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September 7, 2024
Northamptonshire has dismissed head coach John Sadler following their quarter-final defeat to Somerset in the T20 Blast, which ended their season. The team is winless in Division Two of the County Championship and finished eighth in their Metro Bank One-Day Cup group, with only two wins from eight matches. The T20 Blast had been their only bright spot, but Thursday night’s loss ended their hopes in that competition.
Sadler, who took over from David Ripley in September 2021, initially led the team to a sixth-place finish in Division One. However, performance declined, with only two Championship wins last year leading to relegation, and a winless 2024 season in the second tier. During Sadler’s tenure, key players like Adam Rossington and Josh Cobb left due to strained relationships, and Emilio Gay was absent for the quarter-final after agreeing to move to Durham. Tom Taylor also rejected a new contract to join Worcestershire.
Northants confirmed on Friday that they have “parted company” with Sadler. “Throughout his tenure at Wantage Road, [he] has led the club with professionalism, dedication and a strong work ethic… and has been a much valued member of the Northamptonshire team,” a club statement said. “Everyone at the club wishes him well in his future career.”
The club’s assistant coaches – Rory Kleinveldt, Greg Smith and Graeme White – will take charge for Northants’ three remaining Championship fixtures. “The process for recruitment of a replacement for the position is underway,” Northants added.
James Anderson will continue his role as England’s bowling consultant during their winter tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. Since retiring from international cricket in June, following the first Test against the West Indies, Anderson has been serving in this role. Initially, his consultancy was set for the home series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, but this has now been extended through the end of the year.
Anderson, who retired with 704 Test wickets from 188 matches, was informed earlier this year that England would move forward without him. However, his expertise is valued as the team prepares for the 2025-26 Ashes series. The purpose of his initial stint was to explore his interest in coaching and ensure a good fit for both him and the team.
For now, Anderson will remain with the team for their tours to Pakistan in October and New Zealand from November to December. With no Test cricket scheduled for the first part of 2025, he may also work with the limited-overs teams, especially as Brendon McCullum takes over the white-ball sides next year.
“At the minute, I’m due to go to Pakistan and New Zealand in the winter,” Anderson told Sky Sports at the Kia Oval ahead of Day One of the third Test with Sri Lanka. “Then nothing concrete after that.
“I’m very new to this, I’m still learning as we go. It’s partly me trying to figure out if this is where I want to go with the next stage of my career and also for them to figure out if I’m any good at it as well.”
England’s bowling attack continued to evolve this week with the debut of Josh Hull, a 6ft 7in left-arm seamer from Leicestershire. Hull, 20, joined the squad for the second Test after Mark Wood was sidelined with an injury. Since joining the team, Hull has been working closely with James Anderson.
Rob Key praised Hull’s opportunity to learn from Anderson’s extensive knowledge and experience during an interview with Test Match Special at lunch.
“There was a great moment at Lord’s where you saw Josh Hull bowling in the middle and Jimmy standing top of his mark,” Key said. “You think ‘how good this is?’. All of that knowledge, you don’t want to lose. Then he is able to pass it on.”
“Jimmy is not always the most outgoing. He has really taken to it. You felt with Jimmy, for him to be a coach, you make the running with these people.”
“Some of these have not known life without James Anderson opening the bowling for England. if you can, without being forceful, make the running and just say ‘well bowled’. Even Mark Wood, when he comes in at lunch. That can have such an impact. A coach’s job is to make people feel confident. Someone like James Anderson, him telling you something will carry more weight. He seems to be loving it.”
“It would be great to have Jimmy in Pakistan, the same in New Zealand and who knows going forward. Jimmy has a few itches to scratch along the way but it is great to have him involved with us.”
James Anderson recently shared his interest in joining the franchise cricket circuit. He hasn’t played white-ball cricket since 2019 and his last T20 match was over a decade ago, during the 2014 NatWest Blast final with Lancashire. Currently, Anderson has not received any offers for his services, and it’s unclear if he will continue playing for Lancashire next season.
“No,” Anderson replied, when asked if conversations had taken place with prospective franchises. “But there might be people behind the scenes chatting to people.
“I have no played white-ball cricket for a while so that is the first thing I need, to get back to it, if I am to think about doing it. And I don’t know if there is any interest so I will just ask around.”
Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for The Wicket Insider, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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