Gloucestershire held their annual end-of-season presentation dinner in the Grace Room of the County Ground yesterday. The evening was in recognition of the players and was deemed “a huge success”.

The event included presentation of awards in recognition of the players’ achievements in the 2006 season. All of the awards were preceded by video clips of the season to evoke memories of the season’s highlights.

Some of the emerging young players were rewarded for their successful season including Jackson Thompson who was awarded the Collis Cup as Academy Player of the Year. The club also arranged for an award to be presented in recognition of the sad bereavement of Ray Parsons, the former chairman, last month. The Ray Parsons Award for The Young Player of the Season was presented by Ray’s widow, Fay to David Brown.

The Most Outstanding Individual Bowling Performance was awarded to Jon Lewis for the best bowling in an innings of a County Championship match (7 for 38) and the best in a match (10 for 75 against Somerset at Bristol).

The Most Outstanding Individual Batting Performance was awarded to Hamish Marshall for his unbeaten 105 in the Pro 40 against Surrey at The Oval in September. The award was collected on his behalf by Jon Lewis as Marshall was on his way back to New Zealand.

The Thule Champagne Moment allowed the attendees to enjoy a magnificent montage of cricket from the C&G Trophy match versus Surrey at Bristol. The award was presented by Pete Barker of Thule to David Brown for his debut match-winning innings of 63 not out from 26 balls during that match.

The final award of the evening was the presentation of the players' player of the season which was awarded by Club sponsors WDB Brands. The winner this year was Alex Gidman and proved to be a very well supported choice amongst the attendees at the dinner.

Solanki extends contract

Posted on 09/27/2006 in Worcestershire

Vikram Solanki, the Worcestershire captain, has agreed to a two year extension of his contract taking him through to the end of the 2009 season. Solanki, who has just led the county to a double promotion, has already been awarded a benefit year in 2007.

Worcestershire have also confirmed the entire domestic playing squad will remain in contract for the 2007 season. The majority of senior players have existing contracts through to 2007 and 2008 whilst earlier in the season Graeme Hick confirmed a contract extension for 2007.

Daryl Mitchell has agreed a two year extension to his contract until the end of 2008, while left-arm pace bowler Stuart Wedge (20), wicketkeeper Josh Knappett (21), fast bowler Richard Jones (20) and off-spinner Shaftab Khalid (23) have all been retained on one year contracts for 2007.

Will Gifford and Ed Foster will remain on summer contracts whilst they complete their courses at University. The county’s Academy intake for 2006/7 is expected to be announced soon.

September 26, 2006

Best Footitt forward

Posted on 09/26/2006 in Nottinghamshire

The county's sensitive handling of Mark Footitt – a quick bowler already talked of as an England candidate in the near future – was rewarded with a first five-wicket haul, against West Indies A.

Footitt, who is 20, bowls leftarm over, can swing the ball back in to the right-hander and, on his day, is quicker than anyone on the staff. But Nottinghamshire have resisted the temptation to
push the shy youngster from the Papplewick and Linby club too far too soon. “Mark has a lot of raw potential but still has a lot to learn,” says Mick Newell, the director of cricket. “He needs to get himself a little bit fitter and to be a little bit more cricket-wise. I’m sure he will come through
over the next couple of years but I didn’t really expect him to emerge this year.”

Phil DeFreitas, the county’s part-time bowling coach, has kept a fatherly eye on Footitt. “Phil has been a massive help,” says Footitt, “and the fact that we play club cricket together means that he can help me with my game at the weekends, not just in the week. We have been doing drills about bowling in the right areas off a short run-up.”

Paul Bolton, The Wisden Cricketer

One-day wondering

Posted on 09/26/2006 in Northamptonshire

The Northants coach David Capel sees a serious role for Monty Panesar in one-day cricket. Heralded as the best finger spinner in the world by England’s Duncan Fletcher, Panesar has played only seven one-day games, all for Northants.

“In time Monty has a lot of good things to offer as a specialist spinner in one-day cricket,” says Capel, who has taken over with the captain David Sales since the director of cricket Kepler Wessels’ departure. “It is the age-old argument of specialists playing in one-day cricket, whether they be fast bowlers or spinners. In my opinion they have a role to play.

“I understand the philosophy Duncan Fletcher has in making sure all our top bowlers can bat and field, and they’ve got to be very competent in those two departments. But recent history
has been littered with people like Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, who win one-day games with the way they bowl. “Monty still has to develop his skills further in one-day cricket but I believe he has the potential to do that. He’s confident and wants to have a go at not only one-day cricket with us but with England as well.”

Ashley Potter, The Wisden Cricketer

Keegan on the spot

Posted on 09/26/2006 in Middlesex

Chief Executive Vinny Codrington says of the planned halving of the import quota: “What you save on flights and accommodation you might lose on hiring one or two homegrown players. For me, with all the coming and going, it’s become a laughing-stock.”

