Middlesex have announced the signing of Richard Pybus as the first team coach for an initial period of three seasons.
John Emburey, Middlesex’s Director of Cricket, commented “We have managed to capture the signature of a world class, international coach in Richard. He was the outstanding person from an excellent short list. He has coached Pakistan twice and has just won the provincial championship with the Titans, and his credentials are second to none. We are truly fortunate to have him on board, and we are very confident that he will be a major asset to the club’s ambitions for playing success”.
Elise Lombard, Chief Executive for Titans, was sad to see Richard go. “We, at the Easterns Titans franchise, regret losing Richard Pybus to Middlesex. However, we respect Richard’s sentiments and accept his reasons for moving on. Richard is a man of substance and integrity who has added considerable value to the Nashua Titans Franchise during his two year term. In his first year as coach of the Nashua Titans he has enjoyed being semi-finalists in the Pro 20 competition, finalists in the limited over as well as the four day competition. This season, the Titans have had an awesome four-day competition and secured the championship one match before the end of the series. Richard’s inter-personal skills and his ethics towards the game, players and administrators are a credit to him and will stand him in stead wherever he may venture”.
Richard Pybus is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to work with the players. “I am delighted to be joining the Middlesex “Team” and am looking forward to working closely with Ed, John and all the guys in returning Middlesex to the top flight of English cricket. We have a fantastic challenge this coming season to not only get Middlesex back into Div.1 of the County Championship but to work toward becoming the dominant side in the short form of the game.
"It is great news for Middlesex that Strauss, Joyce and Dalrymple are part of England’s World Cup Campaign, buoyed by the wonderful comeback in the CB series in Australia. I am sure that this experience and the self belief that comes from it will be beneficial in the dressing room next season, this allied to the strengthening up of the bowling attack with the signings of Vaas and Kartik to go with Middlesex’s depth in the batting department gives the squad good balance in all departments”.
Vinny Codrington, MCCC Chief Executive, thanked the Titans for their co-operation. “It was evident from my conversations with Elise Lombard, the Titans CEO, that they were very sorry to be losing someone who was an integral part of their family and their success, but that they were not going to stand in Richard’s way due to his desire to return to the UK. Both she and the Titans have conducted themselves in an outstanding and thoroughly professional manner and we are very grateful for their help and co-operation”.
Pybus will complete the twenty20 competition in South Africa, and will join Middlesex early in April.
