The England and Wales Cricket Board has installed John Neal in the newly-created role of head of coaching development.
Neal has worked as a performance psychologist and, beyond cricket, has held roles with the Rugby Football Union, Welsh Rugby Union and Premier League.
His brief is to head up a programme of coaching strategies at all levels of the game, from recreational to elite international environment.
"We see this as a very significant and exciting appointment," said Andrew Strauss, the ECB's director of England cricket.
"As our head of coach development, John will have the opportunity to create a game-wide strategy to ensure that coaches have impact from the moment someone picks up a bat for the first time right up to the pinnacle in our England teams.
"He is a well-known and respected figure in cricket, having worked previously with Middlesex, Somerset, Gloucestershire and as an advisor to the ECB, including in the assessment of our coach development programmes.
"But coaching is about people development as much as technical intricacies, and it was John's breadth of experience in sport and beyond that made him an outstanding candidate for this role."
Neal added: "I'm delighted and very proud to have been appointed into a role where I believe I can make a real difference within a sport which is very close to my heart.
"Coaches play a crucial role in the sport and especially ensuring young people love playing cricket and then follow their passion for a lifetime at their local club or through to international level.
"I am excited to have been given the opportunity to develop our coaches and make an impact on the future of English cricket and its cricketers."
Source: PA
