STEVE RIXON, the former Australia wicketkeeper and New Zealand coach, is to be Surrey’s new cricket manager. He succeeds Keith Medlycott, who helped them to win seven trophies, including three county championships, in six years before his abrupt departure in November. Rixon was Surrey’s first choice on a shortlist that included Alan Butcher, Medlycott’s assistant, and Richard Pybus, the former Pakistan coach. He will take up his two-year contract at the end of March, when his present deal with New South Wales expires.

In his ten years (1989-95 and 2000-04) as New South Wales coach, they have won the Sheffield Shield, now the Pura Cup, five times, the one-day competition five times and completed the double three times. In between, he spent four years coaching New Zealand, instilling in them a spirit and determination that led to a 2-1 victory in the Test series in England in 1999.

“We have searched the world of cricket to find the best person for this crucial position,” Paul Sheldon, the Surrey chief executive, said. “Having spent time with him last week in Australia, I am convinced that we have found the right man to lead the team into a new era in partnership with Jonathan Batty, the new club captain.”

Rixon, who will be 50 next month, said: “Having been offered roles in English cricket before, I feel that working for what I see as the premier county is the opportunity and challenge that really excites me the most.

“I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen of Surrey so far. It’s clearly a squad with high-quality players who I am looking forward to working with. I believe we will continue to build on the winning ways of the past few years.”

Rixon, an accomplished wicketkeeper and a good enough batsman to score six first-class centuries, played in 13 Tests, ten of them in 1977-78, when Australia were ravaged by the Packer revolution. He toured England as Rodney Marsh’s deputy in 1981 but withdrew from the 1985 trip to join a rebel tour of South Africa, where he took 19 catches in the three “Tests”.