Houston... we have a problem

Back to the drawing board I’m afraid…

I’m afraid that I’ve been going down the wrong track in relation to our possible second overseas player for the T20 this season.

I was looking at the ICC Future tours programme last night and South Africa are on tour in the Caribbean at the same time as the T20 takes place. The schedule of the tour suggests that any player who is in the respective Test sides would be unavailable for the county circuit, obviously a major blow.

In short, that would rule out all of the South Africans that I have previously named, with the probable exception of Albie Morkel, while also ruling out such possibilities as Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle from the West Indies.

So where does that leave us?

Well, we’d all be thrilled if Albie Morkel appeared in Derbyshire colours, but I would be surprised if he were not on Durham’s radar. He had a successful stint for them a couple of years back and may well be set for a return. Realistically, they can offer him more money and, whether we like it or not, they are a better bet for him if he is chasing silverware. If he is up for a challenge, it’s a different matter, of course. You couldn’t rule out improving our fortunes appealing to his professional pride, but money talks. It does for most of us, anyway.

Then there’s other non-Test playing South Africans who may come under the microscope. Loots Bosman, Alviro Petersen, and Charl Langeveldt could come under scrutiny, good players all. It will be interesting to watch the South African 20-over competition in the coming weeks, for people who are good at the game and may come into the frame.

What about other nations? Realistically they are almost all busy, with Sri Lanka, India and New Zealand set for a triangular tournament and Pakistan and Australia in England.

What a nightmare.

I cannot think of a non-Test playing West Indian who would be worth bringing over, so the only other possibility would be perhaps a Pakistani or Australian who doesn’t make the squad for the summer’s one day series against England. Someone like Andrew Symonds may well be able to name his own price and will not lack for suitors, which probably rules us out.

One who may come under consideration for someone, and who has dropped out of the Aussie reckoning, is Queensland all rounder James Hopes, a player with plenty of international experience. Hopes, of course, nearly came to Derbyshire a year or two back, albeit under different management, before a shoulder injury scuppered his plans. Again, though, who knows whether he may have earned a recall by that stage?

A detailed look at the Australian twenty-over season might reveal an option or two, but last night’s revelation has told me one thing.

That John Morris won’t make a decision sometime soon.

He can’t. Until he knows who is playing for South Africa, the West Indies, Australia and Pakistan there is the risk of raising expectations, only for them to be dashed. We’ve been there before with a few players…

And if I’ve raised your expectations this time – sorry.

I still think we will end up with a good player, as Morris has such good contacts within the game, but whether that player turns out to be an explosive batsman, a niggardly bowler or a bit of both will be dependent on who is fit and available, rather than necessarily being top of the list.