Securing coach Paddy Upton and a new skipper key tasks for the reigning champions
Thunder look to lock in keys to title defence
Reigning KFC Big Bash League champions Sydney Thunder have two important tasks to tick off before they begin their title defence in December – securing their coach and captain for BBL|06.
The Thunder hope to soon reappoint coach Paddy Upton, who lifted the club from the bottom of the Big Bash ladder to their inaugural title, while they will also appoint a replacement for retired skipper Mike Hussey.
General manager Nick Cummins believes re-signing Upton – who is currently in India coaching Delhi Daredevils in the IPL - looms as the key to continued success for the club.
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Upton’s two-year contract ended at the end of BBL|05, but Cummins is hopeful a new deal will be inked in the not-too-distant future.
"We’re very confident that Paddy will return. The main thing for him was just making sure that he had the right motivation to return having been a successful coach last year,” Cummins told News Ltd.
"We spent a lot of time talking about that and what drives him and what gets him excited."
Hussey retired after lifting the trophy at the MCG in January, but he will still play a crucial role in the Thunder’s campaign as new director of cricket.
His logical replacement looms in veteran allrounder Shane Watson, who called time on his international T20 career following the ICC World T20 in India last month.
Cummins sees the combination of Upton, Hussey and Watson as the foundation on which the club can continue the improvements which have seen the Thunder turn from cellar dwellers to champions.
"It’s really important to keep consistency and continuity,” Cummins said.
"We’ve spent a lot of time building a strong culture, particularly considering where we’ve come from."
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Hussey has wasted little time easing into his new role as Director of Cricket, revealing his first new signing early last month.
His first order of business was to confirm the signing on a two-year contract of 20-year old batsman Ryan Gibson, who Hussey got to see up close on the Thunder's pre-season tour of New Zealand late last year.
"We don’t just want good players but good characters and Ryan comes across as a good young kid who is keen to learn," Hussey said.
"He’s a great fit for Thunder and hopefully it’s a great experience for him too.
"I got to watch him pretty close in New Zealand during our pre-season tour and see how he applies himself.
"We’re keen to have him a part of the club not just for the short term but hopefully for the long term."
Having claimed their first piece of silverware, the Thunder won’t be resting on their laurels this summer, with sustaining success their new mantra.
"It’s a very tough competition to make the finals, let alone win,” Cummins said.
"Our absolute mantra at the moment is ‘sustain success,’ but success doesn’t necessarily mean winning every game, or indeed winning the grand final, it’s about being competitive in every game.
"It’s the continuity we talked about before, trying to keep Mike, and Paddy and Shane together in some capacity.
"It’s ensuring continuity with the players on the field as well, and then succession plans. So it’s about signing the next generation of young players in state cricket as well.
"So as the likes of Michael (Hussey), Clint McKay, Ben Rohrer and Chris Hartley finish their careers, we’ve got the next Hartley, Rohrer, McKay and Hussey coming through."