Bravo now head coach of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates:

Dwayne Bravo has been named as head coach of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for the 2025 International league T20 (ILT20).

The 41-year-old Bravo is set to lead a team that features several West Indies players in fellow Trinidadians Sunil Narine and Terrance Hinds, along with Andre Russell, Roston Chase and Jason Holder.

Bravo, who played 582 T20s, retired as the highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket history with 631 wickets.

It is the latest management position the former West Indies allrounder has taken up following his retirement from all forms of cricket in September 2024.

Prior to his retirement, he took up coaching stints with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and also served as a batting consultant for Afghanistan at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals.

Bravo will also serve as a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the upcoming 2025 IPL.

RUTHERFORD FALLS CHEAPLY

Sherfane Rutherford failed to fire and his Sydney Thunder missed an opportunity to go top of the table in the Big Bash League when they went down by five wickets to the Brisbane Heat in Brisbane, Australia, yesterday.

After being sent in to bat, the Thunder finished on 173 for eight from their 20 overs, with opener and captain David Warner topscoring with an even 50 from 36 balls.

Rutherford, who played a match-winning innings in their last match, made just 11 from nine balls before pulling a delivery from Matthew Kuhnemann to Nathan McSweeney at midwicket.

Spencer Johnson was the main destroyer for the Heat with 3-39, while Kuhnemann and Michael Neser took two wickets apiece.

Max Bryant then lashed 72 from 35 balls, with four sixes and seven fours and Matt Renshaw scored an unbeaten 48 to lead the Heat to 174 for five off 18.5 overs.

With the win, the Heat moved up to fourth on seven points from their seven games, while the Thunder remained in second position on eight points, one point behind the Sydney Sixers.

- CMC