Richard Johnson returns to Middlesex as Stuart Law successor

Richard Johnson has returned to Middlesex as the club's new first-team coach after three years as an assistant coach at Surrey.

Johnson, who played three Tests for England in 2003, stood in as Middlesex's interim head coach in 2018 after Richard Scott's departure, having previously worked as fast-bowling coach and assistant coach.

Middlesex have been undergoing a major off-field transition over the last year. Angus Fraser has moved from director of cricket to a new role overseeing the academy and county age-group squads; Richard Goatley stepped down as chief executive for health reasons, replaced by Andrew Cornish; Stuart Law was removed as coach; and Alan Coleman took on a new role as head of men's performance.

Cornish said that Johnson was the stand-out candidate in a recruitment process that had been running for several months, with Graham Thorpe - the England assistant coach - widely reported to be another candidate.

"In what was an extremely competitive recruitment process, we were fortunate to interview a number of exceptionally high-calibre candidates. However, for us, Richard stood out," Cornish said.

"His credentials as a coach are unquestionable and he returns to Middlesex with even greater knowledge and experience following his time coaching with Surrey. Culturally he is absolutely the right fit and the right man for the job.

"He has worked closely with the majority of our playing squad before, knows their strengths, and conversely the areas they need to improve upon, and he has a brilliant working relationship with the rest of our newly-appointed coaching team."

Middlesex finished second in the third division of the County Championship last year, and are due to play in Division Two this season. They have brought Shaheen Shah Afridi in as a marquee overseas signing for next year but are also bringing through a number of home-grown, academy players.

"I feel incredibly honoured to be given the chance to be the first-team coach of this amazing club," Johnson said. " It is a place that I hold extremely close to my heart, having been associated with the club since I was ten years old.

"The opportunity to return and give my all in trying to make Middlesex successful again is one that not only excites me but makes me incredibly proud.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Surrey, and especially Alec Stewart for the past three years. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and wish the players and the club all the very best for the future."