Julia Price Becomes First-ever Woman Coach in Big Bash League

Former Australia wicket-keeper batter Julia Price has created history by becoming the first-ever female coach in the Big Bash League. She has been appointed as the assistant coach of Brisbane Heat for the upcoming ninth Big Bash League season where she will work with head coach Darren Lehmann, bowling coach Ryan Harris and coaching assistant Gavin Fitness.

Julia Price, who played 107 games for Queensland from 1993-94 to 2006-07 and 38 matches for Tasmania, will officially work with the Heat from the January 1 night game against Perth Scorchers at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, informed the franchise on its website.

Price had played 10 Tests and 84 ODIs for Australia and was also a part of the 1997 and 2005 Women’s World Cup campaign. Currently, she is the coach of the USA women’s team. Earlier she was the coach of Tasmania and the WBBL Hobart Hurricanes for the first three seasons as well.

“I’m pleased the Heat have been able to go in a direction that we haven’t seen yet in the BBL in having a woman on the coaching staff, but I don’t believe it will be the last time it happens either. Hopefully, this works well for ‘Pricey’ and assists her with her role with USA Cricket in the future,” said Julia Price. “I’m very excited at this opportunity provided to me by the Heat.”

Darren Lehmann said that her inclusion will be beneficial for the team. The ninth edition of the Big Bash League will begin with the game between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder at The Gabba on December 17.

“We’d been chatting about whether there were some professional development opportunities for her through her USA role and we just went from there,” Lehmann said. “She has an excellent cricket brain and plenty of experience as a head coach, so I can see her fitting quite neatly into our set-up.”