NEW DELHI: Ahead of next month's Women's Premier League (WPL), Royal Challengers Bangalore has appointed Australian Ben Swayer, who is currently in charge of the New Zealand women's team, as head coach.
The 45-year-old Sawyer has served as head coach of the Sydney Sixers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) besides being assistant coach of Australia women and is now the coach of Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.
"He (Sawyer) has won three World Cups with Australia. A fast-bowling expert. He has also won the BBL titles with Sydney Sixers. He has made it to the finals of The Hundred as well," RCB's Director of Cricket operations Mike Hesson said in a video posted on the team's twitter handle.
"He has been involved in women's cricket for over 20 years, knows the women's game inside out, knows the players very well. He has been thoroughly involved in our preparations leading up to the auction as well."
Sawyer will be assisted by Maloran Rangarajan (assistant coach and head of scouting), VR Vanitha (scout and fielding coach) and RX Murali (batting coach).
The team manager and doctor for the tournament will be Dr Harini while Navnita Gautam (head athletic therapist), Huzefa Talib (strength and conditioning coach), Sabyasachi Sahoo (head physio) and Soumyadeep Pyne (Head of Operations) are the other support staffs.
1/10:RCB squad for Women's Premier League 2023
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2/10:RCB
<p>RCB was on a spending spree in the inaugural WPL auction, having exhausted Rs 7.10 crore out of Rs 12-crore purse on four players.</p>Getty Images
3/10:Smriti Mandhana
<p>Smriti Mandhana stole the thunder as RCB pipped Mumbai Indians in a bidding war to buy the India vice-captain for Rs 3.40 crore.</p>Getty Images
4/10:Sophie Devine
<p>RCB got New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine dirt cheap at a base price of Rs 50 lakh.</p>Getty Images
5/10:Ellyse Perry
<p>Star Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry received a cool Rs 1.70 crore winning bid from RCB.</p>Getty Images
6/10:Renuka Singh
<p>Right-arm pacer Renuka Singh (Rs 1.50 crore) is a significant Indian addition to RCB's star-studded roster.</p>Getty Images
7/10:Richa Ghosh
<p>RCB bought young and emerging talented wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh for Rs 1.90 crore.</p>Getty Images
8/10:Erin Burns
<p>Australia all-rounder Erin Burns, a hard-hitting batter and off-spin bowler, was purchased for Rs 30 lakh by RCB.</p>Getty Images
9/10:Indrani Roy
<p>In the later stages of the accelerated auction, RCB bought Disha Kasat, Indrani Roy, Shreyanka Patil and Asha Shobana for Rs 10 lakh each.</p>Getty Images
10/10:Kanika Ahuja
<p>RCB paid Rs 35 lakh to secure the services of batting all-rounder Kanika Ahuja.</p>Getty ImagesEarlier in the day, RCB named tennis legend Sania Mirza as the mentor of the side for the WPL to be held in Mumbai from March 4 to 26.
RCB has build a strong team, acquiring 18 players, including some big names of women's cricket -- Smriti Mandhana, Australia's Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, England skipper Heather Knight and South African all-rounder Dane Van Niekerk along with Richa Ghosh, during the WPL auction on Monday in Mumbai.
RCB will open its campaign against Delhi Capitals at the Brabourne Stadium on March 5.
(With PTI inputs)
