Published: Sep 10, 2019, 03:59 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 10, 2019, 03:59 PM (IST)
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has been named head coach of the men’s Nottingham-based team for the first season of The Hundred. Fleming, 46, had led Nottinghamshire to the 2005 County Championship title and has also coached Indian Premier League (IPL) Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to three titles.
The women’s team will be coached by ex-Yorkshire player Salliann Briggs. The 35-year-old coaches Women’s Big Bash League side Hobart Hurricanes and was also been in charge of Loughborough Lightning from 2016 to 2018.
Fleming said: “I am looking forward to returning to Nottingham. It was a special part of my career and it allowed me to fall back in love with the game. My memories with Nottingham and Trent Bridge are outstanding.”
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Fleming, regarded as one of the most tactically astute minds in the fraternity, said the knowledge of his assistant coaches, who will be announced soon, will play an important part in the preparation to choose the side during the men’s Player Draft on October 20.
“I’m really looking forward to working with some of the talented local coaches. You really have to be on your game from the first pick in The Draft and make sure you get players that represent what you stand for and how you want to play. Having local coaches is a massive part of that – working with our three counties – to tap into their knowledge of the players,” he said.
Meanwhile, Briggs wants to capitalise on the opportunity extended to her. “It’s a great opportunity and I’m really looking forward to getting started and building the team. When The Hundred was first announced I was struck by how it was different from the IPL and the Big Bash and I thought it was a great idea to create something different from those tournaments, rather than attempt to compete with them,” he said.
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“Since then you look at the coaches who are getting involved – and it looks as if the best players want to be involved as well – and it just feels like we’re set to be involved in a really good competition.”
Sanjay Patel, Managing Director of The Hundred said: “Stephen is the most successful coach in IPL history and Salliann has made a real impact at the Loughborough Lightning over the past few years. It is great to have their knowledge and expertise as part of the first year of The Hundred.”
The Hundred competition, a new 100-ball format, will be launched next year and with the men’s and women’s competitions to run concurrently over a five-week period. It will feature eight city-based clubs, from Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff, Southampton and two in London (Lord’s and the Oval).
