MURRAY GOODWIN has been handed the task of instilling his insatiable appetite for runs into Sussex’s batsmen.

Goodwin’s return to Hove was confirmed yesterday when he was appointed as the county’s new batting coach.

The 43-year-old scored more than 24,000 runs for Sussex during a trophy-laden 12-year career at the club which saw them lift the County Championship three times while also winning the C&G Trophy and Twenty20 Cup.

The former Zimbabwe international still holds the record for the highest first class score for Sussex of 344 not out and it is that hunger for runs which Mark Davis believes makes him ideal for the role.

Davis said: “I played with Murray for a long time and I think he will be exactly what we want.

“He was the epitome of a run-getter and we want him to pass that philosophy on to our batsmen.

“We need to be more relentless as a batting side. When Murray got in you knew he would go on to make a big score that would put the team in a strong position to go on and win the game.

“He is arguably the best batsman to ever play for Sussex but you could also tell that he had a passion for coaching while he was playing. He always showed a great interest in helping out the younger players and giving his fellow batsmen advice when they needed it.”

Goodwin was released by Sussex at the end of the 2012 season and went on to join Glamorgan before retiring in 2014.

He has never coached at senior level before but saw off competition from a “strong group of candidates” – including former captain Chris Adams – to land the role which was first advertised back in November.

Goodwin will begin work on March 27 and will spend three months at Hove before returning to Australia midway through the summer.

Davis added: “It took longer than we had originally hoped because of visa issues but we think it will be worth the wait.

“The whole squad and the captain (Luke Wright) can’t wait to start working with Murray.

“We had been looking for someone to combine the role of batting coach with running the second team but Murray will be specifically a batting coach through all the age groups from the first team to the academy.

“His job in Australia means he will only be with us three months but that will allow him to be here to help the team prepare for the start of the Championship season and also put in some work on white ball skills.”

Goodwin is relishing the chance to return to Hove and is confident he can help improve Sussex’s fortunes following their relegation to division two of the Championship last season.

He said: “I believe I can bring to a very talented squad some belief and options on playing certain situations in all forms of the game.

“I’m hoping to try and add a winning culture to this talented squad.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to come back to my second home. When I applied for the role I was always hopeful but to actually have been considered above the many applicants who applied is very humbling. I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of friends at this great club.”

Meanwhile, David Bowden was appointed as president of Sussex Cricket for a second year at the club’s AGM on Thursday night while Richard Barrow, Jon Filby and Gary Stanley were voted on to the board.