Damien Wright leaves West Indies role to return to Tasmania as bowling coach

The Return of a Tasmanian Legend

Tasmanian cricket is set to welcome back one of its most cherished figures in a move that promises to bolster their domestic coaching ranks. In an exciting developmental shift, Damien Wright leaves West Indies role to return to Tasmania as bowling coach. This decision signals a heartfelt homecoming for Wright, who has spent years honing his coaching craft across various international and domestic jurisdictions. His return to Hobart comes immediately after completing his tenure as the bowling coach for the West Indies women’s national team during their campaign at the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Wright’s appointment is part of a broader coaching restructure within Cricket Tasmania. The vacancies arose following the departure of James Hopes, who recently vacated his dual roles to take up the head coaching position with the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL). To fill these crucial gaps, Cricket Tasmania has split the duties, bringing Wright in for the state’s red-ball and fifty-over programs, while appointing Shawn Bradstreet as the new bowling coach for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL.

A Storied Playing Career and the 2006-07 Legacy

For Tasmanian cricket fans, Damien Wright requires no introduction. He was an integral part of the legendary squad that secured Tasmania’s first-ever Sheffield Shield title during the historic 2006-07 season. In that memorable final, Wright put on a masterclass performance, capturing eight wickets across the match and contributing a vital 67 runs with the bat. His competitive spirit, deep understanding of the local conditions, and legendary status make him an ideal mentor for the current crop of Tasmanian bowlers.

Remarkably, Wright’s return further solidifies an extraordinary legacy from that 2006-07 championship-winning team. An incredible nine members of that single playing XI have transitioned into prominent coaching and administrative roles within the Australian domestic and national cricket systems. Among them is Adam Griffith, the national men’s pace bowling coach, whom Wright will closely collaborate with in his new capacity. Other notable names from that era who continue to shape Australian cricket include national chair of selectors George Bailey, men’s batting coach Michael Di Venuto, and women’s batting coach Dan Marsh. This rich network of home-grown coaching talent highlights the unique culture of leadership fostered within Tasmanian cricket over the last two decades.

Sincere Connections and Future Ambitions

Upon the announcement of his return, Wright expressed his profound emotional connection to the state and the organization. “Cricket Tasmania has always held a special place in my heart,” Wright said. “The Tigers have played such an important role in my life, both professionally and personally, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return. I can’t wait to reconnect with the players and staff and continue to build something special for Tasmania.”

Wright is no stranger to the coaching structures in Hobart. He previously served as the head coach of the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL for four seasons between 2013 and 2017. During his tenure, he guided the franchise to their first-ever BBL final in the 2013-14 season. However, in his new role, Wright’s focus will be exclusively dedicated to the long-form and one-day formats. He will work alongside Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup head coach Jeff Vaughan, ensuring that the state’s domestic red-ball and white-ball fast bowlers receive world-class, dedicated technical guidance.

Shawn Bradstreet Steps Into the Hurricanes Role

While Wright focuses on the state squads, the Hobart Hurricanes have secured the services of Shawn Bradstreet as their new BBL bowling coach. Bradstreet joins the Hurricanes program under head coach Jeff Vaughan, bringing an impressive resume of short-format coaching experience. He previously served in the same capacity with the Sydney Thunder under the guidance of Trevor Bayliss, and with New South Wales alongside Greg Shipperd. Both of those roles concluded at the end of last season when coaching shakeups occurred at both organizations.

Bradstreet also boasts valuable experience working alongside Australian legend and Hurricanes head of strategy Ricky Ponting. The two collaborated successfully during the Major League Cricket (MLC) season in the United States, where Bradstreet worked as the bowling coach for the Washington Freedom. This established relationship with Ponting is expected to facilitate a seamless transition into the Hurricanes’ coaching setup.

Strengthening the Tasmanian High-Performance Program

The dual appointments of Wright and Bradstreet have been met with immense enthusiasm from the high-performance hierarchy at Cricket Tasmania. Salliann Beams, the General Manager of High Performance for Tasmania and the Hurricanes, spoke highly of the new additions, particularly emphasizing the qualities Bradstreet brings to the T20 franchise.

“Bradstreet is highly regarded for his technical bowling expertise, tactical understanding of the game and his ability to build strong relationships with players and staff,” Beams stated. With Wright anchoring the state’s traditional formats and Bradstreet injecting fresh tactical insights into the Hurricanes’ BBL campaign, Tasmanian cricket looks well-positioned to challenge for silverware across all formats in the upcoming summer.