John Emburey, the former England off spinner and, briefly, captain, has given up his job as the Middlesex director of cricket after only 11 months to end a long-term association with the county. Emburey, 55, played for Middlesex from 1973 until 1995, left to coach Northamptonshire from 1996 to 1998 and returned to Lord’s as coach in 2001. He became director of cricket last year, when Richard Pybus took over as coach and combined both roles when Pybus left halfway through the season.
Now, with Toby Radford installed as coach, Emburey, who was interviewed for the position of India coach last summer, wants to revert to full-time coaching in England, Australia, or in one of the new Indian cricket leagues.
“John’s role was becoming more administrative, taking him away from the area where his strengths lay,” Vinny Codrington, the Middlesex chief executive, said. “After lengthy discussions with the club, it was mutually agreed that John pursue his ambitions in coaching.”
Emburey’s decision is not believed to be connected with the departure of Mark Alleyne from his job as Gloucestershire coach after 22 years with the club. Alleyne was the most successful captain in their history, leading them to eight one-day trophies between 1999 and 2004 before becoming coach.
Glamorgan have failed in an attempt to sign Adam Gilchrist, Australia’s wicketkeeper-batsman, who is about to retire from international cricket, for their Twenty20 Cup campaign but deny that they will try to tempt Brian Lara, the former West Indies captain, to Wales instead.
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Geoff Miller, the national selector, who is in New Zealand with the England team, has said that he will take a firm stand on those who join the “rebel” Indian Cricket League. His view is stronger than the official line that the decisions of Chris Read, Vikram Solanki, Paul Nixon and Darren Maddy will merely be taken into consideration when teams are chosen.
“I do not think they would be available,” Miller said. “If they choose to sign, then what is the reason? What is wrong with the England team? We have to bear in mind whether picking them is going to be detrimental to what happens in the changing-room.”
Miller, who was due to take in this morning’s first Twenty20 international between England and New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, is to stay on tour until after the third one-day international on Friday week. He will then be replaced by James Whitaker, a part-time selector, who will help to choose the team for the first Test next month with Peter Moores, the head coach, and Michael Vaughan, the captain.