Wednesday 10 March 2010

The WA Warriors arrive at the Gabba for the start of today’s crucial Round 10 Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield clash for Queensland with plenty of debate surrounding their coaching position.

While the Warriors will be dangerous because they have nothing to lose after a series of losses sent them to the bottom of the Shield table, conjecture surrounds the replacement for outgoing coach Tom Moody.

It emerged yesterday that strict WACA recruiting criteria has ruled out former Australian opener Justin Langer, highly regarded Victorian assistant Simon Helmot and former Sri Lanka coach Bruce Yardley, who applied for the job yesterday.

The WACA will only consider applicants who have coached at first-class or international level for at least three years, meaning that Langer, the former WA captain, and recent Australia A coach Helmot would not be considered.

The strict criteria is tailor-made for former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur to be appointed.

Yardley lacks the necessary Level 3 coaching credentials and was preparing to withdraw his application yesterday.

"I want the job," Yardley told The West Australian. "But I don't have the coaching certificate and although WA are coming last under a coach with all the qualifications you could dream of, it seems more important to have the right paperwork than consider what you can bring as a coach.

"We need players who will play with freedom and without fear. I have been watching WA in recent times and every player seems to be playing with fear as their primary motivator - whether fear of getting out or fear of losing their place or their contract.

"People talk about coaching being all about high performance but it is really about things that are much more simple - bat, bowl and field well and play to win. I believe my history as a coach shows that I can get players to do that."

The XXXX GOLD Bulls will be wary of a Warriors response to that, particularly with skipper Marcus North desperate for a score with doubts over his place at No.6 in the Australian Test side, although his fate should be known today.