Farbrace to Step Down as England Assistant Coach

Reuters | Updated: February 16, 2019, 11:55 PM IST

England assistant coach Paul Farbrace is to leave his role at the end of the ongoing tour of West Indies to join county side Warwickshire as sport director, England's cricket board (ECB) said on Saturday.

Farbrace, 51, has been an influential figure since joining the backroom staff in 2014 and was set to play a key role as England seek to win the 50-overs World Cup and the Ashes series against Australia on home soil this year.

"I have been fortunate to taste some genuine success and be part of the development of some excellent players, who have the world at their feet this summer," Farbrace said in a statement.

"There is never a great time to leave an international set-up and despite what will be a fantastic summer for English cricket, the opportunity to shape the future of one of the game's biggest counties was too much to resist.

"It would have been tough for me to have turned down the opportunity once Warwickshire showed an interest in me."

Former wicketkeeper Farbrace will succeed Ashley Giles, who left Warwickshire to become managing director of England men's cricket last month.

Last year, Farbrace said he would be "thrilled" to take over as England coach when Trevor Bayliss leaves the job after the Ashes series.

He will work with head coach Jim Troughton, with Warwickshire back in the top flight of the county championship after winning the division two title last year.