Rixon's regrouping

Another gloirous year for Mark Ramprakash © Getty Images

No additions to the trophy cabinet for the first time in six years but mitigation abounds. In a transitional season, under a new manager and captain, with spinning and opening largely entrusted to ingénus, staving off more than one relegation may be deemed something of an achievement. "We'll do it a bit more my way next year," predicts Steve Rixon, tongue not obviously near cheek. The appointment of Mark Butcher in Jon Batty's stead (with Mark Ramprakash deputising when international duties intervene) was the first step in that direction.

The batting, plainly, could do with a spot more beef: until Ally Brown relocated his mojo in midsummer, Ramprakash was Atlas incarnate. Ian Ward's exit hurt even more than expected, especially when Batty wisely demoted himself, leaving Scott Newman to consort with half-a-dozen partners. Of the other aspiring movers and shakers, only Tim Murtagh and Nayan Doshi hinted at substance. Rikki Clarke's Championship averages (57 with ball, 31 with bat) could and should have been the other way round; given an attitude transplant, he will surely do more fulfilling than squandering. The figures lied brazenly in Jimmy Ormond's case: 37 runs per Championship wicket was what Groucho Marx would have called a travesty of a travesty. The sorriest sight, though, was Adam Hollioake at the end of the Twenty20 final: head down, smile furthermost from lips. He had driven the team there all but single-handedly, a last hurrah from the man whose passions fired a fledgling dynasty. May his God go with him.

Player of the Year: Mark Ramprakash
High: Martin Bicknell's 1,000th first-class wicket
Low: C&G defeat by Ireland

This article was first published in the November issue of The Wisden Cricketer.
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