Australia assistant coach Twining appointed as Melbourne Renegades head coach for WBBL
Melbourne, Aug 14
Reigning Women's Big Bash League champions Melbourne Renegades on Friday said they have appointed Australian women's national team assistant coach Gavan Twining as their new head coach.
Twining takes over the reins from Simon Helmot, the championship-winning coach who stepped down in April to pursue overseas coaching opportunities in various franchise leagues. He has been serving in the Australian team since late 2024, and played an instrumental role in the side winning Women's T20 World Cup this year in England.
At the Renegades, Twining will reunite with star Australian international players, including national skipper Sophie Molineux and leg-spin bowling all-rounder Georgia Wareham. He will join the Renegades camp in Melbourne following Australia's upcoming series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
At the end of the WBBL season, Twining will rejoin the Australian team for their future international commitments. "I'm really excited to be joining the Melbourne Renegades and getting to work with this playing group. The Renegades have a strong foundation and a talented squad, and I'm looking forward to helping the players take the next step and build on the success the club has had.
"Having been part of the Australian team's World Cup campaign, I'm excited to bring those experiences into the Renegades environment and help produce performances that our members and fans can be proud of," said Twining.
Twining previously served as an assistant to former Sydney Sixers head coach Greg Shipperd across six BBL seasons, which included consecutive title wins in seasons nine and ten. Welcoming the appointment, Renegades General Manager Max Abbott said, "Gavan is an outstanding addition to our WBBL program, bringing World Cup winning experience to our group.
"There's already a very positive environment within the squad and we felt Gavan was the best person to continue building on that working with the experienced leaders we have in the squad.
"While Gavan completes his Australian commitments, we are really comfortable that Clint McKay can oversee the preparation for the Spring Challenge as coach and ensure we are ready to go for the opening game on October 29."
— IANS
Reader Comments
WBBL is getting more competitive every year! Twining's appointment seems well thought out. But I hope he doesn't get overburdened with dual roles - managing both national duties and franchise coaching can be tricky. Balance is key!
Interesting to see the coaching carousel in women's cricket. Twining reuniting with Molineux and Wareham is a big plus - the familiarity will help the squad transition smoothly. WBBL is becoming a great platform for women's cricket globally! 🌟
Good appointment, but I wonder about the long-term vision. With Twining splitting time between national and franchise duties, will the Renegades get his full attention? The Spring Challenge preparation being handed to Clint McKay is a bit concerning. The team management needs to ensure continuity.
Women's cricket is really progressing! It's heartening to see top coaches like Twining committing to the WBBL. His previous work with the Sixers across six BBL seasons shows he knows how to build consistent teams. Best wishes to the Renegades for the upcoming season! 💪
Solid pick by the Renegades. Twining's credentials are impressive - World Cup win with Australia and back-to-back BBL titles with the Sixers. The only question is how smoothly he'll transition mid-season after the international commitments. Hopefully the team doesn't lose momentum during that period.
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