Peter Siddle Named NSW Bowling Coach for 2026-27 Season

Former Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle has taken up a new coaching role with New South Wales, joining the Blues as their bowling coach for the 2026-27 domestic season. The appointment comes as former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin prepares for his first season in charge of the NSW side.

Siddle, 41, remains active as a player in T20 cricket and is part of the Melbourne Stars squad for the upcoming Big Bash League. Despite continuing his playing career, he will now take on a coaching role with NSW and is expected to work with the team throughout their Sheffield Shield campaign.

The former Test quick brings considerable experience to the NSW setup. Siddle played the majority of his domestic cricket for Victoria and also spent three seasons with Tasmania. His long international career with Australia, particularly his experience in red-ball cricket, is expected to be valuable for NSW’s group of emerging and experienced fast bowlers.

Siddle will work alongside Peter Forrest and Daniel Smith as part of Haddin’s coaching team. Speaking about his appointment, Siddle expressed his excitement at joining the Blues and said he was looking forward to mentoring the team’s talented group of players ahead of an important summer.

Johan Botha to Assist as Spin Consultant

NSW have also brought in former Queensland coach Johan Botha on a temporary basis. Botha, who stepped down from his position with Queensland earlier this year, will work with the Blues as a spin consultant.

His role will be particularly useful as NSW manage the availability of their specialist spinners during the early part of the season. Joel Davies is set to be involved with Australia’s ODI squad for tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, while Tanveer Sangha is part of the white-ball portion of Australia A’s tour of India.

With both players potentially unavailable for parts of the domestic campaign, Botha’s experience will provide additional support to NSW’s spin department.

Haddin Builds His Coaching Team

The appointments of Siddle and Botha strengthen Brad Haddin’s coaching staff ahead of his first season leading NSW.

Haddin said the arrival of both coaches reflected the team’s commitment to surrounding its players with experienced and high-quality personnel. He highlighted Siddle’s extensive cricket knowledge and experience, while also praising the former fast bowler’s approach to the game.

NSW will enter the new season with a strong group of fast bowlers. Australia’s leading Test quicks Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are generally unavailable for state cricket because of their international commitments, but the Blues still have several experienced options.

Their pace attack includes Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis, along with Liam Hatcher, Ryan Hadley and all-rounder Jack Edwards. Hatcher is also part of Australia A’s squad for the upcoming tour of India, while Hadley is regarded as one of the emerging fast-bowling options in the NSW system.

A Strong Season Ahead for NSW

The Blues will begin their 2026-27 campaign with a One-Day Cup match against Queensland on September 22. Their Sheffield Shield season will then get underway on October 8, when they face Tasmania.

Siddle’s appointment gives NSW a coach with extensive experience at the highest level, particularly in fast bowling and red-ball cricket. His role will be to help develop the team’s bowlers, provide tactical guidance and mentor younger players.

Meanwhile, Botha’s temporary involvement gives the team additional expertise in the spin department. Together, the two appointments add significant experience to Haddin’s coaching group as NSW prepare for a busy domestic season.