Matt Walker to Join English Squad for T20I Series
Apr 6, 2019 at 2:09 PM
The current head coach of Kent, Matt Walker, is all set to join the English squad for their Twenty20 International series against Australia and New Zealand as per reports in The Sun on Friday.
The 43-year-old who has a good reputation in the domestic circuit will be replacing Assistant coach Paul Farbrace who will be on a break and will miss the back to back series.
The former southpaw was part of the domestic circuit for more than two decades and has a bulk of experience under him. He started off his career for Kent and was with them for the next 16 years before moving to Essex where he played his last three years of cricket.
The head coach of England, Trevor Bayliss was impressed with Walker when the 43-year-old worked with the national side for a couple of net sessions earlier in the summer.
It was the support given to him by Bayliss and his confidence which has elevated him to the team of support staffs. Walker began his coaching career with Essex where he was the batting coach. He came in as a replacement for Graham Gooch who was then elevated as the batting coach of the national team. He then returned to Kent and assisted former Windies skipper Jimmy Adams before taking up the role in January 2017.
Currently placed 5th in Division two of the County Championship and with the final round of the Natwest T20 Blast around the corner, they have a realistic chance of qualifying for the quarterfinals. Bayliss will be travelling with the English squad for the tours which will continue for over five months.
The England side is currently playing against West Indies in a Test series and is now placed comfortably in the opening Test. It is also for the first time that a Pink Ball Test is being held in English conditions.