Former AFL coach Mark Williams has been spotted training with the Australian men's Test cricket team ahead of the Boxing Day Test. This isn't the first time a former Aussie Rules Football coach has joined the cricket team during a major series.
AFL premiership coach Mark Williams has been spending time with the Australian men’s Test team during their main training session ahead of the Boxing Day Test . The 66-year-old was seen at the MCG in a Cricket Australia polo with the team on Tuesday morning. Williams coached 273 games at Port Adelaide, including leading the Power to their first premiership since joining the AFL from the SANFL.
He last coached a senior game in 2010, but has worked as an assistant at a number of clubs since then, including Melbourne, GWS and Richmond. Williams also took charge of VFL outfit Werribee for two years in 2019 and 2020, having also coached at VAFA club AJAX for the previous two years. He remains head of development at Melbourne. The AFL great is not the first former footy coach to appear in Australian cricket gear during a massive Test series. In 2023, then-recently sacked Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew appeared in the Aussie camp in England for the Ashes. Dew was photographed in a full Australian kit, alongside players and coaches during training at Old Trafford ahead of the fourth Test. South Australian-born Dew reportedly has a close relationship with SA’s Travis Head. Just like Jasprit Bumrah for India, Head has been far and away Australia’s best player, having scored just one fewer run than the rest of his fellow top seven batters combined. But India believe a bounce barrage may be the best way to tame their Australian nemesis. Pacer Akash Deep, who made a valuable contribution with the bat for India to avoid the follow-on in the drawn Test at the Gabba, revealed plans for Head needed to change ahead of Boxing Day. The 30-year-old has been in rare form, smashing centuries in Adelaide and Brisbane to certify himself as India’s most in-demand wicket. Head has made 409 runs at an average of 81.80 across the first three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series, dominating India even as the rest of Australia’s batters have faced significant issues against Jasprit Bumra
AFL Cricket Australian Cricket Team Boxing Day Test Former Coach
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australian Football League (AFL) Trade Period Ends with Plenty of MovesThe trade and draft period in the AFL has concluded with significant player movements. This includes key players like Sam Day and a returning player from ACL injury. Carlton's forward stocks are refreshed, but questions remain about lineup strategies and player usage.
Read more »
Boland Set to Capitalize on Hazlewood's Injury in Boxing Day TestScott Boland's strong performance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) makes him a likely replacement for Mitchell Hazlewood in the upcoming Boxing Day Test.
Read more »
Sam Konstas confident he's ready to face India after Boxing Day Test call-upSam Konstas is excited about the prospect of making his Test debut at the MCG, describing his elevation to Australia's squad as an 'amazing journey'.
Read more »
‘See-ball, hit-ball’: Sam Konstas to put pressure on Jasprit Bumrah in Boxing Day TestAustralia’s rookie opener has a plan to combat Indian spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, but he doesn’t want to give too much away ahead of his likely Test debut
Read more »
McSweeney Dropped for Boxing Day TestNathan McSweeney is likely to be dropped from Australia's Test squad for the Boxing Day Test against India.
Read more »
Konstas in line for Test debut on Boxing Day19-year-old batting prodigy Sam Konstas has been called up to the Australian Test squad for the fourth match against India, potentially making his debut on Boxing Day.
Read more »