Sydney Thunder rope in Bond as head coach

Former New Zealand quick Shane Bond has quit Brisbane Heat to take up the role of head coach with Sydney Thunder on a three-year contract. He has taken over the role from Paddy Upton, who ended his association with the team last month after four seasons.

Bond, who worked with his former national team-mate Daniel Vettori at Heat, has held roles with reigning IPL champions Mumbai Indians since 2015. He was also England's bowling consultant during the most recent Ashes series.

"The chance to lead a programme at a club which is full of great people on and off the field was very appealing," Bond said. "I want to win trophies and have a squad of players and coaches that other teams are envious of. There's some exciting young players in the Thunder squad as well as some experienced old bulls, if we can blend that together we'll have a successful team. I'm looking forward to getting to Western Sydney and meeting the players and everyone in the organisation."

The 42-year old represented New Zealand in 18 Tests, 82 ODIs and 20 T20Is before retiring in 2010.

"It'll be sad to say goodbye to the Brisbane Heat, they're a great franchise who have been very good to me," he said.

"I've been a bowling and assistant coach for eight years, but you're always thinking about how you'd do things yourself if you were leading a side. I love to coach, not just manage people and I enjoy making players better cricketers. The supporters are very passionate in Sydney and hopefully we can play some good cricket for them to get behind."

Thunder general manager Lee Germon said Bond was equipped to coach at the highest level.

"Shane is widely regarded as one of the world's leading bowling coaches and I have no doubt he is ready and equipped to be a head coach," Germon said. "He has extensive T20 club and international experience and he has shown all the requirements for contemporary, world-leading, T20 coaching."

Thunder finished sixth in the recently-concluded season with four wins from ten games.