Alan Richardson: Worcestershire promote ex-dressmaker to head coach from assistant role

Former Staffordshire and Warwickshire stitcher Richardson won 254 wickets in 60 first-class games as a Worcestershire player before joining the New Road coaching staff in 2018.

"It's a proud moment for me to take on this role," Richardson said.

Former Worcestershire and Gloucestershire batsman Kadeer Ali, older brother of versatile England Moeen, has been promoted from his role as second XI manager to become Richardson's assistant.

Former England Under-19 international Kadeer is the second manager of the XI since 2019.

Richardson, who worked as an ent pace bowling stalker with the England national team, was voted one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year in 2012, when he took 73 Championship wickets for the county at age 36-year-old to help keep Pears in the Premier League.

The club's search for a manager of cricket is still ongoing.

Worcestershire announced in July that they were planning a structural change - and that they would seek to reclaim the title of Director of Cricket, for a far-reaching new role "responsible for all coaching staff, cricketing operations, science and medicine and the academy". /p>

Paul Pridgeon, Chairman of the Worcestershire Cricket Steering Group, said: "Alan Richardson and Kadeer Ali have a com thorough grip of the club. They are among the most respected and progressive coaches.

"They deserve their chance to excel and to build on our impressive foundation. They will be further aided by other important recruits over the coming months."

Worcestershire finished fourth in Division 2 in the County Championship in 2022 - 31 points behind Middlesex, who took second place in promotion.