Dimitri Mascarenhas never played Test cricket. He didn't play for Australia either.

But in his new role, he will try to help develop the next generation of Australian Test players.

Raised in Melbourne and then Perth to Sri Lankan parents, the former England all-rounder has been appointed coach of the Cricket Australia under-16 side that will compete at the national under-17 championships to be held in Brisbane in September and October.

It is a coup for CA, given Mascarenhas earlier this year ended a year-long stint as New Zealand's bowling coach.

Mascarenhas, 38, enjoyed his time under Kiwi head coach Mike Hesson, but was swayed to return to Melbourne to be back with his family.

He went scouring for a role back in the city of his childhood, and ended up landing a job after discussions with CA high-performance chief Pat Howard.

He said - 

“

I had lots of meetings with lots of different people trying to get jobs and stuff. I spoke quite a few times to Pat Howard to see what we could do and he's been really good. He said he would help in any way he could.

”

Mascarenhas who played 20 one-day internationals and 14 Twenty20 internationals worked with the Black Caps' fearsome pace bowling battery during his time in New Zealand.

While his role with the teenagers will only encompass the fortnight of the tournament, Mascarenhas has already been coaching juniors in Melbourne, and he hopes this recent opportunity will lead to more work.

One man who Mascarenhas could call upon in his quest to hone the juniors' skills is former Melbourne Stars and Hampshire teammate Shane Warne, with whom Mascarenhas remains close.

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