Graham Ford
Encyclopedia
Graham Xavier Ford is a South African first class cricket
er turned cricket coach. A right-handed batsman, he played 7 games for Natal B in his career despite playing his last game seven years after his debut in 1982/83. He was a good allrounder sportsman, being a former provincial tennis champion and representing Natal at football. Ford is also a qualified rugby union referee.
In 1992 he became coach of Natal where he enjoyed the services of Malcolm Marshall
, Clive Rice
, Shaun Pollock
, Jonty Rhodes
and Lance Klusener
. He led the province to victory in both the first class and one day trophies in 1996-97.
Ford coached the South Africa A side in 1998 in a tour of Sri Lanka and the following year was named the assistant coach of South Africa
. As assistant to Bob Woolmer
he coached South Africa in the 1999 World Cup
where they reached the semi finals before being eliminated by Australia. Following the tournament he replaced Woolmer as coach and led the country to victory in 8 of the 11 series that they played but having suffered back-to-back defeats against Australia he lost his job in June 2002.
Ford became director of cricket at Kent
in 2005. In 2006 he returned to South Africa to coach the Dolphins
but left the role the same year for personal reasons.
On 9 June 2007 he was offered the position of coach of the Indian cricket team
, but two days later he declined the offer, citing "it was the right decision for me and my family".
It was announced on 31 July 2009 that he would not be returning to Kent for the 2010 season, again citing personal reasons.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er turned cricket coach. A right-handed batsman, he played 7 games for Natal B in his career despite playing his last game seven years after his debut in 1982/83. He was a good allrounder sportsman, being a former provincial tennis champion and representing Natal at football. Ford is also a qualified rugby union referee.
In 1992 he became coach of Natal where he enjoyed the services of Malcolm Marshall
Malcolm Marshall
By 1984 Marshall was seen as one of the finest bowlers in the world, and he demoralised England that summer, especially at Headingley, where he ran through the order in the second innings to finish with 7-53, despite having broken his thumb whilst fielding in the first innings...
, Clive Rice
Clive Rice
Clive Edward Butler Rice is a former South African international cricketer. An all-rounder, Rice ended his first class cricket career with a batting average of 40.95 and a bowling average of 22.49....
, Shaun Pollock
Shaun Pollock
Shaun Maclean Pollock is a retired South African cricketer who is considered a bowling all-rounder. From 2000 to 2003 he was the captain of the South African cricket team, and also played for Africa XI, World XI, Dolphins and Warwickshire. He was also chosen as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in...
, Jonty Rhodes
Jonty Rhodes
Jonathan Neil "Jonty" Rhodes is a former South African Test and One Day International cricketer who played for the South African cricket team between 1992 and 2003.Rhodes was born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province, South Africa...
and Lance Klusener
Lance Klusener
Lance Klusener is a South African cricketer, more specifically an all-rounder. He is known for his aggressive batting and his fast-medium swing bowling. He is nicknamed "Zulu" because of his fluency in that language. Following his exploits at the 1999 World Cup, he topped the ICC ODI Batting...
. He led the province to victory in both the first class and one day trophies in 1996-97.
Ford coached the South Africa A side in 1998 in a tour of Sri Lanka and the following year was named the assistant coach of South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
. As assistant to Bob Woolmer
Bob Woolmer
Robert Andrew Woolmer was an international cricketer, professional cricket coach and also a professional commentator...
he coached South Africa in the 1999 World Cup
1999 Cricket World Cup
-England:-Outside England:-Group A:-Results:-------------------------------------------------------------Group B:-Results:------------------------------------------------------------...
where they reached the semi finals before being eliminated by Australia. Following the tournament he replaced Woolmer as coach and led the country to victory in 8 of the 11 series that they played but having suffered back-to-back defeats against Australia he lost his job in June 2002.
Ford became director of cricket at Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
in 2005. In 2006 he returned to South Africa to coach the Dolphins
Dolphins cricket team
The Sunfoil Dolphins is the name used by the KwaZulu Natal cricket team when it plays in the South African SuperSport Series first class competition; also in the MTN Domestic Championship and Standard Bank Twenty20 limited over competitions...
but left the role the same year for personal reasons.
On 9 June 2007 he was offered the position of coach of the Indian cricket team
Indian cricket team
The Indian cricket team is the national cricket team of India. Governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , it is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status....
, but two days later he declined the offer, citing "it was the right decision for me and my family".
It was announced on 31 July 2009 that he would not be returning to Kent for the 2010 season, again citing personal reasons.