James Hopes has been appointed as the new head coach of the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL), following the dismissal of Greg Shipperd. Hopes, 47, signed a two-year contract and is eager to lead the team, stating, "I'm incredibly honoured to join the Sydney Sixers, a club with a proud history and a strong identity built on consistency, competitiveness and connection with its fans." Hopes brings a wealth of experience, having served as a bowling coach in various T20 leagues, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Major League Cricket (MLC), as well as working with Queensland and Tasmania in Australia's domestic circuit. He had a notable playing career, featuring in 84 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 12 T20 Internationals (T20Is) for Australia, and captained Queensland to multiple titles. The Sixers' general manager, Rachael Haynes, praised Hopes for his exceptional cricket intellect and ability to develop players. Meanwhile, the Sydney Thunder is currently the only BBL team without a head coach for the upcoming season after parting ways with Trevor Bayliss.