Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has announced the appointment of Luke Williams, a successful coach in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), as the new head coach for their Women’s Premier League (WPL) team.
Luke Williams will take over from Ben Sawyer, who led the team to a fourth-place finish in the inaugural edition of the WPL, where they won only two out of their eight league matches.
Expressing his excitement, Williams stated, “I am thrilled to have been given this opportunity with RCB and can’t wait to start preparations with the team for the second season of the WPL. I look forward to working with a playing group that includes some of the most exciting players in Indian and world cricket as we aim to bring a bold and exciting style of play and success to our large and passionate fan base.”
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Luke Williams, aged 43, previously played first-class cricket for South Australia from 2000 to 2005. As head coach of the Adelaide Strikers, he guided the team to their first Women’s Big Bash League championship in the 2022-2023 season, following two runner-up finishes.
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Williams also served as the assistant coach for the Southern Brave and played a pivotal role in their victory in the inaugural Women’s Hundred Championship this year. He spent four years with the South Australian Scorpions in the Women’s National Cricket League (50 overs) and led them to the runner-up position twice. Additionally, he was the head coach of the Australia A side that toured England earlier this year.
Prathmesh Mishra, Chairman of RCB, welcomed Luke Williams, stating, “I extend a heartfelt welcome to Luke Williams as he takes the reins of the RCB women’s team. With his expertise and leadership, our goal is to embody the spirit of Royal Challengers Bangalore, to play boldly, and embark on a journey filled with determination, passion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, aiming to make our fans and supporters proud.”
This appointment marks the third change in RCB’s coaching staff, following the hiring of Andy Flower as the men’s head coach and the appointment of Mo Bobat as the director of cricket.
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