as batting coach for Chennai Super Kings, and fellow Australian Saker, who was England s Test bowling coach from 2010 to 2015, have been enlisted by Matthew Mott, England s white-ball head coach, to add home-grown insight to the squad s preparations ahead of the tournament in Australia, which gets underway from October 16.

Saker, the former Victoria fast bowler who was a key factor in England s triumphant Ashes tour of 2010-11, will link up with the squad in Pakistan ahead of the seven-match T20I series that begins in Karachi next week. Hussey, meanwhile, will join the squad when it arrives in Australia in October, when England are scheduled to play three T20Is against the host nation before their opening World Cup fixture against Afghanistan on October 22.

The pair will augment the existing coaching structure, with Mott currently working alongside two assistants in Carl Hopkinson and Richard Dawson. The Pakistan leg of the tour - England s first in the country since 2005 - will be captained by Jos Buttler, although Moeen Ali is expected to lead the side for the opening fixtures in Karachi while Buttler recovers from a calf injury.

England are also reportedly close to appointing a new national selector, following the decision to dispense with the formal role that Ed Smith held until April 2021. According to The Telegraph, Nick Knight and Steven Finn are among the leading contenders for the position, with Steve Harmison also believed to have shown an interest in applying.