Photo Credit: Sydney Sixers
A new era has dawned on the Sydney Sixers WBBL team with the appointment of English great Charlotte Edwards as head coach for WBBL|08.
Edwards replaces Ben Sawyer, who led the Sixers in all seven editions of the WBBL, including a pair of titles and two other finals appearances at the helm of the league’s most popular club, before he moved full-time to the Australian women’s team set up.
Edwards’ 20-year international playing career is stuff of legend, from making her debut at 16 as England’s youngest ever player, to leading her country to success in an Ashes series, and world titles in one-day and Twenty20 formats.
In addition to awards as ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year, Wisden Cricketer of the Year, and ECB Cricketer of the Year, Edwards was also bestowed MBE and CBE for her services to cricket.
Edwards has had a taste of the WBBL before too, playing seasons at the Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers in the earlier years of the world’s premier domestic women’s tournament.
Since moving into coaching upon her retirement from playing in 2017, Edwards has shared similar success, winning several English domestic titles as head coach of her former team Southern Vipers.
In 2021, the new English domestic women’s Twenty20 competition, the Charlotte Edwards Cup, was named after her in recognition of her contribution to English cricket.
“I’m extremely excited to be offered the role with the Sixers who are one of the most successful women’s domestic teams in the world,” Edwards said.
“To be associated with a team like the Sixers is really exciting for me and I really can’t wait to get started.”
Edwards is very clear on her focus for the Sixers, who have missed the finals for the last three seasons.
“The vision for the sixers is to bring back trophies for the club,” she said.
“More importantly is the way we do that, and I think the way we do that is to play a really exciting and entertaining style of cricket that hopefully the fans are proud of and want to come and watch.
“That means a lot to me and the group.”
Cricket NSW Head of Female Cricket, Leah Poulton, paid tribute to Sawyer while welcoming the new era for the Sixers.
“Ben has been a wonderful leader over many years at the Sixers and he’s done a fantastic job developing a generation of players,” Poulton said.
“We are proud not just of Ben’s achievements but also of the way in which he worked so hard to build a culture within the team and a connection with our members and fans.
“Charlotte brings with her extensive leadership experience and a reputation for bringing out the best in those around her.
“She has already demonstrated a clear vision for the team, it’s an exciting brand of cricket which I’m sure will appeal to our fans.”
The Sixers have seven of their WBBL|08 15 roster spots under contract – Alyssa Healy, Maitlan Brown, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Ash Gardner, Nicole Bolton and Jade Allen – with more announcements expected in coming weeks.
