Reece and Came sign new deals

More good news coming from the Incora County Ground this morning, with Harry Came and Luis Reece announced as both having signed new two-year contracts.

I was a little worried for Luis, because his statistics have fallen over the past couple of years. He isn't scoring as prolifically, nor as quickly as he was when he was selected in the first year of the new competition. 

He has done okay in four-day cricket, where most of his runs have come when he was batting down the order. Perhaps that is his niche from now on, an experienced bat offering depth against the second new ball if we do well, perhaps being moved up against the swinging ball if things are more challenging.

He remains a wicket taker in the longer form, but I hope he can find the line and length to become an option in the shorter forms of the game. There are plenty of nagging bowlers at medium pace doing well in the Vitality Blast and Luis, offering a more rare left arm variant, has it in him to be as good as any of them. Yet he was barely used this year and went for plenty when he was, so there is something to work on there. So too on his scoring rate in twenty-over cricket, when a quick start can often dictate the course of the game. It has declined over the last three years, but the talent is there to see it return to former glories.

Let's face it, when Mickey Arthur was looking around to see who could do that all rounder role better, there was no one in the list that I published yesterday who would have guaranteed that, as well as offering important variation.

As for Harry Came, he has come on in leaps and bounds over the past season and a half. There was a time when I was on the point of dismissing him as merely a top order slogger. Yet in the second half of last season, elevated to opening the batting, he played some fine innings. He has continued to do that this year, recording his maiden century in the county championship, as well as producing some fine knocks when he was eventually asked to open in the Vitality Blast.

He possesses a sound defence and a good range of shots, especially strong on the pull and hook. He is compact, organised and looks set for a long county career.

For me, today's news suggests that Lloyd, Came and Reece will be our opening options next season and perhaps there will be a change of emphasis with overseas recruitment.

An attack leader would be one very good option, but I also hope that Mickey Arthur can identify a spin bowling all rounder as another option. There are plenty such players in Pakistan, which is where I expect us to recruit from, because the Head of Cricket can incentivise the position, effectively saying 'come over, impress me, force yourself into my thoughts for the national side'.

Interesting times like ahead. 

I suspect 2024 will be very much worth watching.

To Luis and Harry, well done! We look forward to watching your efforts at least until the end of 2025.