Former Baroda skipper to coach senior Andhra cricket team

VADODARA:

Former Baroda skipper Connor Williams

, who has also worked as a selector for the

Baroda Cricket Association

(BCA), has taken up a new role this season. Williams has joined Andhra Pradesh senior cricket team as its coach for the upcoming season. The 48-year-old southpaw cricketer had been looking to switch roles and take up coaching assignments.

“I recently completed level II coaching at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Taking up an assignment as a coach was a part of the course. I had approached a few state cricket associations and finally zeroed in on Andhra Cricket Association,” Williams told TOI. It is his first job as a coach of Ranji cricket team outside BCA.

When asked why he opted for coaching, Williams said, “As a selector my job was a fulfilling one, but I wanted to play a role in nurturing cricketers. Coaching is the best way I can make a difference.” Williams had contested BCA polls in 2019 and got elected to the grounds and infrastructure committee.

Williams began his first-class career in 1995-96 and went on to play 124 First Class matches in his 15-year-long stint. He scored 7,492 runs at an average of almost 40 that included 19 centuries and 42 half-centuries. His performance with the bat in Irani Cup in 2001 brought him in the spotlight and he was selected in the Indian team for the South Africa tour soon after.

He was also selected for the England Test series but he couldn’t make it to the playing eleven. Williams called it a day and announced his retirement from cricket in 2011. He was a backbone of the Baroda Ranji team for a long time and later served as Ranji selector too.