Follow UsAustralian Luke Williams is set to take over from Ben Sawyer as the new head coach of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side in the Women's Premier League (WPL) in the upcoming season, according to a report on ESPNCricinfo. Williams is a renowned coach in the Australian circuit, having spent four seasons with Adelaide Strikers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), also helping them to their first title in 2022-23 after finishing second in the previous two seasons.
He was also the assistant coach of Southern Braves under former England captain Charlotte Edwards, helping them to their maiden Hudred title earlier this year. He has also previously worked with the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) with the South Australian Scorpions.
Mike Hesson stepped down as RCB's director of cricket - for both the men's and the women's sides - and according to ESPNCricinfo, Sawyer will not return to the franchise next season.
\RCB had a season to forget in the WPL, losing their first five matches of the tournament, effectively ruling themselves out of a place in the playoffs. However, they managed to win two of their last three games, finishing just above Gujarat Giants in the points table.
Smriti Mandhana, the most expensive buy of the season, costing INR 3.4 crore, had a lukewarm season in which she managed just 149 runs in eight innings. They had also acquired the services of some top international stars such as Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry and Heather Knight.