Australia re-appoint fielding consultant

Mike Young, an American baseball coach who has worked on a part-time basis with the Australian team over the past six years, has been appointed as part-time fielding consultant to the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence (CBCE) and the national team for the next 12 months.

Young, who was with the Australian squad during the 2003 World Cup and recent Super Series in Australia, will be based part-time at the CBCE and be involved in a number of the centre's programs.

"Having the opportunity to work at the CBCE means we will have the opportunity to impact these players at an earlier stage so they can then take it back to their states and facilitate a flow on affect," Young said in a Cricket Australia media release. "Many of the cricketers I will be working with will play a large part in Australian teams of the future so to get them on the same track as the elite men's squad is excellent in terms of continuity and provides an opportunity to break new ground."

A major aspect of the role will be the continuation of his current role with the national team as they strive to regain the Ashes later this year and then a third successive World Cup in 2007.

"In terms of athletes and the fielding performances of Australia in one-day and now Test matches, we're at the top of the tree, " Young said. "My job over the next 12 months is to ensure we stay there."

"Mike will be working across a number of programs within Australian cricket with his area of expertise in fielding and throwing," said Michael Brown, Cricket Australia General Manager Cricket Operations. "However his coaching background in baseball also adds much value in terms of his general coaching knowledge.

"He will specifically be working with the Australian men's team, Australian Institute of Sport scholars, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and various other programs of the CBCE including the Australian under-19 squad over the next 12 months."

Young has 25 years of previous coaching experience including stints with the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Bluejays and Australian Olympic baseball programs where he is the only head coach to lead Australia to a Gold Medal in an International Baseball Competition. Young has also, briefly, served as fielding coach with England and New Zealand.