Daniel Vettori, Australia’s esteemed bowling coach, is set to leave the national team during the first Test against India in Perth to attend the IPL auction as the head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad. This intriguing situation arises as the Test match kicks off on November 22 at Optus Stadium in Perth, while the IPL auction is scheduled for November 24-25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The timing of this auction has caused scheduling conflicts for several IPL coaches, including Vettori, Ricky Ponting, and Justin Langer, who are all in Perth for the Test series.
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Vettori stands out as one of the few international coaches balancing a permanent role with an international team while simultaneously holding the head coach position for an IPL franchise and another coaching role within The Hundred league.
Since 2022, Vettori has been an integral part of the Australian coaching staff under his long-time friend, Andrew McDonald. Cricket Australia values his contributions highly and has expressly supported his involvement with franchise cricket, allowing him the flexibility to pursue these coaching opportunities alongside national duties.
A spokesperson for the team stated, “We are very supportive of Dan’s role as Head Coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad.” Vettori will finalize preparations for the Test before traveling to the auction, ensuring he returns for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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Furthermore, Vettori’s involvement in the IPL auction highlights the increasing prominence of franchise leagues, as both Ponting and Langer will also miss portions of the Test to fulfill their coaching commitments for Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, respectively. Cricket Australia is actively searching for a new national pace bowling coach who can step in during Vettori’s absences on future tours.
As Australia prepares for this significant Test series against India, Vettori’s dual role exemplifies the modern landscape of cricket, where international commitments and lucrative franchise opportunities often intersect.