Maynard joins Team England

Matthew Maynard has been appointed as assistant coach of England's Test and one-day teams. The 39-year-old Maynard, who retires from playing for Glamorgan with immediate effect, will take up his new appointment on June 9, and his contract will continue till the end of the 2006 domestic season. During this period, Maynard will also work with the players in England's National Academy and the representative age-group teams.

In a media release, Hugh Morris, ECB's performance director, said: "Matthew's role will be to provide specialist coaching and support to both the England head coach and the director of the National Cricket Centre at Loughborough. His knowledge and experience of the game are first rate, and he will clearly have a significant role to play in preparing our best young cricketers for the demands of international cricket."

Maynard's international career was nothing to write home about - in four Tests, two each against West Indies and Australia, he only managed 87 runs at an average of 10.87, while 14 one-day internationals fetched him the meagre return of 156 runs - but as a county cricketer, he was a giant. He showed early promise, becoming Glamorgan's youngest centurion when, as a 19-year-old in 1985, he scored a hundred on his debut, against Yorkshire. Over a first-class career spanning 20 years, Maynard scored 24,799 runs at an average of more than 42, with 59 centuries. He also captained Glamorgan from 1996 to 2000, and was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1998.

Reacting to his appointment, Maynard was suitably delighted. "I really enjoyed being a part of the England management team during the winter and am very pleased that I am now going to be involved with England's elite cricketers on a longer-term basis. I have spent 20 years with Glamorgan and leaving Sophia Gardens behind will be a big wrench, but this is a terrific opportunity for me to bring my skills and experience to bear at the top level, and I am very excited about the prospect."

Mike Fatkin, the Glamorgan chief executive, expressed his disappointment at Maynard's impending retirement, but wished him luck with his new assignment. "It's disappointing to be losing a player of Matthew's calibre, but he had indicated his intention to retire at the end of the season anyway, and as opportunities such as these don't come up too often we're happy to help in any way we can. Matthew has made a terrific contribution to cricket in Wales, both on and off the field, for more than 20 years and his will be substantial shoes to fill. But we're delighted that he's been identified for such an important role and we've no doubt that he will be a great success in his new position."