New coach and new challenges for Australia

Robert Craddock writes in the Courier-Mail about Tim Nielsen, who takes over the hands-on coaching duties when Australia’s contracted players start a camp later in the week. Craddock looks at the challenges ahead for Nielsen, including replacing the wildly successful John Buchanan and dealing with Stuart MacGill.

Nielsen may have a right to feel as if he is singing the next song after Pavarotti or taking to the dance floor after John Travolta but he is a no-nonsense, strong-willed, self-confessed cricket "nuffy" who sees rich opportunity rather than a bar too high to jump over.

Australia has chosen well for Nielsen has the type of bottomless enthusiasm and optimism needed for a year in which the side will play a staggering world-record 22 Test matches.