Damien Wright leaves West Indies role to return to Tasmania as bowling coach
Introduction: A Major Coaching Reshuffle in Tasmanian Cricket
Tasmanian cricket is set to embark on an exciting new chapter with a series of high-profile coaching appointments designed to bolster both the state’s domestic red-ball program and the Hobart Hurricanes’ Big Bash League (BBL) campaign. In a major development, Damien Wright leaves West Indies role to return to Tasmania as bowling coach, bringing his extensive experience back to the place where his professional journey reached historic heights. Meanwhile, former New South Wales and Sydney Thunder coach Shawn Bradstreet has been locked in as the new bowling coach for the Hobart Hurricanes.
These crucial appointments come in the wake of James Hopes’ departure, who vacated his coaching positions within the Tasmanian setup to take over as the head coach of the Sydney Sixers. To fill the void left by Hopes, Cricket Tasmania has opted for a split coaching structure, dividing the state bowling coach duties and the BBL-specific roles between two highly respected mentors. While Wright will focus his energies on the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup squads, Bradstreet will take charge of the Hurricanes’ bowling unit in the shortest format.
Damien Wright’s Historic Homecoming
For Tasmanian cricket fans, Damien Wright is a household name associated with one of the greatest eras in the state’s sporting history. The former fast-medium bowler was a cornerstone of the legendary Tasmanian side that clinched the state’s first-ever Sheffield Shield title during the historic 2006-07 season. In that memorable final, Wright put on an absolute masterclass, taking eight wickets for the match and contributing a vital 67 runs with the bat to secure the silverware.
Now, after a successful international stint abroad, Damien Wright leaves West Indies role to return to Tasmania as bowling coach. Wright’s most recent assignment was serving as the bowling coach for the West Indies women’s national team during their campaign at the Women’s T20 World Cup. His return to Hobart represents a full-circle moment for both the coach and the association.
Reflecting on his return, Wright expressed his deep emotional connection to the state. “Cricket Tasmania has always held a special place in my heart,” Wright said. “The Tigers have played such an important role in my life, both professionally and personally, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return. I can’t wait to reconnect with the players and staff and continue to build something special for Tasmania.”
The Coaching Legacy of the 2006-07 Tasmanian Dynasty
Wright’s return further solidifies an extraordinary trend within Australian cricket: the incredible transition of Tasmania’s 2006-07 championship-winning squad into elite coaching roles. Remarkably, nine members of that historic team have gone on to hold prominent coaching or administrative positions within Australia’s domestic and national cricket systems.
When Wright steps back into the Tasmanian dressing room, he will be working alongside several of his former teammates. Among them is national men’s pace bowling coach Adam Griffith, with whom Wright will closely collaborate. Other notable figures from that era who now shape the landscape of Australian cricket include:
- George Bailey: The current Chair of Selectors for the Australian men’s national team.
- Michael Di Venuto: The current men’s batting coach for the national side.
- Dan Marsh: The current batting coach for the Tasmanian women’s program.
This dense network of coaching talent highlights the tactical minds and deep cricket intelligence that defined Tasmania’s golden generation, and Wright’s re-integration only strengthens this formidable brains trust.
A Focused Red-Ball and One-Day Role
While Wright has a rich history with the Hobart Hurricanes—having served as their BBL head coach for four seasons between 2013 and 2017, including guiding them to their inaugural BBL final in the 2013-14 season—his new role will be highly specialized. He will not be pulling double duty across formats; instead, Wright will work exclusively with Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup squads. He will operate closely alongside head coach Jeff Vaughan to prime the Tigers’ pacemen for the rigors of first-class and List A cricket.
Shawn Bradstreet Takes the Reins at Hobart Hurricanes
To manage the high-octane demands of the Big Bash League, Cricket Tasmania has appointed Shawn Bradstreet as the Hobart Hurricanes’ new bowling coach. Bradstreet will work under head coach Jeff Vaughan, bringing a wealth of short-format tactical knowledge to the franchise.
Bradstreet is no stranger to high-pressure coaching environments. He previously held the bowling coach position at the Sydney Thunder under the guidance of Trevor Bayliss, and also worked with New South Wales alongside Greg Shipperd. Both of those tenures concluded at the end of last season when coaching changes were made at those organizations. Additionally, Bradstreet has forged a strong working relationship with the Hurricanes’ Head of Strategy, Ricky Ponting, having served as his bowling coach for the Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States.
Salliann Beams, Cricket Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes General Manager of High Performance, spoke highly of Bradstreet’s addition to the franchise. “Bradstreet is highly regarded for his technical bowling expertise, tactical understanding of the game and his ability to build strong relationships with players and staff,” Beams stated.
Conclusion: A Winning Formula for Tasmanian Cricket
By securing the services of Damien Wright for the state squads and Shawn Bradstreet for the BBL, Cricket Tasmania has successfully navigated a potentially disruptive coaching transition. Wright’s return provides invaluable continuity, cultural understanding, and elite championship experience to the Tigers’ red-ball bowling stocks, while Bradstreet’s modern tactical acumen and familiarity with key figures like Ricky Ponting make him an ideal fit for the Hurricanes. As the domestic season heats up, Tasmanian cricket looks well-positioned to challenge for honors across all formats.
