Gareth Batty delighted with "unexpected honour" of Surrey interim head coach role

The club have resisted making a permanent appointment following Vikram Solanki's departure to the IPL. Jim Troughton arrives as an assistant, with Azhar Mahmood also enlisted until July

Surrey have installed Gareth Batty as interim head coach for the upcoming 2022 season after the departure of Vikram Solanki to the Indian Premier League.

Ex-assistant coach Richard Johnson's move to Middlesex sees Jim Troughton installed as part of the backroom team.

Troughton, Somerset's assistant coach last term, turned down a move to Yorkshire to become part of Ottis Gibson's coaching team.

He captained Warwickshire to the LV=Insurance County Championship in 2012, played six one-day internationals for England and was later head coach of the Edgbaston-based county.

Across his four campaigns at the helm, Warwickshire finished as Blast runners-up in 2017 and won promotion back to Division One of the County Championship in 2018.

He will be joined as an assistant by Azhar Mahmood, the former Pakistan seamer, who had two spells at Surrey as a player, as revealed by The Cricketer earlier on Thursday.

^{Troughton spent last season as an assistant at Somerset (Harry Trump/Getty Images)}

Mahmood played 21 Tests and 143 ODIs for his country but is now putting together a formidable coaching CV. 

Currently, at the Pakistan Super League leading Islamabad United, he's enjoyed spells with England and Pakistan men, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans.

Both will arrive at The Oval in early March, with Mahmood departing in July to resume his role with Hundred side Oval Invincibles.

Batty was only appointed as a coach under Solanki in October 2021 upon confirmation of his retirement after a 24-year professional career.

At the end of the season, Surrey will advertise for permanent coaching roles and hold a full recruitment process, which will include the implementation of the Rooney Rule.

Director of cricket Alec Stewart said: "Losing our head coach and an assistant coach so close to the start of the season is not ideal but I have every confidence in Gareth, Jim and Azhar stepping up to the plate and passing on their vast experience and knowledge to the squad.

^{Azhar Mahmood is currently coaching at the PSL with Islamabad United (Clint Hughes/Getty Images)}

"Gareth knows the club inside out and already has the respect of the dressing room which will make his transition to interim head Coach a seamless one.

"Jim and Azhar are both excellent additions to our coaching team and I look forward to them working with the players and being an important part of our set-up this season."

On his appointment, Batty, who had two spells as a player at Surrey: "To be offered this opportunity is a great but very unexpected honour for me. After retiring last summer, I was really enjoying working under Vikram and I see this as a great chance to keep working with this group of players."

Troughton added: “I have a huge amount of respect for Alec Stewart and Vikram Solanki. Both were instrumental in me making this decision to join an illustrious club such as Surrey CCC. 

"Surrey have the ability to compete in all forms, possess current and potential England players and to be a part of that is a fantastic opportunity. I can’t wait to get started."

“I’m very excited and thrilled to be back at Surrey County Cricket Club," said Mahmood. "The club is very close to my heart and I’m looking forward to working with old friends and new and a very talented and skilful squad.”