Unless there is considerable crossing of wires, Steve Kirby, currently head coach at the MCC, will become our new bowling coach sometime in the course of the next week.
It would represent quite a coup for the club, as he has a growing reputation in coaching circles and has worked with the MCC Young Cricketers and Academy with a positive impact. He would come with a number of contacts and when I heard the name, it made a lot of sense .
He will be well known to Dave Houghton, of course, from his own time at Lord's and our Head of Cricket will know he can work with him. Presumably a move back up north will suit him too, as well as an opportunity to get into the county circuit.
Though born in Bury, Kirby made his name playing for Yorkshire. He was released by Leicestershire after an injury and was taken on, to great success, by the white rose county after success in the Lancashire leagues.
After success there he moved first to Gloucestershire and then to Somerset, enjoying a successful, though injury-plagued career in which he took almost 800 wickets between first-class, List A and T20 cricket. He was a regular pick for England Lions too, but never got the full England call that might have come in his best summers.
He was a combative player and if he signs and can mould one or two in his own image there will be few complaints.
Doubtless all will be revealed in the coming days.
I think that Kirby could be a great capture. A fantastically wholehearted cricketer with a big personality and with good coaching experience since finishing playing.
ReplyDeleteI am all for this appointment. Fingers crossed it goes through. Just the sort of profile we need IMO.
ReplyDeleteSomething we’ve needed for a long while. We need to grow our own talent long term. This can only be done with proper coaching staff in place. Chaddesden Jim
ReplyDeleteSteve Kirby finally arrives. Great news to have him on board.
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