New Sunshine United coach James Muirhead is keen to help the club return to Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division finals.
It’s been a tough couple of years for the Tigers, but they are hoping to turn that around and get back towards the top of the table.
Muirhead joins the club from Newport-Digman where he has been captain-coach. He said he felt it was a time for a change.
“They [Sunshine United] reached out to see if I was interested,” Muirhead said. “To be given the opportunity to lead from the front with a proud and successful club with a good amount of history will be great.”
It will be Muirhead’s first foray into the VTCA senior division, but he brings plenty of experience.
The leg spinner played five T20s for Australia and played in the BBL with the Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers.
Muirhead also played first-class cricket for Victoria.
While he hasn’t played in the senior division before, being a western suburbs local he knows plenty about the team and the competition.
“I’ll try and instil in others so they can learn from my experiences with whatever I can offer” he said.
“We want to get back to finals contention and hopefully win premierships.”
President Paul Cini said they were thrilled to have Muirhead onboard for next season. The Tigers finished the 2023-24 season in eighth spot with three wins.
“We believe the structure and culture at our club was a perfect fit for him and he is super keen to lead us to success”.
The signing of Muirhead is one of two announced by the club in recent days.
Shehan Wedikkara joins the club from Sydenham-Hillside.
Wedikkara was the Storm’s most potent wicket-taker and the fifth-best overall, claiming 29 dismissals for the campaign which included two hauls of five.
The club has also announced the re-signings of Thomas O’Brien and Matthew Sipala.
Muirhead said there had been some extensive recruiting done with a mixture of new and exciting young cricketers who have come through the ranks.
“We think we have the right balance a mix of youth and experience,” he said.
“[I’m]looking forward to working alongside a very talented group of players and honoured to be a part of a very successful club in Sunshine United.”
Muirhead said he’d had a brief meeting with some of the players and they would look to start training in late July.
Tara Murray
