Yorkshire replace Farbrace with Dawson

Richard Dawson, the former England offspinner, will replace Paul Farbrace as Yorkshire second XI coach.

Dawson ended his playing career at Gloucestershire in 2011, aged just 31, and has since served the club's backroom staff, most recently as spin bowling coach.

But he will now return to his home county, whom he played for between 2001 and 2006, replacing Farbace who left to become Sri Lanka coach in December.

"I'd like to thank Gloucestershire, and in particular John Bracewell, for giving me my first opportunity of coaching at a professional level," Dawson said. "The transition from playing to coaching was made easy for me in the environment I have been working due to the players and coaching staff at the club.

"I enjoyed six years as a player at Headingley and had some great times including winning a couple of trophies. To have the opportunity to return and be part of the coaching staff is a real honour and a fresh challenge that I'm relishing.

"Yorkshire have a number exciting prospects coming through and to be part of their development over the next few years will be a major part of my role. This is a Club that is heading in the right direction."

Dawson becomes the second Gloucestershire coach to leave for a bigger club in recent years after highly-rated Stuart Barnes departed for Surrey in October 2012.

"We like our coaches to be ambitious and when that is the case you run the risk of losing them," Gloucestershire director of cricket John Bracewell said. "We understand his reasons for wanting to join Yorkshire and wish him well.

"As a player, Richard added to our young squad the experience of having performed in the pressure cooker of an Ashes Series and having won a County Championship title with Yorkshire.

"He was a natural to make the progression from our playing squad to our coaching staff and has delivered programmes with a great deal of energy and passion. He has also played a big part in maintaining dressing room morale at a time when the club have had to make some tough financial decisions."