Overlooked Rixon to rejoin Australian team staff

Sydney: Steve Rixon will rejoin the Australian team staff for next week’s second Test in Hobart, putting aside the disappointment of being overlooked for the team’s head coaching job. The former Test wicketkeeper was considered a favourite to be appointed as Tim Nielsen’s successor due to a close and long-time bond with captain Michael Clarke. In the end, former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur was preferred, leaving Rixon weighing up his future. Arthur has since indicated he wants to retain the former New Zealand and NSW coach as the team’s fielding coach, and it is an offer Rixon intends to take up, a leading daily reports. “I’ll be heading down to Hobart next week to assist with the team’s preparation and I’ll sit down with Mickey and have a talk about being involved in the future,” Rixon said. “It’s looking like I will have some involvement, it’s just a matter of what degree I get involved in,” he said. Rixon was adamant there would be no issues stemming from his snubbing for the head coach’s position last month. Instead, he was looking forward to working closely with Arthur. “Anybody who knows me, knows that when I take on a job I do it boots and all. I do it right and I don’t let egos or anything else get in the way. Michael Clarke knows that only too well and that’s one of the reasons he wanted me involved,” he said. Rixon was the Australian fielding coach on the recent tours to Sri Lanka and South Africa. ANI