One of the fastest bowlers in cricket history, former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait will join Bangladesh’s coaching staff later this month.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officially announced the departure of Andre Adams just before 3 PM. Within half an hour, the new bowling coach was revealed: it’s Shaun Tait, the former Australian cricketer who was at the center of widespread speculation.
Tait will officially join Bangladesh’s coaching staff later this month. His contract with the BCB runs through to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Tait’s relationship with Bangladesh is long-standing. He played in the second season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for Chittagong Kings, and later returned as the head coach of the same team in the most recent BPL. Despite not having a star-studded squad, his coaching led Chittagong to the BPL final.
Now, before starting his national team duties, the 42-year-old coach expressed his excitement about joining the new era of Bangladesh cricket.
“This is a great time to be involved with Bangladesh cricket; it’s almost the start of a new era. There’s been a lot of talk recently about the young talent and fast bowlers, which is great.”
“This is international cricket, not a development team, and there are always high expectations to deliver results with talent. My focus will be on the fast bowling group, and more importantly, on bringing victories to the team.”
Tait’s playing career, while not as lengthy as some might expect given his potential, was hampered by persistent injuries. He played three Tests, 35 ODIs, and 21 T20Is for Australia and was part of the 2007 World Cup-winning team. Although he didn’t have standout performances with the ball, he is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history. His speed and unique bowling action often led to injuries, and sometimes his bowling was a bit erratic.
As a coach, however, Tait has already built a strong reputation. He has served as the bowling coach for Pakistan, the West Indies, and Afghanistan, and has worked in franchise cricket across various leagues, including the Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League, and Lanka Premier League. Additionally, he has experience with English county cricket.
Andre Adams, the outgoing bowling coach, took on the role in March last year. His contract with the BCB was for two years but was ended earlier. The reasons for his departure were not officially disclosed by the BCB, which only mentioned that the contract ended by mutual consent.
The Bangladesh team will leave Dhaka on Wednesday to play two T20s against the UAE. After that, they are scheduled to travel to Pakistan on May 21.
