Siddons is new Bangladesh coach

After much consideration of several candidates, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has named Jamie Siddons to the post of national coach. The Australian takes over from Dav Whatmore, who stepped down as coach after following India’s tour of Bangladesh in May. Since then, Shaun Williams (assistant to Whatmore) has been in charge of the team.

Siddons boasts significant pedigree both as a cricketer and as a coach. Though he only represented Australia once – scoring 32 in a one-day international – he amassed 11,587 first class runs in a celebrated career. Of that number, he is the third highest first-class run scorer in Australian domestic cricket (Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup), having totaled 10,643 in his career. Siddons is considered one of the greatest cricketers to never receive a Test cap.

For four years following his retirement, Siddons served under Wayne Phillips and Greg Chappell in an assistant coaching role at South Australia. In 2005, he was appointed a senior coach at the Centre of Excellence, prior to the Ashes. Since then he has served as assistant coach to the Australia team.

Last month it was reported that Siddons would not come to terms with the BCB, but following the board’s failure to secure the employ of John Dyson or Gordon Greenidge, Siddons has accepted the position. He will arrive in Dhaka on Monday, where the details of contract will be finalized.