Andrew Richard Caddick
By Grockle
August 1 2009
Caddick and Somerset, two words inter-linked for nearly two decades. The man IS our bowler, he has been our icon and our indicator of the truie level of our cricket for all the time I have been watching the county. My best memories of the side involve ARC more often than not. My world of Somerset cricket changes for ever the day HE calls it quits. Here's some images to remember him by.
Andrew Richard Caddick
1178 wickets @ 26.57
78 five-fers
17 10 wicket matches
Best Bowling 9 for 32

With the Ball

With the Bat

With a smile (at least in the end!)

With the Hat

With Goughie

With England
Over

and Over
and Over Again
Sometimes FOUR TIMES in one over!!




And ALWAYS
With Gratitude
ANDY
IT HAS BEEN A HELL OF A RIDE
IT ISN'T OVER YET
BUT WHEN IT IS WE'LL REMEMBER
WE'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER
GLORY DAYS........GLORY DAYS.........
SOMERSET SALUTES YOU AND ENGLAND SHOULD TOO
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:06:12:20:09 by Grockle.
Perhaps he's just concentrating on some rather dodgy architecture.
He has never really been a one day bowler and any T20 competition involvement would only be relvant IF ARC has been bowling a lot previously (which won't be the case).
If he is not involved in CC1 games in the next fortnight to three weeks it will be too late and we should plan for the Post Caddick era with the players we expect to have in 2010.
I'm not too sure it isn't already too late to see the great man have any effect on this season.

I think this season we need to pick our best attack for each game, still everything to play for as next month or two will decide which end of the table we are fighting for come september, if Caddy is fit and worth his place surely we want him in there regardless of what will be next year
If he can bowl well, he could be the difference between winning a couple of home games, or not winning them and that, in turn, could be the difference between survial or relegation?
After Hove, we will still have ten games to go. IF (big if) he can get fit and stay fit, then he could, potentially, make a difference for us.
I can't see that we will take any decision about phasing out players who may not be around in 2010 unless either;
a) We're safe
or
b) We've been relegated.
At that point, if we're not confident of keeping them for next year, then we might find that Alfonso and Zander join Caddy on the sidelines.
Why pay his wages if we're not going to use him?
Do we have people to come in that the powers-that-be would want to develop?
For instance, let's say it becomes clear that we can't keep Zander for 2010. Well, if the powers that be view Wesley Durston as someone who will develop into a first-team player, they might go ahead and pick him on that basis. But, if they view him as nothing more than a reserve, I think they'd just stick with Zander anyway and then try to sign somebody else for next season.
If he is fit to bowl then unless he is capable of a four day involvement then he shouldn't play because he's still not part of our strongest eleven.
We should always play our best eleven a fit Caddick still has to earn his place if that is to be the case and the longer this injury goes on, the less we can really hope for him to come and do a job for us. We may need to accept he isn't what he was and we need to do the job another way.
I sincerely hope that Hove proves me so totally wrong that it is embarrasing but we should not pick ndy because he can bowl 20. He has to bowl 20 better than those presently taking up the positions in the team.
I don't think I talked about phasing in others AG. That is a different conversation. The position has been that one bowler is keeping Andy's seat warm in the Championship lineup. That may not be the actual case. Andy may not have a place in a Somerset side any more and for him Hove may be the decider.

As such the less wealthy counties will have to abide to survive, where it is more likely the richer counties will afford to be able to field who they want and not worry about not receiving the benefits...
Yes, they are a rude lot, aren't they?
Meanwhile, Somerset have arranged a friendly three-day Second XI match with Glo`shire at Taunton Vale starting on Wednesday. If Andy isn`t playing at Hove, this should give him a very useful workout.

