Various press stories have circulated in recent days with regard to the ECB’s disappointment over Hampshire’s unwillingness to play Kevin Pietersen prior to the Test series against Pakistan. Given that the player has made it clear that his future lies away from the Rose Bowl, I fully agree with the club’s decision.
In a similar but lower profile way, Graham Wagg suggested in the Derby Telegraph recently that he would like to play for Derbyshire again before the end of the season, assuming that he was fit by that stage. While in no way comparing the value that we have had from the player with what Hampshire haven’t had from Pietersen, I wouldn’t play him unless there was no one else available.
Wagg has made it fairly clear his future lies elsewhere, therefore an available place should go to a player who is part of the future of this club. Regular readers might say that this is at odds with my stance on replacing Robin Peterson with Jake Needham, but these are different scenarios. Peterson is only likely to be leaving because of the visa regulations as they stand – he has not chosen to do so.
On that basis, as far as I’m concerned, Graham Wagg has played his last game for the club. It shouldn’t detract from the excellent service he has given since his arrival, but Derbyshire took a chance on him when no one else wanted to and on that basis need feel no further obligation.
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