Former India, New Zealand and Mumbai Indians Head Coach, John Wright, has joined Derbyshire as Twenty20 Specialist Coach for the 2017 NatWest T20 Blast.
Ex-New Zealand international Wright, who scored almost 15,000 runs for Derbyshire between 1977 and 1988, will join the Club in mid-June, subject to relevant paperwork.
He will lead Derbyshire in the NatWest T20 Blast, which is provisionally scheduled to take place from July to early September.
The 62-year-old has a wealth of coaching experience, having been Head Coach of India for five years from 2000, before coaching his native New Zealand from 2010 and leading Mumbai Indians to the Indian Premier League and Champions League double in 2013.
He currently holds the role of Talent Scout at Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
Wright will work closely with Director of Cricket, Kim Barnett, and the First XI Support Coach, but his sole priority will be progressing in the NatWest T20 Blast competition.
Chairman, Chris Grant said: “We’re delighted to secure a coach of John’s quality and experience for this crucial role.
“It’s a unique position amongst the 18 counties in England, but it is not uncommon amongst teams in the major international Twenty20 competitions like the Big Bash, IPL and CPL.
“It’s a high-priority that we improve our Twenty20 performances and the new model allows John to give the NatWest T20 Blast competition his complete focus.”
Barnett added: “We could not have secured anybody with higher pedigree than John to fill this new role. He has won the IPL with the Mumbai Indians, been an international coach and was a great player at Derbyshire.
“I could not be more pleased to get him back on board here and work with him. He is a fantastic strategist and will give us a lot of expertise technically and tactically.
“I shall be liaising with him about overseas players and making sure everything is ready for his arrival, but John is here to run the show and his sole focus will be preparing the squad for match winning performances in the NatWest T20 Blast.”
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