Border appointed interim coach

The Australian Cricket Board today announced that Allan Border would take over as interim Australian coach for the upcoming October tour to Zimbabwe.

Border will join the team at the beginning of their Zimbabwe tour on 7 October and stay with the squad until the end of the tour on 25 October. He takes over from Geoff Marsh who will return to Australia after the Sri Lankan tour following his decision to retire.

ACB Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, said that the interim appointment of Border to the role would provide stability to the team management while the ACB continued the process of searching for a permanent replacement for Marsh.

"Allan has worked with Steve Waugh and the team previously when filling in for Geoff. He has also been Coach of the Australia A and Australian Under 19 teams making him well suited to taking on this interim role," said Mr Speed.

"His appointment allows us to continue the search for a full-time coach knowing that the team will not miss a beat."

Mr Border said he was pleased to take on the job on a short-term basis.

"Obviously its pleasing to take on this interim role. I was going to Zimbabwe as a commentator with Foxtel and they've been good enough to release me to coach," he said.

While this appointment fills the position on a short-term basis, the process of selecting a permanent appointment is continuing.

The ACB is currently reviewing the responsibilities and position description of the Australian coach and will discuss these at a Board meeting in Melbourne on 17 September.

"We are still some way off deciding who is the best person for the job on a permanent basis," said Mr Speed.

"Only after we finalise the exact nature of the role, will we be able to identify and interview candidates for the permanent appointment. We expect that an appointment will be made prior to he start of the domestic international season in early November."