AUSTRALIA: Vusi Sibanda named assistant coach for Prime Minister’s XI

Article by Brett McKay 

Fresh from the inclusion late last week of local players in the Prime Minister’s XI squad to cover sub-fielding duties, Cricket Australia have now confirmed the coaching and support staff for a forthcoming four-day match will also have a strong Cricket ACT feel to it.

The announcement is headlined by former Zimbabwean international batter Vusi Sibanda’s appointment as assistant coach, teaming up with former Sri Lankan international Thilan Samaraweera to guide the strong PM’s side through their preparations for the first class fixture from December 6 to 9 at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Sibanda has been based in Canberra for a number of years now, and is still playing locally with the Tuggeranong club, but has been leading the ACT development pathways for four seasons as a coach of ACT youth squads ahead of National Championships, and as a highly credentialed assistant coach with the ACT Meteors in the Women’ National Cricket League.

“There’s not a lot of advice I can give to these guys, they’ve all done all the work from a very young age to get to this level,” Sibanda said this week of his appointment.

“It’s going to be about me providing options for them to make sure they are good to go and perform at their best in this game.”

Having been to World Cups as a player, Sibanda is relishing the transition into coaching and passing on the lessons and experiences he gained along the way. Coaching at a new level represents a new opportunity for him to work with players hoping to reach international level as well.

“There’s a lot of challenges on the mental side of things in international cricket, not so much the technical or the skill level – you do get tested on those, but on the mental front, it is very tough,” he said.

“It’s about being composed, trusting your processes and all the work you’ve done, and doing your best. My role will be to assist the guys and the plans they have in place through the week.”

Sibanda will be joined by Cricket ACT’s Physical Performance Manager Michael Barrington, filling the Strength & Conditioning role for the PM’s squad, while Cale Ryan will also act as the team’s physiotherapist.

Cricket ACT Performance Analyst James Forwood will also join the PM’s support staff, after performing the team analyst role in last summer’s match against the West Indies, and just after returning from a stint with finalists, the Sydney Thunder, in the Women’s Big Bash League.

Following on from current ACT Comets Head Coach Jono Dean’s invaluable experience with the PM’s XI squad as an assistant coach last summer, Cricket ACT Head of Cricket Stuart Karppinen says the appointments represent yet another vote of confidence from Cricket Australia in the ACT set-up here in Canberra.

“We’re really pleased that so many of our support staff will be able to gain first-hand experience working with elite level Australian players and coaches,” Karppinen said.

“I have no doubt the that our players and programs will benefit directly from our staff having this type of professional development opportunity against an international team.”