No way, Jose...

There’s been a couple of comments in response to last night’s piece on overseas players and who we’re likely to be able to afford for 2011.


I’ve been asked why I can’t see that there has to be a lot of money left after the departures of Chris Rogers, Robin Peterson and Graham Wagg.

I’ll explain why.

Tom Lungley has gone and been replaced by Mark Turner. That was probably a like for like cost, as Somerset wanted to keep him and he was referred to as “top of the wanted list.”

Ian Hunter has gone and been replaced by Tony Palladino – John Morris said it had been worked out “at no extra cost to us.”

John Sadler left, as did Lee Goddard. The latter was probably not on a big contract, but has been replaced by Luke Sutton, a senior cricketer. His higher salary has presumably now been reviewed in his favour, in the light of the additional responsibility of captaincy. So not much change left out of that, perhaps?

Which leaves Peterson, Wagg and Rogers. Let’s set aside the former skipper’s salary, as we know he’s being replaced, along with any small positive balance from above to give John Morris a little extra leeway.

What hasn’t been taken into account yet is a likely cut in the playing budget, which could easily account for the salary of one of the remainder, either Wagg or Peterson. Look how many Gloucestershire have had to release, as well as Kent, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Sussex. We don’t know the level of any cut, or if there’s been one, but if Keith Loring has managed to protect us from that in the current economic climate I’ll nominate him for New Year’s honours and the Nobel Peace Prize…

So that could remove Wagg or Peterson’s salary from the equation. Finally, remember we’ve signed Matt Lineker, while Wayne Madsen and Chesney Hughes have both signed extended, and I’d have thought substantially improved contracts. Both came in as untried players but have developed into key members of the side, presumably seeing that reflected in their new deals. Remember too that Wes Durston is now a full-time cricketer on a senior salary, rather than being on a one-day contract and getting a few extra games on a ‘pay as you play’ basis. Add in assumed incremental increases for other players (does your salary stay the same every year?) and that’s the money for the last player gone.

All that’s left is the money paid to Chris Rogers, which won’t attract a current, top international. As I’ve said before, Rogers was a fine player, but wasn’t a Test player and didn’t command the salary of one. In previous jobs I used to book bands and artistes and know full well what TV exposure and chart success does to fees. The same thing happens with international status in sport.

Now there’s an element of supposition involved in all of the above, but I think its closer to the truth than imagining John Morris sitting in his office with a massive wad of cash and a grin on his face, having convinced Matt Lineker to play for free and Madsen and Hughes to sign new deals on their original salaries. That’s why I think he will be recruiting in a limited market for his overseas player; not through lack of ambition, not through tight fistedness, but simply because of the harsh realities of economics.

If you haven’t got the money, you can’t buy the product.

Ignore the fact that we’ve a millionaire on the committee, maybe two, perhaps more for all I know. They have families to support, as well as business interests. They are involved because of their love of Derbyshire cricket but that shouldn’t have to extend to opening their wallets. If they do it is welcome and appreciated, but it is their money that they have earned and their decision – no one else’s. Don Amott has been very supportive of the club over the years but is also a shrewd businessman who will want to see the club run to a sound business model within our modest means.

Anyway, the long and short of it is that nothing is likely to happen until after the IPL auction on January 8 and 9, when we will see which players are picked up by the various franchises. To illustrate the problems faced, Wasim Jaffer, who I mentioned as a potential signing the other day, could well find himself signed up. If so, he would probably be unavailable to anyone, be it county or club side, until the start of June…

Just for once you might pity Yorkshire. They have SIX players involved in the auction – Bresnan, Shahzad, Sidebottom, McGrath, Lyth and Gale. Any that are picked up - and the first three must have a decent chance – won’t be available for the first seven Championship games plus one-day fixtures in that period. They could be fighting relegation by the time those players return.

So in closing, forget the really big names, as it isn’t going to happen. They’ll be enjoying the fun and frolics of the IPL while our season gets underway amid an array of handwarmers, flasks and sweaters. John Morris will need to find someone who isn’t going to be involved and has a massive task on his hands.

On the bright side, most clubs are in the same boat. Only seven counties have thus far named an overseas player and a few have said they may not be able to afford one, putting us a little ahead of the game.

Hmmm…I wonder if Chris Harris is free?