John Stephenson is set to return to Essex as second team coach.

He has already expressed a willingness to accept an offer from the county he served from 1985 to 94, and it now just remains for him to put pen to paper.

Now aged 36, Stephenson, who has spent the last seven seasons with Hampshire, will succeed John Childs who has been appointed assistant to Graham Gooch, the new Essex head coach.

During his time with Essex Stephenson formed a formidable opening partnership with Gooch and figured in three Championship-winning sides.

In 1989 he won his solitary Test cap when he played against Australia at The Oval.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.