ECB recruits Andy Hurry and Raph Brandon for National Cricket Performance Centre

The England and Wales Cricket Board has recruited Andy Hurry and Raph Brandon for key roles at the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough University.

Hurry, who is currently Director of High Performance at Somerset, has been appointed as the new Head of the England Development Programme (EDP).

The 49-year-old was previously Somerset’s coach from 2006-2013 - a period which saw the county become a major force in the domestic game - twice finishing runners up in the LV= County Championship and appearing in two one-day and four consecutive T20 finals days.

A former Royal Marines fitness instructor, Hurry was seconded to the England management team for England’s ODI and T20 series against Pakistan in UAE two years ago.

In his new role, he will oversee the England talent development programme.

This will include working with the England U19 team and the wider network of cricket academies and county coaches to help ensure a flow of talented young players into the first-class game and senior England squads.

Brandon, who is currently the English Institute of Sport’s (EIS) Director of Performance Solutions, succeeds Michael Bourne as Head of Sport Science and Medicine.

Bourne is leaving ECB to take up a position as Head of Performance Advisors with UK Sport.

Brandon was previously the EIS’s Head of Service and has spent more than a decade with the organisation which he first joined as a strength and conditioning coach in 2002.

ECB managing director Paul Downton said: “We believe Andy’s in-depth understanding of what it takes to succeed in the professional game and his ability to bring the very best out of teams and players will be a huge asset to the EDP.

“Raph has a proven track record of success in supporting world-leading teams and athletes and we are delighted to have secured an individual with his outstanding leadership skills and technical expertise.”