Bennett King appointed new Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy Head Coach
The Australian Cricket Board (ACB), in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) today announced current Queensland Bulls coach Bennett King as the new Head Coach of the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy (a program of the AIS).
King 37, will take up a three-year contract after Queensland's 2001-02 Pura Cup campaign, and relocate to the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy headquarters at Henley Beach in Adelaide.
He joins the academy after a triumphant three-year spell as coach of the Bulls. King has led the side to two Pura Cup titles (1999-2000 and 2000-01) and two domestic one-day finals (1999-2000 and 2001-02) during his time with the state.
King's appointment was made after the Directors of the ACB and AIS agreed to a recommendation from a four-man panel formed to identify a successor to Rod Marsh.
Marsh, the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy Coach since 1990, resigned in July 2001 to take up a post with the new National Academy of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The panel consisted of ACB Chairman Bob Merriman, ACB Chief Executive James Sutherland, General Manager of ACB Game Development Ross Turner and AIS Director Michael Scott.
Commenting on King's appointment, James Sutherland said the search for a new coach had been extensive.
"We have been involved in a lengthy consultation process with candidates from home and overseas.
"The aim of that consultation was to ensure we got the best person to lead the academy, and with the appointment of Bennett King as Head Coach, we believe we have done just that.
"Bennett has an excellent track-record not only as a very good junior coach but also as a winning coach at senior level, and that mix is what we want as we look to develop the next generation of Australian cricketers.
Minister for the Arts and Sport Rod Kemp said King's experience would be of major benefit to the many young cricketers attending the academy.
"The Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy, which was established in 1987 as a joint initiative between the AIS and the ACB, is widely regarded as the world's best cricket development program," Mr Kemp said.
"Bennett King's extensive experience and knowledge will be an asset to the academy and will help ensure that Australia continues to be a dominant force in world cricket for years to come," he said.
Upon learning of his appointment Bennett King said he was delighted to take on the role.
"I am honoured to accept the position of Head Coach of the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy and I am thoroughly looking forward to what lies ahead," King said.
"There is a lot of work to be done as the academy moves forward, and I feel privileged to be playing a part in that," he said.
Unlike Marsh, who was employed by the AIS, King has been appointed by the ACB to oversee the academy's various programs.
An ACB Level Three accredited coach, King was appointed the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) coach in 1995 and filled the dual roles of QAS coach and Bulls assistant coach for three years.
As a cricketer, he represented Queensland at the under-19 level as an all-rounder and played grade cricket for Northern Suburbs alongside Ian Healy. He was also included in an Australian under-19 training squad.
He represented Queensland in Rugby League, touring New Zealand in 1987 under coach Wayne Bennett and alongside high calibre players Wally Lewis and Allan Langer.
A winger, King played first-grade rugby league for the Gold Coast Giants in the New South Wales Rugby League in 1988 and 1989 before suffering a knee injury that required a reconstruction.
King will head up the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy's staff, which includes ACB Coach Wayne Phillips and assistant coach Troy Cooley.
© 2002 Australian Cricket Board
| Teams | Australia. |
| Players/Umpires | Bennett King, Rodney Marsh, Bob Merriman, James Sutherland. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Results - Forthcoming Desktop Scoreboard |
|
|
|
||||||
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
|