Chad Keegan, meanwhile, has been given permission to talk to suitors, via his agent/father Blake. “We want him to stay and have offered him an extension,” says Codrington, “but we don’t feel able to offer a long-term contract as he’s played only a dozen games in three seasons. We showed a lot of faith during his back problems and waived the rules so he can talk to other counties. It would be nice if that loyalty was returned but, if someone comes up with something better, they’re welcome.”

It was also good to bump into Norman Cowans at the cricket writers’ dinner, especially since, the previous day, he had figured in one of ESPN Classic’s slightly less classic moments. Did he recall being dismissed in a Test against West Indies when the ball lobbed off his pads, 25 feet above his head towards short mid-on, then spun back to bowl him? “Roger Harper”
came the instant reply.

Rob Steen, The Wisden Cricketer

Asian breakthrough

Posted on 09/26/2006 in Leicestershire

Leicestershire hope Jigar Naik will be a role model for the local Asian community. The offspinner, 22, became the first Leicester-born Asian to represent the county.

“We hope it shows to the local community that, if you are good enough, you will get a chance,” says Phil Whitticase, Leicestershire’s head coach. Naik, who progressed from Kibworth and Billesdon, was given his chance after consistent performances in the 2nd XI.

“He gets the ball to pick up pace off the pitch and he extracts bounce and turn,” Whitticase says. “He’s at Loughborough University and hopefully will get more firstclass exposure with them next season.” Whitticase is already working with a promising batch of Leicestershire-born Asians in the county’s academy, notably Ramandeep Singh Ghuman, a 12-year-old legspinner, and Shiv Thakor, a powerfully built 13-yearold batsman.

Paul Bolton, The Wisden Cricketer

Capel confirmed coach

Posted on 09/26/2006 in Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire have confirmed that David Capel will be the club's head coach after a period in a caretaker role following Kepler Wessels's departure midway through the season.

The chief executive, Mark Tagg, told BBC Radio Northampton: "We put David in position and he had two months to show us what he could do,"

"It's been pretty tough for him and I think he's delivered. You can look at the tremendous performance in the Pro40 to show how he's turned things around."

September 25, 2006

Fulton hints at retirement

Posted on 09/25/2006 in Kent

David Fulton is considering his options following his release by Kent. "There are some people who want to talk to me. I'd be silly not to hear what people say," he told the BBC.

But he indicated that retirement is the favourite option. "I've had one professional club, Kent, and one league club, Sevenoaks Vine, and that's probably how it'll stay. I've got a couple of job plans outside cricket and at the moment that look more likely."

Why must it always rain on Lancashire

Posted on 09/25/2006 in Lancashire

	Lancashire's season ended in farce at The Rose Bowl © Getty Images

Over the last few weeks it seemed as if Lancashire’s 72-year wait for a Championship title might be nearing an end, but once gain they just failed to do enough and the crown instead headed down to Hove.

In The Guardian, Colin Shindler, who watches more Lancashire games than most, looked back at the season and its unsatisfactory end.

It was somehow appropriate that Lancashire's season expired at the Rose Bowl in circumstances of pure farce. It was symbolic of a season that promised so much and delivered, again, so little. On Friday we had stared mournfully as the rainwater collected in gloomy puddles on the covers. On Saturday we had the unedifying spectacle of Hampshire bowling virtually unplayable "moon" balls at Lancashire batsmen who were too embarrassed to acknowledge the conventional landmarks of their innings.

But whereas many spluttered and moaned that Lancashire’s failure this time was down to the weather – and they were hit by more than their fair share of rain-blighted games – Shindler is unconvinced.

It also rains quite frequently on the other side of the Pennines but everyone knows that Yorkshire's failure to win the championship more than once since 1968 is because they have had some poor teams and a divided club. It is about time the inept Lancashire committee stood up and admitted as much. Instead they can only splutter that the ECB has taken away their Test match.

September 24, 2006

New plans for New Road

Posted on 09/24/2006 in Worcestershire

Worcestershire have announced plans for a redevelopment at New Road. A media release said that full planning application had been submitted and that it was hoped the outcome would be known within three to four months.

Click here to view the plans

September 23, 2006

Panesar extends contract

Posted on 09/23/2006 in Northamptonshire

Monty Panesar as signed with Northamptonshire until at least 2008. This week Panesar was granted an ECB central contract so the club are unlikely to see much of their left-arm spinner next summer.

Panesar said: "I am please to have signed a two-year contract with Northants. I am looking forward to continuing to work with David Capel, David Ripley and my team-mates. I would like to thank all the members and fans for their support.’

The chief executive, Mark Tagg added: “We are absolutely delighted that Monty has decided to continue his association with the club. Monty has been a shining example of our development work and we hope that he is the first of a number of young players who we currently have in our squad and our Academy who will become household names for England over future years.

"The club has had a successful end to the season and with the spirit and teamwork that we are now showing we have very high hopes for the next few years at the County Ground”.

September 22, 2006

A chance to atone

Posted on 09/22/2006 in Sussex

Richard Montgomerie had two reasons to celebrate at the end of August. After 16 summers divided equally between Northampton and Hove he was awarded a benefit, then avoided the chastening experience of becoming known as the man who dropped the C&G Trophy, which might have made chequebooks harder to prise open.

