Brown makes Surrey return

Want to know which players have gone where? Click here for all the comings and goings on the domestic scene

Ali Brown, who won eight trophies during a glittering 20-year playing career at Surrey, returns to the club as second XI coach

Former Surrey batsman Ali Brown has returned to the Kia Oval after signing a two-year deal to become the club’s new second XI coach.

The 41-year-old, who retired from professional cricket at the end of this summer, scored 26,392 runs and won eight trophies during a 20-year stay with the Brown Caps before seeing out his career at Nottinghamshire.

Brown, who will take charge of the second team and work closely with academy director Gareth Townsend, said: “I’m really looking forward to hitting the ground running and continuing the process of players coming through the second XI and PG academy to make an impact at first-team level.

“When I left Surrey back in 2008, I always hoped I could return if the right opportunity arose. Fortunately it has and it’s very good to be back at the club I call home.”

Brown joins a new coaching structure that sees Chris Adams elevated to team director after signing a one-year contract extension, which will keep him at the club until 2014.

Adams will lead a team including Brown, Townsend, new first-team coach Ian Salisbury and part-time bowling coach Martin Bicknell, who have both signed two-year deals, as well as part-time coach and board level executive director Alec Stewart.

Adams said: “New contracts for Ian Salisbury and Martin Bicknell are due reward for the excellent contributions they have made to the recent success of the club and I am very happy that Alec Stewart will continue his work with the players on top of his new commitments on the board.

“With myself and these three individuals we have a very strong coaching unit at Surrey into which I am delighted to welcome Ali Brown.

“He has a glittering career behind him and a huge amount of experience and expertise he can pass onto both our squad and the players coming through our system who will soon be pushing for a first team spot themselves.”

Chief executive Richard Gould added : “The return of Ali Brown to Surrey is great news for both players and fans of the club.

“He is one of the most popular Surrey men of recent times and will play a key role in developing the backbone of talent within our system that we hope will one day wear the Surrey shirt with great pride and success.”