Adam Voges and Tim Paine news delights cricket fans after coaching appointment

Aussie cricket fans have welcomed with open arms the news that highly rated coach Adam Voges will be taking the reigns for Australia A on their upcoming tour of New Zealand, with former Test captain Tim Paine coming along for the ride. Voges, who has been winning championships 'for fun' for WA and the Perth Scorchers between the domestic leagues and BBL, welcomed the 'opportunity'.

Australia A's tour of New Zealand will run alongside the Australian tour of South Africa, which is set to consist of several T20 and one-day clashes. Paine joins the coaching ranks in a move welcomed by fans, with the likes of former Sri Lankan batsman Thilan Samaraweera, Luke Butterworth, Scott Prestwidge and Tony Hampson also on board.

WOW: Nathan Lyon announcement stuns cricket fans after shock BBL switch

NOT HAPPY: Ricky Ponting call ignored after 'disgraceful' Ashes controversy

Voges has long been considered one of the premier coaches in Australian cricket, with the former Test player having overseen back-to-back trebles in the Marsh Cup, Sheffield Shield and BBL. Australian fast bowling great Jason Gillespie lauded the move, along with plenty of observers on social media.

The 43-year-old said he was appreciative of the chance to coach at a national level. The tour will involve two four-day matches and three one-day games.

“I love my job here in Perth. I’m really grateful for the opportunity I get here [in WA]," Voges said. I’d love to continue to develop and grow and learn as much as I can as a coach and this opportunity gives me another chance to do that.

“I’ll enjoy the three-and-a-half weeks that I get with [the Australia A] program and then run or charge full steam into our domestic season.”

Gillespie said it was a common sense choice for Voges to lead the Australia A side, lauding him as a perfect candidate to bring the best out of players not quite yet ready to step up to the main side, flagging him as a potential coach of Australia in the future. Australia is facing a changing of the guard in the coming months, with David Warner having already announced he will retire from the Test arena at the end of the year, while questions remain about former Test skipper Steve Smith.

“I think we’ve got a young coach out in the west who’s been winning trophies for fun, creating a great environment – Adam Voges, I’m a huge rap for him and what he does and how he goes about it, Gillespie said. “He’d be a great person to lead at some point in the future … I just think we’ve got some really good people around Australian cricket.

“Wade Seccombe, Chris Rogers, Greg Shipperd the old guru is taking charge in New South Wales, I think we’re really healthy in that coaching space in Australian cricket.”

Adam Voges excited to coach with Tim Paine

Voges said it was of critical importance to balance the individual needs of players vying for Australian selection with establishing a strong team culture - a task many would consider he has accomplished to great success with WA. He admitted to cricket.com.au that it was a 'surprise' to have been selected as coach, but said he was looking forward to getting stuck in before returning for the domestic season adding that he was thrilled to have Paine along for the ride.

"The great challenge of any A cricket is having that balance," Voges said. "I think naturally those (strong individual) performances will occur, so it's about creating that environment that guys are willing to play for each other and have some fun over the three weeks (and) make the most of the opportunity put in front of them.

"I guess that's the real simple message, to get around that team mentality as I'm sure they do with their home states. I'm really excited for Tim to be joining us in the first week as he's starting to dip his toes into coaching post his playing career.

"I think he's got a huge amount of experience and knowledge that he'll be able to pass on to the players. It probably took me the first couple of years to start to get that balance right, understanding that there is a difference, and the relationships are slightly different … (it's about) being open and honest with guys that used to be your teammates and now are playing under your leadership. It's an ongoing part of that growing and learning."

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.