Queensland Cricket Chief Executive Officer Graham Dixon today confirmed that Richard Done would be the new Queensland Academy of Sport coach, taking the spot left vacant by Bennett King's appointment as XXXX Queensland Bulls coach.

Done, previously a senior coach at the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in Adelaide, will start with the WAS on January 4.

A former NSW Sheffield Shield player, Done has been with the Australian Cricket Academy since 1991 where he has worked closely with head coach Rod Marsh and coach Wayne Phillips.

Done, 44, was the assistant coach on the recent Australian Under-19 tour of the United Kingdom.

The QAS program operates as the Second XI for Queensland Cricket and acts as a development program for women's cricket. The QAS squad trains closely with the Bulls and Done will work with King and newly-appointed Bulls assistant coach Greg Rowell for the remainder of the season.

Dixon said the QAS and Queensland Cricket were delighted that Done had agreed to terms for the season. "He is a high calibre coach and one that we are confident will bear fruit for Queensland Cricket in the future," Dixon said

"He has worked closely with a number of scholars at the Cricket Academy in recent seasons and is well aware of the talents of the players we are producing through the Australia Post Youth Cricket program in this State," he said

The Queensland Under-19 team is currently playing Victoria in the Final of the National Championships in Perth after inflicting a comprehensive defeat of NSW in the semi-final. Several Queensland players are in line to be selected in the Australian team for the World Youth Cup in Sri Lanka next month.

© 1999 Queensland Cricket