Rixon ready to mix it with superstars

14 April 2012

Like any highly-paid new arrival, Steve Rixon will need to prove himself all over again when he starts work at The Oval.

But it's a safe bet he won't be fazed one little bit by the sight of so many star players staring back at him this summer.

Taking over as Surrey's head coach might be a daunting prospect for most people, even those who are well travelled and boast a track record of success.

Okay, Alec Stewart may have retired to the margins but that still leaves a dozen internationals on the playing staff, a goodly number of youngsters with big ambitions and more than enough people with strong opinions to form county cricket's sparkiest debating society. But all of that should simply help to make Rixon feel instantly at home.

The 49-year-old ex-Australia Test wicketkeeper has a coaching record to impress anyone.

In two sessions with New South Wales, his current employers, he has guided the state to trophies galore, including three 'doubles'. To capture one and four-day titles in the same season anywhere is fine going but in NSW's case, of course, we are talking about the world's best domestic cricket circuit.

Between times, Rixon has crossed the Tasman to coach New Zealand. During his four-year spell with the Kiwis, in the mid to late 90s, the Black Caps reached the 1999 World Cup semi-finals and then beat England 2-1 in a Test series over here.

But it's not just the results on Rixon's record which convince Surrey they have found the right man to succeed Keith Medlycott and help the likes of Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe and Mark Ramprakash to keep striving for more success.

For this is the coach who, in recent times at NSW, has talked tactics, technique and temperament with a cast list containing such names as Steve and Mark Waugh, Glenn McGrath, Michael Bevan, Brett Lee, Michael Slater and Stuart MacGill. You would need to know your stuff - and your man management skills - to look after that little lot.

"Steve is a proven performer at first-class and international level and his results have been outstanding," said NSW chief executive Dave Gilbert, the man who did so much to put Surrey back on the right road when he was coach at The Oval before Medlycott.

But, perhaps even more significant, says Gilbert, is the fact that "he's not afraid to make decisions and is an uncompromising character."

In Australia, Rixon has been quick to discuss ideas with coaches from other sports. With Stewart's connections at Stamford Bridge, he may soon find himself swopping thoughts down Chelsea way.

But, after leaving Sydney towards the end of March, it will be the strength of his relationship with new captain Jon Batty that may determine whether Surrey add more titles to their collection in 2004 or slip back into the bad old, underachieving ways of the 70s, 80s and early 90s.

The Aussie has a big job ahead of him at the Brit Oval and there are some big names Down Under who will put their money on him succeeding.

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Rixon ready to mix it with superstars

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