Former New Zealand speedster and currently the head coach of the Sydney Thunder in the BBL, Shane Bond has made it clear that he won’t be renewing his contract with the Thunder as he want to spend more time with his family. A feared fast bowled during his prime, Bond has been in charge of the Sydney Thunder in the last three season and it was under his coaching that they finished third last season.
"I loved my time with the Thunder but with so much uncertainty around travel restrictions these days and not knowing what that might look like I just didn't want to miss another summer at home," Bond was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
"I haven't had one there for six years and my wife Tracey has had to carry the load. I want to be there again before I get to the point where my girls get to the end of high school. My son has some important cricket coming up too and I want to be there for that,” he further added.
Having spent considerable amount of time with the Sydney Thunder in the last three years, Bond lamented the fact that he will be missing the boys at Thunder. He said that it will be one of the hardest thing for him to be away from the boys especially given the fact that it is such a great club to be part of.
"I'll miss the boys at the Thunder, all the people from players to management. It's a great club to be a part of. I'll miss everybody. That will be the hardest thing,” Bond said.
The former fast bowler was the former assistant coach of the Brisbane Heat before joining Sydney Thunder in the role of a head coach. He was also worked with his home team before apart from being also having coaching capacities with England and the Mumbai Indians in the Premier League. He is currently in India with the five-time IPL champions who are hoping to make a hat-trick of titles.
While Bond has announced his decision to step down from the post and not renew his contract, the Sydney Thunder will also need a new captain after Callum Ferguson was removed as the leader after Thunder bowed out of the BBL earlier this year after losing in the knockout.
"Shane has done a fantastic job over the last three years, ensuring the Thunder are in a good place for whoever takes on the role," Greg Mail, Cricket New South Wales' head of cricket, quipped.
"He has been critical to the emergence of some brilliant young NSW based talent over the last two years whilst also bringing the best out of some of our established local and international players. We are a values-based organisation and although we would have loved to have seen Shane at the helm next summer, choosing to spend time with his family is a decision we respect,” he further added.