Monday 14 November 2016 13:09, UK
Andrew Gale has been appointed Yorkshire head coach on a three-year contract following the departure of Jason Gillespie.
Gillespie left the White Rose at the end of the season after five years at Headingley during which he led the county to two County Championship titles and a second and third-placed finish.
Gale, who initially said in August he was not ready to turn to coaching, suffered a difficult season with the bat, averaging just 21 in first-class cricket in 2016.
But he has ended a 12-year playing career to take on the role and will attempt to build on Gillespie's success. The former Australia fast bowler fostered a positive dressing room atmosphere at Headingley and enjoyed a close relationship with Gale, who will offer continuity at the club.
"I didn't expect the opportunity to come as early as it has, but it is too good to turn down," he said in a statement.
"In taking up the role, I have ended a memorable playing career at Headingley, however, the challenge ahead of me is one that truly excites me.
"As first XI coach, I aim to continue the good work that has been done over the past five years with the excellent support staff that we have here.
"I cannot wait to roll my sleeves up and get stuck in."
The county considered 16 candidates for the position, with England assistant coach Paul Farbrace believed to have turned down the opportunity to return to his former club having worked at Headingley between 2012 and 2014.
Director of cricket Martyn Moxon added: "We had 16 applicants for the job with some extremely good candidates in amongst that list. But at the end of the day, for what I believe we need, Galey was the obvious choice."
The move brings an end to a career that saw Gale become the youngest captain in the club's history, as well as scoring over 8,000 first-class runs including 20 centuries.
Gillespie announced in August that he would move back to Australia with his young family before Yorkshire narrowly missed out on a third consecutive championship title to Middlesex in a tense end-of-season finale at Lord's.
