Welch returns to Warwickshire as bowling coach

Graeme Welch has held various coaching positions at Warwickshire, Essex, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Hampshire

Former Warwickshire bowler Graeme Welch has returned to the club for a second time to reprise his role as bowling coach following the departure of Stuart Barnes.

Welch, 53, spent six years as a player with the Bears, winning two County Championship titles, before doing the same as part of their coaching set-up in 2012 and 2021.

After spells coaching at Essex, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, Welch returned to Edgbaston as bowling coach for the 2018 season before joining Hampshire at the end of 2021.

Warwickshire say Welch's role will "support the development of both the First XI and the next generation of Warwickshire talent".

Ex-England Lions, Ireland and Bangladesh coach Barnes left at the end of this season after three years at Edgbaston.

Durham-born Welch took 477 wickets at an average of 31.51, in a first-class career with the Bears and Derbyshire that spanned 12 years before he began his coaching career at Chelmsford.

This summer he helped guide Hampshire to Finals Day in the T20 Blast and also coached at Southern Brave as they finished fourth in the men's Hundred.

"I've been fortunate to spend the last few years working across all formats of the game, learning from different environments, and adding new ideas to my coaching," Welch said.

"Coming back to Warwickshire, my focus is on raising performance levels in the First XI while at the same time developing the young, talented bowlers we've got coming through.

"This club has always meant a lot to me, and I'm excited to contribute to building a bowling group that can succeed now and in the future."