Kyle Hogg and Dominic Cork had hauled Lancashire back into contention when Montgomerie dropped Hogg at mid-on. Remarkably, six runs later, in the same Luke Wright over, came redemption. “The first one came very quickly,” he says. “I didn’t pick up the pace and I didn’t pick the ball up at all until it was too late, probably because of the crowd in the background. I thought to myself, ‘I hope this doesn’t mean we don’t win’, or something like that, so I was lucky to get the chance to redeem myself so soon. This time he didn’t get hold of it and it came relatively slowly. It was a bit of a relief, yes. And a lovely ending for James [Kirtley].”

After that C&G triumph, says Montgomerie, hair was duly let down, albeit “for 12 hours rather than 24”. Chris Adams is understood to have slept with the trophy on the Saturday night. “I can’t confirm that I’m afraid,” deadpans Montgomerie.

Rob Steen, The Wisden Cricketer

Last link broken?

Posted on 09/22/2006 in Warwickshire

Suspicions that Mark Greatbatch, Warwickshire’s director of coaching, is to sweep clean the Edgbaston dressing room seemed to be confirmed when Dougie Brown was dropped for the Championship game against Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston.

It was the first time in six years that Brown had been left out of a Championship side for anything other than injury or illness, a moment described by the grizzled allrounder as “the biggest disappointment of my career”. Typically he wasted no time in making a case for a recall. He made a century for the 2nd XI the day after he was dropped and then took five wickets for Scotland in a first-class match against Ireland.

Brown, who joined the county in 1990, remains popular with supporters as the last link with the Lara-inspired side that won county cricket’s first treble in 1994. He has a year left on his contract but is aware of rumours that Warwickshire would be interested in Dominic Cork if he chooses to leave Lancashire and seek a county closer to his Derbyshire home.

Paul Bolton, The Wisden Cricketer

Phillips leaves Northants

Posted on 09/22/2006 in Northamptonshire

Ben Phillips has announced that he will be leaving Northamptonshire at the end of the season after the county agreed to his request to be released from his contract. "My family have never settled here,” he explained, “and I have decided they must come first and so therefore I have had to make a change in my career plans."

September 21, 2006

Averis released by Gloucestershire

Posted on 09/21/2006 in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire have released James Averis after 10 years with the club. Born in Bristol, Averis made his one-day debut in 1994 and his first class debut in 1997. He was capped and named Gloucestershire’s Player of the Year in 2001.

He played in every one-day game of Gloucestershire’s treble-winning season of 2000 and took a memorable 4 for 23 in the C&G Final against Worcestershire in 2004.

He is currently studying for a Law degree and hopes to secure employment in that field.

Contract Hick-up

Posted on 09/21/2006 in Worcestershire

Graeme Hick playing for a county other than Worcestershire would be almost as unthinkable as New Road without a view of the cathedral. But it looked briefly possible when Derbyshire confirmed that they had made a formal approach for the 40-year-old former England batsman. That added urgency to Worcestershire’s contract talks with Hick, who scored his 100th first-class century for the county this summer. To their relief Hick signed a new one-year contract within days of Derbyshire’s interest being made public.

“It was flattering to hear another county was interested but my heart was always with Worcestershire,” Hick says. “I’ve played here all my career and didn’t want to go anywhere else. I had a chat with Derbyshire and listened to what they had to say but in the end I just couldn’t leave. It wouldn’t have felt right to play in any other colours.” Hick has yet to decide whether next season will be his last and has not ruled out the possibility of prolonging his career further.

“At this stage I’m going to take it a season at a time,” he says. “We’ll see how I feel this time next year.”

Paul Bolton, The Wisden Cricketer

McGrath marches on

Posted on 09/21/2006 in Yorkshire

Anthony McGrath is not a man to blow his own trumpet. So it is worth taking note when he says: “I’m a far better player now than when I last played Test cricket three years ago.” County bowlers would not argue with that, though the England selectors seem unmoved. McGrath averaged almost 60 in 2005 and by late August this year had amassed another 1,182 firstclass runs at 62. As an allrounder he played four Tests and made the last of his 14 one-day international appearances in 2004. McGrath attributes his consistent excellence to hard work.

“There’s no magic formula. I’m more experienced and I’ve learned from my mistakes. My game has developed in four-day and one-day cricket and, as one of the senior pros, I know it’s important that I score runs consistently.” And his chances of an England recall? “I don’t seem to be in the selectors’ thoughts at the moment but it’s always in the back of my mind.”

Andrew Collomosse, The Wisden Cricketer

Phillips leaves for personal reasons

Posted on 09/21/2006 in Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire announced that Ben Phillips will end his four year association with the club at the end of this season. The club have responded to his request to be released from his contract for 2007 due to personal and family reasons.

