Brad Haddin on radar for coaching role of Australia's T20 team

Sydney [Australia], Dec.5 (ANI): Former wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin has emerged as the potential caretaker of the Australian cricket team for the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka to be held in February next year. The coaching role has become available due to a clash in fixtures, which would see Australia play their final KFC T20 International match against Sri Lanka in Adelaide on February 21 and the first Test of the Qantas Tour of India in Pune the following day. Therefore, full-time mentor Darren Lehmann and his backroom staff would not be available for Sri Lanka series as they would be preparing for the four-match series against India. Reflecting on the same, Lehmann said Haddin and former Test fast bowler Ryan Harris are on the radar for the caretaker role as Cricket Australia is trying hard to manage the hectic international schedule. The pair, who took retirement from international cricket last year, will also travel to New Zealand in late January 2017 for the Chappell-Hadlee series to assist Lehmann when his full-time assistants David Saker and Graeme Hick head to India early to begin preparation. " [Haddin] has been exceptional, he's been doing all of his coaching accreditation and all of the stuff you need to do along the way," the Independent quoted Lehmann, as saying. "We're obviously trying to develop the next rung of coaches all the time and those guys love being around the lads. They've got great experience as a player and it's now translating that into coaching," he added. Meanwhile, the hectic fixture will also leave door open to potentially appoint a new captain, with Victoria batsman Aaron Finch looms as the frontrunner to take the captaincy reins in Smith's absence and South Australian skipper Travis Head being the another option. Earlier, Test great Michael Hussey was also tipped for the role while Jason Gillespie, Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne had also indicated varying degrees of interest in taking the reins. However, regular coach Lehmann admitted working through availabilities has been difficult. "That's just part and parcel of what's happening with our movements.We get to prepare for our Test tour and the T20's are on here. It's going to be an interesting time but it will be a good time, a good opportunity," he added. The three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka will start from February 17, followed by games on February 19 and 22. Meanwhile, Australia's tour to India will begin from February 23 when the first Test would be played in Pune, followed by games at Bengaluru (March 4-8), Ranchi (March 16-20) and Dharamsala (March 25-29). (ANI)