Johannesburg – 12 March 2026:
Back-to-back Sports Organisation of the Year, #ThePrideOfJozi continues to raise the bar, further strengthening the Lions Cricket Pride with the appointment of renowned cricketing mastermind Adrian ‘Adi’ Birrell.
Birrell joins as Strategic High Performance Coaching Consultant from 1 May 2026 for a minimum two-year term, bringing with him a wealth of global experience and proven success at the highest levels of the game.
Birrell’s résumé speaks for itself, including winning three of the four SA20 finals his teams had contested for as well as a highly successful tenure as Head Coach of Hampshire County Cricket Club from 2019 – 2025.
Lions Cricket CEO Jono Leaf-Wright says the appointment reflects the organisation’s unwavering commitment to excellence:
“Adi is a special signing for us. His love of the game shines through in everything he does. His willingness to collaborate, to build from good to great on and off the field, and to walk this journey wholeheartedly with us, will catapult our cricket community to new heights. It’s going to be a beautiful thing to be a part of as he builds authentic relationships, empowering all those around him to Beat Their Best whilst they #LoveWhatTheyDo. I have known Adi for a long time and have always loved working with him. I am very excited to have him join our Pride and to watch him impact, influence and inspire the players and coaches around him ” His mandate will include leading a High Performance Winter Coaching Programme across both the men’s and women’s structures, working with identified Elite Colts, High Performance players and available DP World Lions contracted players. In addition, he will upskill players to equip them for Division 1 First-Class cricket; Mentor High Performance coaches and deliver specialist coaching workshops; whilst driving holistic cricket development and elevating professional standards across all spheres.
Adi, comments that he is truly excited to walk life’s journey with such a proud and ambitious Pride; “The opportunity to work alongside a highly experienced and respected coaching consortium is something I value immensely, and I’m looking forward to learning from and collaborating with them as we collectively continue to strive for excellence. The Lions possess formidable talent throughout their squad and pipeline, from the emerging Telkom pipeline players to the established professionals. There is clear potential within the entire system to achieve something very special and I am eager to contribute to their development, to help refine and elevate their skills, and to support them in translating that potential into consistent, high-level performances. My focus will be on fostering a culture of accountability, growth and professionalism, ensuring that every player is equipped — both mentally and technically — to meet the demands of top-tier cricket. I am excited about the journey ahead and the role I can play in helping this Pride achieve even greater domestic dominance.”
Birrell joins an already formidable coaching charge that, on the men’s end, includes Head Coach Russell Domingo, alongside cricketing legends Hashim Amla, Allan Donald, Jimmy Kgamadi, and Prasanna Agoram. On the women’s front, Birrell will work with Head Coach Sandile Masengemi, Assistant Coach Trisha Chetty, bowling coach Nono Pongolo and High Performance and Talent Scouting Lead Shaun Pretorius. Adding further depth to the high-performance environment is one of the world’s greatest-ever fielders, Jonty Rhodes, who serves as High-Performance Fielding Consultant across the Pipeline and professional men’s and women’s teams.
Domingo expressed his excitement at the acquisition:
“We are absolutely ecstatic to have Adi Birrell join the Pride. He brings an insurmountable amount of global experience and success. His expertise will add tremendous value to our Telkom Talent Acceleration Pipeline players and coaches, strengthening us from the bottom up. We are exceptionally pleased to have secured his expertise in this crucial role.”
Masengemi echo’s Domingo’s thoughts and believes that Birrell’s appointment will significantly enhance the women’s programme:
“We’re extremely excited to welcome Adi Birrell into our environment. For our players, this is a fantastic opportunity to be challenged, to grow, and to align even more closely with the demands of the professional game. His involvement will help elevate our standards both on and off the field, and we’re looking forward to the impact he’ll have on our journey towards winning even more trophies.”
With this strategic addition, the Lions Cricket Pride once again demonstrates that excellence is not a destination — it is a relentless pursuit. By continuously investing in world-class expertise and forward-thinking leadership, the Pride signals its intent to not only compete at the highest level, but to define it.