Thoughts on signings

There are increasing numbers of players being released around the country, some of them presumably the result of the difficult financial situation.

I was surprised to see Sussex release Mark Thornely, a player who looked to be a decent prospect. Indeed, he scored 89 last week in what was probably his final match for them and also took two wickets with his medium pace. He scored a stack of runs for their Second XI, including a century when their side beat ours in the final of the Second XI Knockout Trophy. I would be surprised if he didn't get a contract elsewhere, although the prospects of Ragheb Aga, a Kenyan-born but English qualified all-rounder, and Chad Keegan, a South African-born seamer, may be less clear.

There is a tendency to look at these lists and automatically think "he'd do us nicely," but I'm not sure that John Morris will move for anyone who is not already on his hit list at this stage.Several counties are still to announce who they are releasing and Morris, in contrast to several around the country, has some money to spend.

I've been fascinated to read some of the opinions on the boards (and in your mails and comments) in recent weeks. David Wainwright of Yorkshire is a favourite of Master Villain and I rate the lad too. Sadly, I'm not sure if he is available. That Yorkshire have a surfeit of talented young spinners behind Abdul Rashid is undeniable, but my guess is that they will be loathe to release Wainwright in case Rashid is away with England. He can bat and bowl though, so would probably be in demand should he ever become available.

Will John Morris go down the Kolpak route again? If so, I can only think that it would be a South African. If he could sort the spin option, or was satisfied with what we have, a move for Alviro Petersen would sort an opening berth with the batsman currently without a central contract back home. Nor do recent international players Makhaya Ntini, Friedel de Wet, Ryan McLaren or Roelof van der Merwe.

On the domestic front, few of us would complain, surely, if we picked up Usman Afzaal, who would give the middle order a touch of experience and class, as well as being a useful slow left arm bowler. Again though, he is unlikely to lack for suitors. Bilal Shafayat? Yes, I think he could do a job with bat and ball, although his career has stagnated of late and it is whether John Morris judges that decline to be terminal.

Several names have been mentioned for the overseas berth, most of them people we'd do well to get. Daniel Vettori? Surely no chance? I like the idea of  Adam Voges, who is likely to be a free agent since David Hussey doesn't have a central contract in Australia. Voges does though, which could limit his availability. Again, given the international calendar, the likely source is South Africa or New Zealand, the only ones without commitments between April and September.

Surely the likelihood of  Smith, Kallis, de Villiers, Morkel, Steyn or Duminy signing up are next to nil, so I suspect we may be looking at the next tier down in quality, though still good players. It could be that the Saffers named above in relation to Kolpak deals could be in contention for overseas roles around the country next year.

My other favourite? If we could tempt Ross Taylor over from New Zealand it would be a terrific signing. He seemed to like Derby when he made a brutal  unbeaten 74 from 36 balls with eight sixes against Ireland in a World Cup T20 warmup in 2009. I have no doubt that county fans would warm to him and he would be a hit in all forms of the game averaging 40 for Durham in this year's T20.

It might not happen, but shouldn't stop us dreaming...