Trent Johnston, former Ireland captain, has been appointed as head coach for the Leinster Lightning in the coming season and will oversee their campaign in all forms of inter-provincial competition - T20, 1D and 3D.
Commenting Johnston said: “I’m really thrilled to be offered the position by Cricket Ireland - it’s the best phone call I've received since [former national coach] Adi Birrell asked me to be skipper in 2005. “I’ll be looking to help the younger and less experienced players make the transition from club cricket to the international side. The Inter-Provincial series is a great pathway for those players.”
Johnston, who will be 39 later this month, brings a wealth of experience to the position, having coached club sides Clontarf, Railway Union and YMCA in Dublin. “I’ve had a fair bit of success in club cricket down the years and I’ve also really enjoyed working with the bowlers in the Ireland camp,” Johnston added. “It’s no secret that I’ll be looking to go into coaching when my playing career ends, and this gives me a perfect platform.”
Johnston is one of Ireland’s all-time cricketing greats, having taken 257 wickets and scored 2347 runs in his 180 appearances to date, while he is also one of only three players to have taken a hat-trick for Ireland.
Bobby Rao and Eugene Moleon have been appointed head coaches from the North West and North.