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Middlesex appoint Fraser
Angus Fraser will fill the vacant role as managing director of cricket at Middlesex from January.
The ex-England fast bowler has agreed terms with his former county, and will relinquish his role as cricket correspondent of The Independent newspaper in order to take the post.
Fraser, 43, takes on a wider remit than the previous director of cricket, John Emburey, who parted company with Middlesex in February. Toby Radford will continue as first-team coach.
Chief executive Vinny Codrington said: “We haven't finalised everything yet. He's gone on holiday and we're in Antigua and we expect to sign contracts when we get home.
“Gus is Middlesex through and through. He's been a great journalist for The Independent and I’m sure they'll be very sorry to lose him and we'll be very fortunate to have him.
“Middlesex are moving away from the old fashioned committee style and getting somebody to be responsible and accountable for everything in relation to cricket.
“It’s not a tracksuit job, its not about being in the first-team dressing room and it's not going to step on Toby Radford's toes.
“Gus is going to be ultimately responsible for everything that is Middlesex cricket and that will be everything from first team to grass roots.”
Fraser has already declared his intention to bring more cricketers from black and Asian backgrounds through the Middlesex ranks.
He joined Middlesex in the early 1980s, during a period when the county won a series of titles under the captaincy of Mike Brearley, and later Mike Gatting.
Spinner Shaun Udal (right) joins the list of men to lead the county on a permanent basis
Fraser took 679 first-class wickets in almost two decades at Lord's, and won the championship under Gatting in 1985, 1990 and 1993. He also took 177 wickets in 46 Tests for England.
Middlesex also announced that Shaun Udal, who is currently captaining the Crusaders in the Stanford Super Series, will lead the side for the 2009 domestic season.
The 39-year-old former Hampshire and England off-spinner came out of retirement to join Middlesex last season.
“Angus’ first recommendation was that Shaun Udal be offered the captaincy for the rest of 2008 and the 2009 season,” Codrington added.
“He's done a great job for us in the last couple of months and when I broke the news to Shaun today, he was very emotional and very excited.
“I believe with Gus, Toby and Shaun we have a formidable team in charge of cricket in Middlesex, which can only bring future success.”
Udal led the Twenty20 Cup champions to the Caribbean after Ed Smith was ruled out by injuries, and the captain in the final, Ed Joyce, signalled his intent to give up the job.
Udal said: “It is an unbelievable honour to captain this great and proud club and it is my intention to return it to its glory days of years gone by.
“I have been fortunate to have achieved a few things in my career but this is right up there with my proudest moments and I look forward to the future with great anticipation.
“I was truly touched when Vinny told me the news and I can promise our supporters I will give my all to the club. I also applaud the choice of Gus Fraser and look forward enormously to working closely with him.”
