The Sydney Sixers are delighted to announce the extension of Greg Shipperd, with the head coach committing to the club for a further two seasons.
Widely regarded as one of Australian cricket’s best minds, Shipperd’s extension will see him continue his decade-long association with the Sixers, heading into an eleventh season at the helm this summer.
Boasting over three decades of experience, there are few more respected figures in the game with a similar level of tactical nous or track record of success in building world-class, winning teams.
A former top-order batter, Shipperd enjoyed a successful playing career with Western Australia and Tasmania, notching more than 6000 first-class runs across his career.
Transitioning into coaching, Shipperd began his leadership journey with Tasmania before a move to Victoria, where he oversaw a golden era of success, yielding four Sheffield Shield titles, four Twenty20 Big Bash trophies and a domestic One-Day Cup victory.
Appointed head coach of the Melbourne Stars ahead of their inaugural Big Bash campaign, Shipperd led the side to four consecutive finals series appearances in his time in charge.
Secured by the Sixers ahead of the BBL|05 season, Shipperd has since led the side through a sustained period of excellence, establishing the men’s team as one of the league’s most dominant forces.
Under his leadership, Shipperd’s side have missed the finals series only twice in his ten-year tenure to date, reaching the decider on five occasions and clinching back-to-back titles in BBL|09 and BBL|10.
The announcement of Shipperd’s extension comes fresh on the heels of last week’s BBL Draft, with the Sixers strengthening their squad with international stars Babar Azam, Sam Curran and Jafer Chohan for the upcoming summer.
The Sixers also boast a stacked domestic lineup already secured for BBL|15, with Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Jordan Silk, Josh Philippe, Todd Murphy, Jack Edwards, and captain Moises Henriques all committed for the season ahead.
Speaking about Shipperd’s impact, Sixers General Manager Rachael Haynes said his leadership has been central to the club’s success over the past decade.
“Greg’s influence on the Sixers over the last ten years can’t be overstated. He brings a wealth of experience, a calm and considered approach and a deep understanding of the game.
“His leadership has been instrumental in the sustained success and competitiveness of our side, and we’re confident that the next two years will be no different.
“Greg has played a key role in building and fostering the strong culture that we pride ourselves on – leading a side that is incredibly disciplined but also united and committed to playing team-first cricket.
“We’re thrilled to have him extend his time with the club and we’re looking forward to what this group can achieve in the seasons ahead.”
Speaking about what the club means to him, Shipperd added:
“The magenta means a lot to me personally. Ten years ago, I was given an opportunity to coach the Sixers franchise; it had a proud history then and I believe that we’ve added to that history.
“It’s been a remarkable effort of consistency, led by our leaders – Jordan Silk, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes. We now step into an exciting new world with some new international players this season who are excited to play at the SCG in front of a really strong fan base.”