Welch took 477 first-class wickets in a 12-year career

Warwickshire have announced that Graeme Welch has agreed to become their new bowling coach, succeeding Allan Donald.

The former Bears all-rounder has been performing a similar role at Essex for the last two seasons.

He links up with two former playing colleagues at Edgbaston - director of cricket Ashley Giles and Dougie Brown.

"I am delighted to be coming back to Birmingham and am looking forward to working with Ash and Dougie again," said Welch.

"I have enjoyed my time at Essex, but I am excited by this new challenge working with the Warwickshire squad."

He has all the experience to help our bowling attack moving forward Ashley Giles on new Bears' bowling coach Graeme Welch

Welch spent seven seasons in the Bears' first-team emerging alongside Brown and Giles during the Bob Woolmer era in the mid-nineties.

He played out the final years of his first-class career at Derbyshire before moving into a coaching role at Chelmsford.

"We are delighted that Graeme will be coming on board," said Giles, "It is great to have him joining our backroom staff.

"He has all the experience to help our bowling attack moving forward, and I am sure the boys will welcome him into the dressing room."

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