Former Australian Test Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin Named NSW Coach

Brad Haddin has been appointed as the new head coach of New South Wales (NSW) cricket team, replacing Greg Shipperd who was sacked midway through the season. Haddin, a former Australian Test wicketkeeper, aims to bring back an "aura" to NSW cricket and develop a distinctive style of play. He'll start his new role in June and won't be involved with the Sydney Sixers or Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League. Haddin's experience includes assistant roles with the Australian men's team and Indian Premier League franchises Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings. NSW's fifth-place finish in the Sheffield Shield wasn't enough, given their drought since the 2019-2020 season. The real concern is their struggling talent pipeline, with fewer players breaking into the national team. Haddin's task is clear: revive NSW cricket and get them back to winning ways. The final stages of Haddin's appointment took place while NSW were completing the last match of the season under Shipperd and included informing incumbent assistant coaches Ali de Winter and Shawn Bradstreet that they were losing their jobs, a move that did not go down well with former NSW and Australia spinner Steve O'Keefe, who had already been vocal about the treatment of Shipperd. Haddin's got a wealth of experience, and NSW is familiar territory for him. With his IPL commitments wrapping up, he's focusing on the NSW job from June. Guess we'll see how his IPL future pans out. "I've had opportunities to coach in different leagues around the world, but this is where I want to be," Haddin told reporters. "This is where I think I can make the biggest influence. I think the one thing we've always done here at New South Wales is we hold high standards. We expect a lot from not only our staff and our organisation, but our players as well. And I'm going to be known for that. I'm going to expect a lot from this group.