Derbyshire coach Morris sacked during county match as players stage a revolt
FORMER England batsman John Morris was relieved of his position as Derbyshire’s head coach after he was undermined by a player revolt.
Morris was informed of the decision to sack him in a meeting with chairman Chris Grant at close of play on the second day of the current championship match against Essex at Derby.
Grant, a wealthy retired former City financier, joined the players on the side’s pre-season tour to Barbados and has since conducted a series of meetings with players and coaching staff.
Meanwhile, Derbyshire are staring down the barrel of another defeat after Ravi Bopara gave the England selectors another indication of his Test potential.
The Essex batsman, due to face-off against fellow international hopefuls Eoin Morgan and James Hildreth in next week’s Lions tour match against Sri Lanka, made 119 as the visitors closed day three on 282-6, 173 ahead.
Ajmal Shahzad, one of England’s finds of the winter, took four wickets as Hampshire ended the second day still needing 17 runs to avoid the follow-on after Shahzad’s international team-mate Tim Bresnan made 87 in a Yorkshire total of 355 all out.
Finally, Kevin Pietersen reached 22 not out at the close of play in Surrey’s match against Cambridge University.