CRICKET

Glamorgan have confirmed Grant Bradburn will be the club’s new head coach on a three-year deal.

 

The New Zealander, 57, succeeds former championship head coach Matthew Maynard and short-format leader Mark Alleyne.

 

Bradburn has been head coach of the Pakistan national team throughout 2023 following roles as head of high performance coaching at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore and as an assistant coach with the national side from 2018.

 

He played seven Test matches and 11 one day internationals for New Zealand between 1990 and 2001 before moving into coaching, becoming the Northern Districts head coach in 2008.

 

He led them to two Plunket Shield four-day titles and two Trophy one-day titles over five years in charge.

 

He subsequently took charge of the New Zealand A and U-19 teams between 2013 and 2014, before being named as Scotland’s Head Coach from 2014 to 2018.

 

During that time, he coached Scotland to a historic first victory against England in a high scoring One Day International in 2018.

 

Bradburn said: “To have the opportunity to coach Glamorgan is a huge honour and a privilege.

 

“I’m excited to join the squad soon to set about the final stages of prep before the 2024 season together.

 

“My simple aim is to create a winning environment with an awesome culture.

 

“Together, we will quickly identify a brand of cricket in all formats that most importantly inspires the players and, in turn, attracts everyone within the club to be excited and proud of our teams.

 

“With International experience and a passion for developing players and staff, I am really looking forward to immersing myself alongside our Glamorgan network of coaches to develop quality players within our programmes.

 

“I will bring fresh eyes which I believe will be healthy for the club.

 

“I’m not taking this role expecting just to compete in the County Championship.

 

“I will bring a desire for Glamorgan to be contenders in all formats and am looking forward to meeting everyone at the Club soon.”

 

Mark Wallace, Glamorgan director of cricket said: “We’re delighted to have a coach of Grant Bradburn’s quality joining us at Glamorgan for the next three years at least.

 

“He has a wide range of experience as a coach and right across High Performance and will add a great amount to the club from top to bottom.”

 

Bradburn will officially start the Glamorgan head coach role on 1st February.

 

ATHLETICS

 

James Thie still a winner

 

James Thie rolled back the years to win the Prince of Wales New year’s Day Race at Kenfig.

Wales’ former Great Britain middle distance international showed age is no barrier as the 45-year-old came home first in the 6km race along the paths of Kenfig Nature Reserve.

Thie, performance director for athletics at Cardiff Met, won in a time of 22.56 for his club, Pontypridd Roadents.

In second place was Iwan Froley (Cardiff Athletics) in 23:37 with Daniel May (Cardiff Athletics) third in 24:58.

The first woman home was Ffion Davies (Port Talbot Harriers) in 26:30, followed by Justine Dawkins (Cornelly Striders) in 29:11 and Sarah Howard (Port Talbot Harriers) in 29:57.