Sydney Sixers Club Report

The summer proved to be one of the most challenging and complex to execute, with both Cricket Australia and Big Bash Clubs navigating the rise of COVID cases, unpredictable state border restrictions and fixtures being moved at the last minute. Despite these challenges, the staff and players from both the Club’s men’s and women’s teams attacked the season with positivity and professionalism, while the off-field staff were able to put on some of our most memorable events. While it was disappointing to not be able to host any Weber Women’s Big Bash League fixtures in Sydney, the Club were determined to ensure that our Members and fans were able to interact with our squad through an increase in digital and video content through our official Club channels. This season, we set ourselves the target of running five Junior Super Clinics, offering young Sixers fans the opportunity to play with their Sydney Sixers heroes. Due to the restrictions placed on our players through the season, these were pushed back until the completion of the WBBL and BBL, only for rain to force a cancellation of our events in Sutherland, Newcastle and Coffs Harbour. We were able to run two successful events at Waverley and on the North Shore and are determined to repay the trust and support of our young fans in the coming season as we look to expand our fan engagement programs across New South Wales. Returning to C.ex Coffs International Stadium on the Coffs Coast for the first time since 2019 was an exciting initiative for the Club and it was a pleasure to work with such a great partner in Coffs Harbour City Council. One of the highlights of the previous season was the introduction of an indigenous shirt for the Club. This season was the first time that the Sydney Sixers had be the privilege of wearing a specially designed shirt for the WBBL and BBL First Nations Rounds. Designed by Jordan Adler, a Sydney-based Bidjigal woman, in close collaboration with Sixers stars Dan Christian and Ashleigh Gardner, the shirt symbolises the connection the Club has to the community and its home of the SCG, represented by a large circle as the centre piece of the design. In addition to these beautifully designed shirts, we were proud to welcome Gadigal Elder, Uncle Allen Madden to our matches at the SCG to perform the Acknowledgment of Country, while we also had the privilege of hosting a memorable Didgeridoo performance and smoking ceremony by Terry Olsen, a traditional indigenous dancer and community mentor. All of the player-worn shirts were auctioned off and provided some much appreciated funds to help raise more than $14,000 to expand our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup and Sport, Health, Opportunities and Well-Being Camps. The Sixers again partnered with the Sony Foundation for their YouCan campaign, providing great awareness as both WBBL and BBL players wore playing shirts for one match that featured three inspirational words dedicated to a young cancer patient. These shirts were also auctioned off to raise $19,600 for the campaign.

Sydney Sixers-Coffs Harbour - 9 Jan 2022 Sydney Sixers-Coffs Harbour - 9 Jan 2022

Coffs Harbour is home to some of the most passionate cricket fans and to get more than 12,000 supporters to two very rain impacted matches in the backdrop of COVID was a great result and we’re looking forward to continuing our relationship with Coffs Harbour in the future.

This season, the Sixers partnered with global sports apparel providers Nike. The Club’s playing and merchandise was well received, with it being the leading Club for sales in the league. Our BBL matches at the SCG will have been memorable, not only for some edge of your seat cricket, as Moises Henriques and his side to made their way to the Final, but also for a new look match day experience. This season saw the Club focus in our customer experience with the introduction of a DJ, new look dance group and new look pyrotechnic displays, all of which helped us reach a Net Promoter Score so high that it has never been matched by any other Club in any other season of the BBL. A proud moment for our Club. I’d like to thank the players, staff and front office staff as well as the support of the wider cricketing community for their assistance, patience and belief in what was a tough but also rewarding season for the Sydney Sixers. It has made us even more determined to put on the most fun, fast, family entertainment we can for next season’s WBBL and BBL.

Chris Botherway

GM Big Bash League Experience / Acting Head of Sydney Sixers

Ash Gardner during WBBL First Nations Round launch