David Capel, the coach, said: ‘I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Ben; he has been a delight to work with and will be missed from the team’

Phillips added: ‘I would like to thank the club and supporters for the last four years, I have had a tremendous time here and would like to express my gratitude to everyone for their continued support of me.

"It is fair to say that my family have never settled here and I have decided that they must come first and so therefore I have had to make a change to my career plans."

September 20, 2006

Ball signs new contract

Posted on 09/20/2006 in Gloucestershire

Martyn Ball, the Gloucestershire offspinner, has signed a new contract with the club. He has not been a fixture in the team this season, but his experience is seen as vital for a side containing a number of youngsters.

Jon Lewis, the captain, said: "It's great to have Martyn on board here at Gloucestershire he is a very influential man in the dressing room and on the field. His contribution has been invaluable to the club over his career and I look forward to his continued success as a Gloucestershire player.

Ball added: "I am thrilled to have agreed to continue my playing career with my home club. I have enjoyed many great seasons and am already excited about the prospects for next season. Not only as it will be my 20th season for Gloucestershire but also because I am sure it will be another hugely successful one on the pitch."

September 19, 2006

Somerset secure White

Posted on 09/19/2006 in Somerset

Cameron White, the Australian allrounder, will be returning to Somerset next season after agreeing a new deal with the club. White, who hit two Twenty20 centuries in 2006 including a world record 141 against Worcestershire, will be one of the club's two overseas signings, with a second to be announced at a later date.

Brian Rose, the director of cricket, told the club website: "We are delighted to have reached agreement with Cameron for the 2007 season. He proved himself a one-day match-winner with the bat this summer and I am sure our supporters will share our pleasure in signing him again.

"He is still young and improving so we look forward to helping his development as a world class performer. The prospect of having him and Ian Blackwell in our one-day batting order is tremendous.

"Our other overseas target will also be a batsman so we are looking forward to being exceptionally strong in that department next season."

White also spoke to the website and said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my first English summer of cricket and I hope I can make a strong contribution towards the team's success in 2007."

No business...

Posted on 09/19/2006 in Hampshire

Luciano Pavarotti and Billy Joel are not names Hampshire would normally single out as reasons for financial failure. But with the last yearly loss a reported £900,000, it was a major setback when their Rose Bowl concerts did not deliver.

Joel sold only around half his 20,000 tickets and the ailing fat man failed to sing at all. When heavy rain washed out the televised day-nighter with Surrey, Hampshire never got the chance to show off their £250,000 stillpristine floodlights or make the most of an expected big crowd.

There were heart-stopping moments, too, when the oneday series with Pakistan was in danger of being cancelled. That would have cost Hampshire another £250,000. Rod Bransgrove, the chairman, says Hampshire are getting the better of their problems but, with the days of big-money signings drawing to a (temporary) close, the county are pleased to see their academy bearing cheaper fruit.

Chris Benham is developing in the top order and watch out, down the line, for home-produced Tom Burrows, Mitchell Stokes, Kevin Latouf and, coming fast, a spin bowler, Liam Dawson.

Pat Symes

A Walsh, please

Posted on 09/19/2006 in Gloucestershire

For all the rationale, the chief coach Mark Alleyne has misgivings about the reduction of overseas players from 2008. “I assume it’s a financial decision and I see the economic implications but I’d like to have seen it avoided. County cricket has been very good over the past few seasons, since we were allowed two again, and overseas players have had a big part in that. Look at the sides that are doing well; they’ve all got good overseas players. Hopefully they’ve left enough of an impression for our youngsters to absorb.

“My worry is that teams like Durham, who have produced three Test players, will field weakened sides and may end up in the doldrums. Not much of a reward, is it?” Courtney Walsh remains Alleyne’s idea of a model overseas pro. “He had the asset I look for first: he always wanted to share what he knew. He also always wanted to play, and he was a match-winner who wasn’t too self-obsessed. I remember Jon Lewis as a 20-year-old bowling into a howling wind and Courtney offering to swap ends for six or seven overs. Can’t imagine anyone doing that now.”

Rob Steen, The Wisden Cricketer

Thomas moves on

Posted on 09/19/2006 in Glamorgan

Darren Thomas played a major part in a golden era for Glamorgan but at 31 he has left the club during his benefit year. A downturn in his bowling over the last two seasons – seven first-class appearances in 2005 and none this summer – meant the club had little option but to cut him adrift.

It is an unfortunate end for the seamer-cum-batsman, who took 504 first-class wickets and scored nearly 4,000 runs during 15 summers. After taking 5 for 80 as a 17-year-old on first-class debut Thomas contributed to Glamorgan’s 1997 Championship-winning team and two one-day titles. He holds several records. He has Glamorgan’s best one-day figures – 7 for 16 against Surrey at Swansea in 1998 – and the worst ever in county cricket – 9-0-108-3. He also has the best figures by an England A bowler: 8 for 50 against Zimbabwe A in Harare 1998-99.

"I have had a memorable time at Glamorgan,’’ says Thomas. ‘‘My only disappointment is the lack of opportunities over the last couple of years but I reckon I still have something to offer another county."

