Craig White has scrapped plans to become a first-class umpire after joining Hampshire as their assistant coach.

The former England all-rounder, Yorkshire’s first-team coach of two seasons until the end of 2011, has taken up a post with the county’s main rivals for promotion back to the County Championship’s division one.

Under the re-structuring of the coaching staff, he opted not to re-apply for his role at Headingley in late October before revealing plans for a “total career change”.

The 42-year-old was expected to start an umpire’s course ahead of the forthcoming summer, but will now work under Giles White at the Rose Bowl.

He said: “This is a very exciting new challenge for me. I’ve been at Yorkshire for 22 years, but I now feel it would be interesting to see how things are at a new county.

“I’ve always admired the way things are done at Hampshire. It seems a very focused but relaxed place, so it should be exactly my kind of atmosphere. They’ve got some great young cricketers there, so I’m looking forward to working with them.”

Hampshire manager Giles White said “The players and staff are excited about this appointment.

“We all look forward to working with Craig and tapping into his experience.

“We are delighted to have him at Hampshire.”

White, who played 30 Test matches and 50 one-day internationals between 1994 and 2003, turned down the opportunity to become Warwickshire’s bowling coach ahead of the 2010 summer.

His first meeting with his former Yorkshire colleagues will come during the pre-season tour of Barbados next month.

Yorkshire face Hampshire in a two-day friendly on March 24 and 25.