Ireland have pulled off a major coup with the signing of former Australia paceman Craig McDermott as their new bowling coach and consultant. McDermott held a similar role with Australia until earlier this year and links up with the Irish squad at a pre-World Twenty20 Cup training camp in Sri Lanka. McDermott’s decision to quit after a year as Australia’s bowling coach in May was a major blow for the Aussies as he had been cited as the main reason for the recent improvement of their pacemen. The 47-year-old will now face his home country as Ireland have been drawn in the same group as the Australians at the World Twenty20, which begins on September 18. “I am looking forward to working with (coach) Phil (Simmons) and his team at the World T20 in Sri Lanka,” he said. “Ireland has done well in the past World Cups and I am sure they will do again at this one. They have a well balanced squad and I am looking forward to getting stuck into preparing them for the World T20.
