Adcock not safe as Redbacks captain

Nathan Adcock's position as captain of South Australia does not guarantee him a first-team place, SACA's chief executive Mike Deare has confirmed. He said that two other potential captains are in the frame to take over if Adcock, who averages 8.33 in six first-class innings this season, does not merit a place as a batsman.

"The reality is if Nathan doesn't perform he will not be in the squad," Deare told the Advertiser. "I don't think that would be a surprise for him to hear me say that."

This statement contradicts coach Mark Sorell's pre-season guarantee that Adcock would play every match. "We want to back Nathan all the way through," he said at the time, "because he is the man for the job."

Adcock took over the captaincy this year since Darren Lehmann was sacked, but has so far delivered only one win, in the FR Cup, a competition in which they have lost their other two matches.

However, the two candidates over the off-season - Dan Harris and Cam Borgas - are far from able to guarantee their own places. Harris has only played one Pura Cup match, making 22 in two innings, while Borgas made three successive first-class ducks, before making 13 and in between he was overlooked for the defeat to Tasmania.

News that Lehmann is struggling heavily with his achilles heel has piled on the misery for the Redbacks, who are reeling from three Pura Cup losses in three. Lehmann may not complete his final season with South Australia. "The only think I can say is that Darren's fitness is not as good as everyone would have hoped," Deare said. "He is having problems with an achilles heel."