Former Australian cricketer James Siddons has been appointed as the new batting coach of the Bangladesh cricket team, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on Thursday.
Siddons is the new boss of the Bangladesh team
James Siddons’ appointment takes place just after the current batting coach Ashwell Prince resigned from the position citing personal and family reasons.
“We have received the resignation letter from Prince today through an email. His resignation has been accepted,” Bangladesh Cricket Board chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury told AFP.
Siddons has previously worked with the Bangladesh cricket team between 2007-11 as their head coach was contacted for the batting coach role in 2021. BCB was looking to appoint him as a permanent batting coach by replacing Neil McKenzie for the position. Siddons will now be associated with the Bangladesh cricket team for the next two years as a part of his contract.
“Jamie Siddons will be the national team’s batting coach. We have heard from senior cricketers and board directors that he is a good coach, which is why we brought him here,” BCB president Nazmul Hassan said.
BCB had shortlisted both Ashwell Prince and James Siddons for Bangladesh cricket duty, with the former appointed last year ahead of the Zimbabwe series. However, Prince resigned from the position this week.
“Maybe after Siddons’ arrival, Prince thought we were thinking differently. But he could have stayed so that we could get him to work in a different capacity,” he added.
The board is also seeking a fast-bowling and fielding coach, but they haven’t appointed anyone for the position yet. Therefore, Bangladesh will be without any specialist fast-bowling and fielding coach for the Afghanistan series on February 23.
“We are looking for a pace-bowling coach who has experience working with international teams. Till then, Champaka (Ramanayake) can work with them,” Hassan said.