You can get it direct to your email account here
Well-known and promising players identified as being out of contract this September include:
Durham: Graham Clark, Alex Lees, Sean Dickson, Paul Coughlin, Ben Raine, Ned Eckersley, Chris Rushworth, Matt Salisbury, Mark Wood, Matty Potts, Brydon Carse.
Derbyshire: Mattie McKiernan, Mikey Cohen
Durham: Graham Clark, Alex Lees, Sean Dickson, Paul Coughlin, Ben Raine, Ned Eckersley, Chris Rushworth, Matt Salisbury, Mark Wood, Matty Potts, Brydon Carse.
Essex: Tom Westley, Jack Plom
Glamorgan: Kiran Carlson, Billy Root, Joe Cooke, Jamie McIlroy, Timm van der Gugten, James Weighell
Gloucestershire: Miles Hammond, Ian Cockbain, Graeme van Buuren
Hampshire: Felix Organ, Aneurin Donald, Chris Wood
Kent: Alex Blake, Zak Crawley, Darren Stevens, Hamidullah Qadri
Lancashire: Steven Croft, Jos Butler, Jimmy Anderson, Richard Gleeson, Liam Hurt
Leicestershire: Harry Dearden, Sam Evans; Hassan Azad, Nick Welch, Ben Mike, Harry Swindells, Chris Wright, Abi Sakande, Gavin Griffiths
Middlesex: Eoin Morgan, Tim Murtagh
Northamptonshire: Josh Cobb, Ben Curran, Charlie Thurston, Nathan Buck, Freddie Heidreich
Nottinghamshire: Sol Budinger, Joe Clarke, Haseeb Hameed, Matthew Montgomery, Stuart Broad, Toby Pettman, Matt Carter
Somerset: George Bartlett, James Hildreth, James Rew, Tom Bainton, Ollie Sale, Sonny Baker, Max Waller
Surrey: Jason Roy, Jordan Clark, Matt Dunn, Nick Kimber, Amar Virdi, Dan Moriarty, James Taylor, Conor McKerr
Sussex: Ravi Bopara, Delray Rawlins, Jofra Archer
Warwickshire: Ryan Sidebottom, Matt Lamb, Manhaj Johal
Worcestershire: Josh Dell, Tom Fell, Jacques Banton
Yorkshire: Joe Root, Matt Revis, Matthew Waite, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Duke, Harry Sullivan, Josh Sullivan, Jack Shutt, Steve Patterson
There are others, but these are the bigger names. Some fine players among them too, many almost certain to sign new deals with their current clubs. You couldn't see Chris Rushworth anywhere but Durham, for example, nor Root and Bairstow anywhere but Yorkshire.
Nor is it an exhaustive list. There are those who may well move county yet are still within contracts, just as Matt Critchley did last year. It appears unlikely that Gary Ballance will stay at Yorkshire, either looking for a fresh county start or returning to Zimbabwe to represent the country of his birth.
I am surprised that Durham have allowed so many to get to the end of their contracts, Yorkshire too. There are names in there that will make a few sit up and I would love to see Ben Mike at Derbyshire, but there are likely seventeen other counties thinking the same!
So who catches your eye - and equally importantly might be affordable and realistic?
Wouldn't mind Hassan Azad, strictly a first class player but would be a solid presence opening. Either of the two young Surrey spinners too, feel like they should both be leaving given how little they've played this year. Pettman performed well on loan if another seamer is needed. Read recently that Yorkshire fans think Mike is going there.
ReplyDeleteBilly Root
ReplyDeleteAgree with Stuart. I wouldn’t mind any of Azad, Pettman or a return for Conor McKerr.
ReplyDeleteHope you can put a good word in with any of your contacts and get them signed up, Peakfan. ;)
Thanks
Gareth
James Hildreth, Matt Carter, Matthew Waite and Conor Mckerr stand out to me. Captain Chessy.
ReplyDeleteCarter from Notts would be an interesting and realistic signing. Regards Andrew
ReplyDeleteI agree Andrew. Carter would have more game time with us. Captain Chessy.
