Bicknell handed Surrey coaching role

Martin Bicknell took over 1,000 wickets during his playing career with Surrey

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Former England bowler Martin Bicknell has rejoined Surrey as a specialist bowling coach.

The 40-year-old enjoyed an illustrious career as a player at the Brit Oval between 1986 and 2006, taking 1,026 first-class wickets at an average of 24.64.

He also represented his country in four Tests and seven one-day internationals, taking six wickets in his final Test appearance, which came on his home ground against South Africa in 2003.

Bicknell has been appointed on a part-time basis, allowing him to continue his role as the head of cricket at Charterhouse School.

Meanwhile, long-term servant Geoff Arnold has left the club with immediate effect.

Bicknell told Surrey's website: “To come back and help Surrey achieve what they want to achieve is great. Coming back is something I always hoped to do.

“When I retired, I knew I was going to go away for a couple of years, leave the county scene completely, gain some experience and hopefully get the opportunity to come back and get involved with Surrey.

“This was too good an offer to turn down. I’m a couple of years older, a bit wiser and it’s my time to give a bit back to Surrey.

“Guys like Chris Jordan, Jade Dernbach and Stuart Meaker are very promising young lads to work with.

"I’m going to try to focus on how they go about preparing, the mental side of the game and how they look to structure a day’s bowling. In the main, it’s about we go about taking twenty wickets.”

Bicknell is the latest in a long line of former Surrey players to have linked up with the club in a coaching capacity in recent months, with Graham Thorpe, Alec Stewart and Ian Salisbury also joining the backroom staff.

Surrey’s professional cricket manager Chris Adams added: “Martin has exactly the sort of experience and knowledge that I want to see on our cricket management team.

“As a professional he made it to the very top and was a massively respected figure at the club.

"In his new role, Martin will work with all of our squads, playing a key role in the process of building a strong and winning future for Surrey.”