Berry out as SACA seeks “fresh approach”
Darren Berry has agreed to end his stint as South Australia’s cricket coach after three years of sub-standard performances by the state teams, the South Australian Cricket Association announced today.
Berry, who has a year left on his contract, will part ways with the Adelaide Strikers and the Redbacks in a move that Berry described as an “amicable separation”.
Jason Gillespie is set to be the Adelaide Strikers’ new coach, and South Australian officials will be delighted if he also wants to lead the Redbacks.
SA officials are confident Gillespie, currently coaching English county side Yorkshire, will accept the Adelaide Strikers role.
And SA Cricket Association chief executive Keith Bradshaw says he would be overjoyed if Gillespie also wanted the Redbacks’ job.
“At the moment Jason is committed to Yorkshire for their summer,” Bradshaw said on Monday.
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“We are in discussions with Jason on the Strikers’ side… should we be able to conclude that negotiation, I would be absolutely thrilled.
“His record since he has been at Yorkshire has been outstanding. He is an absolutely quality guy who has shown that not only as a player, but now as a coach he is one of the world’s great coaches right now.”
Gillespie, a former Test paceman and South Australian stalwart, last year delivered Yorkshire their first county title in 13 years.
But the 39-year-old is also being touted as a potential England coach should they axe incumbent Peter Moores following their failure to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
SA have enlisted Test great Adam Gilchrist, Cricket Australia’s high performance manager Pat Howard and AFL coaching legend David Parkin to a selection panel for a new coach for the Redbacks, who have finished last in the Sheffield Shield in five of the past six summers and not won the four-day competition since 1995-96.
Berry delivered Twenty20 and one-day titles in his first year in charge, 2011, but agreed his tenure was at an end after finishing bottom in this season’s Shield and one-day tournaments.
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The ex-Victorian wicketkeeper took five weeks’ personal leave from late January, and SA officials deposed Johan Botha as captain in his absence, plumping for 21-year-old batsman Travis Head.
In a statement released by the SACA, Berry thanked SA cricket for the opportunity to coach the state teams for the past four years.
“An amicable separation has been reached in the best interests for all concerned; I accept that the SACA are heading in a new direction and wish the association every success in the future,” Berry said.
The Redbacks had another horror season in 2014/15, finishing in last place.
The season began with the tragic death of opener Phil Hughes after he was hit by a bouncer during a Shield match in November 2014.
The Redbacks’ never regained equilibrium with Berry taking extended leave for captain Johan Botha shown the door.
There has also been widespread talk of player discontent, with Strikers’ fast bowler Shaun Tait alleging every player in the squad is unhappy in the current environment.
READ MORE: SA cricket’s epoch of failure
– with AAP
