Reigning Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) champions Melbourne Renegades on Friday said they have appointed Australian women’s national team assistant coach Gavan Twining as their new head coach.
Transition in Coaching Leadership for Australian Women’s Team
In April, Simon Helmot, the championship-winning coach of the Australian women’s cricket team, stepped down to pursue coaching opportunities in overseas franchise leagues. Following his departure, Twining has been appointed as the new head coach. Twining, who has been part of the Australian setup since late 2024, played a crucial role in the team’s success at the Women’s T20 World Cup held in England earlier this year. His experience and recent achievements position him well to lead the squad into future competitions.
“While Gavan completes his Australian commitments, we are really comfortable that Clint McKay can oversee the preparation for the Spring Challenge as coach and ensure we are ready to go for the opening game on October 29.
“Having been part of the Australian team’s World Cup campaign, I’m excited to bring those experiences into the Renegades environment and help produce performances that our members and fans can be proud of,” said Twining. Welcoming the appointment, Renegades General Manager Max Abbott said, “Gavan is an outstanding addition to our WBBL program, bringing World Cup winning experience to our group. At the end of the WBBL season, Twining will rejoin the Australian team for their future international commitments. “I’m really excited to be joining the Melbourne Renegades and getting to work with this playing group. The Renegades have a strong foundation and a talented squad, and I’m looking forward to helping the players take the next step and build on the success the club has had. “There’s already a very positive environment within the squad and we felt Gavan was the best person to continue building on that working with the experienced leaders we have in the squad.
Twining previously served as an assistant to former Sydney Sixers head coach Greg Shipperd across six BBL seasons, which included consecutive title wins in seasons nine and ten.
