Reports: Daniel Vettori to be appointed as Andrew McDonald's deputy for Australian team

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori is in contention to become head coach Andrew McDonald’s deputy on the Australian side. The 43-year-old former all-rounder was recently a part of the side as their mentor during the Pakistan tour for the white-ball series, but the task was on an assignment basis.

Vettori and McDonald have the experience of sharing the space when they coached the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. They had another assignment together as well, which could not happen successfully, in the form of mentoring the Birmingham Phoenix at The Hundred, as the tournament was postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

But as McDonald starts the search for building up the coaching team, it was reported by “The Age” that Vettori is the frontrunner to take up the senior assistant’s role to assist McDonald. Vettori and fellow deputy Michael Di Venuto would be the two major proteges for not just McDonald, but also Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch, the skippers of the red-ball and white-ball leg respectively.

Daniel Vettori and Andrew McDonald have worked together

Vettori had joined the Phoenix men’s team as the substitute coach when McDonald had to exit due to Australian duties. As McDonald was appointed as the head coach of the Australian side, Vettori was handed over the full-time duties of the Phoenix and was roped in for the senior-most position. He had been a part of the Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) and RCB in IPL, and the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.

It is also being said that Vettori’s role would start with the Sri Lankan tour in late June, assuming he and Cricket Australia can strike an agreement. Vettori will be a useful resource for Australia against the Lankans as he has scalped 30 wickets in the seven Tests played against the opponents in Sri Lanka at a rate of 26.36.

Vettori would appear to be a beneficial inclusion to the support team that also needs to be filled in other areas, given McDonald’s established familiarity and competence with speed bowlers.