Simpson warns of coaching drain

As Greg Chappell waits to hear whether he will coach West Indies the former Australia mentor Bob Simpson has warned the exodus of local talent is not going to stop.

"It's becoming part and parcel of world cricket because Australia is so much the flavour of the game right now," Simpson told the Courier-Mail. "Other countries probably don't have the same quality people available so they're going to keep looking at the most successful countries."

If Chappell replaces Gus Logie, who stepped down after West Indies won the Champions Trophy last month, he will join Dav Whatmore, in Bangladesh, and John Dyson, in Sri Lanka, as Australians coaching other national teams. Steve Rixon, the former New South Wales coach who guides Surrey, and Rod Marsh, an England selector and their Academy coach, also hold prominent positions overseas.

"There can be trouble in Australia sharing between six states so it's only natural that there will be some politics with so many different countries," Simpson, who lifted Australia out of the doldrums after taking over in 1986, said. "But there is only so much you can do as a coach if you haven't got the talent."

Chappell finished as South Australia's coaching director in 2003 and was appointed a batting consultant with Pakistan. He expects a decision on the West Indies job next week.