Weekend warmer

So England bow out - or perhaps retreat with their tails between their legs - from a tournament that they hoped to win, ending it as the worst side in the tournament, certainly by the results and table.

It is what happens in sport when outstanding teams - and there have been times when this one has been - don't integrate new blood into a successful lineup. The one sure thing in sport is that time wait for no one, everyone has a sell-by date. Sadly, that has been passed by too many of this England squad.

I will be honest, my major interest in this competition has been spotting a potential second overseas player for Derbyshire. Just to clarify, I won't have any say in that decision...

Nor do I have any knowledge of the budget, but I would have to say that if we are going for another Pakistan player, the only feasible bowler on display has been Mohammad Wasim Jr. He was a late introduction to the side, but has bowled with commendable pace, skill and accuracy since his call up. Haris Rauf  has had an awful series and surely a chance for Zaman Khan might have been more beneficial? Hassan Ali has also had a poor series and the Pakistan bowling has been largely underwhelming.

The spinners on display don't  look especially threatening, though of course you are judging them against the very best.  They appear more bits 'n' pieces players, probably good for Vitality Blast, but not likely to take wickets in large amounts in the four-day game.

So perhaps Derbyshire might split the overseas role. Were there budget to do so I would consider Abrar Ahmed, omitted from this tournament, as a match-winning leggie for the four day game. I always think they are good value in England, as batters so rarely face a decent one. 

Meanwhile, I would love to see Faqhar Zaman for the Blast at some point. Not just on the basis of yesterday's extraordinary innings against New Zealand, but because he is a proven match winner. There also seems a mutual respect between he and Mohammad Amir, who he called 'the best bowler I have faced' recently. Amir yesterday referred to Fakhar as an 'impact player' and Pakistan's tournament may have been very different had he been available throughout. In three innings he has made 219 runs and he was not remotely fazed by chasing 400 yesterday. Eleven sixes rained from his bat yesterday and the thought of him doing that over here has its appeal. 

Of course he will be in demand and the likelihood is that a bigger budget than ours will get his services.

Yet the perfect fit for our overseas role is not from Pakistan. 

Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand is an outstanding batting talent, a very fine fielder and a more than respectable purveyor of left arm spin. He looks a very special player and one who would be a very good fit for our needs.

I suspect most Heads of Cricket around the country will feel the same and I am sure that he and several other Kiwis will not lack for offers in the aftermath of this competition.

But of course, the T20 World Cup will take these players out of the equation, so the search will focus on those who don't make squads.

Finally, congratulations to Harry Came on his selection for an MCC squad touring Kenya. 

He did very well in the season just finished and looks to be a player with a very bright future.

I will certainly be keeping more of an eye on events in Kenya cricket circles than is usually the case.

Go well, Harry.