Middlesex look set to complete the restructuring of their coaching team with the appointment of Nic Pothas. A former South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman, Pothas has previously had spells as interim head coach of Sri Lanka and West Indies and will act as Stuart Law’s deputy at Lord’s.
The appointment of such a high-profile pair represents a substantial investment by Middlesex and reflects not only the club’s ambition but its frustration at having to spend a second year in Division Two of the County Championship. Law left his role as head coach of West Indies to take up the Middlesex position beating the likes of Paul Farbrace, Mark Ramprakash and Richard Johnson for the role.
Middlesex won the Championship title in 2016 but were relegated the following season and failed to gain promotion last year. They also finished bottom of the South Group in the T20 Blast and failed to qualify from their group in the Royal London Cup. They sacked their former head coach, Richard Scott, midway through 2018, with Johnson taking over in an interim position until the end of the season.
Johnson has now left to become bowling coach at Surrey, while Dave Houghton, Middlesex’s previous batting coach, has left to become Derbyshire’s head of cricket. Daniel Vettori, who had two unsuccessful years at the club as T20 coach, will also not return despite having a year remaining on his contract. Angus Fraser remains the director of cricket.
Both Law and Pothas know the county game well – Pothas had 10 years with Hampshire, Law long spells with Essex and Lancashire – and are highly respected as coaches. They know each other well, too, having worked together with West Indies.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo