Australian baseball coach Jon Deeble believes the star-studded staff assembled to guide the national team in the inaugural World Baseball Classic next March is the country's best ever

Deeble, who took Australia to an Olympic silver medal in Athens last year, will be backed up by Phil Dale, Tony Harris, Pat Kelly, Paul Elliott and Craig Shipley during the tournament

All five assistants have experience in the Major League, with Shipley one of Australia's best known big league players, having played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros and Los Angels Angels during his 11-year career

Deeble described the inclusion of Shipley, currently part of the Boston Red Sox staff, as a massive boost for Australian baseball

Deeble, the Red Sox Asian Pacific scout, has worked closely with Shipley over the past several years

"Craig is responsible for giving the 70 plus kids currently playing in either the Major League or Minor League and the hundreds before them the chance to play professionally in the States" Deeble said
"He is the pioneer of professional baseballers in Australia
We are all indebted to him and how he has put Australian baseball on the world stage
He played for 11 years in the Majors, he's coached and he was in the front office when the Red Sox won the World Series
He's done it all"

A host of Major League stars are expected to feature in the 16-country tournament

Australia has been drawn in the same pool as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Italy for the Classic and will begin their campaign in Orlando, Florida on March 7