Nielsen to succeed Buchanan

Tim Nielsen © Getty Images

Tim Nielsen has been appointed as John Buchanan's successor as Australia coach following a meeting of the Cricket Australia board on Monday.

Nielsen, 38, was nominated by the Cricket Australia subcommittee, which was asked to recommend a replacement for Buchanan, who plans to leave his post after the World Cup in the West Indies.

The former South Australia wicket-keeper spent three years as assistant to Buchanan from 2002 before leaving to take up the role as head coach of the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.

He has worked with many of the rising Australian talents and has been considered a natural successor to Buchanan.

Prior to his appointment as an Australia assistant in 2002, Nielsen had worked as an assistant coach at South Australia - he played 101 first class matches with the Redbacks from 1990 to 1999, with a state record of 316 dismissals.

Buchanan replaced Geoff Marsh as national coach in 1999 and oversaw one of the most successful eras in Australian cricket history before announcing in August he would quit after the World Cup.