I thought it was to do with having piles.
Well,that's the face my Dad used to make anyway.
Unless of course he was always being quizzical.
Which he wasn't.
That does not sound so good.
The batting sounds impressive, but I don't think we can pick him for that!
It did rather have me flummoxed.
In that case, it could also be that they were more rapid than what the keeper is used to and the kind of thing that Craig might well have stopped without too much trouble.
There must have been at least three wides unless one went for six!!
Correction, at least two wides as a wide going for four counts five runs.
Actually it could be just one wide for which the batsmen run three and the ball is then overthrown for six.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:06:16:02:33:59 by Congar.
Let's hope he recovers well and isn't feeling too stiff this morning.
I'm not too sure what young David would think of that anyway.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
If the club considers Caddick is fit enough to return to first class cricket, who should he replace?
My feeling is David Stiff is improving all the time and if he is offered a longer contract they may hope that he replaces Caddick when he retires.
Anybody else got any other ideas on who he would replace in the team besides Stiff.
Great to hear that Caddy and Jonah are both out there and bowling in this fixture. Competition for places can only be good news.
We won't ever see him bowling at Taunton then, AGod?

Neil Edwards replied with an unbeaten centry for us. But as former England off-spinner Richard Dawson also hit a hundred for Glo`shire, the track at Taunton Vale must have been pretty benign.
And if the pitch was especially flat, then Caddy's return is, therefore, really heartening.
One way or the other, this is definitely good news.
When is the next CC game after the H & G interlude?
I'd really love to see the great man back and firing in that one. Is it Yorks again?
He likes his walks on the moors and beach does our Matthew.
Plenty of them down here.
And I'm not talking about a holiday home either.
My good friend Owain sorted all them out.
Anyone for bar-b-q cottage?
I think that was our most dissappointing result of last season - losing at home in such a close game. Had that one gone the other way, I suspect we might have gone onto the title, so there was a lot of hurt involved in that one.
I'm sure you are hurting too after your narrow defeat in Leeds.
I remember that I was sat in the Botham stand where I'd spent the whole game and had struck up a friendship with a couple of your supporters (genuine cricket lovers who in defeat expressed the view that we had witnessed a wonderful advertisement for the four-day game).I said to them shortly before the game ended,about 30 minutes from the end,in the event,that any of the four results to the match were quite possible.
Hopefully,it will be another cracker with cricket the winner as much as the team that wins the game.
I base my confidence on two factors (1) we must win a four day game soon;I don't think we're too far from being a decent team,and (2) you've just won two in a row,and I don't really think that your attack is all that great,despite the results of the last two games.I think that if Caddy is fit enough to play he'll give the side a big boost,and his figures last week were encouraging (from your point of view)
As to Hoggy possibly combining the game with a bit of househunting --- well,who knows? His first innings figures at
Headingly against you shows he still has a bit to offer,but sadly those sort of figures are not really the norm for him these days.If he does decline to sign a new contract for us then I guess that the lovely countryside around Taunton could be a factor in his decision.Wherever he goes,if indeed he does he will take the best wishes of the Yorkshire fans with him.Hopefully he'll settle for the Yorkshire Dales and finish his career with us.Time will tell.
Four were bowled and three were caught at the wicket, so he must have been pretty lively. So perhaps that ball is coming out of his hand OK.
One of his victims was William Rudge, who was released by Glo`shire last year - but I have a feeling he was more of a bowler than a batter.
One gets the impression that Mr Caddick wants his place back !
Grizzzly
Is that sort of thing really fully within the spirit of things?
Presumably, ARC required a fair number of overs to get all those wickets? And must have been bowled at, at the very least, the lower middle order, if not the tail.
Maybe ARC was throttling it back? If not, I'd be fairly dissappointed if I was the oppo as it sounds like a mockery was made of the 'contest.'
---------------
But YES, nevermind that, it does rather sound as though things are going quite well for Caddy!
Perhaps they retreated to leg. I'm pretty sure I would have done! And I never, ever retreat at the level I play at but I'm sure that - in this instance - survival instincts would take over.
"Getting back to the title chase, Somerset are now third and as Durham forced them to follow on 474 runs behind at Taunton it is difficult to see them as serious challengers. Like most other counties, they have a powder-puff attack compared with Durham’s."
Not very complementary.
One might say, that seeing as Durham could STILL not win from such a strong position, you have to doubt them too.
Either way, as I said to the other Durham poster, it is LUDICROUS to cite Somerset's attack as the problem in that game when we dropped about 5 or 6 catches (including Benkenstein twice) and made about 12 with the bat (in our first dig.)
Let them continue to think and say that.
We just have to point to the scoreboard and show them the score.
It is online- link to article
[www.thenorthernecho.co.uk]
That may spice up the Riverside encounter.
Powder puff attack has just got 20 wickets 2 games in a row, without ARC.
If Onions and Harmy are involved in Ashes business for next 8 weeks lets see how they cope then
I've read a bit of Mr Wellock's stuff since this was posted and he's only a small time provinsional hack who feeds the good folk of the North East with the silly soundbites he thinks they crave.
Let him continue thinking Newcastle United,Newcastle Falcons,Durham CCC,Byker Grove Bandits are the best thing since sliced bread.
It means or matters not one tiny jot.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Some people.
I ask you.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
(can't remember now what all this has to with Mr Caddick)
I think she was right.

