Simon Katich has been announced as the head coach of the Manchester-based team – reportedly called the Manchester Originals – for the inaugural season of The Hundred in 2020.
The 43-year-old will be assisted by current Lancashire Head Coach, Glen Chapple and his assistant Mark Chilton. Katich is no stranger to Old Trafford, as he ended his first-class career at Lancashire in 2013 following a nine-year international career that saw him score over 4,000 runs in 56 Tests.
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“I am incredibly excited by the opportunity to lead the men’s Manchester-based team in The Hundred, starting next year,” said Katich. “This is a competition that is catching the eyes of the cricket world, in terms of the calibre of players and coaches it will attract, and I’m so excited to start planning and working as men’s head coach for this new side.
“Having played at Emirates Old Trafford for two years, I know what a special place it is, and what an incredible cricket ground it has transformed into over the last decade. This competition is going to be a ground-breaking moment for cricket across the world, and I’m honoured to be part of it.”
Since his retirement from professional cricket, Katich has had success as a coach in the shorter formats of the game having won back-to-back titles with the Trinidad Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League. Katich has also served as assistant coach at the Kolkata Knight Riders of the Indian Premier League since 2016.
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Katich played 56 Tests for Australia before going into coaching[/caption]
Lancashire Cricket CEO, Daniel Gidney, welcomed the news. “Paul Allott, Lancashire’s director of cricket, and I are delighted to have secured the services of Simon Katich as our men’s head coach,” he said. “We strongly believe that Simon is the right man to lead the new men’s team at Emirates Old Trafford and his proven track record and experience set him apart as our No.1 candidate. Supported by Glen and Mark, we believe their knowledge of this ground and the English game will complement Simon’s tournament winning approach.”
Sanjay Patel, the Managing Director of The Hundred said: “Simon is a brilliant signing and a dynamic coach who will bring his cricketing knowledge and international experience to the men’s Manchester team.”
The five-week tournament will be played at the height of summer and will feature eight city-based teams from Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff, Southampton and two in London (Lord’s and the Oval).
