Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace interested in director of cricket post at Kent

GEORGE DOBELL: Others believed to be in the running include former players David Fulton and Min Patel. Former England selector Ed Smith and Tim Groenwald are understood to have no interest in the role at this time, but were invited to apply

Paul Farbrace is a contender to fill the role of director of cricket at Kent.

Farbrace, who was only announced as head coach of Sussex in December, confirmed to The Cricketer he was interested in the position. He has kept Sussex, where he is currently head coach, informed of his discussions.

If Farbrace were to take the job, it would be his third county position in little more than a year. He announced his departure from Warwickshire last August citing a desire to live nearer his family home in Kent and a preference for the hands-on role of head coach rather than director of cricket.

^{Paul Downton is stepping down at the end of the season [Luke Walker/Getty Images]}

^{Paul Farbrace has previously enjyed success with Warwickshire (pictured), Sri Lanka and England [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

While only at Sussex a few months, he has overseen significant progress. The club retain realistic hopes of promotion in the County Championship - they were second from bottom in Division Two in 2022 - and have an exciting crop of young players.

Kent, where Farbrace started his career as a coach and player, are currently ninth in Division One.

The Kent role became vacant when Paul Downton announced his intention to step down at the end of the season.

Others believed to be in the running include former players David Fulton and Min Patel. Ed Smith, the former England selector, and Tim Groenwald, the former seam bowler, are understood to have no interest in the role at this time, though both were invited to apply.

Farbrace's track record as coach is exceptional. Having led Sri Lanka to the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup in 2014, he was appointed assistant coach of England where he played a key part in the improvement of form which led to victory in the 2019 World Cup. In his time at Warwickshire (2019-2022), he led the side to the County Championship and Bob Willis trophies in 2021.

It is currently unclear if Farbrace would accept the Kent role if offered it. For one thing, there would appear to be little scope for the coaching element to the job he appears to most enjoy (Matt Walker is the head coach) and for another he appears settled at Sussex.