Lisa Sthalekar and Alex Blackwell join Sydney Sixers and Thunder as list managers

Former Australia stars Lisa Sthalekar and Alex Blackwell have been named as list managers for Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder respectively bringing with them the experience of more than 400 international caps.

Sthalekar will work on the lists for both the BBL and WBBL Sixers sides while Blackwell will focus on the WBBL set-up for cross-town rivals Thunder who are the defending champions.

The roles were created after Cricket New South Wales had a shake-up of their structure which removed the general manager role from the two BBL clubs.

"We couldn't be happier to have engaged Lisa and Alex to manage the playing lists at Cricket NSW's BBL clubs," Greg Mail, CNSW's head of cricket, said.

"Their cricket pedigrees are obviously outstanding and they are both exceptional people who will bring decades of knowledge and experience to the role. The fact they both watch more cricket than most with their commentary roles and have had the chance to see plenty of talent from around Australia and across the world is a big positive."

The contracting embargo has yet to lift for the BBL although conversations can be had between players and clubs, but WBBL deals have been in progress for a few weeks with that tournament beginning in October.

Sthalekar will work alongside Greg Shipperd, the head coach of back-to-back champions Sixers in the BBL, but the WBBL set-up are now searching for a new coach following Ben Sawyer's appointment as the fast-bowling coach of the Australia women's team.

The Sixers have already made some significant decisions with the WBBL squad having not re-signed Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk as overseas players with India opener Shafali Verma due to join the club.

"I am excited to join forces again with the Sydney Sixers and looking forward to working with both head coaches and the leaders within both sides," Sthalekar said. "I feel like I'm in a good position to assist both the Sixers WBBL and BBL teams to ensure that we have the right personnel within the squad to allow them to chase more titles and keep lifting the bar in both tournaments."

Blackwell will team up with the Thunder, where she was a player up to the 2019-2020 season, as they aim for back-to-back titles but they will need two new overseas players with Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont due to be on England duty in Pakistan.

"I am thrilled to get the offer and think I fit the role pretty nicely," Blackwell said. "It is something I stay across anyway because of the wonderful opportunities I get to commentate on cricket.

"I also keep an eye on all domestic cricket and internationally through my role with FairBreak where I am helping put together all six teams for the FairBreak Invitational - a first of its kind global invitation tournament next year in Hong Kong."

A list manager for the Thunder BBL team will be named at a later date.