Geoff Marsh and Steve Rixon are the leading candidates to replace fellow Australian Carl Rackemann as Zimbabwe cricket coach, a person familiar with the team said.

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union is seeking to appoint a successor on a contract that will run from October through to the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, ZCU Chief Executive David Ellman-Brown said.

Rackemann, who took over from Dave Houghton last year, said he would not renew his 12-month contract for business and family reasons.

Marsh, a former opening batsman who played 50 Test matches for Australia between 1985 and 1992, said he was interested in the post even though he currently works as a technical advisor for India.

"Someone from the Zimbabwe Board contacted me two weeks ago and is supposed to be getting back to me," said the 42-year-old Marsh, who led Australia to success at the 1999 World Cup in England at the end of his three-year stint as national coach.

"I still have commitments with India, but I would be prepared to listen to what is being offered."

Twelve people have either applied or been targeted for the position, according to Ellman-Brown. "Two will be taken more seriously than the others," he said.

Former wicketkeeper Rixon, 47, played 13 Tests for Australia. He was New Zealand coach from 1996-1999, leading the Kiwis to the semi-finals of the 1999 World Cup and a 2-1 series win over England on his final tour. It was the third time New Zealand had beaten England in a Test series since 1929.

Rixon chose not to renew his contract, citing fatigue and family and business interests. He couldn't be reached for comment.

If Zimbabwe appointed another Australian, the No. 1 ranked cricketing nation would have men in charge of three of the 10 Test-playing nations. John Buchanan is currently leading Australia on its tour of England, and Dav Whatmore is Sri Lanka's coach.

England has Zimbabwe's Duncan Fletcher in charge of its team, while India has New Zealander John Wright as coach. West Indian Andy Roberts and Javed Miandad of Pakistan share coaching duties for Bangladesh, where they replaced Australian Trevor Chappell.

Zimbabwe was admitted to Test cricket in 1992, joining Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies. Bangladesh is the only country to join since.

Under Rackemann, Zimbabwe won three, lost three and drew two of its eight Test matches. Two of the wins came against the youngest Test nation, Bangladesh.

The team lost the first of a two-match home series against West Indies yesterday. The new coach's first series in charge will be in Bangladesh in October, followed by home series with Australia and Pakistan.

© Bloomberg