South Australia has made a significant announcement by appointing Ryan Harris, a 44-year-old former Australian cricketer, as the new head coach of the South Australia men’s cricket team. He will assume the position that was left vacant by the departure of former cricketer Jason Gillespie.
Ryan Harris, who has been serving as the team’s interim leader for the past few months, will assume the role permanently with immediate effect as the pre-season activities intensify. Moreover, there is currently no information available regarding the appointment of the new head coach for Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, a position previously held by Gillespie.
Reports indicate that Tim Paine, the former captain of Australia, has expressed interest in taking on the position of the Strikers, if given the opportunity.
Following the announcement of Ryan Harris being appointed as the new coach of South Australia, the 44-year-old spoke about his selection and conveyed his enthusiasm for assuming the post.
“I am extremely pleased and privileged to have been chosen as the Head Coach of South Australia, where I started my professional cricket career over two decades ago.” “Based on my close collaboration with the team last summer and our ongoing pre-season training, I possess a clear understanding of the capabilities of this squad. I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to commence our endeavours and further develop upon the encouraging progress witnessed last year,” expressed Ryan Harris as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
“With the appointment of new captain Nathan McSweeney, the team is experiencing a genuine feeling of confidence in themselves. We will be putting in a lot of effort to make sure we start the new season strongly, as it is approaching quickly,” he stated.
It is noteworthy that South Australia achieved a fifth-place position in the Sheffield Shield in the previous season. Additionally, they secured a fourth-place finish in the 2022-23 season. Harris, the ex-cricketer, transitioned into coaching and commenced his tenure with the Australia men’s under-19 team at the 2018 and 2020 World Cups.
In addition, he has gained experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL) by working with both Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals. He has also served as a consultant for the men’s squad during Justin Langer’s tenure as coach.