Rachael Haynes will be back in the Women’s Big Bash League 2023 as the full-time Head of Sydney Sixers. She will manage the club’s internal as well as external stakeholder relationships, including recruitment, match day production, and community engagement across the KFC BBL and Weber WBBL.
Haynes will start the proceedings at the Sixers with WBBL and BBL tickets on sale from the 21st of August. She represented the Sixers’ arch-rivals, Sydney Thunders from the inception of the tournament till last year before announcing her retirement. She won two titles with them, one as a captain.
“Since retiring as a player last November I have had time to reflect on my career, but just as importantly, plan for the future, and when this role with the Sydney Sixers came along, I just felt like it was a great fit,” Haynes said.
GREAT NEWS!!
Less than a year after retiring from the game, Australian veteran, Rachael Haynes, is returning to cricket to assume a new role.#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/Yypn3kxTeq
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 14, 2023
The Australian stalwart represented Australia on 167 occasions across formats with 3818 runs before ending her international career on 15th September 2022. She was the team’s vice-captain from 2017 to 2022. The 36-year-old has been part of winning teams of 2 ODI World Cups, 4 T20 World Cups and the Commonwealth Games.
“Cricket has been a massive part of my life and I feel like I have learned a lot along the way, through my studies and as a player, in what drives a successful team and a successful club.
The success of the Sixers across the BBL and WBBL has been remarkable, the former Australian opener added: “The Sixers are the most revered club in the League, having played in 11 of the 20 Finals held in BBL and WBBL history. We have some of cricket’s most recognizable faces and play at iconic grounds like North Sydney Oval and the Sydney Cricket Ground.”
Haynes was the head coach of Gujarat Giants in the inaugural Women’s Premier League. But this is a brand new role for her, she added “I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into the role and driving the club forward to provide our members and fans with the best experience possible.”
Due to the kind of experience she has, having Haynes in any role is a boon for any team. “I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into the role and driving the club forward to provide our members and fans with the best experience possible,” said Chris Botherway, the Cricket NSW General Manager, Big Bash Leagues.
Haynes represented Victoria from 2005 to 2011 and then New South Wales from 2011 to her retirement in 2022. Botherway added: “Rach is no stranger to Cricket NSW, having played for and captained the NSW Breakers, Sydney Thunder, and Australia. In addition to a stellar playing career, Rach is an experienced sports and marketing professional with a real passion for connecting the next generation to our sport.”
The WBBL will start on the 19th of October with Sydney Sixers taking the field against Melbourne Stars at the North Sydney Oval.
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