Yorkshire confirm appointments to Ottis Gibson's coaching team

Kabir Ali, Alastair Maiden arrive as assistant coaches while Tom Smith will lead the second XI as the winds of change continue to blow through the Headingley club

Yorkshire have confirmed the appointments of Kabir Ali, Alastair Maiden and Tom Smith to their backroom team ahead of the new campaign.

As previously reported by The Cricketer, Ali and Maiden will operate as assistants to head coach Ottis Gibson.

Smith meanwhile will lead the second XI from next season.

The Headingley county dismissed all coaching staff amid the fallout from the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal that engulfed the club, including Andrew Gale.

Following the arrival of interim managing director Darren Gough, Gibson - the ex-West Indies and South Africa head coach - was appointed as the successor and has since been helping to put together his team.

Ali arrives after spells at Warwickshire and as bowling coach of Bangladesh Premier League outfit Chattogram Challengers. He was also the coach of Colombo Kings in the 2020 Lanka Premier League.

^{Gibson was installed as Gale's successor in January (Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images)}

The former Hampshire, Lancashire and Worcestershire quick played one Test and 14 one-day internationals for England.

Legendary South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald had also been linked with the role.

"I believe the best way to approach coaching is to keep things simple and let the players enjoy it," said Ali, a former director of cricket for the South Asian Cricket Academy.

"I want the team to feel good and drive their games forward, and I’m looking forward to helping them on that journey from day one."

Maiden had been head of the Leicestershire academy since 2020. He was an assistant as England women won the 2017 World Cup and later had a short but successful spell as interim head coach.

Jim Troughton and Jonathan Trott, now at Surrey and Warwickshire respectively, had previously turned down the same role.

“It’s great to see how many talented coaches are keen to join what we are doing here at Yorkshire and I’m thrilled with the calibre of talent we are assembling."

“I am very excited to join a club of Yorkshire’s size with so much history and to work with Ottis," said the new batting lead. 

"It is an absolute honour and something that I didn’t think that I would do in my coaching career. 

“Over the past three years, I have been in charge of leading the ECB level four coach batting module which has been really good for me to develop my own thoughts on batting. 

"To have the opportunity to help the England captain practice is one not many people get, plus the exciting young players. There is so much potential in the current squad and in the future for developing batters."

Smith also comes in after a spell at Grace Road where he has been an assistant since 2018. He brings with him a wealth of experience from an 11-year playing career centrally with Lancashire.

^{Darren Gough is overseeing the cricketing changes at Headingley (Harry Trump/Getty Images)}

“Yorkshire is a massive club," he said. "The opportunity to work with Ottis Gibson, Kabir Ali, a number of international players and some of the best domestic players is certainly exciting. 

“Cricket as a whole in Yorkshire is strong and there is a good crop of players coming through. 

“In the second team environment, it is important to give players a good grounding to go on and play first-class cricket, T20 and 50 over cricket. With the talented youngsters coming through, I am really looking forward to that challenge."

Temporary MD Gough added: “Ottis and I are absolutely delighted to announce these exciting coaching appointments.

“It’s great to see how many talented coaches are keen to join what we are doing here at Yorkshire and I’m thrilled with the calibre of talent we are assembling as we shape our backroom staff ahead of the new season."