Melbourne Stars appoint Richard Pyrah as WBBL head coach

The Melbourne Stars have appointed Richard Pyrah as the head coach for the upcoming 2026-27 Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) season. Pyrah, 43, currently serves as the head coach for Yorkshire Women and recently worked as an assistant coach for Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred.

The appointment is part of a coaching restructure within the club and Cricket Victoria. Incumbent head coach Andy Christie will transition to an assistant coach role with the Stars to focus on his responsibilities as the head coach of Victoria in the Women's National Cricket League.

Pyrah brings previous experience in Australian domestic cricket, having held consulting roles with the Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers between 2015 and 2017. His appointment is expected to provide continuity for Victorian players, including Stars captain Annabel Sutherland, who recently played under Pyrah's program at Sunrisers Leeds.