Richard Thomas, The Wisden Cricketer

Jefferson's time up

Posted on 09/19/2006 in Essex

The absence of William Ingleby Jefferson leaves a big hole and not just on the scorecard. As Essex were beginning their triumphant Championship match against Surrey – a win that infused the county with confidence after their mis-shaped display on Twenty20 finals day – Jefferson was handing in his notice after six seasons.

It has been a frustrating season for Jefferson, who severed a tendon in his wrist by putting it through his bathroom window in late spring. His recovery was lengthy and he has been left frustrated by his lack of first-team chances since his comeback.

His contract expires on September 30, but he was told his services wouldn’t be required for the rest of the season. “We think it is in Will’s best interest to make a clean break now so that he can fully investigate alternative cricket opportunities while the season is ongoing,” says the chief executive David East.

Nottinghamshire secured his services ahead of several interested counties. Jefferson, still only 26, averaged over 40 in first-class games for Essex, with 11 hundreds. In 2004 he struck six of them in stacking up 1,555 first-class runs. He was capped in 2002 and made his mark with a match-winning 165 not out against Nottinghamshire to earn Essex promotion to Division One in 2002.

Daniel Brigham, The Wisden Cricketer

Run-makers wanted

Posted on 09/19/2006 in Durham

Martyn Moxon has compiled a wish-list of batsmen to solve Durham’s problems at the top of the order. Apart from Dale Benkenstein and, to a lesser extent, Phil Mustard Durham’s batsmen have underachieved. And Moxon has wielded the axe, releasing Jon Lewis, Gary Pratt and James Lowe, along with the left-arm spinner Graeme Bridge.

Ben Harmison has staked a credible claim for promotion from the ranks but Durham will need to recruit over the winter if they are to realise Moxon’s dream of challenging for silverware in 2007. An overseas opener will be top priority and, ideally, Mike Hussey would return. But Australia will probably have other ideas.

Jimmy Maher’s century in the important win over Warwickshire improved his chances of a contract for 2007 but Moxon will be looking at homegrown options,too. Matthew Wood, who played under Moxon at Yorkshire, is rumoured to be looking about after losing his place to Joe Sayers and could be a target after missing out on Will Jefferson. But the coach is giving nothing away. “We have one or two irons in the fire and, if we can’t find English players, we will look elsewhere.”

Andrew Collomosse, The Wisden Cricketer

September 18, 2006

Samit Patel extends contract

Posted on 09/18/2006 in Nottinghamshire

Samit Patel, the Nottinghamshire batsman, has extended his contract with the club until 2009.

“This year has been a good one for me personally and it’s been great to play regular first-team cricket," he said in a statement released on Monday. “I feel I’ve begun to take important steps forward with my performances. I’m giving myself more chances to score runs and making bigger contributions to the team.

“You can’t play anywhere better than at Trent Bridge and it’s the only place I want to be for my whole career.”

Patel, 21, played a key role in the Nottinghamshire's Twenty20 Cup campaign this season and recently scored his maiden Championship century against Middlesex at Lord’s.

“Samit has established himself in the team in all competitions and that’s down to all the hard work he’s put in," Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, said. "He’s a far better player now than 12 months ago and it’s great to see a local lad in the side. He has the potential to play at a higher level but knows he will need to continue to progress with us to do that.”

September 17, 2006

Young entry

Posted on 09/17/2006 in Derbyshire

Not long ago the county’s youth policy was Ian Blackwell – soon lured to Somerset – and a handful of not quite good enough club players.

But this year has seen an impressive flowering. Four players made England’s three age-group sides, about twice the national average and a club record. In late July Jake Needham became the club’s first England Under-19 Test player since Dominic Cork. A batting offspinner with a head for pressure situations, he has already bowled tidily in nine 1st XI one-dayers. Needham is being pushed by fellow offspinner Chris Paget, already Derbyshire’s youngest first-class player.

In England’s Under-17 side Tom Poynton is a batting wicketkeeper and Dan Redfern a left-handed strokeplayer with 2nd XI centuries behind him. Both were selected a year early. Gary Ballance (see Rising Star, TWC September), the coach David Houghton’s 16-year old Zimbabwean nephew, made 73 in his second Pro40 game. He has temporarily overtaken a local right-hander Paul Borrington – a former England Under-17 man who builds big gritty innings according to the academy director Karl Krikken. And playing as an allrounder in the national Under- 15s is Michael Hill, already batting at No. 4 in the Birmingham League and pinched from under the nose of Warwickshire.

Krikken is unsure who will make the grade – “It depends on temperament” – but is quietly confident. “It’s going really well. With the lack of money Derbyshire’s had, we’ve got to
produce our own.” And it could get better yet, with the club now running an academy in Staffordshire, home of two half decent former players – Kim Barnett and Cork.

Paul Coupar, The Wisden Cricketer

September 15, 2006

Birt signs new deal

Posted on 09/15/2006 in Derbyshire

Travis Birt, the Tasmanian batsman, is one of three Derbyshire players offered new contracts for 2007. Hassan Adnan, the middle-order batsman, and Tom Lungley, the medium-pacer, have signed one-year deals along with Birt.

