The Moore the merrier?

The Birmingham Post report that Derbyshire have issued a 28-day approach for the Worcestershire opening batsman Stephen Moore (pictured).

Tom Sears says that he is one of "half a dozen" players that they have identified who will help the club to move forward. He is a player that I have always rated and part of the attraction of the move would be that he rarely gets to play one-day cricket with his current county. That Tom Sears knows him from his days at Worcester is also in our favour.

The South African born right-handed opener is 27 and currently has a first class career average in excess of 40. After three centuries in five matches this season he is averaging over 70, impressive by any standards. Just in case his birthplace gives the wrong idea, he's English qualified and not a Kolpak.

You can read the full article at http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/cricket-news/2008/05/29/derbyshire-move-for-worcestershire-s-stephen-moore-65233-20988801/

This proves once and for all to other counties that we are no longer a "little" club. If Moore is on the county radar, who else might be in the frame? Others may well be Owais Shah, Alex Gidman and David Sales, all of whom are out of contract at the end of the season. I am quite happy with our seam bowling, although two other supposed Warwickshire targets, Graham Onions and Steve Kirby would be worth keeping an eye on. The batting is still a cause for concern, however and a top five (hypothetical, I know) of Rogers, Moore, Sadler, Shah/Gidman/Sales and Clarke would be mouth-watering.

Cynics might say that these players wouldn't come to Derbyshire. Why not? Rikki Clarke did, and while Shah would probably stay down south, Gidman and Sales might welcome a new challenge without the need for drastic relocation.

Either way, it's much better than waiting for the end of season and picking up players from those released by other counties. Kevin Dean has been a great servant, but Graham Onions would be a fair replacement. Likewise, Steve Stubbings is a great professional, but Stephen Moore would take our batting up to another level.

Interesting stuff...