Di Venuto joins Strikers as assistant
THE Adelaide Strikers have received a further boost in their quest for back-to-back Big Bash League titles after announcing the addition of former Australia batting coach Michael Di Venuto as an assistant batting coach.
THE Adelaide Strikers have received a further boost in their quest for back-to-back Big Bash League titles after announcing the addition of former Australia batting coach Michael Di Venuto as an assistant.
Di Venuto, who scored 25,200 first-class runs as a left-handed opener and represented Australia nine times in one-dayers over a 16-year playing career, will come to Adelaide from England where he has been coaching against Strikers head coach Jason Gillespie and recently guided Surrey to its first English County Championship title in 16 years.
“We are extremely fortunate to welcome Michael to the Strikers, who has a wealth of experience at the highest level and we’ve just seen him take out the County Championship with Surrey,” said Gillespie, who this season coached Sussex after coaching Yorkshire to titles in 2014 and 2015.
“He will undoubtedly help strengthen our batting stocks, while providing a huge boost to the entire squad.
“I know Michael personally and trust that he will help us prepare in the best way possible for a huge summer ahead.”
Greg Blewett has stepped down from Strikers duties to focus on his role as state under-19s coach and his commentary with Channel Seven.
Di Venuto became the Australian team’s full-time batting coach in 2013 and lent a hand in Australia’s 5-0 Ashes triumph as well as the victorious 2015 World Cup campaign. He filled in as national coach when Darren Lehmann was floored by deep vein thrombosis in 2016 before resigning to take on the Surrey gig.
The Adelaide Strikers begin their title defence at the Gabba on Wednesday on December 19.