ADELAIDE, Aug 9 AAP - Australian cricket aims to lift its use of computer and video analysis with today's appointment of South Australian assistant coach Tim Nielsen to the newly created role of Australian assistant coach.

Nielsen, 34, will have a full-time position with dual roles as assistant to Australian team coach John Buchanan and the team's performance analyst.

He will start his job with next month's tour to Sri Lanka for the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy.

Nielsen, who played 101 first class matches for SA between 1990-91 and 1998-99, said his experience in applying technology in his role with the Redbacks had been a key to his appointment.

"The role has two focuses, looking after the coaching side of things with John and helping out there, but also managing and implementing their technology side of things, using the video capture and statistical analysis work, and making that work a bit better," he told reporters at Adelaide Oval.

"That's the major focus of the job, really.

"They (the ACB) realise they've spent some money on getting the equipment and the software, it's now a matter of using it as well as we can and getting the most out of it. We've got to make some value for the money."

He has been Redbacks assistant coach for the past three years.

Nielsen expected his recent first class playing experience would also help.

"I played against a lot of the blokes that are playing now, so that will hopefully break down a few of the barriers, we'll just wait and see," he said.

ACB chief executive officer James Sutherland said Nielsen's appointment would provide greater flexibility to the team's coaching structure.

"A need was identified for an extra coaching resource and further player performance analysis," Sutherland said.

"Tim comes to the ACB with an extremely impressive background."

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.