Cricket Ireland name Toby Radford national academy and performance manager

Ireland have appointed Toby Radford as their new national academy and performance manager.

Radford, who will begin his new role at the start of next month, is a former Middlesex and Glamorgan coach and assistant for West Indies.

The 44-year-old joins an Ireland coaching team led by John Bracewell.

He said: “I am really looking forward to joining Cricket Ireland at such an exciting time for the organisation.

“I have always been passionate about unearthing and coaching young talent — and the opportunity to do so with Cricket Ireland, as it seeks to obtain full Test Match playing status, is hugely motivating.

"I'm excited about working closely with John Bracewell and Richard Holdsworth and can't wait to get started in the role."

Cricket Ireland performance director Holdsworth said: “We are very pleased to secure the services of Toby. We see him as an integral part of overseeing the development of our most talented young players and those on the fringes of the national team over the coming years.

“We are now looking to develop our talent into world-class players who are capable of performing against the best in the world in all three formats.

“Toby’s experience of coaching at international and first-class level will bring great understanding of what it takes to perform at the highest level.”

Ireland previously appointed Chris Adams to the same position, two months ago, only for the former Sussex coach to have a "change of heart" and withdraw the next day.