Sydney Sixers have appointed Peter Clarke as their WBBL head coach on a two-year deal, with Clarke continuing as NSW Breakers head coach in a dual role across the next two seasons.
The appointment completes a coaching transition at the Sixers that played out across recent months. Greg Shipperd departed as BBL head coach, triggering a prolonged search for his replacement. James Hopes was appointed to fill the role but left almost immediately after accepting a combined coaching position with Queensland and the Brisbane Heat. Matthew Mott, who was then leading the Sixers’ WBBL program, was moved across to take charge of the BBL side on July 22, 2026. The club considered whether Mott could oversee both programs but chose to appoint separate head coaches for each.
Clarke was already inside the Sixers’ setup. He served as Mott’s assistant coach during WBBL11 last season and came into the role with direct knowledge of the squad and staff. When the WBBL vacancy opened, the transition happened within a day.
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The appointment was confirmed via the Sydney Sixers’ verified Instagram account, @sixersbbl, on July 23, 2026.
“It’s an honour to have the opportunity to take on this role, and I’m both humbled and grateful for the trust the club has placed in me. The Sixers are a storied franchise in the WBBL, and a club with a legacy of phenomenal players and team success. Most importantly, the people at the Sixers are high character and interested in being the best we can be – players and staff alike. That’s what excites me the most, being a part of a group of people who are continuously striving to be great. Success isn’t something that’s given, it’s something that’s earned. And we’re keen to put in the work to earn it.”
Peter Clarke, official statement, July 23, 2026
A Different Path to the Head Coach’s Chair
Before Clarke ever ran a session as head coach at state level, he spent eight years as psychologist to the Australian women’s cricket team. He also supported the Australian men’s program and Cricket Australia’s national pathways for both male and female athletes. Alongside those commitments, he spent close to a decade as men’s first grade head coach and Director of Cricket at the University of Queensland before stepping back from that role in 2024 due to his national team touring responsibilities.
Cricket NSW appointed Clarke as NSW Breakers head coach in 2025. In his debut season at state level, NSW dominated the WNCL regular season with only one loss and reached the Grand Final, where they fell narrowly to Queensland in a rain-interrupted decider.
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Clarke walked into this coaching job having already spent eight years in the same dressing rooms as several of the players he now manages. As the national women’s team psychologist, he was the person players came to privately when their form had collapsed, when the pressure of a major tournament became too much, when they needed someone outside the selection conversation to trust. That kind of knowledge takes most coaches two or three seasons to build. It cannot be replicated by watching game footage or reading performance reviews. Clarke starts with it.
Sixers General Manager Rachael Haynes, a former Australian captain and six-time World Champion, made clear what the club is asking of Clarke.
“Pete brings a wealth of cricketing knowledge and leadership experience. He has a clear vision for this program and the energy and leadership qualities required to drive sustained success. We’d like to thank Matthew for his outstanding contribution to our WBBL program and wish him every success in his new role as BBL Head Coach. I have every confidence that Pete and Matthew are the right leaders for our respective programs, and that they will give us every opportunity to contend for a third WBBL and fourth BBL championship.”
Rachael Haynes, Sydney Sixers General Manager, official statement, July 23, 2026
The Sixers won the WBBL in consecutive seasons in 2016/17 and 2017/18. They have not won it since. Eight seasons have passed without a third title. WBBL|12 tickets go on sale on August 6, 2026.
