Calcutta: Former Australian wicket-keeper Steve Rixon has been appointed as the Australian team’s new fielding coach.

Rixon, who played Test and one-day cricket for Australia during the late 1970s and early 1980s, will join the team on coming tours of Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Cricket Australia acting chief executive officer Michael Brown said: “We are very excited Steve is joining our staff as a fielding coach.

“His experience as a player and as a successful coach at both, domestic and international level, will be invaluable for our group as we prepare for tough tours to Sri Lanka and South Africa in the next six months.”