Michael Di Venuto appointed as Surrey's new head coach

Australian Michael Di Venuto has been appointed as Surrey’s new head coach.

Di Venuto replaces Graham Ford, who left the county to become Sri Lanka's new coach.

He has been an assistant coach and batting coach with the Australia national team for the past two years and will join Surrey at the start of April ahead of the new season.

Di Venuto played nine ODIs for Australia, and played county cricket for Durham, Derbyshire and Sussex, winning back-to-back County Championship titles with Durham in 2008 and 2009.

Di Venuto said: "It has been a huge honour and privilege to have worked with the Australian team but the chance to come to a club of the size and potential of Surrey as head coach was too big an opportunity for me to turn down.

"As someone who has always enjoyed the county game, I have followed Surrey's progress over the last couple of years and look forward to working with this talented squad of players."

Surrey's Director of Cricket, Alec Stewart, added: "Following the departure of Graham Ford it was vitally important that we found another high quality coach with a great work ethic and excellent knowledge of the English county game.

"Michael is a good people person and his twelve years of county experience will be invaluable. He is highly regarded within the Australian set-up for his ability to work with and get the best out of players both individually and collectively.

"Being able to appoint a coach from a top quality International team can only serve to benefit the club and I would like to thank Cricket Australia for their professional dealings and understanding in enabling us to make this appointment in time for the start of the new season."

Di Venuto's batting coach role with Australia will be filled by current fielding coach Greg Blewett.