Graham Ford leaves role as Surrey head coach

GRAHAM Ford is leaving his role as Surrey head coach to return to the Sri Lanka national team.

Ford, 55, left his role as Sri Lanka coach in 2014 to take charge at the Oval and he led Surrey to promotion from Division Two of the County Championship last year.

Ford was shortlisted for the England coach’s job in 2009 and will begin work with Sri Lanka on February 1.

Alec Stewart, Surrey’s director of cricket, said: “He has played an integral role in the progress that we have achieved. He has worked tirelessly with the players and his efforts can be seen in their individual performances and the team’s results, culminating in promotion back to the First Division.

“It was a very tough decision for Graham to leave Surrey but we understand that the opportunity to go back and coach at international level with Sri Lanka was too good to turn down.

“Despite the timing of his decision, we wish Graham all the best and we will immediately start our search for a new head coach.”

Ford’s appointment ends a five-month search for a head coach, following Marvan Atapattu’s resignation from the position in early September.

The South African is now due to return to England early this summer with Sri Lanka playing two Test matches against the Three Lions.