DeleteI notice from the list that the loanees we have had this season are on the list (Sidebottom, Hurt, Pettman). Pettman looked the better one of the three but as we have signed Chappell another quick seems unlikely.
ReplyDeleteOne name that is of interest to me is Amar Virdi. He was talked about as England potential a couple of years ago and only seems to get games for Surrey in the RL50. Another and I would be shocked if he left is Harry Duke at Yorkshire. With Tattersall their new captain will he get many red ball games. He could easily play as a batter for us.
Another thing to consider is what places are available in the side with Billy, Wayne and Leus already signed up there are not many gaps in the batting line up with Brooke and Shan Masood (I assume he will be back) contenders for player of the season and with Lakmal back along with Conners, Aitchison and Scrimshaw there are not many bowling places available.
Depending on Scotland fixtures a full time contract for Mark Watt may be a possible signing as he looked promising in the couple of red ball games he played.
One thing that seems to be happening now is that we are an attractive club for potential signings. We may not have the finances of other counties but the current coaching team are appealing to players who want to improve and play regular games.
I think with all the injuries to seamers which led to lots of loans this season there's a decent chance Arthur will want another quick.
DeleteSince the end of the 1999 season it would be interesting to know how many players Derbyshire have signed compared to the previous 130 years ? Pre COVID I was speaking to a life member who was planning to write a book listing every cricketer who had played for Derbyshire, the last 22 years have felt like a revolving door with players coming and going
DeleteI wouldn't know the answer to that one, but mobility of labour and increased ease of getting out of contracts has meant players move more often. I don't think we will see many more Madsen and Palladinos, let alone Jackson, Gladwin, Elliott, Smith etc..
DeleteYes thats the reason, the old system of list A and B players (i think?) meant signings and moving counties was very limited and actually restricted by the rules. Since that was abolished its got a lot more like football, for good or bad.
DeleteEssex Fan
Hi PF can you clarify why my comments re. Tom Fell being worth a chance somehwere, and questioning Ben Mikes ability, and Yorks (if they do) signing him for the wrong reasons didn't get posted? didnt think any controversy there? Mikes record is there for all to see and a couple of scores this season on dead pitches don't change that i think hes lucky to have a contract in the pro game in long form at least.
ReplyDeletethanks
Essex Fan
Hi mate sorry I recall that and have no idea why it hasn't appeared. I think Fell a decent top order player and I think Mike will get better. As we have shown with Guest, Dal, McKiernan and Reece, lads lacking opportunity sometimes just need that chance to kick on.
DeleteApologies for it not appearing, I certainly clicked the 'publish' button
Thanks though i had made a faux pas of some sort!
DeleteI think Leics have given Mike more than a good go and i just don't see it personally, especially bowling wise, and cannot see why the mighty Yorks would be interested, for purely cricketing reasons, unless they really are in big financial trouble and a swathe of players will be leaving (Duke and Revis wont be short of offers if they do) and they are hoping to sign numbers on the cheap?
As for Ballance i cannot see any county having the gall/balls to give him a go and doubt the ECB would be keen. I see his only way back as being with Zim, but then his abhorrent views/comments won't have gone down there well either.
To expand on Tom Fell, he looked England potential when he first broke through, before his sad cancer issues. He struggled on return but picked up a bit before seemingly completely disappearing (injury?) i think there could still be a fine player there, given a run, and a perfect signing for someone like Leics.
I also mooted Essex signing Masood as O/S and captain and waving goodbye to Mr Westley...sadly for Essex will never happen in a million years!
Essex Fan
Point taken on Ballance and Fell is a decent player too.
DeleteSee, Mike is only 23.Anuj Dal is 26 and just figured this level in the last two years. I think Mike is raw and inconsistent, but I think there is a player in there. Zak Chappell is at the age to kick on and I think he will.
That's a fair point but feel it's quite early to say all 18 counties would like him! Also I think it raises a good point re 2nd chances. Didn't Dal have some time out of the 1st class game then get a 2nd chance with you (or has he always been on your books since leaving Notts). Should a county stick with players for 5 years of not a lot in the hope they come good or is the 18 county system perfect for allowing players to come again after struggling initially. Its a strong argument to retain 18 counties in my view.
DeleteEssex Fan