21 Sep 2011

Nielsen steps down as Australia cricket coach

6:54 am on 21 September 2011

The Australia cricket coach Tim Nielsen has stepped down following his side's Test series victory over Sri Lanka.

Nielsen, who has advised Cricket Australia he is due to take up a new Australian cricket role, took over from John Buchanan in 2007.

He says the head coaching role is about to be changed and he felt at the moment he didn't want to have to go through the process of re-applying.

Last year Nielsen was reappointed until the end of the next Ashes series in England in 2013.

Australia drew with Sri Lanka in the third and final test in Colombo overnight to win the series 1-0.

Former state-level wicketkeeper Nielsen coached Australia in 15-Test series, winning nine, losing five and drawing one.

Cricket Australia says they'll appoint an interim acting coach for the upcoming October-November tour of South Africa while recruiting a new head coach.