Coaching ambitions lure Adams 'home' to Yorkshire

Colin Crompton
Thursday 02 November 2006 01:00 GMT
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Chris Adams yesterday signed a four-year contract to join Yorkshire as their captain and head of professional cricket, just a month after leading Sussex to their second County Championship title in four seasons.

Sussex confirmed they had agreed terms with Yorkshire to release the 36-year-old former England batsman. Adams, who captained Sussex to their first title in 2003, was frustrated by the lack of a vacancy at Hove which would allow him to further his coaching ambitions. He revealed that his Yorkshire roots played a big part in his decision.

"I am both honoured and delighted to be coming to a county with such history and pedigree," Adams said. "With my father a born-and-bred Yorkshireman, this opportunity represents a move home for me and my family to a county I have always wanted to play for."

The Sussex chairman, David Green, said: "This is a sad day for the club and all our supporters, but we realise this is a great opportunity for Chris and wish him the very best of luck. Chris has done wonderful things for [Sussex]."

Adams joins Yorkshire at an intriguing point in the club's history. They have lost the retired Darren Lehmann and his fellow left-handed middle-order batsman Michael Lumb from the team who narrowly escaped relegation from First Division this year. The former England A batsman Lumb decided on Tuesday to join Hampshire, while Anthony McGrathhas been ill at ease is thought likely by some to cross the Roses divide to Lancashire.

It is against this extraordinary background that the veteran Adams returns to the north as one of two new high-profile signings, following the acquisition last week of the Pakistani vice-captain Younis Khan as Yorkshire's first overseas signing from that country.

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