Why Brad Haddin must be the inaugural head coach if BBL expands to Canberra

If Canberra enters the BBL, Brad Haddin must be the inaugural coach. BEN HORNE outlines why the former Test wicket-keeper is the best coach without a head coaching position in Australia.

If Canberra is handed a Big Bash expansion licence, it’s a no-brainer who their inaugural coach must be.

Brad Haddin deserves to be recognised as the best coach without a head coaching position in Australia and the door of opportunity should be opening soon.

Cricket Australia is seriously considering revamping the Big Bash later this year with privatisation and expansion firmly on the table – and ACT Cricket, led by its influential Chairman Greg Boorer, is in pole position to be the big beneficiary.

Haddin, a veteran of 66 Tests who was first put on the Australian cricket map by the old Canberra Comets, shapes as the obvious man to lead a new franchise in the ACT should CA decision-makers be bold enough to add a ninth team to the BBL.

READ MORE: BBL expansion firmly on the agenda despite state backlash

Brad Haddin has previously put winning lists together for teams like the Sydney Sixers. Picture: AAP

Serving as Ricky Ponting’s right-hand man in the IPL, Haddin has been a key part of Punjab Kings’ surge from cellar dwellers to the 2025 final, and the franchise might have even won the whole thing had they not lost key strike weapon Marco Jansen following the temporary suspension of the tournament.

Former Test and World Cup-winning vice-captain Haddin has previously been involved in putting winning lists together for the Sydney Sixers and Islamabad and was an Australian assistant coach for many years under Darren Lehmann and Justin Langer.

The biggest opposition to Canberra entering the BBL is coming from NSW and Victoria who believe a new team wedged in between their catchment areas would dilute the talent pool for the Sydney and Melbourne clubs.

Not only is Haddin passionate about ACT sport as a proud Queanbeyan product, but as a NSW great he also possesses an intimate knowledge of the Blues system and mentality, which would make him a tough adversary in any potential battlefield for BBL talent.

In fact there are plenty of ex-Blues players who feel it’s NSW Cricket who should be enlisting Haddin’s services.

Brad Haddin served as an Australian assistant coach under Darren Lehmann and Justin Langer. Picture: Mark Stewart

NSW has extended coach Greg Shipperd for another season and Sydney Thunder mentor Trevor Bayliss is also expected to receive a new deal, but pressure is rising from Blues powerbrokers for the high performance men’s teams to produce results.

The alternate theory to NSW’s objections about a Canberra BBL franchise, is that having a new predator in the pool could actually shake-up the underperforming pathway system.

Perhaps extra competition could bring out the best in everyone by forcing recruitment and development decisions to be razor sharp.

Cricket Australia certainly don’t appear daunted by issues around depth and talent – their only prerequisite for green-lighting expansion is that the business case be satisfied.

Originally published as Why Brad Haddin must be the inaugural head coach if BBL expands to Canberra