Gary Kirsten named as Hundred head coach of Welsh Fire
Former India and South Africa head coach Gary Kirsten has been appointed to lead the Cardiff-based team in next year’s inaugrual edition of The Hundred.
Kirsten has a wealth of coaching experience, having lead India to World Cup glory in 2011 followed by a successful stint in charge of his native South Africa between 2011-2013.
Under Kirsten’s guidance, both countries also reached number one in the ICC’s official Test rankings.
Jobs in Twenty20 franchise cricket followed, with the South African taking charge of the Hobart Hurricanes and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Big Bash and IPL respectively.
Speaking on the news of his unveiling, Kirsten said: “To be involved in English and Welsh cricket from a coaching perspective is something that I have never done. It’s great to be given that opportunity and to come to Cardiff.
“This is a new format that I am sure will grow and grow. The real win is that it will grab the attention of families and expose the game of cricket to as many environments and communities as possible.”
World Cup winning coaches Gary Kirsten and Matthew Mott join #TheHundredhttps://t.co/UtPNAdEDwD pic.twitter.com/z9GzuDVmKW
— England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) August 12, 2019
The 51-year-old competed in 101 Tests and 185 ODIs in a stellar playing career for South Africa between 1993-2004.
He becomes the fourth coach to be announced for the fledgling competition, with fellow overseas recruits Shane Warne (London Spirit), Andrew McDonald (Birmingham Phoenix) and Simon Katich (Manchester Originals) previously announced.
READ MORE ON THE HUNDRED
The Hundred, by Disgruntled of Yorkshire
Inside The Hundred: How ‘London X’ somehow got binned
LISTEN: Cricket Badger Podcast: Fans’ Forum on The Hundred
The Hundred can be brilliant because cricket is brilliant; just stop f***ing it up
Latest
-
NewsPakistan shift Zimbabwe T20Is from Lahore to Rawalpindi
Zimbabwe are now set to play all six internationals in Rawalpindi.
-
NewsCSA rubbishes reports of resignations at board level
Cricket South Africa insist there have been no resignations.
-
NewsIndia great Kapil Dev stable after emergency heart surgery
The former all-rounder captained his country to a first-ever World Cup crown in 1983.
-
NewsEngland’s male cricketers agree to pay cut to help deal with coronavirus crisis
Cuts will last for a year.
-
NewsMiddlesex committed to improving inclusivity and ‘addressing bias’
The Lord’s-based county confronted the issue at a recent board meeting.
-
NewsAustralian Event Awards honour Women’s T20 World Cup
The Women’s T20 World Cup has been recognised once again for its innovation and excellence in the field of event organisation.
-
NewsIndia tour to Australia rubber-stamped by government
Cricket Australia have hammered out a deal with the New South Wales authorities to host the quarantining players.
-
NewsChigumbura wants to prove his worth in Pakistan
Elton Chigumbura targets a return to form and Zimbabwe are hunting points in the Cricket World Cup Super League.
-
NewsEngland announce T20I and ODI tour to South Africa next month
England’s first tour since the coronavirus pandemic began will be played out amid biosecure plans agreed with the Proteas.
-
NewsMorgan warns against long-term impact of bio-bubbles
England captain Eoin Morgan and his West Indies counterpart Jason Holder have expressed concerns about continuous use of bio-bubbles.