India cricket appoints new bowling coach Joe Dawes
Indian cricket authorities have named Australian Joe Dawes as the national team's new bowling coach.
The 41-year-old former bowler will replace Eric Simons whose term ends at the completion of India's ongoing tour of Australia, said an official statement.
Dawes is a former pace bowler who took 285 wickets in 76 first class matches.
Simons is the first member of the team management to be replaced after India lost eight overseas Tests on the trot.
India suffered a 4-0 whitewash by Australia in the recently concluded Test series following a similar debacle in England last year.
India's bowling has been hobbled by uneven performances and injuries.
The decision to hire Dawes for a period of two years was made at a meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday.
Dawes, who has played for Queensland, also served as bowling coach of South Australia.
"Joe has made a big impact in a short time and while we are sad to see him go, we are very happy that one of our coaching staff has made the move into the international arena," South Australian Cricket Association director of cricket Jamie Cox was quoted as saying by ESPN cricinfo.
India is currently playing a triangular series with Australia and Sri Lanka in Australia after a poor show in the Test series.
Separately, cricket board chief Narayanaswamy Srinivasan ruled out an investigation into India's poor overseas performance in Tests.
"I think it's premature to talk of an enquiry, there's no need for any enquiry if you ask me," he was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
"Let the team come back. Then the selectors, the coach, and the others will evaluate what needs to be done further to improve performance if it is considered necessary."