Andy Bichel and James Hopes are the only players in Queensland's Sheffield Shield history to have tallied more than 2,500 runs and taken 250 plus wickets © Getty Images
Andy Bichel and James Hopes are the only players in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield history to have tallied more than 2,500 runs and taken 250 plus wickets © Getty Images

Queensland greats James Hopes and Andy Bichel have re-joined the Bulls as coaches for the coming season. Bichel, who worked as national selector earlier and also as a assistant coach for two IPL franchises, has been made the pathways Assistant coach. He will now be working with the senior bulls team along with the Queensland Bulls youth teams. Bichel, now 46 years old, has played in 19 Tests and 67 ODIs for Australia from 1997-2004. While Hopes who retired from playing last season, takes on the role of Bulls assistant, and Queensland pathways coach. A limited-overs talent for Australia, Hopes featured in 84 ODIs and 12 T20Is for Australia from 2005-2010.

Meanwhile Bulls head coach Phil Jacques has also joined Brisbane Heat, for which Hopes does a coaching and planing role. Jacques has joined Heat as an assistant, along with former New Zealand pacer, Shane Bond, in an attempt to work with head coach Daniel Vettori. READ: Graeme Hick named Australia’s batting coach ahead of South Africa series

Bichel and Hopes are the only players in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield history to have tallied more than 2,500 runs and taken 250 plus wickets. “With Andy, James Hopes and current Pathways coach John Davison to call on, potential Queensland players who emerge from the Pathways system will have some outstanding mentors to work with,” said Queensland Cricket General Manager – High Performance Brett Jones, as quoted by cricket.com.au.

Earlier in the week, Queensland bulls announced that Jason Floros will lead the team in next month’s Matador Cup, while Usman Khawaja, their regular skipper will be international duty on Australia’s tour of South Africa.

Queensland squad: Jason Floros (c), Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Luke Feldman, Cameron Gannon, Peter George, Marnus Labuschagne, Chris Lynn, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Nathan Reardon, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson