Yorkshire sign up Paul Grayson as batting coach: I hope to play that father figure in the dressing room

Grayson will leave his role as head coach of both Yorkshire Diamonds and Durham MCCU to take up his new job, with Yorkshire saying the 47-year-old saw off the challenge of six other shortlisted applicants to land the position

Yorkshire have signed Paul Grayson as batting coach ahead of the 2019 county season.

Grayson, the former Essex batsman and head coach, will join Andrew Gale's coaching setup with a remit to work with the first team, second team and academy squad.

He is due to take up his new role on March 1 and will travel with Yorkshire to Potchefstroom in South Africa for warm-weather pre-season training a week later.

Grayson will leave his role as head coach of both Yorkshire Diamonds and Durham MCCU to take up his new job, with Yorkshire saying the 47-year-old saw off the challenge of six other shortlisted applicants to land the position.

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"This is the perfect role for me," said Grayson, who began his playing career at Headingley.

"I have no intention of going back into a club to become head coach, I made that pretty clear in my interview. I feel that I specialise in batting along with a bit of spin bowling as well.

"I just want to support the other coaches, pass on my experience and my knowledge, and also work with the players.

"I hope to play that father figure around the dressing room. Galey has been in the job for over a year now with Richie Pyrah. They are reasonably inexperienced coaches, so I hope that I can help those two.

"Galey is the main man who will make all of the big calls, but if he needs someone to talk to about certain things, I will try and help him out and along with the players as well."

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