Devotees of this wonderful woman will know that she was Polish born and French bred.
A true legend.
More tea vicar?
I imagine most of us have anticipated/still anticipate that he is likely to/should retire, but I don't think I've heard or read anything attributed to either AC or SCCC to this effect.
On the other hand, he's still in the first team & obviously remains highly thought of by those on high.
Anyone heard anything ?
Grizzzly
Wouldnt be surprised if he wants to carry on, especially if the next 6 weeks go ok for him
Have not heard anything official though from either party
Grizzzly
An absolute legend; but the time is probably right.
Thanks for everything, Andrew.
The story here is my tribute but there should and will be many many more

My 15 years watching Somerset have all involved Caddy, won't be the same without him.
Say what you like about him he has been one tremendous servant to SCCC.
Bowled and bowled and bowled, memories of him bowling unchanged for sessions on end, one game v Durham i remember a ring from keeper round to point, short leg and leg gully, not one fielder infront the bat, that's a field...
He deserves every tribute he gets, no player has given more, tried harder for us over such a period, true legend of Somerset cricket.
Saw him take 9-32 v. Lancs at Taunton in 1993, which was a simply magnificent performance. Then thought his career was coming to a very early end when the shin split season happened (94 or 95 ?). Saw him hobbling around W-S-M that year & remember thinking what a shame it was that he wouldn't have a long career.
Very, very pleased that it proved to be exactly the opposite. He achieved a huge amount for SCCC & also for England.
That he was not selected for the Ashes series in Aus. in 1998, despite taking 105 Championship wickets that year, was an absolute disgrace.
Well done Andy. Great job well done.
Hope he will remain with SCCC in some form of Coaching capacity.
Grizzzly
It is always sad when somebody as great as Andy has to retire but unfortunately it come to everybody eventually.
He has been a loyal and one of the best for Somerset over the years and I will have fond memories of him after he retires.
I wish him a happy and healthy retirement and wonder if we will see him around the ground either working or visiting.
Good luck Andy.
Top bowler, top trier, top Somerset man - all that's good enough for me. Happy retirement, Caddy.
His record speaks for itself. He will be sorely missed. There is many a younger player who could learn from his example.
Caddick has been immense for Somerset and will be badly missed. I hope they can keep him in some sort of coaching role as that experience and know how isn't easy to find. I wish him a happy retirement and he can look back with pride at a job well done. I would love us to win the title as a retirement present but at present, unfortunately it sin't looking likely. However, lets persevere, after all that was one of Caddys traits.
We must be looking at other bowlers now surely for the future and hopefully Rosey is looking at this as we speak.
I also must admit I was in the camp which wasn't for retaining Langer. I am changing my mind slightly on this one. To lose him Caddyand Jones at the one time (and possibly Durston and Edwards too) would leave a massive gap and the progres made this season might be for nothing. Just for continuity I hope he decides to come back.
He may become a celebrity version you never know.
He could do that part time and get these bowlers sorted in the other half of his life.... he's a bowler first surely, it's what he was born to do and why he's still taking first class wickets at 40.

