County Champions Surrey have pulled off a significant coup by recruiting Richard Johnson as assistant coach from Middlesex.
Johnson was highly regarded enough at Middlesex to stand in as head coach for the second half of last season after Richard Scott was relieved of his duties in July.
He also reached the final four — alongside England’s Paul Farbrace and Mark Ramprakash — in the county’s search to replace Scott permanently.
Stuart Law beat that trio to the job and while Middlesex hoped Johnson would stay as his assistant, he has opted to move on.
Johnson has overseen the development of the likes of Steven Finn, Toby Roland-Jones and Tom Helm. With Scott, Johnson, batting coach Dave Houghton and T20 coach Dan Vettori, Middlesex will have seen a total coaching overhaul this winter.
They need a batting and bowling coach, although the former is unlikely to be the ex-Ireland and Middlesex batsman Ed Joyce, the first name linked to the job.
They are also yet to make a signing for next season — Law has some task on his hands but is understood to hope to pull his coaching team together over the next few weeks.
Surrey look far more settled. Former England quick Johnson will work specifically with Surrey’s bowlers, slotting below head coach Michael di Venuto and assistant head coach Vikram Solanki in the hierarchy.
His arrival means Ryan Sidebottom and Alfonso Thomas, who were part-time bowling consultants, will not return but Geoff Arnold will remain with the club. Gareth Batty will also be involved as a player-coach.
“I’ve known Jono for a long time, having played Test cricket with him, and he has shown himself to be one of the very best bowling coaches in the game,” said director of cricket Alec Stewart. “ I’m looking forward to seeing his qualities have a positive impact on our bowling group.”
