Australia women add Nitschke, Noffke as assistant coaches

MELBOURNE: Shelley Nitschke and Ashley Noffke joined the Australian women’s set-up as assistant coaches on Friday (May 18). The duo is set to remain with the Australian side for two World T20s to be held in the West Indies and at home in 2018 and 2020 respectively.

Nitschke, the spinning all-rounder, who played 80 ODIs for Australia, and Noffke, the seam bowling all-rounder, were also part of the backroom staff during the tour of India earlier this year. Nitschke is also set to work with Leah Poulton, CA’s High Performance coach, to help the next generation of players in the Women’s National Performance Squad to come through the ranks. On the other hand, Noffke, will be a part of the coaching staff during international tours and ‘high performance’ camps.

Nitschke, who scored 2047 runs and took 98 scalps in the ODI format, is the current assistant coach of Adelaide Strikers in the WBBL. She was also adjudged as the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2010. Noffke, the Queensland and Western Australian all-rounder, played one ODI and two T20Is for his country. After retiring from first class cricket in 2010-11, he joined the Queensland backroom staff as the bowling coach.