Australia allow Daniel Vettori to miss Perth Test coaching duties for IPL 2025 mega auction

Cricket Australia (CA) has allowed assistant coach Daniel Vettori to leave the Perth Test against India starting November 22 midway for the IPL 2025 mega auction, scheduled between the first game on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Vettori, SunRisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) coach, will fly alongside Justin Langer (Lucknow Super Giants) and Ricky Ponting (Punjab Kings), also part of the commentary team with Channel Seven for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024.

In a rare instance, Vettori, highly valued by players and CA administrators, holds three coaching positions with different teams across multiple setups. While he works as an assistant coach with the Australian Team across all formats, the former New Zealand captain is also a full-time head coach of an IPL franchise while serving in the same capacity at Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.

"We are very supportive of Dan's role as Head Coach of SunRisers Hyderabad," an Australia team spokesperson said. "Dan will complete final preparation for the first Test before attending the IPL auction. He will then be with team for the remainder of the Border Gavaskar Trophy."

Meanwhile, prioritising the IPL auction over Test cricket and scheduling the auction in Saudi Arabia in between the India-Australia Test is a sign of things to come.

Although Vettori had previously skipped national duty for franchise commitment, having done it during the Pakistan series last year, it’s the first time he will leave midway through a Test to attend the IPL auction.

The CA, however, has advertised for a new full-time national pace bowling coach, filling in for Vettori should he miss future action.

Vettori prepares AUS at WACA

Following Team India’s practice conclusion at the centre wicket at WACA in Perth, Australia resumed training, with Vettori on deck with the BGT-bound squad on Monday (Nov 18). He worked closely with the bowling unit while also throwing left-arm orthodox bowls to batters, preparing batters to face Ravindra Jadeja.

Lachlan Stevens, CA’s national development coach, who coached Australia-A against India-A in recently concluded two unofficial Tests, alongside Australia’s Under-19 team, will link up with the Test squad in Perth, filling in for Vettori when he departs.

(With inputs from agencies)