SA's Morkel named India's bowling coach

Former pacer resigned from his role as Pak bowling coach in Nov last year

India have appointed Morne Morkel as their new bowling coach with the former South Africa international paceman officially joining head coach Gautam Gambhir's staff next month, local media reported.

Morkel resigned from his role as Pakistan's bowling coach in November last year, a few days after they finished fifth in the 50-overs World Cup in India.

The 39-year-old has previously played alongside Gambhir at Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders and was part of the former India opener's coaching team at Lucknow Super Giants. Reports in the Indian media on Wednesday said that Morkel's appointment was confirmed by Indian cricket board secretary Jay Shah.

Reuters has contacted the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for comment. Morkel's first assignment will be the test series against Bangladesh starting on Sept. 19 in Chennai, media said. He will join Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip as Gambhir's assistants.

Gambhir took over from Rahul Dravid last month and guided India to a 3-0 win over Sri Lanka in their Twenty20 series in Pallekele. The tourists were then beaten 2-0 in the one-day international series that followed in Colombo.

Abbott inducted in Aus squad for Eng tour

Australian fast bowler Spencer Johnson will miss the Twenty20 series against England and Scotland next month after sustaining a side strain and has been replaced by all-rounder Sean Abbott, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Thursday.

Left-armer Johnson, who has played five T20 internationals and a solitary one-day international, picked up the injury while playing for The Oval Invincibles in The Hundred competition.