Dale Steyn, a former South African fast bowler, has been designated bowling coach of the Washington Freedom ahead of the 2023 Major League Cricket season.
In addition, Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques has been named the inaugural captain of the Washington Freedom. Henriques, age 36, provides a wealth of T20 leadership experience, having won two titles with the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL), Australia’s premier T20 league, over the past five seasons.
Henriques will oversee a roster of international players, including Anrich Nortje, Wanindu Hasaranga, Glenn Phillips, Marco Jansen, and Adam Milne, previously announced by the franchise.
Greg Shipperd has been designated as the team’s head coach. Since 2015, Shipperd has been the head coach of the Sydney Sixers, following a four-year tenure with the Indian Premier League’s Delhi Daredevils. The addition of Dale Steyn will be a tremendous boost for Freedom. Steyn, who recently concluded his playing career, will coach Freedom following stints with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
We are thrilled to have the legendary Dale Steyn on board. Sanjay Govil
“We are extremely pleased with the team we have assembled thus far. Moises (Henriques) and Greg (Shipperd) have won championships with the Sydney Sixers in the past. It is essential that a new franchise establish a winning culture from the outset. We are also thrilled to have the legendary Dale Steyn join our team. Cricbuzz quotes Sanjay Govil, owner of the Washington Freedom, as saying, “The idea of having such a figure on American soil and spending time with some of the younger players on the squad is very exciting.”
Dale Steyn was a member of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad in the Indian Premier League as a player. After his time with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, he played for the Gujarat Lions and the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Prior to becoming the bowling coach for Sunrisers Hyderabad, the South African pacer had retired from all forms of cricket.