Adam Griffith has been appointed as Cricket Australia's new pace bowling coach ahead of upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. In this role, Griffith will play a crucial part in nurturing the next generation of fast bowlers within the Australian men's teams. Griffith, who earlier served as RCB's bowling coach in IPL, will relocate to Brisbane to commence his duties at the National Cricket Centre. He previously served as the assistant coach for Victoria before accepting this new position. Griffith has prior experience working with the Australian men's team, having assisted during bilateral tours in 2012 and 2016, as well as at the 2019 ODI World Cup in England. Adam Griffith
Adam Griffith appointed Australia's pace bowling coach
Meanwhile, Australian head coach Andrew McDonald has expressed his enthusiasm for the appointment of Adam Griffith as the National Pace Bowling Coach. McDonald said that Griffith's extensive experience and expertise will be invaluable in guiding and preparing Australia's pace bowlers to excel across all formats of the game.
"I'm delighted Adam will bring his extensive experience to Cricket Australia as National Pace Bowling Coach and become an important part of our coaching set up. "Adam's expertise across all formats will be invaluable in the preparation of pace bowlers for Australia’s national men's teams," McDonald said in a statement.
Australia is set to face Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series starting from January 29. They will then shift their focus on the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 which is set to start from February 19. The Test series against Sri Lanka will serve as preparation for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final, where Australia will compete against South Africa. The final is scheduled to take place from June 11 to 15 at the prestigious Lord's Cricket Ground.
Griffith's responsibilities as the National Pace Bowling Coach will encompass several key areas. He will be responsible for leading the development of Australia's pace bowling talent, overseeing the preparation of pace bowlers for national team duties, and providing coaching support to both the Australian men's team and the Australia A squad.
Adam Griffith's career trajectory
Prior to his appointment with Cricket Australia, Griffith enjoyed a successful career as a cricketer. He represented Tasmania in Sheffield Shield cricket, claiming 169 wickets in 50 first-class matches. After retiring from professional cricket in 2011, Griffith embarked on a successful coaching career. He began his coaching journey with Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers, before returning to Tasmania to serve as the head coach of the Tigers and Hobart Hurricanes, and subsequently becoming the state's Director of Coaching.
In 2022, Griffith joined Victoria's men's team under the leadership of Chris Rogers. He also served as the bowling coach for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League before a change in coaching staff.
The Australian pace bowling attack is currently undergoing a period of transition. Key members of the team, including Mitchell Starc (34), Josh Hazlewood (34), and Pat Cummins (31), are in the latter stages of their careers. Similarly, Scott Boland (35) and Michael Neser (34) are also approaching the end of their playing careers.
This transition phase presents opportunities for younger bowlers to establish themselves within the national team. Among those on the fringes of the Test and white-ball squads are Nathan Ellis (30), Jhye Richardson (28), and Riley Meredith (28). Spencer Johnson, a left-arm bowler, is also 29 years old.
The next generation of Australian pace bowlers includes Lance Morris and Xavier Bartlett, both 26 years old. Sean Abbott, at 32, brings experience to the mix. Emerging talents like Fergus O'Neill (24) from Victoria are also vying for selection. Furthermore, pace bowling all-rounders like Cameron Green (25) and Will Sutherland (25) offer valuable versatility. Jack Edwards, a 24-year-old from New South Wales, is another promising young talent.