COOLUM, AUG 24 (AP/UNB) - Tim Nielsen will remain as Australia cricket coach until the end of the next Ashes series in England in 2013.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said at a player training camp north of Brisbane on Tuesday that Nielsen will remain as coach through the next two Ashes' campaigns as well as for
Australia's bid to win a fourth consecutive World Cup in April 2011.

Nielsen, a former South Australian wicketkeeper, has been coach of the national team since February 2007. "Tim has been at the helm through a significant and challenging period of transition which has seen a number of once-in-a-generation global champions retire from the Australian team," Sutherland said. "We have won eight of our last 10 tests, are ranked No. 1 in one-day international cricket and reached the final of the most recent ICC T20 Championship with Tim as our national coach."

Nielsen said he's pleased with the ongoing improvement in the side. "We have players who have come into the group over the last year or so who have found their feet at international level and more young players coming through," Nielsen said. "It is a great time to be renewing my role."

On Monday, former test captain Greg Chappell was named Australia's inaugural national talent manager and full-time team selector.