Former England A batsman Michael Powell signed up to coach Scots

CRICKET Scotland has appointed Michael Powell as their high performance batting coach.

The former Warwickshire captain and England A batsman will take on the role on a part- time basis, while continuing his work as a teacher and master- in-charge of cricket at the Loretto School in Musselburgh.

Powell's specific remit will be to work with a small group of both current and emerging international players to help them develop their technical and tactical play. He said: "I'm loving it here in Scotland. This is a great opportunity for me to work with Scotland's best batters and develop my coaching career."

Cricket Scotland's head of performance Andy Tennant, added: "He is a highly rated young coach with an excellent pedigree and will provide welcome support to the excellent work being done by head coach Peter Steindl and the national coaching team.

"We are determined to leave no stone unturned to ensure that Scotland's finest players receive the best and most experienced support available."

Meanwhile, New South Wales prodigy Steven Smith lived up to the hype after making an international debut to remember as Australia snatched Twenty20 victory from the jaws of defeat against Pakistan at the MCG.

The leg-spinning all-rounder, who was one of two debutants along with Tasmania batsman Travis Birt, showed nerves of steel to swing a game that looked lost Australia's way with two wickets in successive overs as the home side somehow defended a total of just 127.

After Australia failed to bat out their full 20 overs, Pakistan appeared on course for a comfortable win when they were cruising at 98 for four but ended up falling two runs short after finishing on 125 for nine. And it was thanks to a combination of Smith's leg spin and the pace of Shaun Tait that Pakistan capitulated yet again as they ended a dismal tour without a solitary victory after having been clean swept in both the Test series (3-0) and the one-day series (5-0).

Tait, who sent down a 160.7kph thunderbolt in the opening over, reduced Pakistan to 10 for two before coming back to remove danger man Kamran Akmal, who had scored 64 off just 33 balls.

But it was 20-year-old Smith who caused the Pakistan innings to disintegrate when he claimed Fawad Alam and Rana Naved- Ul-Hasan in successive overs to finish with two for 34.