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Former Australian men’s team coach Tim Nielsen has been appointed as the new head coach of the Australia Under-19 squad, taking the reins ahead of their upcoming home series against India Under-19s.
The appointment comes as part of preparations for the ICC U19 World Cup, scheduled for January in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Cricket Australia named a 15-player squad for the series, which will take place in Brisbane and Mackay next month.
Australia A selected standout batter, Oliver Peake, ruling him out of the campaign. The multi-format series will feature three 50-over Youth ODIs and two four-day Youth Tests.
Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane will host ODIs on 21, 24, and 26 September. The first Youth Test begins at Ian Healy Oval on 30 September, with the second test likely in Mackay from 7 October.
At 57, Nielsen brings a wealth of coaching and developmental expertise to the role. He served as Australia’s head coach from 2007 to 2011, following a period as assistant coach under John Buchanan.
During that time, he also oversaw the now-defunct Centre of Excellence, helping to cultivate future national stars.
More recently, Nielsen worked as a high-performance manager for South Australia and the Adelaide Strikers before stepping down in February 2024. He then joined Pakistan’s set-up as red-ball high-performance coach, collaborating with former teammate Jason Gillespie during Gillespie’s tenure as Pakistan Test coach.
Final Preparations Before the World Cup
Nielsen replaces Lachlan Stevens, who left his role as Cricket Australia’s development coach earlier this year. His first assignment will be to guide the U-19 squad in their final bilateral series before the World Cup.
CA’s Head of National Development, Sonya Thompson, welcomed the appointment, “We’re excited to continue our preparation for the ongoing ICC U19 World Cup cycle, with an exciting squad of emerging players. The multi-format tour is likely to challenge players to adapt and grow, while also giving selectors and coaches meaningful insights ahead of the National U19 Championships in December. We’re also thrilled to welcome Tim Nielsen as Head Coach of the National U19 squad. His extensive international experience and leadership will be instrumental in guiding and inspiring Australia’s next generation of cricketers.”
Australia Under-19 Squad: Simon Budge, Alex Turner, Steve Hogan, Will Malajczuk, Yash Deshmukh, Tom Hogan, Aryan Sharma, John James, Hayden Schiller, Charles Lachmund, Ben Gordon, Will Byrom, Kasey Barton, Alex Lee Young, Jayden Draper.
Reserves: Zed Hollick, Tom Paddington, Julian Osborne.
With Nielsen at the helm, Australia’s U-19 side will be aiming to fine-tune its skills against a strong Indian outfit, setting the tone for a competitive World Cup campaign.
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