Royal Challengers Bangalore announce coaching staff for women's team

Royal Challengers Bangalore announce coaching staff for women’s team

(Cricket news) Royal Challengers Bangalore announced Ben Sawyer as the RCB women team’s Head Coach for the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023.

Sawyer has been in charge of the New Zealand women’s cricket team and was also the assistant coach of Australia women’s cricket team. Sawyer was the head coach of Sydney Sixers in the Women’s Big Bash League, guiding them to two titles in 2016-17 and 2017-18. He has the highest winning percentage among all the women’s T20 coaches.

While Mike Hesson will continue to assume the role of Director of Cricket, Malolan Rangarajan, who is the Head of Scouting for RCB, will be part of Ben Sawyer’s team as the Assistant Head Coach.

RCB have also appointed former India women cricketer Vanitha VR, who was the scout and played a big role in building the team, as the Fielding Coach. RX Murali is appointed as the Batting Coach for RCB Women’s team ahead of WPL 2023.

Continuing their path-breaking journey in women’s cricket, the RCB have also roped in Dr Harini Muralidharan as the team manager for the RCB women’s team alongside her role of a team doctor for both RCB women’s and men’s team.

Speaking about the appointments, Prathmesh Mishra, Chairman of RCB, said: “We are excited to name Ben (Sawyer) as the Head Coach for RCB Women’s team. He has the ability to tap potentials in players and take their cricket to next level. We already have a great team, and I am confident that his leadership will help build a strong nucleus alongside the vast experience that he has of winning titles, 3 World Cups for Australia Women’s team and 2 for Sydney Sixers. Also, the experience of setting up the women’s franchise from scratch.

He has the highest winning percentage among all the women’s T20 coaches. He’s been involved in women’s cricket for over 20 years. He knows the women talents really well. He has been thoroughly involved in our preparation to put together our women’s squad. We are assured that he can guide us to success while delivering the entertaining brand of cricket that made us a favourite team of fans in India and across the globe. He (Ben Sawyer) has been part of Women’s cricket over 20 years now, knows the cricketers thoroughly, understands the game and has been involved in our preparations right from the beginning.

“I am really delighted to have him and he is as excited to join us. We also have Malo who has been part of our men’s system and scouting team and he will bring lot of value as Vanitha and RX Murali who have extensive experience of working in Karnataka with the women players and are highly sort after. We have a great team of talented support staff too along with the coaching team who we want to grow and develop too,” Mike Hesson, Director of Cricket Operations, RCB further added.

On his new role as the RCB Women’s Head Coach Ben Sawyer said: “It is an exciting opportunity for me to join RCB women’s cricket team for an exhilarating campaign like the WPL. RCB has a massive fan following across the globe, built on their success and a bold brand of cricket. The work begins now, and we will try to build on that success for the women’s cricket team as well in WPL 2023. I would like to thank the management for entrusting me with the role of Head Coach and I will try to deliver my best to ensure a successful season.”

COACHING STAFF FOR RCB WOMEN’S TEAM: