Matt Walker has landed his first permanent role in cricket since his departure from his Kent head coach position.
Gravesend-born Walker has signed a one-year deal as County Championship Division 1 side Warwickshire’s batting coach for the 2025 summer after an eight-year stint at the Kent helm that finished at the end of last term.
He replaces Tony Frost, who has moved into a role as head of cricket operations as part of the club’s high-performance review conducted over the winter, having been an England batting coach on the recent tour to the West Indies alongside Warwickshire players Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley.
“I’m thrilled and honoured to be joining Warwickshire,” 51-year-old Walker told the club website on Monday. “It’s a club I’ve always admired and loved playing against over the years.
“I’m extremely excited to be working closely with Ian (Westwood, Warwickshire’s first-team coach) and all his support staff and, also, with the playing squad. They are an incredibly talented group and I can’t wait to start working with them.
“I had the pleasure of spending some time with Jacob and Dan on England’s tour to the West Indies and I know the rest of the batting group is filled with great skill and ability.
“I’m looking forward to what I’m sure will be a very successful season for the club.”
Newly-appointed Warwickshire first-team coach Westwood said: “Matt is hugely experienced as a player, specialist batting coach and head coach.
“It’s rare to have someone of his calibre available. He’ll be a good fit for the club and our coaching team.
“He knows the County Championship circuit inside out and has great white-ball coaching pedigree in The Hundred and with England.
“He’s worked with some of our lads as part of the England coaching set-up and everyone I’ve chatted to speaks very highly of him.
“It’s great to have Matt on board.”
Former Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth has also reportedly taken an advisory role with Warwickshire.
Meanwhile, Kent’s Joe Denly will be a part of the England Masters’ squad for the International Masters League T20 competition in India.
The 38-year-old all-rounder, who has made 44 appearances for his country across all formats in his career, is the only England Masters player selected who is still active in the professional game.
England will start against the hosts today before they play the West Indies on Thursday.
They will then take on South Africa (March 3), Sri Lanka (March 10) and Australia (March 12) ahead of the semi-finals to be played on Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14.
The final is scheduled to be held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur, on Sunday, March 16.
