Klinger strikes with head coaching role

THERE was star power at Maccabi AJAX Cricket Club’s Chanukah Cricket Bash in Melbourne’s Caulfield Park on December 9.

Michael Klinger (pictured) not only dropped by with his children Summer and Bailey – who play for the junior club – but also batted in a super over of a T20 match between Maccabi junior and senior teams, delighting the crowd by regularly clearing the boundary rope.

Klinger, who ended his 21-year professional playing career in September when captaining Gloucestershire in the T20 Vitality Blast finals in England, last week accepted the head coaching role at the Melbourne Renegades for this summer’s Big Bash League season.

He still holds the competition’s run-scoring record, and described his appointment as “very humbling and a fantastic honour”.

“I’ve played with and against a number of players in the squad, and I’m looking forward to working alongside such a talented playing group,” Klinger told The AJN.

“I’ve been fortunate to represent some outstanding organisations throughout my career, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way leave me feeling as well prepared as I can be for the challenges that will inevitably emerge throughout the season.”

Cricket Victoria’s general manager of cricket Shaun Graf said Klinger was the standout candidate from a very strong list of applicants for the job from all over the world.

“We are pleased that we were able to secure a person held in such high esteem,” Graf said of Klinger.

“The qualities that made ‘Maxy’ such an accomplished player are the qualities that will set him up for an excellent coaching career.”

The Renegades open their season on December 19 against the Sydney Thunder.