The best coach for the Australian cricket team was at the Ashes but in the commentary box

Andrew McDonald has done a fine job in taking the Australian cricket team to the top of the Test tree but it’s hard to get over the lingering thought that the best option as coach can be found in the commentary box instead of in the dressing room.

Time and time again throughout the series, Ricky Ponting demonstrated that he has the sharpest of cricketing brains and is not afraid to call out the Australian men’s team when needed.

McDonald is filling his job description of improving the side in pursuit of all three world champion trophies – they wrapped up the Test title by beating India in June before the Ashes and will be one of the favourites for the ODI World Cup in India in October and next year’s T20 tournament in the US and Caribbean.

But it’s apparent that he was Cricket Australia’s best available option rather than necessarily being the ideal person for the role. 

He is the coach the Australian players wanted but perhaps not the one they need for what should be a time of great transition in the next few years.