Melbourne Stars has today announced that former New Zealand Captain and current Chennai Super Kings Coach Stephen Fleming will take the reigns as the Club’s new head coach.Fleming is looking forward to the challenge and touched on the experience and perspective he will bring to the Stars.
“I’ve been coaching in India for the past 7 years in the IPL and have watched the Big Bash League grow from afar. It’s a great opportunity to work with another T20 side – the Stars are an exciting club and I’m looking to develop my coaching through this opportunity as well,” he said. “It will be a big change after Greg, who has been working with both the Stars and Victorian sides for four years; it’s going to be a different perspective coming from outside of that.
“Hopefully it’s an opportunity for me to bring in some fresh ideas from the IPL and my time as a New Zealand cricketer.”.
Fleming commented on the potential of the Stars to go one step further in BBL|05: “I think it’s widely known the Melbourne Stars has a lot of potential to win. With the playing squad and talent at the Club, they should always be a competitive side. It’s a great time to get the team - they’re not too far away from achieving their goals and yet it’s going to be a great challenge to get them over that final hurdle.”
One of the first challenges for the new Head Coach will be to secure the final list to take the Stars into their fifth season. Stephen Fleming has a great relationship with Melbourne Stars Chairman of Selectors, Damien Fleming, and is looking forward to working with him at the Club.
“The core of the squad is very strong and remains intact from last year. My early conversations with Damien Fleming have been very positive and I look forward to working with him to develop the list for BBL|05. He’s got a very good cricket brain so he’s a great guy to have on board,” said Fleming.
Speaking on behalf of the Board, Melbourne Stars Chief Executive Clint Cooper said “We are delighted to be able to secure a coach of Stephen’s calibre, and genuinely believe that he has the right credentials to help guide the Club over the next few years.
“As a player and captain, Stephen was one of the most revered and respected players in world cricket and, since taking on the Head Coach role at CSK, he has enjoyed success by winning titles in the IPL and the coveted Champions League Tournament.”
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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