Tykes Dizzy for Far return

PAUL FARBRACE is to be offered the chance to succeed Jason Gillespie at history-chasing Yorkshire.

Farbrace, England’s assistant coach, is understood to have been informally sounded out by a club official before the ODI against Pakistan in Leeds this week.

The 49-year-old was second XI coach at Headingley under ‘Dizzy’ Gillespie before quitting at the start of 2014 to become Sri Lanka coach.

Yorkshire, who are attempting to emulate their team of the 1960s by winning their third consecutive County Championship title, have been revitalised during Gillespie’s five-season tenure.

But the Australian was always fulsome in his praise of the work done by his former sidekick Farbrace – who won the World Twenty20 with the Sri Lankans before being lured back by England.

And Martyn Moxon, the club’s director of cricket, who has been tasked with identifying a successor, provided more than a hint that their No.1 target is a familiar face.

Moxon said: “The model we have got works, we have seen that over five years now, and when we have made changes they have been seamless.

“It is always about the team, both the team on the pitch, and the team of support staff, who work really closely together, so it’s about finding someone who will fit into that.

“People who have been here in the past have really good jobs at the minute and I don’t want to start a rumour mill.

“Quite honestly, though, our real focus is on these last few games this season because they are massive.

“Massive for the players, massive for the club, because to seal a treble of Championship wins would be some achievement for everybody concerned.

Legends

“Our message to the players from the very start of the season has been: you have a chance here of being legends within this club’s history.”

Farbrace has a reputation for motivating players, and promoting freedom of expression.

He has forged a brilliant relationship with England coach Trevor Bayliss over the years – initially as his No.2 with Sri Lanka.

However, the chance to become the top man at England’s most powerful county club will arguably be more attractive than Surrey, whose advances he snubbed earlier this year.

Moxon added: “Over the next three years we have got to manage the transition of getting the next generation into the team while still winning.

“I need someone who can oversee that.

“Dizzy’s successor can look forward to waking up each morning and enjoying the day.”