Ealham extends Notts contract

Posted on 09/15/2006 in Nottinghamshire

Mark Ealham will continue playing county cricket past his 39th birthday after extending his contract with Nottinghamshire until the end of the 2008 season.

"I have really enjoyed my time at Notts and hopefully we can enjoy further success," Ealham told BBC Sport.

Bichel cleared for final match

Posted on 09/15/2006 in Essex

Andy Bichel has been given permission by Queensland Cricket to play for Essex in their final County Championship match at Leicestershire next week.

Bichel had originally been due to return to Queensland on September 14, but he will now return home after the conclusion of Essex's domestic season on September 23.

David East, the Essex chief executive said: "We are extremely grateful to Queensland Cricket for their co-operation in this matter. Andy has played a major role in our success this year since arriving in June and we hope he can continue that form through to the end of the season."

County look to quell Greatbatch unrest

Posted on 09/15/2006 in Warwickshire

Warwickshire are holding a series meetings aimed at defusing tension between their players and Mark Greatbatch, the county’s director of coaching.

A report in The Daily Telegraph claims that complaints have been made about Greatbatch’s style. It added that he wanted to put more players on short-term contracts to sharpen up their performances. He was appointed to the role on a three-year contract in Spetember 2005.

Warwickshire have made an offer to Justin Langer, and have also confirmed that Heath Streak will return in 2007 as an overseas player.

September 14, 2006

Ford agrees new Kent deal

Posted on 09/14/2006 in Kent

Graham Ford has agreed a new contract to remain as Kent's coach until at least 2008.

Ford doesn't have any silverware to show for his time at Kent but has a crop of young players on the staff such as Joe Denly who made 86 in the current Championship match.

After taking the new deal Ford said: "There is still a lot to do. I am keen to add strength to our first team, build depth in our back-up squad and work to bring through some of our outstanding Academy talent.

"There are a lot of talented cricketers in Kent and I am quite sure that with the help and guidance of our coaching team, we can continue to ensure that Kent competes for success in all competitions.”

Graham Johnson, the chairman of cricket, added: “I am delighted that Graham has agreed to commit to the club for a further two years. During his time with us he has made a significant impact across all aspects of the club’s cricket development and this year has worked particularly well with our new captain, Rob Key. He is genuinely excited by the potential of the club both on and off the field."

Somerset sign two more

Posted on 09/14/2006 in Somerset

Following their signing of Steffan Jones from Derbyshire, Somerset have added two more names to their squad for next season.

Mark Turner, an England Under-19 seamer from Durham, is heading to Taunton along with Stefan Kieswetter, the South African Under-19 wicketkeeper who played at the World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Kieswetter has hit two centuries for the second XI this season and has a UK passport. Brian Rose, the director of cricket, told the club website: ""Both signings are part of our long-terms strategy. We need to nurture players from a young age and the more talent we have to work with the better."

September 13, 2006

Fulton fears the end

Posted on 09/13/2006 in Kent

David Fulton, who has been left out of the Kent side for their latest Championship match against Yorkshire, fears his days as a Kent player are coming to an end. He is still waiting to hear from the club about an offer for next season, but says he is likely to retire if nothing is forthcoming.

Fulton told The Kent Messenger: "After almost 200 games for the club it would have been nice to go out on my own terms. There is little place for sentiment in professional sport and I fully understand that.

"I have put a proposal to the club for next year because they are well aware I would love to put something back into the county. What comes of that I don't know as yet, but I wouldn't like to think my last shot in cricket was that poorly played pull that got me out against Sussex last week."

Fulton has played 199 games for Kent, and this season has scored 814 runs at 33.91, but was overlooked in favour of Joe Denly for the match at Headingley

Jones returns to Somerset

Posted on 09/13/2006 in Derbyshire

Steffan Jones, the seam bowler, is leaving Derbyshire to return to his former county, Somerset, on a three-year contract for family reasons. Jones has enjoyed a successful season at Derby, taking 59 wickets so far, but rejected a new two-year deal.

Jones said: "I have had many sleepless nights in recent weeks over this decision and I have to point out that it is for purely family reasons. My wife Alex is expecting our first child and she is from Taunton and all her family are based there."

Jones played for Somerset from 1997-2003 before joining Northamptonshire for two seasons then moving north to Derby.

September 11, 2006

di Venuto set to leave

Posted on 09/11/2006 in Derbyshire

Michael di Venuto is set to leave Derbyshire at the end of the season. The club are believed not to want to offer him a new contract with counties allowed just one overseas player from 2008.

di Venuto told Derby Evening Telegraph: "I've still not officially been told but I've known for two months there would not be an offer coming."

He is Derbyshire's leading run scorer this season and has had interest from other counties, but has to decide if he wants to return to county cricket.

