Middlesex Cricket can today announce a restructuring of the Club’s cricket department, which will see Managing Director of Cricket, Angus Fraser, stepping aside from his role of overseeing the men’s professional side.
Since 2009, Angus has been ultimately responsible and accountable for all cricket within Middlesex, from professional elite level down to grass roots cricket, the pinnacle of which was him overseeing Middlesex lift the County Championship trophy in 2016.
During this period Middlesex also helped produce ten international cricketers for England and Ireland, and a further six that represented England Lions.
In the last two years the Club has given first eleven debuts to six young Academy players, and the side that recently represented Middlesex in the second eleven T20 semi-final at Arundel featured no less than ten Academy players.
The restructuring of the cricket department will see Angus focussing on the Middlesex Academy and County Age Group squads, strengthening relationships with recreational clubs, and the Tendulkar Middlesex Global Academy partnership, giving the Club the focus it needs to deliver its strategy of bringing more Middlesex young home-grown talent through the development pathway and into the first eleven.
Angus’s role will also see him responsible for developing cricket facilities across the county, to assist both the recreational game and the Club as a whole.
The restructure will also now see Head Coach, Stuart Law, reporting directly into the Club’s Chief Executive, and accountable to the Club’s Professional Cricket Committee, chaired by Richard Sykes, the Board’s Senior Independent Director.
Speaking of the Club’s cricket department restructure, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Cornish, commented:
“‘There is no hiding from the fact that performances on the pitch over the past couple of seasons have not met the expectations of the players, the coaches, the Board and most importantly our members.
“Like many organisations we face challenging financial times due to the pandemic, so never has it been more important to nurture home-grown local talent, whilst making strategic external signings.
“The Board and I believe this new structure will provide the focus and clarity the Club needs at this time”
“I would like to personally thank Angus for all he has done for Middlesex Cricket to this point, for his commitment to the role and for his dedication to the Club, and I am very much looking forward to continuing to work closely with him as we move forward.”
Angus Fraser commented:
“I have been enormously proud to hold the role I have with this great club, but the time is right for change. I have found the last 16 months incredibly challenging on and off the field of play, and I could not have given more or shown more care for the club than I have, but it has taken its toll on me.
“We all know that results this season have not been good enough, but I believe there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future. In the last few years Middlesex have chosen to invest in and develop its own home-grown cricketers, which can be seen from the teams that have represented the club. It is the right thing for a club like Middlesex to do and something we should be proud of.
“These young men are benefitting enormously from the opportunities they are being given and I believe a number of them will become fine cricketers; players that will represent Middlesex and England with pride and will entertain cricket lovers for many years to come.
“It is with a heavy heart that I step aside from this position, and I would like to thank all those that have helped and supported me over the years. I still believe I have a huge amount to give Middlesex Cricket and I look forward to helping the club in any way I can.”
