Middlesex County Cricket Club is delighted to announce that Daniel Vettori will be joining the club’s coaching staff in 2017. Vettori, the former New Zealand all-rounder, has signed a three-year deal with Middlesex CCC, a contract which will see him take up the position of Head Coach in the club’s NatWest T20 Blast campaign.
Following an outstanding playing career, in which he played more than 440 games of international cricket for New Zealand, Vettori is forging the reputation of being one of the brightest young coaches around. The 37-year-old is currently Head Coach of Brisbane Heat in Australia’s Big Bash. He occupies the same position with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.
Vettori will be in charge of Middlesex CCC’s T20 playing strategy and the preparation of the players for the NatWest T20 Blast. He will work alongside Richard Scott, Middlesex’s Head Coach, and Richard Johnson and David Houghton, the club’s two assistant coaches.
Commenting on the appointment Middlesex CCC’s Head Coach, Richard Scott, said: “I am delighted Daniel has agreed to join us as T20 Coach and am very much looking forward to working closely with him and tapping in to his expertise. At Middlesex we pride ourselves on giving all the players the best possible support to develop as cricketers and people, and this is further indication that everyone at the club is driven to back up this year’s Championship success by competing and winning on all fronts."
Angus Fraser, Middlesex CCC’s Managing Director of Cricket, said: “As a club we are always looking to improve and signing Daniel will only strengthen what is already an outstanding coaching unit. Cricket is becoming ever more specialised. The skills required by players in the different forms of the game are wide-ranging – why should coaching be any different?
“We spoke to a number of people before signing Daniel and everyone was extremely positive about him not just as a coach, but as a person too. His values and outlook match those of Middlesex CCC and we are all looking forward to working with him.”
On joining Middlesex this summer, Vettori commented: “I am very excited about the opportunity to be involved with Middlesex in their pursuit of a T20 title. Like all players I loved every opportunity to visit Lord’s and that won’t be any different as a coach but the main reason for my desire to be involved was the quality of the Middlesex playing squad. There is talent and experience in all facets of their game and I look forward to complementing their skills and all the fantastic work the current coaching staff has done.”
