Kevin Sharp to end 47-year full-time cricket career

The former Yorkshire batter has been Worcestershire's head of coach and player development since stepping down as the county's head coach in 2018

Former Yorkshire batter Kevin Sharp is to end his full-time involvement in professional cricket after almost five decades.

Sharp, who made his debut for his home county 47 years ago, has been Worcestershire's head of coach and player development since stepping down as the club's head coach during a stint that saw Worcestershire win the T20 Blast.

Sharp, who coached Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root during their formative years, may yet continue to coach in a part-time capacity with Worcestershire's youngsters.

"I've been very fortunate that I've spent pretty much my whole life in professional cricket as a player and as a coach," he said.

"I've loved my time at New Road. To come here and be given an opportunity at such a wonderful place, a cricket ground that everyone loves to visit, it felt like I was joining a family.

"I've got to a stage where I've achieved what I wanted to accomplish in the game. I'm 64 on my next birthday, travel has opened up a bit after Covid, and I've got some desires to travel around the world with my wife.

^{Sharp was a stalwart of Yorkshire's batting line-up for well over a decade (Adrian Murrell/Allsport)}

"We like walking and want to get some obscure places over the next few years while we are fit enough to be able to do that.

"But at the same time, I don't want to fully walk away from cricket because it is something I wouldn't be able to do."

Sharp was brought to Worcestershire by former director of cricket Steve Rhodes, initially working as a batting coach and leading the second team. He has been in his current role for four-and-a-half years, having played for Yorkshire between 1976 and 1992, for whom he scored more than 12,000 runs.

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