Sydney Sixers Cricket Club, commonly referred to as Sydney Sixers or simply Sixers, is one of the most iconic and successful cricket clubs in the world. Founded in 2011 as part of the inaugural Big Bash League, the club is based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and plays its home matches at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground, which has a seating capacity of over 46,000.
Sydney Sixers has a rich history, boasting 2 Big Bash League titles, and numerous other domestic and international successes. The club enjoyed its most successful era under the guidance of coach Greg Shipperd, who led the Sixers to their Big Bash League victories in the 2011-12 and 2019-20 seasons.
Known for its aggressive style of play, the club has nurtured some of cricket's greatest talents, including Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, and Brad Haddin. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances, Sydney Sixers remains one of the world's most valuable cricket clubs, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence Australian and world cricket.
Sydney Sixers is one of the most popular cricket clubs in the world, with one of the highest average home attendances in Australia. The club states that its worldwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the Sydney Sixers Supporters Club (SSSC), in at least 24 countries. The club takes advantage of this support through its worldwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that Sydney Sixers has 75 million fans worldwide. The club has the third highest social media following in the world among sports teams (after Barcelona and Real Madrid), with over 82 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Sydney Sixers had the loudest fans in the Big Bash League.
Sydney Sixers was formed in 2009 as part of the inaugural Australian Big Bash League. The club initially played games against other state and territory based franchises. In their first recorded match, wearing the colours of magenta and black, they were victorious against the Hobart Hurricanes.
In 2011, the appointment of Stuart Lawford as coach led to a period of success for the club. Lawford demanded an unprecedented level of control over team selection, player transfers, and training sessions. Lawford led the team to Big Bash League victories in 2012 and 2014. In 2015, the club won the Champions League Twenty20, its first international title.
On 8 May 2016, Lawford announced that he was to retire as coach at the end of the cricket season, but would remain at the club as a director and club ambassador. He retired as the most decorated coach in cricket history. The club announced the next day that Brisbane Heat coach Daniel Vettori would replace him from 1 July, having signed a three-year contract. Brad Haddin took over as interim player-coach a few months later, on 22 April 2017, when Vettori was sacked after a poor season in which the club failed to defend their Big Bash League title and failed to qualify for the Champions League Twenty20 for the first time since 2015–16.
Initially funded by the New South Wales Cricket Association, the Sydney Sixers became a professional cricket team in 2011 as a part of the Big Bash League. Their ownership lies with the Cricket New South Wales, which is a not-for-profit company. As a part of the Big Bash League, the Sixers operate within a set salary cap and receive equal share of broadcasting rights revenues, ensuring competitive balance within the league.
Since the inception of the Big Bash League, the Sydney Sixers have been managed by a host of respected figures in the cricketing world. The team's inaugural General Manager was Stuart Clark, a former Australian cricketer, who played a significant role in establishing the Sixers as a competitive franchise in the early years of the league. His leadership and strategic planning laid a strong foundation for the team's future success.
In 2013, Dominic Remond took the reins as the General Manager of Sydney Sixers. Remond, a veteran sports administrator, brought a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served in various management roles within the sports industry. Under Remond's stewardship, the Sixers continued to thrive, both on and off the field. The Sydney Sixers have also been fortunate to have some of the best cricketing talents on their roster, thanks to astute player acquisitions and a successful player development program.
While the ownership and financial structure of the Sydney Sixers is significantly different from football clubs like Manchester United, the Sixers' commitment to success, fan engagement and community involvement is no less fervent. The Sixers' ownership and management continue to invest in the team's success, ensuring a bright and competitive future for the franchise in the Big Bash League.
Sydney Sixers is one of the most successful clubs in Australia in terms of trophies won. The club's first trophy was the Big Bash League, which they won in 2011-12. In 2019-20, the club won their second league title and won the Champions League Twenty20 for the first time in 2012. Since then, they have gone on to win a total of 3 Big Bash League titles—their total of 1 Champions League Twenty20 is second only to Mumbai Indians. Those titles have meant the club has appeared multiple times in the Big Bash League finals; of those appearances, Sydney Sixers have won a total of 3, including two times when the match was drawn and the trophy shared by the two clubs.
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Sydney Sixers Official Website: Detailed history, statistics, and information about Sydney Sixers. https://www.sydneysixers.com.au
ESPN Cricinfo: Extensive coverage of Sydney Sixers' performance in domestic and international cricket. https://www.espncricinfo.com/team/sydney-sixers-5640
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