Article written by Tahlie Gavin

Cricket Australia has today announced the coaching staff for the 2024 Prime Minister’s XI game against India at Manuka Oval commencing on Saturday 30^th November.

The coaching team will be headed up by Tim Paine and supported by Canberra locals, Cricket ACT’s very own, Erin Osborne and Jason McNally.

Tim Paine is a former Australian cricketer who also captained the Australian Test Team from 2018 – 2021. A right-hand top order batsmen and wicket-keeper, Paine was an integral part of the fabric of Australian cricket.

Paine was elevated to the 46^th test captain of Australia after one of the most controversial times in Australian cricket history. Paine took over the captaincy role in 2018 after former captain Steve Smith was stood down following the highly publicised ball tampering controversy in South Africa. Paine had the almost impossible task of re-establish the popularity of the Australian cricket team after one of its darkest days and now holds the task of leading the Prime Minister’s XI squad as coach.

“I think for a young coach like myself, any chance that you get to lead a team is a great opportunity, so I am looking forward to that. I’m looking forward to working with some of our most talented young cricketers around Australia as well so, it will be good fun.” Paine said

Erin Osborne is the current coach of the ACT Meteors and also manages the female pathway programs. Osborne has an amazing knowledge of cricket that will provide Paine with valuable insights and strategies to take on one of the world’s best cricket teams that is full of superstars.

“I’m looking forward to picking his brain and learning as much as I can from him.” Osborne said on assisting Paine.

“I’m super excited, I haven’t had a whole heap of experience working in the male space; I did a year here with the Comets and I really enjoyed that. I’m just looking to learn as much as I can, and then also play my role as the assistant coach and yeah, I guess help the players prepare as best as I can for this two day/night game. I am just really looking forward to it, it will be a massive learning curve for not only me but I’m sure the whole team and one that we are going to embrace and learn as much as we can.”  She added.

Paine and Osborne will be joined by current Cricket ACT High Performance Coach, Jason McNally to tackle the might of India. McNally is an experienced cricketing figure that is head of cricket development at the prestigious Radford College in Canberra. An expert in fast bowling and human movement, McNally will add the extra dimension into the PM’s XI team to assist Paine and Osborne in getting the best out of the players.

“I’m really excited about it and I didn’t think I would have that opportunity to work with the next group of international cricketers and I think that it will be a learning experience for me. Fingers crossed from my perspective as a fast-bowling coach, I hope that the fast bowlers will have a huge impact; pitch the ball up, swing it around and find a few edges.” McNally stated.

Canberra welcomes the world class Indian cricket team to Manuka Oval for the very first day/night pink ball match held in the nation’s capital. Coming off the back of losing to New Zealand, the Indian team will be looking to redeem their recent whitewash defeat as they play under the lights against the pink ball ahead of the Second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series at Adelaide Oval from Friday, 6 December.

“Hopefully they will approach it with some of their best players, and they have got some of the best players in the world. They had a tough time when they played against the  pink ball in the Adelaide test so hopefully for the games sake and Canberra cricket fans sake, that we get to see some of the best players in the world like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, some of their best players will be on display hopefully, which will be great for people to come and watch and also a great experience for the Australian guys who will get to play against them” Paine explained.

This will be a huge attraction and a step in the right direction for cricket in Canberra, Jason McNally believes.

“Canberra getting exposed to that level cricket, showing that we can put on a show, I think it can be a huge advert for cricket in Canberra and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Be sure to purchase your tickets now so you don’t miss your chance to witness this incredible match up.

Ahead of the match, Cricket ACT will hold a PM’s XI Gala Dinner in the Great Hall at Parliament House on Friday, 29 December.

Ticket’s available now.