Yorkshire today signed former Australian Test paceman Wayne Clark as the club's first team coach.

Clark, 47, currently coach of Western Australia, has been given a three-year contract and will officially take up his duties from the beginning of April.

Although skipper David Byas will continue to have the final say on team selection, Clark will be closely involved with all of the playing staff and will watch the Second XI when there is no clash with the senior side.

Clark made his debut for Australia against India at Brisbane in 1977 when he claimed four wickets in each innings to establish himself as Jeff Thomson's new-ball partner.

He went on to play in ten Test matches in all, capturing 44 wickets at an average of 28.75 runs apiece.

His career with Western Australia spanned 1974-84 during which time he bagged 210 first-class wickets.

Yorkshire were planning to introduce Clark to the Press later today in a video link-up between Leeds and Australia.

Although he made his name on the field as a sturdy swing bowler, Clark has become one of Australia's top coaches with a reputation for being a strong disciplinarian while possessing excellent management skills.

Since he took over as coach of Western Australia five years' ago the State side have enjoyed several trophy successes both at first class and one-day level.

Western Australia are now negotiating his future with them and it is likely that he will continue to be of some assistance during the English winters.

When Yorkshire's director of coaching Martyn Moxon announced his shock departure for Durham in early January, cricket chairman Bob Platt approached their star Australian batsman Darren Lehmann to see if he wanted the additional job of first team coach but he declined because he thought it may compromise his batting form.

Lehmann did, however, come up with three names, one of which was Clark, and the player was interviewed by the cricket committee last Thursday in an early morning video link-up at the Leeds office of the club's solicitors, DLA.

"He made an immediate impact," said Yorkshire chief executive Chris Hassell.

"He is not a big-name player but he is extremely well respected."

Updated: 11:45 Monday, January 29, 2001