Nielsen to succeed Buchanan as Australia coach

SYDNEY, Feb 5 (Reuters) Tim Nielsen will succeed John Buchanan as Australia coach, Cricket Australia announced today.

Nielsen, who has worked as an assistant to Buchanan, will take over the head coaching job when Buchanan stands down following the World Cup in the West Indies.

Nielsen, 38, is a former first-class wicketkeeper-batsman who was working as head coach of Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.

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 that he was quitting after the World Cup.

REUTERS DH VV1114