David Saker, the former England bowling coach has been cautioned by Cricket Victoria for his comments on the Australian selection policy. Saker, the Victoria coach had openly questioned the inclusion of pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile in Australia’s squad for the test series against West Indies. Saker had said that Coulter-Nile, who has not been in action since September this year, had no logic behind his selection.
Cricket Victoria chief executive Tony Dodemaide said that he would speak to Sakers about the matter and caution him about the same. “I’ll be catching up with Sakes in the next day or two,” Dodemaide said. “The team is doing really well, being at the top of the shield ladder, and Sakes is hugely passionate and enthusiastic about getting things right here.”
“I think we just need to have a context around how we do that. Our job is about developing players to put up for consideration for the big dance (Australian selection), and we just need to make sure we don’t get carried away and that we leave the national selections to the national selectors,” Dodemaide said.
“We’re really excited about the program that we’ve got and the players that we’re, but in terms of making commentary on national sections, the people in the best position to know which players are ready are national sectors and the management and all the networks that they’ve got in Australian cricket,” Dodemaide further added. “Sakes is a terrific coach and he’s a real asset to our program. There’s bound to be a discussion about the merit of selections, but it’s just a matter of channelling his passion and enthusiasm in the right way.”