With players coming in, there have to be others going out and I would expect news to break this week of the departure of Leus du Plooy. While we may hang on in some parts to lingering hopes he will stay, it seems like the Middlesex move is a done deal.
I think his replacement is already at the club. Matt Lamb has had a frustrating season with back issues and I understand surgery is possible for the close season. If he can get back to fitness he is a very good, classy and powerful middle order bat. It is unrealistic to expect the weight of runs made by Leus this year, but as a solid bat, useful leg spinner and safe pair of hands he has much to offer next season and beyond.
It wouldn't surprise me if Worcestershire made a big play for George Scrimshaw, who came up through their academy system. Having lost three seam bowlers so far, they will have money to spend and there won't be many with the potential that big George has. He may not want to play all formats, of course and may not want to return to a club that released him after a run of injuries, but it would surprise me if he was at the club next year. Not least because when Pat Brown signed the other seamers at the club were mentioned in the press release, but not George.
Reading too much into it? We will see.
As for developmental Derbyshire, I was pleased to read in the week that both Yousaf bin Naeem and Harry Moore have impressed in the ECB Super Fours.
Yousaf, from the video clips, seems a diminutive but organised player who times the ball very well. He is only just 17, so the first eleven is likely beyond him right now, but he is one to watch, for sure.
So too is Harry, whose father was an outstanding bowler for many years in local cricket. Tall and slim, he is still only 16 but seems to have something, not least control of the ball, as he seems to return economical figures in whatever class of cricket he plays.
Next, after giving it thought I wouldn't be too upset if Haider Ali was to return next year.
Let's be honest, he was thrown in at the deep end by being asked to open, but since dropping to his normal middle order role has looked more at home. He has almost 800 runs in all cricket with plenty to add, having done better in the four-day game than Azhar Ali at Worcestershire, a very experienced player. He also did better than Shan Masood in the T20, so they aren't bad benchmarks.
He is 22, playing in England for the first time and has conducted himself impeccably. He has held some blinding catches and fielded very well. Yes, he has given his wicket away a few times, but how many perfectly crafted 22 year olds are there in any career?
There are plenty of worse options out there. I still feel a spin bowling all rounder would be my first pick, because a top seven of Lloyd, Came, Guest, Madsen, Lamb, Reece and Dal looks pretty solid, as well as containing four bowlers.
That's why the Samit Patel story makes some sense, but I would be surprised if it was much more than an agent playing games.
He is out of contract at Nottinghamshire and they will be considering options. What they would want least is for him to ship up down the road and do well, so his agent may be playing canny and trying for another, improved deal at the club he has served so well.
Which could rebound, of course...
But there is certainly plenty to occupy our thoughts right now!
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