EMBUREY_POSER_NORTHANTS_21MAR1996

Electronic Telegraph Thursday 21 March 1996

Emburey poser for Northants

By Clive Ellis

JOHN EMBUREY may be forced to retire from first-class cricket - despite being told by Lord`s yesterday that he could carry on playing.

The England A manager, who left Middlesex during the winter to become Northamptonshire`s coach, has been told he can only play on as a list one registration because he was offered a two-year contract by Middlesex.

Emburey and his new county must now decide whether his on-field qualities, and his age, justify them using up one of only two list one registrations that are allowed in any five-year period.

Steve Coverdale, Northants` chief executive, said: "We will have to sit down with John during the coming weeks and review how it leaves us."

As someone with future designs on the position as England coach or manager, Emburey will be taking more than a passing interest in the nominations for the job as chairman of selectors, which closed last night and will be confirmed this morning.

David Graveney, the former Gloucestershire captain who is now secretary of the Cricketers` Association, has been championed by Warwickshire as a challenger to Ray Illingworth, and it was widely rumoured yesterday that one or more candidates - including Ian Botham - might emerge as 11th-hour contenders.

Each of the 18 counties, plus the MCC and the Minor Counties, get a postal vote and the result of the contest will be announced before the end of the month.

Illingworth`s position as England team manager is due to be discussed by the TCCB`s executive committee next Tuesday.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http.//www.telegraph.co.uk)