ECB names lead batting coach

Dene Hills will be based at the National Performance Centre © Getty Images

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The ECB has appointed the former Australia A and Tasmanian Tigers batsman Dene Hills as its new lead batting coach to be based at the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough.

The 37-year-old left-handed opening batsman moved into coaching after scoring more than 7,000 first-class runs including 21 centuries during his 10 years with Tasmania.

He subsequently became batting coach to the Australia team before taking up a position as senior batting coach at Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.

A former Sheffield Shield player of the year in Australian domestic cricket, Dene will take up his new post in October and report to ECB performance director David Parsons.

His role will complement the work of ECB lead fast bowling coach Kevin Shine and lead fielding coach Richard Halsall.

The ECB is also currently in the process of recruiting a lead spin bowling coach and a further announcement will be made in due course.

Commenting on the appointment, Parsons said: “We are very pleased to have secured someone of Dene’s calibre to take on this new position and join the team of specialist coaches based at the NCPC at Loughborough.

“Dene will work closely with England assistant coach Andy Flower and be responsible for coaching players selected for the England Lions and England Performance Programme squads as well as implementing a development programme for our best young batsmen within age-group teams.”