Victoria set to swoop on top fast-bowling coach Rob Cassell

Cassell is believed to be the frontrunner to become Victoria’s new men’s bowling coach, replacing Adam Griffith, who has joined Cricket Australia.

Cassell, 42, has spent the past three years in the same role with Tasmania.

He was also a bowling and assistant coach with Ireland and with the Rajasthan Royals.

Coming out of Melbourne Cricket Club, Cassell made his Sheffield debut for Victoria 2002-03 but injuries gave him no peace.

A move to South Australia brought him more first-class cricket and a start in coaching.

He was high performance bowling coach with the SACA for six years and then accepted the position of assistant coach and fast bowling lead with Cricket Ireland.

The Vics have finalised the appointment of former Test player Julien Wiener to a wide-ranging role.

It will involve working with the Victorian Second XI, as he has done in the past few seasons, and the state Under 17 and 19 teams; acting as a liaison point with Premier Cricket clubs; and mentoring coaches including Travis Dean, James Miller, Andy Christie, Cassie Brock and Jess Duffin.

Wiener recently stood aside as head coach of Prahran, which he guided to the premiership in 2020-2021.

Justin Graham, another former coach of the True Blues, has succeeded him.

In player news:

Left-arm wrist spinner Paddy Dooley is considering a move to Melbourne to play Premier Cricket and push for higher honours. The 27-year-old is casting around for fresh fields after losing his BBL deal with Hobart Hurricanes. Last year he also lost his state contract with Tasmania after the Tigers signed Matthew Kuhnemann.

Young NSW quickie Connor O’Riordan is also exploring a switch to Melbourne. The 202cm O’Riordan is from the strong St George club and appeared at state second XI level last season. He was also involved in the “emerging players program’’, with NSW describing him as a “very exciting fast bowling prospect … delivering from a tall, whippy action, Connor’s raw pace and knack of extracting life out of all surfaces sets him apart from most of the fast bowlers in Premier Cricket’’.

Carlton is resigned to losing its state-contracted fast bowler Xavier Crone to Frankston Peninsula. The right-armer has been a superb performer for the Blues, playing in multiple premierships, but family ties to the Mornington Peninsula are expected to lead him to become a marquee Heat recruit for 2025-26. Crone earned much praise for his bowling in the run-filled grand final against St Kilda, taking 6-138 off 48.5 overs.

St Kilda premiership player Jon Merlo has been unveiled as Will Pucovksi’s assistant coach at Melbourne. The Demons will see a lot of the all-rounder given Merlo has lost his Victorian contract. But he still has a year to run on his Big Bash deal with Melbourne Stars.

“We’re really excited to welcome a player and person of Jon’s calibre on board,” MCC head of men’s cricket Michael Sholly said.

“Beyond bolstering our playing stocks, Jon will form a key part of our coaching and leadership team to help shape our direction and performance.

“He’s a proven performer and he will have a huge impact on helping players in the First XI and across the club to improve and achieve at a high level. He has a strong relationship with new coach Will Pucovski and it’s exciting to have the two of them working in tandem.’’

But the Demons have farewelled young off-spinner Harkirat Barjwa, who has crossed to Fitzroy-Doncaster.

The Australian Under 19 representative has performed well against the Lions and was keen for a move to Schramms Reserve.

“Whenever you get a high-class spinner who has played two World Cups for Australia, approach you about playing for your cricket club, you’re never going to turn it down, are you?’’ Fitzroy-Doncaster head coach Matty Bremner said.

“He’s dominated against us in the past two years at Schramms … he’s taken 6-39 at an average of 6.5, so he likes playing there.

“We think we can give him some really good opportunities to put his best foot forward and hopefully put his name up for higher honours in the next couple of years.’’

Barjwa took 19 wickets at 29.37 for the Demons last season.