Gone from the squad that started the summer will be Haider, Godleman, du Plooy, Wood, Scrimshaw, Lakmal, Khan, McKiernan, Harrison and Watt. Ten in all.
It leaves Came, Reece, Madsen, Dal, Guest, Chappell, Conners, Aitchison, Lamb, Thomson, Wagstaff and Potts to go into 2024 alongside Amir, Lloyd and Brown. Fifteen players at this stage, with an additional three to be announced, according to Mickey Arthur.
As he wasn't among yesterday's announcement, we must assume that Alex Thomson is set for a new deal and in my opinion rightly so. When considering the release of players, a major consideration must be how effectively they can be replaced. Realistically there are few offspin bowlers in the country who are available and better. He has averaged 23 with the bat and is currently the highest wicket taker in our four-day cricket. He also bowled some good spells in one day cricket and deserves a new deal on that basis.
There also needs to be scope for better young talent to be further exposed to county cricket, as Harry Moore did so well this year. Others will emerge, but of course, education will still be a factor for some of these boys for a few years.
Assuming that the names to come are of the quality so far, I am prepared to say that next year's squad will be stronger and will at last be Mickey Arthur's squad. Notwithstanding what I still regard as a ridiculous job share, I would like to think a man of his experience and reputation will have learned from his first two years in England. Not least that you cannot manage and motivate players at a lesser level as you do at elite standard.
IF he has learned from mistakes, if he permits the ground staff to produce result pitches and if the players to come are as rumour suggests, 2024 SHOULD see an improvement in the club's fortunes. The talent is most certainly there in the group that he currently has and it comes down to his ability to get them producing their best form on a regular basis.
That second overseas role is going to be very important too, quite likely season-defining.
Let's see what happens. I expect news to break in the week ahead.
I find it hard to see how two of the incoming players are real upgrades in any way shape or form really.
ReplyDeleteDu Plooy has been a relentless run scorer for us and has 1160 first class runs this season with 4 tons in the Championship and a couple of T20 50s to boot. Lloyd has less than 500 runs for Glamorgan with a solitary 50 and didn't even play in the Blast. I do like him but he will need to find his best form quickly.
Scrimshaw has been one of the best bowlers in the Blast over the last couple of seasons. Brown did take 4 more wickets than him in this year's competition with 24 but at a frankly terrible economy of over 11. Neither has much red ball pedigree but Scrimshaw has been more effective than Brown in the format so far. I think Brown will probably be ok in white ball but don't see him offering much in the four day game. Our fortunes there in my opinion lie with Conners and Aitchison being fit, on form and allowed a pitch to bowl on in Derby that isn't dead.
Amir gives me the feeling of a signing that could go either way, I've read a fair bit elsewhere from Pakistan fans perhaps casting doubt on his attitude, fitness or fading pace and ability but I must admit I'm excited to see how he gets on. Given our toothless pace attack I'll give you this one as he'd struggle to do worse than Lakmal.
I hope to be proved wrong of course but du Plooy and Scrimshaw are top, top drawer players and the loss of them will hurt us badly.
The other 6 departures are all unsurprising and much rests on the further three signings to come, Ali mixed sublime and disappointing and there is definitely an opportunity to upgrade on that overseas slot if we find another Masood level of impact player, whether that's with bat or ball.
Of course a very good bat coming in to replace du Plooy meaning Lloyd effectively replaces Godleman quickly balances the scales more positively too. I really, really hope Wagstaff gets the last couple games as a couple more 50s like the last one and he's suddenly a much stronger option as backup to what is a good opening pair in Reece and Came.
I also hope that we might see Lace on his way up as in spite of a poor time at Gloucestershire he'd be good competition for Guest and could challenge for a place as a specialist bat if he can rediscover his confidence too which would be ideal given Dal's poor form with the bat this season and question marks over Lamb's back.
To sum up I try to remain positive but I do think things are finely balanced right now for next season.
Agree with some of this and we will miss LDP. GS is a good bowler, but I don't think 'top drawer' and there were signs he was being worked out by a few batters. Pull or hook and he has you in trouble. Cutting and pulling the way to go. Both made odd career choices, for me.
DeleteWe will see how PB gets on, but he bowls exclusively at the top and tail of an innings, so is likely to be more expensive.
I see Lloyd a replacement for BG but don't think our need is for another LDP as much as a spinning all rounder. If they land Patel it would be a massive boost.
As for Amir he looks a cut above in the CPL. I agree prospects are finely balanced just now. But more good signings - or injuries to key personnel - could tip it either way
Sorry I meant to add, I think Tom Lace is preparing for a career outside of the game. He has found the mental side of first class cricket a challenge, but certainly produced his best at Derbyshire. I would be surprised - but pleased as he is a lovely lad - if he moved counties at this stage
ReplyDeleteI see that Leics won the one day competition Cup final yesterday. A great achievement for a club who in recent years have been worse than us. Perhaps we can follow their example next year.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the final yesterday. Great to see Leicestershire take it in the end, and so hoping that one day that might be us in a showpiece event.
ReplyDeleteWe can but hope
Andy
I'm happy enough with Lloyd coming in. I'll think he'll be a steady player and by all accounts is a good team man. However, we need a good overseas batter to come in, ideally someone who can hit a long ball in T20. Kris
ReplyDeleteWe struggled all season to take 20 wickets ,Du Plooy Haider & Billy means we need 2000 runs from somewhere, plus a coaching group that are in the Shire😇I’d expect Lloyd to be skipper but we need a high class bat ( overseas)plus another pace bowler and the spin options are thin (Patel ?) Also a rethink on the pitch preparation at home….btw Well Done Leicestershire fantastic season finale from a chaotic mid season
ReplyDeleteCurrent starting XI for next season in my opinion and assuming Thomson stays:
ReplyDeleteCame
Reece
Guest
Madsen
Lloyd
Lamb
Dal
Thomson
Chappell
Amir
Conners
Backup Batters
Wagstaff
Backup Bowlers
Aitchison
Brown
Potts
Moore
The bowling stocks actually look OK and if given a helpful pitch I think we'll be OK.
We do obviously need more batting depth and another spin option and ideally one that pushes Thomson into more of a backup role in the four day format though both will be needed in white ball comps. If we could push both Lamb and Thomson into backup roles then the starting XI would look much stronger and we'd have some depth.
If we're signing 3 more players my shopping list would be:
Batter
Batter who can keep a bit
Spinner
Ideally the spinner might be an all rounder good enough to bat high up but short of Critchley returning that probably means using the overseas slot on that position.
Amir also apparently will be qualified as non overseas half way through the season so I hope some budget is kept to reinforce wherever most needed at that point with another overseas signing.
Some very good points here, Hamez. I agree with you that given suitable pitches we have a talented attack. If the two names we have coming in are the ones I have heard, there will be no complaints from supporters.
DeleteThe key will then be that other overseas role. I will touch on that in a piece I plan to publish later
Just watched Mickey Arthur's interview on YouTube I honestly thought I was listening to Michael Beale virtually word for word with a presser he gave at the end of last season talking about the team for next season will be his team and how excited he was about the signings he was hoping to sign let's hope Mickey has more luck than Michael Beale has had with his signings
ReplyDelete