Michael Klinger joins ILT20’s Gulf Giants as batting coach under new head coach Simon Helmot for the upcoming season.
AHMEDABAD
Former Australian batter Michael Klinger has officially joined the Gulf Giants as their new batting coach for the upcoming ILT20 season. This exciting move comes right after Simon Helmot took over the reins as head coach last month, replacing Jonathan Trott, who departed after just one season.
Klinger is already a familiar face within the cricket family, currently serving as the head coach for the Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), which shares the same ownership under Adani Sportsline. “I know how this management works,” Klinger shared excitedly. “Gulf Giants have a great foundation. I can’t wait to work with Simon and the rest of the crew to build a powerful unit for the new season.”
The coaching squad is getting a massive makeover. Alongside Klinger, Kadeer Ali joins as the fielding coach, and Gary Brent takes charge of strength and conditioning. They will team up with current bowling coach Shane Bond, physiotherapist James Pipe, and analyst Saurabh Walkar to complete the backroom staff.
After winning the grand trophy in the tournament’s first year back in 2023, the Gulf Giants have faced a tough rough patch. They missed the finals in back-to-back years, even slipping to a disappointing fifth place last season.
Shane Bond remains highly optimistic about the fresh management changes. “There is so much raw quality in this squad,” Bond noted. “With Simon and Klinger coming aboard, it is the perfect chance to raise our standards and bounce back stronger.”
