Richard Pybus Stops as Middx Coach

New Coach
By Barmy Kev
February 19 2007

While a number of rumours have been floating around MTWD, it has been confirmed today that Richard Pybus is new Middlesex coach . I have been digging around and interviewing a few ex players to gain same more inside information on our new coach.

Richard Pybus currently 42 , born in Newcastle, but has spent most of his time living in South Africa where his career has developed.

Richard playing career is hardly a selling point on his CV. According to Cricket Info played for Suffolk, had 1 first class game with 1 innings for 4. Bowled 4 overs 0-24. However, the best players do not necessarily make best coaches and worse players can make outstanding coaches.

Richard made a name for himself as a Coach, initially at Selborne College in the Eastern Cape where he was involved from 1991 to 1995. Richard also served at this time as the Border U19 Coach and three players from this team have gone onto international cricket, namely Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini and Justin Kemp.

He coached the Border “A” side in the 1998 to 1999 season, in which season Border were the SuperSport log leaders and finalists in the SuperSport final for the first time in Border’s 108 year history. Border was also Standard Bank One-Day Competition finalists during this season for the first time in that Union’s history.

Richard again coached Border “A” in the 2000/2001 season in which season they were again SuperSport finalists.

In 1999, Richard Pybus was head-hunted by Pakistan to coach their National Side for the World Cup in 1999 where they against expectations, were finalists against Australia.

He thereafter coached the Pakistan National Team in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Saeed Anwar, Pakistan’s record-holding opening batsman has said this of Richard:-

“Not only is he very good on the technical side of the game, but his tactical knowledge is very astute. Most importantly his mental preparation of individual players and the team in general is outstanding. A calm and confident man, I can highly recommend Richard to both individual players and to teams.”

Vasbert Drakes, the South African record holder for the most wickets in a first- class season and with whom Richard worked closely in the Border area, said the following of Richard:-

“Technically he is very good and his knowledge of the game is excellent, but most important is his ability to motivate and interact with players, his ability to get inside the players head. In the modern game he is the best coach I have worked with for all the above reasons.”

Pieter Strydom, the former Border and Warriors Captain, who worked closely with Richard has said:-

“Richard Pybus has the rare ability of getting the individual or team to produce a performance that they/he/her were not aware they could achieve. Richard knows how to get the best possible results out of a performer. He is a very open communicator and this has earned him a lot of respect amongst top-class performers.”

Richard has also impressed those who have achieved the highest honours in other sporting codes. Andre Vos, the former South African Rugby Captain said of Richard:-

“It was as a schoolboy that I had the privilege of working with Richard Pybus. Not only was he a great cricket coach, but he taught us life-skills and the ability to harness the potential that lay inside. I believe that mental preparation is the corner stone of any dream that we might have and it is vital to the achievement thereof.”

Apart from his academic qualifications and coaching experience, Richard holds the National Cricketing Association (UK) Coaching Certificate and Senior Coaching Certificate. He also holds the United Cricket Board of South Africa Level 3 and Level 4 Coaching qualifications.

In 2005 he was named coach of South African provincial side Eastern Titans who were a struggling at time of appointment. The following season he had led them to their Provincial champioship.

Pybus has said "I am delighted to be joining Middlesex and am looking forward to working closely with Ed [Smith, the captain], John [Emburey] and all the guys in returning Middlesex to the top flight of English cricket.

"We have a fantastic challenge this coming season to not only get Middlesex back into Division One of the County Championship but to work toward becoming the dominant side in the short form of the game."

"The strengthening up of the bowling attack with the signings of [Chaminda] Vaas and [Murali] Kartik to go with Middlesex's depth in the batting department gives the squad good balance in all departments".

Emburey added: "We have managed to capture the signature of a world class, international coach in Richard. He was the outstanding person from an excellent short list.

"He has coached Pakistan twice and has just won the provincial championship with the Titans, and his credentials are second to none."


MTWD wish Richard Pybus much much success in leading Middlesex back to their glory days.