McDonald to return to Australia
Fri 26 Aug 2016
Leicestershire CCC has announced that Elite Performance Director Andrew McDonald will leave the club at the end of the 2016 season to return to Melbourne.
The 35-year-old, who played for Leicestershire before rejoining as Head Coach ahead of the 2015 season, has made a decision to return in order to provide stability for his young family.
McDonald has been travelling the globe over the last couple of years and now wishes to settle back home. He will return to his native Australia at the end of the campaign to coach both the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League and Victoria in the state competition.
As a player at the Fischer County Ground, McDonald was a key influence on and off the field as Leicestershire won the T20 Trophy in 2011, scoring 584 runs at an average of 53.09 while also taking key wickets and catches.
He has since transformed the club’s fortunes on the field as Elite Performance Director with the team currently in third place in the Specsavers County Championship and showing progress in white ball competitions.
McDonald said: “It has been an extremely difficult decision to leave Leicestershire County Cricket Club but I have to put my family first and we are now going to settle back home in Australia.
“I’d like to thank the club for this fantastic opportunity, I’ll always be grateful for having the chance to both play and coach at the Fischer County Ground, and will continue to follow the club’s fortunes from afar.
“I also appreciate the fact that Leicestershire have allowed me the opportunity to return home and wish the club every success for the future.”
Leicestershire CCC Chief Executive Wasim Khan MBE said: “This decision has not been easy for Andrew and we are naturally disappointed to lose a person and coach of his calibre. We fully understand and respect the reasons for his decision.
“Andrew has done a fantastic job here in his two years as Elite Performance Director, with the team making great strides forward. Performances and results have drastically improved and Andrew has left a strong platform to build on. We will now look to build on his excellent work.
“Andrew is an outstanding leader and I have no doubt that Cricket Victoria and Melbourne Renegades will see huge progress with Andrew at the helm. Everyone at Leicestershire County Cricket Club would like to wish Andrew and his family well for the future.”
