Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Sydney Thunder have received a massive boost following tickets going on sale for Weber WBBL|09 and KFC BBL|13 with former Australian representatives Michael Klinger and Dan Christian signing on as assistant coaches.
Klinger, Cricket NSW’s Head of T20 Male Cricket, will join with new Thunder head coach Lisa Keightley and fellow assistant Sarah Aley to guide the WBBL team, while Christian will assist BBL head coach Trevor Bayliss and assistant Shawn Bradstreet.
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In a playing career that saw him represent Australia in three T20 Internationals and end his time in the BBL in 2019 as the league’s highest ever run-scorer, Klinger brings a wealth of experience across a gamut of cricket areas.
Alongside his success on the field, Klinger has managed Cricket NSW’s male high performance program, served as General Manager of cricket for the Washington Freedom and was the head coach of the Melbourne Renegades in the BBL.
He will continue his role managing the cricket performance element for the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers BBL programs, and Washington Freedom, while adding valuable expertise to Keightley’s staff.
Christian, a veteran of more than 400 T20 matches, including 23 for Australia, retired from playing at the conclusion of the Sydney Sixers BBL campaign last summer. He finished his career having played for 19 different T20 teams around the globe, winning nine titles with eight different clubs.
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In the BBL he won titles with Brisbane Heat in BBL|02, the Renegades, where he was the player of the match in the BBL|08 Final, and most recently with the Sixers in BBL|10.
Christian said he was excited to continue his association with the Big Bash and welcomed the opportunity to work with Bayliss, who was his coach in the NSW Under 19 team in 2000/01.
“I’d like to think over my career I have developed a bank of knowledge and experiences that can help the Thunder players and I am eager to learn from Trevor Bayliss,” Christian, who is also an assistant for the Australian Under 19 team, said.
“I have always had an interest in coaching and to be able to step into a role at a great club, that connects with the community on and off the field, and then be able to work alongside Trevor and Shawn Bradstreet is something I am very grateful for.
“Thunder have some great young players and some really experienced veterans like David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Chris Green and Gurinder Sandhu that I can’t wait to work with.”
Head of Sydney Thunder, Andrew Gilchrist, said the two appointments were a huge bonus for the club heading into the season.
“This is a coup for Thunder heading into what is shaping as two great seasons,” Gilchrist said.
“Michael Klinger has so much experience in so many areas of the game and he has a great relationship with Lisa Keightley, having previously worked with her in Western Australia.
“In the BBL, Dan Christian’s record speaks for itself. He was a contributor with bat, ball and in the field for a long, long time and has really been like an assistant coach as a player for the latter half of that time.
“Alongside the rest of our coaching staff, led by Lisa and Trevor Bayliss, we feel like our players have the best possible opportunity to have success this season.”
Sydney Thunder WBBL|09 Fixture
Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers | North Sydney Oval
Saturday, October 22, 5.25pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades | Cricket Central, Sydney Olympic Park
Thursday, October 26, 3.00pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes | University of Tasmania Stadium
Monday, October 30, 6.10pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades | CitiPower Centre
Wednesday, November 1, 3.00pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars | Casey Fields
Saturday, November 4, 3.00pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat | North Sydney Oval
Monday, November 6, 6.10pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes | Cricket Central, Sydney Olympic Park
Thursday, November 9, 3.00pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars | North Sydney Oval
Friday, November 10, 3.20pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers | CitiPower Centre
Sunday, November 12, 10.10am (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers | Karen Rolton Oval
Wednesday, November 15, 3.30pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers | Cricket Central, Sydney Olympic Park
Saturday, November 18, 3.00pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers | Cricket Central, Sydney Olympic Park
Tuesday, November 21, 3.00pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat | Adelaide Oval
Friday, November 24, 3.40pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers | Sydney Cricket Ground
Sunday, November 26, 1.40pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder BBL|13 Fixture
Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat | Manuka Oval
Tuesday December 12, 7.15pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers | Adelaide Oval
Tuesday December 19, 7.15pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars | Lavington Sports Ground, Albury
Saturday December 23, 3.30pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat | Gabba
Wednesday December 27, 7.15pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers | Sydney Showground Stadium
Saturday December 30, 7.15pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes | Blundstone Arena
Monday January 1, 4.00pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers | Sydney Showground Stadium
Monday January 8, 7.15pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers | SCG
Friday January 12, 7.15pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers | Manuka Oval
Sunday January 14, 7.15pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades | Sydney Showground Stadium
Wednesday January 17, 7.15pm (AEDT)
Sydney Thunder WBBL|09 Squad
Head Coach: Lisa Keightley
Contracted for WBBL|09: Hannah Darlington, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Lauren Smith.
Sydney Thunder BBL|13 Squad
Head Coach: Trevor Bayliss
Contracted for BBL|13: Cameron Bancroft, Ollie Davies, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner.
Name of Author: Sydney Thunder
The Sydney Thunder is an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Based at Sydney Showground Stadium, the Thunder, along with the Sydney Sixers, succeeded the New South Wales Blues from the defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
