Alan Butcher appointed as Surrey's coach

Alan Butcher has been announced as Surrey's new coach, with a two-year contract starting with immediate effect. He replaces Steve Rixon who held the post on a one-year contract.

Butcher has spent most of his professional life with the London club, and has been coaching the Surrey Second XI side since 1998, nurturing players such as Scott Newman and Rikki Clarke into the first team. His eldest son, Mark, played Test cricket for England and is Surrey's current captain, and his younger son, Gary, played for Surrey and Glamorgan.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the chairman of Surrey, Micky Stewart, commented: "This has been a difficult season for the club; a strong, knowledgeable man who is dedicated to cricket in Surrey will be in charge during what will inevitably be a period of transition for the club in the immediate future. Alan is a Surrey man and the ideal candidate to take us forward."