Gloucestershire Appoint Jurgensen as Bowling Consultant

Gloucestershire have moved to shore up their struggling attack by bringing in former Bangladesh head coach Shane Jurgensen as a bowling consultant through the end of June. The 49-year-old Australian, who has twice served as New Zealand’s bowling coach, arrives at the County Championship Division Two basement side immediately after their innings-and-225-run humbling by Durham inside three days.

Jurgensen’s pedigree is considerable. After a year overseeing Bangladesh’s quicks, he stepped up to interim head coach in 2012 and promptly guided the Tigers to a 3-2 ODI series triumph over the West Indies. Appointed permanently two months later, he masterminded a 3-0 ODI whitewash of New Zealand and ended a four-year Test victory drought for Bangladesh with a win against Zimbabwe before resigning in April 2014. He has also coached the Fijian national team during a career spent refining pace units around the world.

With Gloucestershire rooted to the foot of the table and searching for answers, director of cricket Jon Lewis believes Jurgensen’s experience can provide an immediate spark. “We’re really pleased to have Shane Jurgensen with us for the next three months,” Lewis told the club website. “Shane is an outstanding fast-bowling coach with real leadership experience and qualities. He has worked with some of the best players in the world, and we hope he can impart that knowledge onto our playing group.”

The short-term deal gives Jurgensen roughly three months to assess, remodel and inspire a Gloucestershire seam corps that has leaked runs at an alarming rate this season.