Gooch relinquishes Essex role

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Graham Gooch, left, said: "I'm sad that I'm unable to continue my coaching duties with Essex. I never wanted to relinquish this role."

Essex have announced that Graham Gooch is to step down as the club’s first-team batting coach, in order to concentrate fully on his role within the England set-up.

Gooch, England’s batting coach for the past three years, will continue to serve as a club ambassador, while long-serving batsman Matt Walker has been promoted to assistant first team coach.

Gooch said: “I’m sad that I am unable to continue my coaching duties with Essex. I never wanted to relinquish this role at the club working with Paul but as my England commitments have grown it is now impossible to do justice to both roles. I look forward to supporting Essex Cricket in the future through my work as the club ambassador.”

Essex head coach Paul Grayson added: “We want to thank Graham for his services with the coaching side of the team. He has been a massive support to both the playing squad and myself but we understand the England requirements he has.

“I am really excited to be working alongside Matt Walker as he has vast knowledge of the game and I know he is looking forward to this next chapter of his career.”

Walker, who turns 38 next month and has almost 600 appearances to his name across all forms of cricket, said: “I am very honoured and flattered to be asked to become assistant coach to Paul at Essex. I am very much looking forward to the new role, especially working with an exciting group of players.

“Although I will be registered as a player, I’m extremely focused on helping Paul Grayson and the rest of the coaching staff achieve success in the near future.”

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