"Outstanding option" Shane Burger to leave Scotland for Somerset

Burger has been with Scotland for nearly four years, having joined the setup in 2019. He is to become assistant and batting coach at Somerset

Shane Burger is to leave his role with Scotland to join Somerset's coaching team.

Burger has been with Scotland for nearly four years, having joined the setup in 2019. He steered his side out of the preliminary round at the 2021 T20 World Cup, and presided over victory against West Indies in the same competition a year later. 

He is to become assistant and batting coach at Somerset.

"The journey has been a rewarding one both on and off the field for this group and to have played a role in that journey is something I am incredibly proud of," Burger said in a statement.

^{Shane Burger is moving from Scotland to Somerset [Getty Images]}

"There have been many challenges thrown along the way, but we have managed to navigate our way through these and achieve some fantastic results.

"I am excited to be moving onto to a new adventure with Somerset where I will be taking on a different role and have no doubt it will keep developing me as a coach and person."

The 40-year-old - who was shortlisted for the Middlesex first-team coach role which ultimately went to Richard Johnson last year - will move to his new job at the end of February, when his current Cricket Scotland contract comes to an end. His initial deal in Taunton covers the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

^{Burger presided over Scotland's win against West Indies at the T20 World Cup [Getty Images]}

Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry said: "The calibre of applications that we received and candidates that we interviewed for this post was extremely high but, after a thorough and extensive process, it became clear that Shane was the outstanding option to support our players' growth.

"Shane is a highly regarded coach, and he has done a remarkable job with the Scotland national side, where he undertook a number of coaching responsibilities to support players' development.

"He has a very clear and concise vision of how he will support our players development and what he wants to achieve over the next two years with the club."

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