Worcestershire promote Richard Jones to first-team coaching staff

Jones came through the county's academy as a player and more recently has been working as a pathway performane coach

Former Worcestershire seamer Richard Jones has returned to the county's first-team setup in a coaching capacity.

The 36-year-old has been working as a pathway performance coach over the last three years but has now been appointed to Alan Richardson's backroom staff.

Richardson replaced Alex Gidman as head coach earlier in the winter, and Jones will work alongside his fellow former bowler and Kadeer Ali, Richardson's assistant, who previously oversaw Worcestershire's second team. Kadeer is also working with England Young Lions this winter.

"I felt very lucky to represent the club as a player," said Jones, "and the opportunity to become a part of the coaching team alongside Alan and Kadeer, both who are hugely respected coaches, is very exciting.

"I am ready for this next step in my career, and I look forward to working with a talented, hungry group of players."

^{A young Richard Jones in his Worcestershire playing days... (Stu Forster/Getty Images)}

Jones picked up 163 first-class wickets during his career after coming through Worcestershire's academy. He later played for both Warwickshire and Leicestershire.

Paul Pridgeon, Worcestershire's cricket steering group chair, added, "Richard is a very highly rated coach who and already knows what Worcestershire is all about, having been part and parcel of our set-up, coming through our academy and pathway and playing first class cricket for us.

"But the fact he has taken himself off and worked elsewhere and built a good background coaching wise while working at Warwickshire, means his overall coaching profile has greatly benefitted from that."