Bicknell to scout for Surrey cubs

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Surrey have appointed their former England seamer Martin Bicknell to a newly-created position of chief scout.

Bicknell, who was the club’s fast bowling coach from the start of the 2009 season until end of this year's campaign, is the first person to take on the role and will combine it with his job as head of cricket at Charterhouse School.

The 43-year-old was a one-county player from his senior debut in 1986 to his retirement in 2006. He played four Tests and seven one-day internationals, the last in 2003 as he recalled to ecb.co.uk in July.

Former seamer Martin Bicknell will combine his new position of Surrey chief scout with his job as head of cricket at Charterhouse School

The creation of the head scout position marks a change in Surrey’s attitude to scouting for promising cricketers - both those in the latter stages of their education and talented players who have gone beyond school age but still have the ability to succeed at the highest level.

Bicknell’s brief will be to discover unseen talent throughout the country and, using an extensive network of contacts across the world game, from further afield.

Promising players will be invited for trials and possible second XI cricket before being integrated into the club’s existing system at the appropriate level.

Surrey team director Chris Adams said: “Establishing a widespread scouting network is something that is done as matter of course in almost every other professional sport. Cricket is currently lagging far behind in this area and I am keen that Martin develops his role quickly and effectively.

“We currently have 20 players in our professional squad - with 11 of them coming through the club’s youth system. This proves we have a very effective programme in place once we have identified the right players but by looking further afield we will be able to push the boundaries to complement our existing structures.”

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