Essex award trio county caps

Posted on 09/11/2006 in Essex

Essex have awarded Mark Pettini, Tim Phillips and Ryan ten Doeschate their county caps. The presentation was made during the lunch interval on day two of the County Championship match against Derbyshire at Chelmsford.

Continue reading "Essex award trio county caps"

September 8, 2006

Rana returns to Hove

Posted on 09/08/2006 in Sussex

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is on his way back to Hove for the end of the season. Rana has been with the Pakistan team since recovering from an earlier groin injury. He is due back early next week in time to join Sussex in their bid to win the Championship.

Mark Robinson, the Sussex cricket manger, said: "Rana will be back with us next week to replace Yasir Arafat. He's due back in Sussex on Tuesday and he'll be playing a full part in the squad until the end of the season."

Arafat plays his last game for Sussex on September 10 but will be back as a guest of the Sussex team at Trent Bridge for the Championship match.

September 6, 2006

Surrey crowned Division Two champions

Posted on 09/06/2006 in Surrey

Against Gloucestershire at Bristol, Surrey achieved the necessary two points required to ensure their position at the top of Division Two in the Championship.

"I have been extremely pleased with our form in all brands of cricket this year," Alan Butcher, the Surrey cricket manager, said. "To gain promotion in both the four-day and one-day version of the game would be a great result for us and that would have to be the focus now. Whatever happens though, it has already been a tremendous effort by the guys and I couldn't have asked for anything more."

Click here to read today's match report

September 5, 2006

Kartik to play remainder of season

Posted on 09/05/2006 in Lancashire

Kartik Murali is to stay with Lancashire until the end of the season as their overseas replacement for Brad Hodge.

The Indian left-arm spinner has already appeared in the C&G Trophy final and last week’s Championship game against Warwickshire at Blackpool. Kartik, in his second spell with Lancashire having taken 16 Championship wickets in the last two games of 2005, has taken over the club’s first overseas slot which Hodge filled until late June. The Australian was Top End series and a training camp.

“We needed to sort out certain documentation so that Kartik could stay with us and this has been completed," said Jim Cumbes, the Lancashire chief executive.

Kartik, named in a squad of 12, could play his first Pro40 game against Essex at Chelmsford tomorrow.

Solanki awarded benefit for 2007

Posted on 09/05/2006 in Worcestershire

Worcestershire have awarded Vikram Solanki, the captain, a benefit year in 2007. Solanki, who has played 51 one-dayers for England, made his first-class debut in 1995 and has scored over 10,000 runs in first-class cricket. He recently passed 1000 runs this season. He took over the captaincy of the club in 2005.

“No one at the club deserves a benefit year more than Vikram," said Mark Newton, the Worcestershire chief executive. "He is Worcestershire through and through; he is proving to be a very good captain and is enjoying a terrific season."

September 3, 2006

Marron glassy

Posted on 09/03/2006 in Lancashire

Groundsman Peter Marron enjoys the rare distinction of rendering Lancashire’s historian Malcolm Lorimer speechless … twice. “The first was when he asked if I would marry him,” says Lorimer, “though I should add that I am a Methodist minister. The second was when he invited me to be chair of his testimonial committee. I felt honoured on both occasions.”

Marron, who arrived at Old Trafford in 1973 as assistant to Bert Flack and took over 10 years later, is halfway through his testimonial year. “He’s produced fantastic wickets over the last 20 years,” says former skipper Neil Fairbrother. “Great when I was a batsman but sometimes not quite what I required as captain.”

Marron is renowned for his capacity, in the words of Sky pundit David Lloyd, to “call a spade a shovel” but above all for the quality of his pitches. Lloyd was at Old Trafford for Lancashire’s Twenty20 match against Notts in June, the first game of Andrew Flintoff’s abortive comeback, and spotted immediately the potential in Marron’s square.

“Typical Old Trafford wicket,” he enthused. “Pace, bounce, carry. I bet Steve Harmison can’t wait to get here for the Test against Pakistan.” Prophetic words.

The Wisden Cricketer, Andrew Collomosse

Bravo for Bravo

Posted on 09/03/2006 in Kent

The latest fabulous Bajan Boy may be at loggerheads with his home board but Graham Ford would not be in the least surprised to see Dwayne Bravo one day toss a coin on behalf of the Caribbean.

“He is a very impressive man, obviously a deep thinker about the game,” says Ford, Kent’s coaching director. “He talks about field placings for particular batsmen before he bowls; he’s already looking at their weaknesses before he confronts them. He seems to get on well with people and I can imagine him as a Test captain. Obviously Lara’s helped him a lot and you can’t get a better mentor than Brian Charles Lara.”

And the return of Geraint Jones to county cricket? “Geraint took on the challenge of improving his keeping and he’s achieved it,” says Ford, “but something had to suffer. County cricket is a good place to find form away from the pressure. The class is there.”

The Wisden Cricketer, Rob Steen

Adams repays faith

Posted on 09/03/2006 in Hampshire

Jimmy Adams, a lefthanded opener of modest record, has been Hampshire’s ‘discovery’ of the season, repaying the faith shown in him by Paul Terry and Shane Warne with two outstanding centuries, including a double at Trent Bridge.

