Durham have marked named previous New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin as their new head mentor. The region affirmed the improvement on their site, uncovering that the 38-year-old has marked a two-year contract and will start work at the Riverside in February.
Franklin will helped by previous Durham players Neil Kileen (bowling mentor) and Alan Walker (aide mentor), who have both marked contract augmentations.
“I’m pleased to be allowed the chance to lead training at Durham,” Franklin said. “I can hardly wait to collaborate with the squad and staff. There’s no uncertainty it’s been a testing couple of years for Durham. However at this point it’s tied in with pushing ahead, gaining ground both on and off the field and indeed endeavoring to make Durham one of the forces of the English household rivalry.”
Franklin succeeds Jon Lewis at the best job with the last leaving in December after a ‘survey of cricket tasks’ at the club, finishing a 21-year relationship with the region that he participated in 1997.
“Following a broad enlistment process, it turned out to be certain that James was by a wide margin the best fit,” chief of cricket Marcus North said. “I’m incredibly energized for James’ landing and anticipate working with him.”
Franklin, who has a Test cap trap to his name, played 31 Tests, 110 ODIs and 8 T20Is for the Black Caps, has played County Cricket for four groups – Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Middlesex.
He captained Middlesex to the Championship title in 2016 and will be entrusted with resuscitating the fortunes of the 2013 County Champions, who completed eighth in the Division Two standings a year ago, as yet reeling from the transfer in 2017 because of budgetary issues.