Essex: Captaincy takes its toll on Prichard (23 Sep 1998)
THE resignation of Paul Prichard as Essex's captain, announced at Chelmsford yesterday, had more to do with his batting career than bottom place in the championship
23-Sep-1998
23 September 1998
Captaincy takes its toll on Prichard
By Charles Randall
THE resignation of Paul Prichard as Essex's captain, announced at
Chelmsford yesterday, had more to do with his batting career than
bottom place in the championship.
Prichard, 33, one of the most pleasant and respected men on the
county circuit, told the club that his form had suffered from
four years of captaincy and that he wanted to concentrate on his
own cricket.
Nasser Hussain takes over officially, though his England duties
next year will probably reduce his championship appearances
drastically; Prichard, dogged by a leg injury, played only 10
four-day games this summer.
Paul Johnson was the first captain to resign this season, halfway
through Nottinghamshire's season, though Kevin Curran's position
at Northamptonshire has come under pressure.
Essex's decline could not really be ascribed to Prichard's
leadership because four captains were used - Prichard (two won,
six lost), Hussain, Stuart Law and Paul Grayson - though
Prichard's batting form was disappointing.
The most notable achievement for Prichard was probably taking
Essex to their NatWest Trophy success last year, the county's
first title without Graham Gooch in the side, and he added the
Benson and Hedges Cup this summer, his 92 in the final against
Leicestershire being the highlight of the county's season.
Prichard missed several weeks of the season because of shin
splints and in 10 championship matches managed only 237 runs, for
an average of 13.16.
Sussex captain Chris Adams is negotiating cricket's first £1
million player contract as he seeks a deal which will allow him
to see out his career with the county.
Adams, aged 28, is already believed to be the highest-paid
Englishman on the county circuit after signing a three-year
contract worth an estimated £100,000 per year when he joined
Sussex from Derbyshire last winter.
Now he is negotiating an extended contract which would keep him
on the Sussex payroll for the next 10 years. Adams, who led
Sussex to seventh in the championship, said: "I have thoroughly
enjoyed this year and I want to commit myself to Sussex."
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)