Former Test all-rounder Shane Watson is in the running to coach Sydney Thunder in what would be his first major coaching appointment in Australia.
Cricket NSW are splitting the head coaching roles for their state and Big Bash League teams after a dramatic few weeks in which all three positions have become open.
Shane Watson is in the running for the Sydney Thunder coaching role.Credit: AAP
Both the Thunder and Sydney Sixers are in the process of interviewing candidates for their top jobs after the departures of Trevor Bayliss and Greg Shipperd at the respective clubs.
This masthead can reveal Watson and the well-travelled Dan Christian are on the shortlist for the Thunder, who mutually parted ways with Bayliss last month after five seasons, while T20 World Cup-winning coach Matthew Mott is in the frame for the job with the Sixers.
The separation of the state and BBL jobs has enabled CNSW to draw what two sources say is a high-quality field for their T20 teams.
Watson, a former Thunder player, is the head coach for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League, taking the franchise from last to fourth and to runner-up in his two seasons in charge.
He has also coached the San Francisco Unicorns in America’s Major League Cricket for three seasons, including two finishes in the semi-finals in 2024-25.
His appointment would add star power to the Thunder, who struggled last season despite a big season from captain David Warner. If successful, it would see Watson join forces with young gun Sam Konstas, who is managed by his wife Lee Watson.
Dan Christian is another contender to coach Sydney Thunder in the BBL.Credit: Getty
Christian, who represented Australia in the ODI and T20 teams, served under Bayliss as an assistant coach since his retirement from playing. A prolific winner of domestic T20 titles, Christian is one of the most experienced Australians in the format and has played in many leagues around the globe.
Mott is one of the most decorated T20 Australian coaches, having led the all conquering national women’s team to world titles in 2018 and 2020, the latter at home in front of a near capacity crowd at the MCG. He also led England to T20 World Cup glory in Australia in 2022.
Matthew Mott is on the shortlist to coach Sydney Sixers.Credit: AP
Mott, who coached the men’s state team to win the Sheffield Shield in 2007/08 and the now defunct Champions League T20 competition in 2009, was part of Shipperd’s coaching panel that led the Sixers to this year’s final. He was appointed the Sixers coach in the WBBL last year.
Former Australia wicketkeeper and NSW great Brad Haddin is considered a red-hot favourite to take the Blues job, but is not interested in the T20 roles, which would clash with his media commitments with Triple M and Fox Cricket.
CNSW chief Lee Germon made the brutal call in January to cut Shipperd as the coach of the Blues and the Sixers, just days after the Sixers were beaten in the BBL final, saying “we felt it was time to move in a new direction to give the Blues and Sixers the best chance to win titles”.
Shipperd opted to coach out the season and this week led the Blues to victory in the National One-Day Cup.
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