Its hard to fault the move. Having captained England to T20 World Cup success and been an integral part of the national side for the best part of a decade, he has a fine track record. My only concern was his fitness, but he seems to have come through early season surgery well and is back scoring runs and taking wickets (though he's had a poor batting campaign in this year's T20).His bowling is still a useful weapon and he is one of the best fielders in the world game. As a batsman it may well be that he is slightly past his peak, but at 35 he should still have runs in the locker. A landmark signing? Yeah, I think so, if it happens. It has the added appeal of potentially allowing for an overseas player too, though that would be something to clarify further down the line.
His agent, former Lancashire batsman Neil Fairbrother, says that the player is likely to be reluctant to leave. He has been with Durham all his days, but one would expect the possibilities at Derbyshire, not that far away, must be of some interest to him. Having retired from international cricket, does he really want to sidle off into the sunset scoring a few runs here and there for Durham, or is he ready for another challenge?
Money is unlikely to be an issue. I would guess that a player of his stature would command £150-200K a season, but I have little doubt that Chris Grant could get other people to help cover some of that sort of money with him. Grant could probably do it himself, but this is the sort of venture that Peter Gadsby may also be interested in. Unless the player's demands got into the silly territory, I can't see finance being the stumbling block and Grant said in his blueprint announcement that the restructuring allowed for more money on a big name.
It will be down to the player and what Durham have to offer. If they have a coaching role in mind for him in the future my guess is that he would stay. Yet the lure of turning Derbyshire into a club like Durham, using his twenty years of experience there, might just be the challenge that he needs at the end of his career.
It might well be a real coup for Derbyshire too. I will await developments, like the rest of you, with considerable interest.
