Former Nottinghamshire opener Phil Jaques has joined Australian Big Bash franchise Sydney Thunder as assistant to Head Coach Paddy Upton. 

Jaques, who retired from professional cricket in June after a fruitful stint at Trent Bridge, has moved seamlessly into the coaching world having been appointed as a Pathway and Assistant coach for the NSW Blues in July of this year. 

Jaques had a prolific First Class career as an opening batsman having played 11 Tests for Australia, where he averaged 47.47 with the bat. 

In addition he played 200 First Class matches for New South Wales, Northamptonshire, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, averaging a superb 48.29. 

“Phil brings with him an enormous amount of recent experience at the highest level, in particular with the T20 format," said Sydney Thunder General Manager Nick Cummins.

"He has an astute cricket brain and has played for a number of successful teams and will be an excellent mentor for our batting group. With his coaching role with the NSW Blues he will also have extensive knowledge of the representative and Grade cricket scene which will be a benefit for us when it comes to selecting players.”