Orissa had a dismal outing in the ranji trophy this season and only narrowly managed to escape relegation into the Plate group as they finished second from the bottom in their group. The standard of cricket in the state has been inconsistent over the past few years with many quarters calling for reforms. Many senior players of the state have also chosen to ply their trade elsewhere to give better chance to their careers. And now it seems the OCA has finally risen albet a bit late to the worrying standards of the game in the state and so has appointed Bevan to take charge of the team in the ranji trophy.

“Bevan has, in principle, agreed to render his service from October 2011 to February 2012,” Orissa Cricket Association Secretary Asirbad Behera told reporters in Cuttack.

Bevan himself has also shown keen interest in trying to improve the overall standards of the game in the state. He said, “I will remain accountable to OCA for the performance of the team,”

Bevan has also been appointed the coach of IPL team Kings XI Punjab and it remains to be seen how he manages both the jobs. However the Orissa players are sure to gain from the immense experience of Bevan who had been a regular performer for Australia during his playing days.