This was always going to be the year which made or broke the affable Adams, a former England Under-19 batsman. At 25 and without a century in 50 first-class innings, time and patience were beginning to run out.

Another six matches and 12 innings came and went this summer before Adams, in a daylong cocoon of concentration at Headingley in testing circumstances, earned Hampshire an improbable victory chasing 404.

That innings has been a catalyst for the real Adams to emerge – no more tentative pushes and prods, betraying lack of self-belief. For the first time 1,000 runs beckon.

Six weeks later the former Loughborough batsman scored a magnificent unbeaten 262 against Nottinghamshire in a draw to confirm that his match-winning performance against Yorkshire was not in isolation.

The Wisden Cricketer, Pat Symes

Marshall aid

Posted on 09/03/2006 in Gloucestershire

The top order's reluctance to fire in unison was summed up by the club being one of only three counties not to have reached 475 by the start of August. So there was extra reason to be grateful for Craig Spearman’s renewed rude health and Hamish Marshall’s return to full spruceness.

Especially relieved was Mark Alleyne, who sees more in the hirsute New Zealander than a broad array of shots and a penchant for rapid progress. Indeed, the head coach curses Marshall’s absence from the Twenty20 until the quarter-final defeat by Surrey, by when he was still rusty. “He has been really unlucky, getting over his side problem, then breaking a thumb fielding in the gully against Leicestershire, which ruled him out of the group phase, where he
would have been a great foil to Spearman and [Ian] Harvey because he’s so good at manipulating the strike. He’s much more than a big hitter.”

The Wisden Cricketer, Rob Steen

Powell power

Posted on 09/03/2006 in Glamorgan

Michael Powell admitted mixed emotions after getting out on 299 against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham College, failing by an elusive single to become the county’s second triple centurion.

The only man to pass 300 for Glamorgan is Steve James, a good friend of Powell’s. And Powell admitted he was more focused on James’s 309 than getting to 300.

“I was thinking more about the record score and there are a few regrets that I did not go past him but, though I failed, I’m absolutely landed,’’ he says. “If you’d have given me 299 before the start of the match, I would have taken it.”

He added: “It appears that I am playing well but I have had a little bit of luck on the way and I have hit the ball better. The thing that is good in my game at the moment is my concentration.”

But Powell laughs off talk of an England call following his prolific form, which included another double-century in the previous Championship match against Essex. “I’m miles away, absolutely
miles away.”

The Wisden Cricketer, Richard Thomas

Ol' pro eyes

Posted on 09/03/2006 in Durham

Neil Killeen was a starry-eyed 16-year-old when Durham made their first-class debut in 1992. Now, as the county’s third beneficiary, he is monitoring the progress of a new generation of youngsters seeking to follow in his footsteps.

And Killeen likes what he sees. “Ben Harmison, James Lowe and Gary Scott are making an impact as batsmen and we seem to have young bowlers coming out of our ears,” says Killeen. “And there are plenty of younger lads coming through. Geoff Cook has done a fantastic job with the Academy.”

For the time being, however, Durham’s immediate need is to avoid a repeat of the post- Twenty20 slump that threatened to undermine last season’s promotion drive. Worries were fuelled when a big defeat by Yorkshire was followed by a draw with Middlesex, who topped 500
in their second innings.

“For some reason Twenty20 seemed to disrupt us last year but I can’t see it happening again,” says Killeen. “We should probably have won at Lord’s but it was always going to be difficult to bowl them out a second time on that wicket. In fact, Durham sides of the past might easily have crumbled on the last day. But mentally we are much stronger now.”

Wisden Cricketer, Andrew Collomosse

Zaheer targets Worcester return

Posted on 09/03/2006 in Worcestershire

Zaheer Khan, the Indian left-arm seamer, has said that he would like to continue his association with Worcestershire after enjoying a successful stint with the county side this season.

Zaheer was drafted in as a last-minute replacement for Australian paceman Nathan Bracken, and is currently the leading wicket-taker of the second division of the County Championship with 69 wickets, a figure surpassed this season only by Mushtaq Ahmed, the Pakistan legspinner, now playing for Sussex. Though he was omitted from the Indian touring squad for Sri Lanka, he was later included among the 30 probables for the Champions Trophy in October.

"Worcester is definitely a place I'd like to come back to next year," he told Sky Sports. "I've really enjoyed this season. The dressing room has been great and I have made a lot of new friends.

September 2, 2006

Sales awarded benefit

Posted on 09/02/2006 in Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire have awarded David Sales a benefit for next season. He is the captain and the club's longest-serving player of the current staff. Sales, 28, joined in 1994 and has been captain since 2004.

"I am very grateful to the club for offering me a benefit next year," said Sales. "2006 has been a year of change and I am sure together we can help the club build on the foundations currently being laid".

So far in his first-class career he has amassed 8640 runs, at 39.81, with a highest score of 303 not out.