A former England all-rounder has been named as Kent’s new head coach.
Adam Hollioake, 53, was named as Matt Walker’s successor – three months after he stepped down from the role – on a three-year contract on Monday afternoon.
Hollioake said: “I’m honoured to be appointed as the head coach of Kent.
“It’s an amazing chance for me to work with a great squad of players and to be involved with a county with such a rich history of success.
“County cricket is something that I hold extremely close to my heart and this is an opportunity that I could not turn down.”
Hollioake enjoyed a fine playing career, which spanned 16 years. He captained Surrey to nine trophies, led England in One-Day International Cricket and was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2003.
He retired from playing in 2007, having had a brief T20 spell with Essex that year. He made 39 appearances, including playing in four Tests, for England in his career.
Hollioake delivered an international top-score of 83 not out in a One-Day defeat to South Africa at The Oval in 1998.
It had been reported Hollioake had been offered the role last week and, now, terms have been agreed on a deal which will run until the end of the 2027 season.
Following a spell as head coach of Hong Kong’s national team at the 2000 ACC limited-overs Trophy, Hollioake returned to coaching in 2017 as head coach of the Boost Defenders in Afghanistan’s Shpageeza Cricket League.
Director of cricket Simon Cook said: “Adam has shown throughout his playing and coaching career that he has outstanding leadership qualities and a winning mentality, something that was instrumental in our decision to move in a new direction following our robust and thorough search for a new men’s head coach.
“We welcome Adam into the Kent Cricket family and look forward to his leadership of our men’s side going into the new season.”
Hollioake has also had stints with England Lions as a fielding coach, with Queensland Cricket as a pathway and batting coach, and was batting coach for Pakistan’s tour of Australia in 2023, before taking on a role as assistant coach at Surrey in the 2024 domestic season.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, he also had spells growing-up in England and Hong Kong.
Hollioake’s first competitive game in charge of Kent will be a County Championship Division 2 away match against Northamptonshire from Friday, April 4.
