Rajput asst. coach for Australia tour, Gary to join in March

Kolkata, Dec 1 (UNI) The BCCI today announced that after completing certain formalities Gary Kirsten will be India's full time coach from March next year and current team manager Lalchand Rajput would be the assistant coach for the Australia tour.

Kirsten, who is set to take over as the new coach, will be with the team for a brief period in Australia, BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla said here today.

He is expected to join the team as full time coach after the Australia tour.

''Rajput has been named as the assistant coach for the Australia tour because Gary Kirsten will be on and off during that tour.

Rajput will be with the team along with the support staff,'' Shukla said.

Shukla added that Kirsten would reply to the BCCI's offer letter in seven days' time.

Rajput has been serving as the cricket manager since the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa and for the ODI series against Australia.

Former players Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh will continue as the bowling and fielding coaches respectively.

The Indian team will play four Test matches against Australia and a triangular ODI series, also involving Sri Lanka, in their tour Down Under from December 20 to March 7.

It was also learnt that physio John Gloster has asked the BCCI to be cautious about R P Singh's injury.

R P Singh has been playing at a stretch for the last six months and have shown remarkable improvement.

About S Sreesanth, Shukla said the Kerala pacer is expected here this evening and would undergo a fitness test tomorrow.

UNI