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Somerset County Cricket Club can today announce that Andrew Griffiths has been named as our Interim Bowling & Assistant Coach.
The University of Bath Graduate initially joined Somerset from Nottinghamshire after the 2016 season as the Club’s Performance Analyst, before taking on the role of Player Pathway Bowling Coach in 2019. In 2022 he became SCCC’s Pathway Coaching Lead.
Regarding the appointment, Somerset CCC Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry said: “After undertaking a series of interviews over the course of the winter for the vacant Bowling & Assistant Coach position, and having considered all the applications, we felt that we were not in a position to make a permanent appointment.
“Understanding how important it is to ensure that we appoint the right candidate, we have taken the decision to re-advertise the full-time position later in the year. In the interim, given the essential requirement of supporting the professional bowlers in-season across our First and Second XI teams, we have seconded Pathway Coaching Lead, Andrew Griffiths who we feel has the connections and relevant expertise to maximise this short term opportunity from March 1st until the end of the season.
“Andrew, who is highly regarded not just in Somerset but also across the game, has been working very successfully in supporting the development of the high-potential seam and spin bowlers within the Somerset CCC Academy and Pathway over a number of years. He has the benefit of having established relationships with several of our bowlers who have progressed through the Pathway and who are now on the professional staff. Andrew will continue to stay connected with and have a vested interest in the high-potential Pathway and Academy bowlers during his secondment with the professional squad during the summer.”
Andrew is looking forward to taking up his new role. “It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity,” he said. “I’ve been at the Club for a number of years, and I’ve held a variety of positions during that time, particularly within the Pathway and Academy. One of the most pleasing things is the number of players that have gone on to become members of the professional staff.
“Already having a working relationship with players means that I can hit the ground running in some respects. I’ve worked a lot with Sonny Baker, Kasey Aldridge, Ned Leonard and Alfie Ogborne and it’s an exciting opportunity to be working with them again and supporting them on their journey. I’m also incredibly excited to be working with the more senior players. Before moving across to the Pathway, my previous role as First XI Analyst means that I already have established relationships with many of the playing group.
“It’s important to recognise the strength in depth that we have in the squad. We want them all to be developing and delivering their skills to the highest level and we want the Club to be competing on all fronts. Alongside this, it will remain incredibly important for me to continue to have a vested interest in the players across our Pathway programmes and to continue to support their development.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started and support the players over the summer.”
