Vettori signs as Middlesex T20 coach

Daniel Vettori, the former New Zealand spinner, has joined Middlesex on a three-year contract to serve as the club's head coach for the T20 Blast.

Vettori, 37, is currently head coach of Brisbane Heat in Australia's Big Bash, and occupies the same position with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.

He will be in charge of Middlesex T20 playing strategy and will work alongside Richard Scott, the club head coach, and Richard Johnson and David Houghton, the club's two assistant coaches, to prepare the side for the Blast campaign.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to be involved with Middlesex in their pursuit of a T20 title," said Vettori. "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."

Middlesex finished third in the South Group last season, before losing to the eventual winners, Northamptonshire, in their quarter-final at Wantage Road.

"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," said Scott. "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."