Former England Test cricketer Graeme Hick faces a tough six-month initiation after being appointed Australia's new batting coach.
Hick has been signed to a three-and-a-half year deal which will keep him with the team until March 2020, a tenure that will include an Ashes tour, World Cup and Champions Trophy in England.
Hick's priority will be to get Australia's batting group in the right frame of mind after being humiliated by Sri Lanka's spinners in a crushing 3-0 Test series loss last month.
Australia face a tough home summer firstly against a powerful South African pace attack and then combatting a Pakistan bowling arsenal that includes leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
In February and March, Australia are back in the subcontinent to face their demons on the dry turning wickets in a four-Test tour of India.
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"(Hick) is a very experienced player in all conditions and will bring a wealth of knowledge with him," head coach Darren Lehmann said.
"His knowledge of those conditions will also be invaluable."
Hick assumes the full-time role from Michael Di Venuto, who left it vacant in March to take up a head coaching position with English county club Surrey.
Hick, who was Australia's high performance coach in 2013, filled in for the batting role earlier this year for the team's successful one-day tri-series in the West Indies against the hosts and South Africa.
"We were really impressed with what he brought to the group," Lehmann said.
Hick, who scored 3383 runs in 65 Tests for England, has also recently worked with Australia's under-19 squad and the National Performance Squad.
"To take the next step up with the men's team and getting the opportunity to work with some of the best players in the world is something I am really looking forward to," Hick said.
Hick's signing comes after former English bowling coach David Saker was announced as taking the same role with Australia in July.
Hick will begin his career ahead of the Australian summer, while Greg Blewett will return to the role of fielding coach after he filled in Di Venuto's shoes on the recent tour of Sri Lanka.
