Australia recalls baseball coach as fielding consultant

Sydney, Apr 27 (UNI) Leaving no stone unturned in their preparation for a World Cup hat-trick, Australia today roped in baseball coach Mike Young as a part-time fielding consultant.

Young worked with the team over the past six years, including the 2003 World Cup won by Ricky Ponting's men, and he will join as part-time fielding consultant to the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence (CBCE) and the national team for the next 12 months -- a Cricket Australia (CA) release said here today.

''A major aspect of the role will be the continuation of his current role with the Australian team as they strive to regain the Ashes later this year and then a third successive World Cup in 2007,'' it said.

CA General Manager, Cricket Operations, Michael Brown said, ''Mike will be working across a number of programmes within Australian cricket with his area of expertise in fielding and throwing. However his coaching background in baseball also adds much value in terms of his general coaching knowledge.'' ''He will specifically be working with the Australian men's team, Australian Institute of Sport scholars, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and various other programmes of the CBCE including the Australian under-19 squad over the next 12 months,'' he added.

Along with his recent work with the Australian Team, Young has 25 years of previous coaching experience including stints with the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Bluejays and Australian Olympic baseball programmes where he is the only Head Coach to lead Australia to a gold medal in an international baseball competition.

On his part, Young said, ''Having the opportunity to work at the CBCE means we will have the opportunity to impact these players at an earlier stage so they can then take it back to their states and facilitate a flow on affect.'' ''Many of the cricketers I will be working with will play a large part in Australian teams of the future so to get them on the same track as the elite men's squad is excellent in terms of continuity and provides an opportunity to break new ground.'' Young said the consistency provided throughout all Cricket Australia programmes would be a major positive and allow the athletic aspects of the game to be further developed.

''In terms of athletes and the fielding performances of Australia in one-day and now Test matches, we're at the top of the tree, my job over the next 12 months is to ensure we stay there,'' he added.

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