Brad Haddin named NSW Blues Head Coach

The 48-year-old, whose decorated career as a wicketkeeper batter for Australia, NSW and the Sydney Sixers earned him Cricket NSW Life Member status in 2024, will commence in the role in June.  

Haddin will be tasked with overseeing all aspects of the Blues program, building on the strong foundations in place to embed a distinctive playing style, develop First-Class and Australian players and challenge for further titles. 

He is currently an assistant coach with Indian Premier League franchise Punjab Kings, having previously filled similar roles with the Australian men’s team and Sunrisers Hyderabad.  

Haddin’s appointment will not include stewardship of either the Sydney Sixers or Sydney Thunder. Both clubs will confirm their men’s Head Coach appointments in due course. 

Lee Germon, Cricket NSW CEO, said: 

“I am delighted to welcome Brad Haddin back to Cricket NSW to drive our Blues program forward and challenge for further titles. 

“Brad is a highly regarded coach with experience at international and franchise level, plus a deep understanding of the NSW way of playing. This stems not only from his history with the Blues, but also his strong connections to country NSW and Premier Cricket. 

“As a player, his outstanding leadership and willingness to always take the game on made him a revered teammate and formidable opponent. These traits have carried through into his coaching career. 

“We are proud to have Brad guiding our Blues squad and look forward to working with him from June.” 

Brad Haddin, incoming NSW Blues Head Coach, said: 

“NSW cricket has been an integral part of my life and to rejoin the fold as Blues Head Coach is a proud moment for myself and my family. 

“Wearing the baggy blue was incredibly special and gave me some of the greatest memories of my career. 

“I am looking forward to working with our current crop of talented players to bring back an aura to NSW cricket and to have a team with a formidable, distinctive style of play we can all be proud of.” 

Brad Haddin career summary 

Haddin’s appointment as NSW Head Coach will see him pull on a Blues uniform for the first time in almost 12 years, having last represented the state in November 2014 during his final summer of First-Class and List-A cricket.  

A former Test vice-captain, Haddin represented Australia in 66 Test matches, scoring 3265 runs with four centuries and claiming 270 dismissals. He holds an equally impressive ODI record of 3122 runs and 181 dismissals from his 126 ODI appearances, which includes two World Cup victories in 2007 and 2015. He also led Australia in two of his 34 T20Is. 

Haddin’s decorated Blues career saw him crowned a three-time Sheffield Shield and four-time One-Day Cup champion, as well as winning the 2006-07 Steve Waugh Medal.  

In First-Class cricket, he ranks inside the Blues’ top 10 players all-time for appearances (97 caps, including 21 as captain) and runs (5829 runs), while he is the state’s third most prolific wicketkeeper with 318 dismissals. 

At List-A level, Haddin sits second only to Moises Henriques for both matches played (88 caps, including 14 as captain) and runs (2724 runs) for NSW, while his 158 dismissals is the most ever for the Blues. 

Haddin was also the Sydney Sixers' foundation captain and represented the club 32 times in the BBL’s first six seasons. 

His transition from playing to coaching began almost immediately, filling assistant roles with the Australian men’s team under Darren Lehmann and Justin Langer, including a period as fielding coach. He worked under Trevor Bayliss at Sunrisers Hyderabad from 2019, before following Bayliss to Punjab Kings in 2022.