Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
Former South African limited over captain Johan Botha will take on the coaching roles of the Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bulls for the next three years.
Botha, 42, was confirmed today as the new head coach by Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson, filling the roles left vacant by the departure of Wade Seccombe in March.
“We’re excited to announce Johan will take on the Heat and Bulls coaching roles and look forward to welcoming he and his family to Queensland,’’ he said.
“We had several high-quality applicants and Johan stood out in the interview process with his experience as an international player, and more recently as a coach, as well as his familiarity with Australian Cricket since moving here from South Africa more than a decade ago,’’ Svenson said.
Botha captained the Proteas in 10 one-day internationals, leading a team that included the likes of former Heat player AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher and Hashim Amla.
In all he played five Tests, 78 ODIs and 40 T20 Internationals for South Africa between 2005 and 2012.
He played 71 games in the KFC Big Bash League for Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Sixers, and the Hobart Hurricanes, where he played his last professional game in 2021.
Botha was an assistant coach for the Strikers as recently as BBL|12 in 2022-23 and was head coach of the Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20 this year and assistant coach for the Seattle Orcas in the inaugural Major League Cricket competition in the USA last year.
He has previously been head coach of the Multan Sultans, Karachi Kings and Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League and Guyana in the Caribbean Premier League.
He played for Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.
Queensland Cricket Head of Elite Cricket Joe Dawes said Botha would commence with the Heat and Bulls at the official start of pre-season training on 3 June.
“Johan is a fiercely motivated and determined person and has consistently displayed those traits during his playing and coaching career,’’ he said.
“He is very much at the cutting edge of the game internationally and will bring a fresh and dynamic outlook to our organisation and especially the Bulls and championship Brisbane Heat squads,’’ Dawes said.
Botha, who has also enjoyed a successful calling as an ultra-marathon runner in recent years, expressed his pleasure at joining Queensland Cricket.
“There is a lot to look forward to for Queensland Cricket and I can’t wait to hit the ground running in what will be an exciting and fulfilling challenge,’’ he said.
“This is an incredible opportunity with the playing talent and experience that the two squads will be able to call upon.
“The Bulls have strong ties to success, and I have no doubt the playing group already aspire to be deeply competitive this summer.
“The Heat were skilful and professional on the way to their BBL title and have an enviable base to pursue new challenges in the coming seasons,” Botha said.
“My family and I are looking forward to making the move to Queensland and becoming part of the cricket community,’’ he said.
Test legend and QC director Ian Healy was part of the interview panel along with Svenson and Dawes that identified Botha as the preferred candidate for the role, with senior Bulls and Heat players also consulted.
Name of Author: Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat are an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL), representing both men’s and women’s cricket. Based in Brisbane, Queensland, the Heat succeeded the Queensland Bulls, who played in the former KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. The team wears a teal uniform and plays at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known as The Gabba.
