BCCI sacks Team India bowling coach Eric Simons

India will replace bowling coach Eric Simons with former Queensland fast bowler Joe Dawes at the end of the tour of Australia. Simons' contract, which expires at the end of the tour, will not be renewed, ending a two-year long tenure with the Indian team, a BCCI working committee member has told ESPNcricinfo.

Dawes played 76 first-class matches for Queensland between 1997 and 2005, often having to wait his turn behind Australia bowlers Michael Kasprowicz and Andy Bichel. His career was cut short by a knee injury following which he became involved in coaching. After a stint with Queensland, he became bowling coach of South Australia in June 2011 and was also bowling coach of the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League 2011-12.

Simons, who joined India as a bowling consultant in 2010, was named coach of the Delhi Daredevils for the 2012 IPL season. A former South Africa allrounder, Simons was initially part of Gary Kirsten's coaching staff, but remained with the squad when Kirsten did not renew his contract after the World Cup.

The topic of Simons' contract was brought up at the BCCI working committee meeting in Chennai on Monday. Replacing him will be the first change India make to their support staff after losing their last eight away Tests.