The Melbourne Stars have appointed Yorkshire’s Richard Pyrah as head coach of their WBBL team for the upcoming season.
Pyrah will bring his extensive coaching experience to Melbourne for Weber WBBL|12 and beyond, having worked a variety of roles in cricket programs across both Australia and England.
The 43-year-old is currently in his third season as head coach of Yorkshire’s women’s team, while he has just completed his first season as an assistant coach with the Sunrisers Leeds women’s team in The Hundred.
Pyrah is also no stranger to the Big Bash League, having had roles as a consultant coach at the Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers men’s teams between 2015 and 2017.
Stars General Manager, James Rosengarten, is looking forward to welcoming Pyrah to the club.
“We are really excited to have Richard leading our WBBL program at the Melbourne Stars,” Rosengarten said.
“He is an experienced coach across both women’s and men’s programs and will bring a diverse skillset to the team.
“Richard has been able to build really strong relationships within the teams he has coached and is already familiar with a number of our players.”
Pyrah will be well supported this season, with a realignment helping strengthen the Stars’ coaching department. The change sees Andy Christie, who was the Stars’ head coach last year and the current Victorian women’s head coach, transition into an assistant coaching role.
“This move is all about strengthening our club,” Rosengarten said.
“Andy did a sensational job last season guiding our team to the WBBL finals, and having him remain a part of the program was important to us.
“He already coaches a number of our players across the Victorian women’s team, so to have that continuity leading into the WBBL season will be an asset for us.”
Pyrah was also a talented all-round cricketer on the field, playing 105 T20 matches for Yorkshire between 2005 and 2015.
Since his playing career, Pyrah has held various coaching consultant roles across England Cricket Board, as well as leading Yorkshire’s men’s team in both head coach and assistant coaching positions.