The Times today says that he will also be coaching our youngsters over the winter.
Not having him about will be frightening,absolutely devastating.
We need stability and steady hands at the top and we need to stem the flow of players away from the club.
I've never been a doom and gloom merchant and never will be.
I would like some positive noises to be made by Mr Rose as to where we go from here,an announcement of such magnitude needs to be balanced with something positive and reassuring.
Had we lost him to those shin-splints all that time ago, that really would have been devastating.
I'll just miss the grumpy old thing I suppose.
Yet another sign that time moves on apace and we're all a bit closer to that snug fitting box.
There's also that Kolpak place that has opened up due to our Kolpaks marrying British girls or qualifying by residence.
If Langer decides that he's had enough, then there's also the overseas slot to debate and examine.
There could be quite a bit of toing and froing at SCCC this off-season, to say the least.
Things are far from simple in matters SCCC.
I trust that Mr Rose and Co will do the right thing.
Let's hope they don't leave it to the last minute.
I think the plans at the minute would be lists of targets i.e. players out of contract with other counties and/or potnetial kolpak/overseas recruits.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:03:14:55:06 by AGod.
Unless a player is completely cheesed off and looking for a move.
It has been known.
Anybody come to mind?
[www.telegraph.co.uk]
I personally hope that Somerset will "offer Andy a coaching role in the future", perhaps as a bowling coach.
We still need his experience and expertise, and as well as wishing him well for the future, I express my thanks for all his hard work in the past, which has given me so much pleasure.
"At his best, he had everything; height, bounce, pace, accuracy, movement. On his day, as good as anyone in the world."
Shane Warne agreed.
I was wondering how many Tests he actually missed out on

The guy that refused to pick him or, at least, the guy under whose (permanent) leadership he was never once picked was A J Stewart.
I'd almost offer the opposite explanation and say that we were worried he might upset someone with very regimented ideas about what a 'team,' should look like.
The only two series he missed under Nasser were against India, certainly the away one of which he chose to miss.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:04:15:15:37 by Frome Exile.
One of the reasons I liked Hussain's captaincy was that he thought these are the best players at their disciplines, they MUST be in the team, and I've got to handle any dressing-room fallout. Good for Nasser.
A team is the best eleven you can pick. The captain makes them into a unit. If you want unique individuals to play their best for you then you accept their individuality and you deal with it - not picking them for the 'good of the team' is usually a cop out and an implicit admission of your own deficiencies as a leader. Not always of course but then they wouldn't be one of the best eleven then would they?
And before we get there I can see the parrallels here and fully accept them

Further to my remarks about caddy and Gus above; in the early phase of caddy's England career, I often asked myself (and anyone else who would care to listen) why the England team were trying to make Caddick into the new Gus Fraser.
His role never seemed to be that of strike bowler, and his "diffidence" would be better explained these days with words such as "confusion over his role".
Nasser was a different fish altogether.
To be fair to Langer, though, I don't think there has ever been any suggestion by anyone, with England or otherwise, that ARC was not committed to being as physically fit as possible. So it's a parallel of a slightly different type or only half a parallel or something like that.
Stewart was a Gooch/Langer style fitness fanatic and that could have been part of the thing that Stewart held against Tufnell but it could never, ever, be levelled against ARC.
I can see Alec Stewart (bleeds red, white and blue does the Guv'nor!) as one for whom that might be a particular problem.
Based on that - IF he was looking for their result, I would guess that he would be looking for it in the hope they had been beaten without him.
I think he might have been looking for the performances of one particular contemporary.
I have no idea what kind of man ARC was to manage at that time (only statements from Peter Anderson that we had absolutely no problem with Andy in a team) but I do know that he was a talent that the country should have been using and did not have in any other form at that time.
I know about the 'chip' but just because you have one doesn't always mean that the prejudice isn't there.

I feel we should not wish a coaching career upon him if he believes that that is not where his aptitude lies. He's got many years of retirement ahead of him; let him choose what will satisfy and reward him most.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I hope ARC achieves contentment post-cricket.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:05:08:29:32 by Bobstan.
Langer and Caddick was not the "parallel" that occurred to me when I read this Grockle, but this is Andy's thread.
Great player for Somerset and England and there will always be a place for him in the "Caddyshack". Undoubtedly one of our legends.

Completely different people,different set of circumstances.
I'm sure we've said this before.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
You read it.
Remember?

BBC Story
And some pictures as well



