Chris Read named Thunder Head Coach
Thunder Cricket is delighted to announce the appointment of former Nottinghamshire CCC and England wicketkeeper, Chris Read as the region’s new Head Coach on a two-year contract.
Following an extensive interview process, which included several outstanding applicants, Read will succeed Paul Shaw as Head Coach and start work at Emirates Old Trafford on 1 January 2024.
45-year-old Read is an ECB Level 4 Coach with experience of working in international, First-Class and franchise cricket across both the men’s and women’s game.
Read has most recently worked as Assistant Coach at both Hobart Hurricanes in the Women’s Big Bash League and at Trent Rockets Women in The Hundred during 2023.
He has also held the position of Assistant Coach for England Young Lions (U19s Men) alongside additional work for the ECB as a Wicketkeeping Consultant and Scout, since calling time on his 21-year professional playing career back in 2017.
Read made over 800 professional appearances during 20 seasons at Trent Bridge – captaining the Club for a decade – and also played 15 Test matches and 36 One Day Internationals for England.
Former England internationals Stephen Parry and Craig White will remain with Thunder Cricket as Assistant Coaches to work alongside Read.
Regional Director of Women’s Cricket for the North West, David Thorley said: “We are really pleased to be able to confirm the appointment of Chris Read as the new Head Coach of Thunder.
“Throughout an extensive interview process, Chris excelled against the candidate brief of what we were looking for in a Head Coach - which is somebody to build on the strong foundations laid during Paul Shaw’s tenure and to help continue to evolve the high-performance culture here at Thunder.
“We were fortunate to have some exceptional applicants for the position, but Chris stood out as an ambitious leader who can keep us moving forwards and somebody who will create a positive environment and help our players to thrive.
“It is clear that Chris is an excellent strategist who knows what it takes to win through a positive brand of cricket, and I am looking forward to the future of Thunder under his leadership - alongside our existing Assistant Coaches in Stephen Parry and Craig White who have both worked excellently with the squad in recent years.”
Speaking about his appointment as the new Head Coach of Thunder, Chris Read commented: “I am extremely proud to have taken up this position and I am looking forward to getting to work with such an ambitious Club and a talented squad of players.
“The development of the Thunder regional programme in recent years has been most impressive and it is clear to see the ambitions of everybody involved is to back that up by bringing silverware to Emirates Old Trafford.
“I believe that my experiences as both a player, and more recently as a coach in various teams around the world, will help Thunder to push on and achieve our ambitions in the coming seasons. I look forward to working with an exciting coaching team who will be giving our squad all of the tools and the backing that they need in order to go out and do this.
“I can’t wait to get started in the role and we already have a number of exciting pre-season trips planned for the New Year which will be a great opportunity for me to get to know everybody and to start to put our plans in place for the 2024 season and beyond.”
Thunder captain Ellie Threlkeld said: “As a squad we are really excited to welcome Chris as our new Head Coach. Chris has a great reputation within cricket and I have only heard positive things about his work as a coach, particularly in the women’s game during recent years.
“Chris was obviously an outstanding wicket keeper in his playing career, so I’m looking forward to picking his brain on keeping too.
“Now that Chris’ appointment has been confirmed, and winter training is underway, we’re all really excited as we build towards the 2024 campaign.”
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