Steve Rhodes

Steven John Rhodes (born 17 June 1964, Bradford, Yorkshire, England)[1] is an English cricket coach and former cricketer. He was the former coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team, having been sacked on 8 July 2019 due to Bangladesh's failure to win world cup matches against India and Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup 2019.[2] He was best known as a wicket-keeper, but was also a useful number six or seven batsman, making twelve first-class centuries.

Steve Rhodes

Rhodes in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Steven John Rhodes
Born	17 June 1964 Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Nickname	Bumpy
Batting	Right-handed
Role	Wicket-keeper batsman, Coach
Relations	GH Rhodes (son) WE Rhodes (father)
International information
National side	England (1989–1995)
Test debut (cap 566)	2 June 1994 v New Zealand
Last Test	3 February 1995 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 102)	25 May 1989 v Australia
Last ODI	10 January 1995 v Australia
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1981–1984	Yorkshire
1985–2004	Worcestershire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 11 9 440 477 Runs scored 294 107 14,839 4,362 Batting average 24.50 17.83 32.82 19.82 100s/50s 0/1 0/1 12/72 1/6 Top score 65* 56 124 105 Balls bowled – – 6 6 Wickets – – 0 0 Bowling average – – – – 5 wickets in innings – – – – 10 wickets in match – n/a – n/a Best bowling – – – – Catches/stumpings 46/3 9/2 1139/124 532/129
Source: CricketArchive, 7 June 2016

His father, William Rhodes, played more than 30 times for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in the early 1960s.

Domestic career

Emerging initially out of Birstall Cricket Club in West Yorkshire, Rhodes' county cricket career began with Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1981. The incumbent was the international wicket-keeper David Bairstow and after limited chances he moved to Worcestershire County Cricket Club in 1985 staying with that county for the remaining two decades of his playing career.

Towards the end of the 2004 season, Rhodes briefly became county captain following Ben Smith's resignation during the home game with Northamptonshire County Cricket Club.

International career

He was selected for the England tour to India in 1988/89, but when this was cancelled for political reasons he lost his chance, and it was to be 1994 before he made his Test cricket debut.

His selection was primarily down to the new chairman of selectors, Ray Illingworth, who announced at his appointment that he wanted balanced sides i.e. an all-rounder at number 6 with a wicket-keeper at number 7. As such, Illingworth was saying that his chosen wicket-keeper had to contribute with bat and gloves. While Rhodes had a golden summer with the gloves in 1994, he did not make enough runs - especially against the powerful South African bowling attack in the second half of the season.

Chosen to tour Australia in 1994-95, he had a poor tour with gloves and especially with the bat - frequently dismissed by Australian spearhead Craig McDermott, often leg before wicket (LBW). Having waited so long to make his Test debut (he had played one One Day International in 1989), he was dropped in favour of Alec Stewart in 1995, and never played for England again. Nevertheless, Rhodes was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1994.

Coaching career

Bangladesh team on practice session at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium

In May 2005, Worcestershire announced that Rhodes had been appointed Coach, following the departure of Tom Moody. He subsequently served as director of cricket between 2006 and 2017.

On 7 June 2018 Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed Rhodes head coach for the national team until the end of the 2020 ICC World Twenty20.[3][4] In July 2018 Rhodes lost his first series as Bangladesh coach when West Indies won the two-match Test series 2–0.[5] In the ODI series, Bangladesh defeated West Indies 2–1 and recorded their second ODI series victory in West Indies.[6] Later, Bangladesh managed to beat West Indies in the T20I series with a 2–1 lead.[7] Rhodes praised his team that they made a comeback and won the last two series after they were defeated in the Test series, and he was surprised that they won the T20 series against the world champions West Indies.[8]

In the last time, Bangladesh have won their first ever tournament final under Rhodes after failing previous 6 times. Tri nation series between Bangladesh, Ireland and West Indies, the Tigers have beaten Windies by 5 Wicket and won the trophy first time ever in their history.

In July 2019, Rhodes' contract with the BCB was terminated, following the team's eighth-place finish in the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[9]

References

1. Warner, David (2011). The Yorkshire County Cricket Club: 2011 Yearbook (113th ed.). Ilkley, Yorkshire: Great Northern Books. p. 363. ISBN 978-1-905080-85-4.
2. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27147893/bangladesh-part-ways-coach-steve-rhodes
3. "Steve Rhodes takes over as Bangladesh coach". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
4. "Steve Rhodes confirmed as Bangladesh head coach". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
5. "Holder's six-for seals 2–0 sweep". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
6. "Tamim, Mahmudullah set up series win for Bangladesh". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
7. "Liton's blitz and Mustafizur's three-for seal Bangladesh's series win". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
8. "T20I win against WI came as a surprise - Steve Rhodes". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
9. "Bangladesh part ways with coach Steve Rhodes". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2019.

External links

• Steve Rhodes at ESPNcricinfo
• Steve Rhodes at CricketArchive (subscription required)