County Transfers

Not a huge "transfer" market in cricket, but may be interesting to keep track of any movements - including retirements.


Confirmed

David Willey from Northants to Yorks
Paul Horton leaves Lancashire
Chris Tremlett retiring
Reece Topley from Essex to Hampshire
Paul Grayson leaving Coaching position at Essex


Rumoured
Mark Footitt leaving Derbyshire

And the first one is a biggy - and I have mixed feelings. In 2013, after a strong performance in finals day, there were strong rumours that surrey had agreed a deal to sign Willey. However at the last minute he signed a new 3 year deal with Northants. With a year to go on that contract he has now signed a 3 year deal with us. I always feel a touch of disquiet when "bigger" counties poach a smaller clubs better players - and in general I would rather we produced our own. However this should improve oure one day performances and with siddy staying one more year the younger lad could not ask for a better mentor in left arm swing bowling, which could be good news for England too.

Footit turned down a new deal at Derbyshire so I guess he's off to a division 1/test match county

Hearing from sources that Chris Tremlett will retire at the end of the season

Olly wrote:Hearing from sources that Chris Tremlett will retire at the end of the season

Injuries have not so much caught up with Tremlett as overtaken him. Unless he can get a ''pay as you play'' deal, difficult to see him securing a new contract with Surrey (his current one expires this year) or anyone else.

I'm wondering whether Tremlett might also be joined in retirement by Vikram Solanki - who will be 40 round the start of next season. He has played a few games for the first team this season and quite a few for the seconds, but it seems somewhat unlikely that he would feature in Surrey's first team plans for next season...

Solanki has two realistic choices:
1/ quit
2/ take up a role as senior development professional (and captain?) of the Seconds

Before anyone dismisses him too quickly out of hand on the basis of his recent performances for Surrey, let's not forget he is a seasoned professional, experienced at the highest level. I'm pretty sure I remember him scoring a One Day ton for England. To my mind, he'd be just the bloke to help bring on our young and very promising players, to guide them through the inevitable future dips in form as well as the good times.

Suspect you could be right there about Solanki, Corporal. Particularly with a few younger batsmen already on the edge of the team or in reserve; especially thinking of Kapil whom I'm guessing will get a one year deal.

Solanki will have had a very respectable career but I feel he never fully did justice to his considerable talent. Beautiful driver of the ball when in full flow.

Nice guy as well. Think I told you before that I met him once at a forum meeting at the Oval. He was highly respectful but made me feel very old by continually calling me, ''Sir''. Le roi and Viscount have both addressed me as ''mate''!

Edit: Hadn't seen Simon's post when I submitted this one. I wouldn't dismiss option 2 out of hand at all. However, I'm not sure that Vik will want to continue playing with his so obviously better days behind him. I suspect he'll stay in the game in some way. He's been heavily involved with the Professional Cricketers Association in the recent past.

Not a transfer but Lancs have decided against offering Horton a new contract. So much unfulfilled potential in that lad, and apparently Footitt has rejected a new deal with Derbyshire.

Tremlett has indeed announced his retirement today.

Olly wrote:Hearing from sources that Chris Tremlett will retire at the end of the season

Bit earlier than I expected!

PaulHv2 wrote:Not a transfer but Lancs have decided against offering Horton a new contract.

 
I think it likely that Horton will be offered a contract with another club.

I'd think so, he's been dropped from the game against Glamorgan that started today as well.

I'd take him at Chelmsford....useful batsman, can bat anywhere in the order as well..

Surrey are front runners for Mark Footitt

Olly wrote:Surrey are front runners for Mark Footitt

He's doing some serious damage to the Kent batting line up this morning!

Topley to Hants

gutted about that...we are already seriously thing on the ground for bowlers, and we keep losing our best players..

Head Coach Paul Grayson leaves Essex with immediate effect "by mutual consent"

Rumours that Shane Watson will return to Hampshire next year as captain.

jimbohammers wrote:Rumours that Shane Watson will return to Hampshire next year as captain.

Not sure that is wise. If it was me I would be backing Vince as skipper.

LT, i like Vince as captain but wonder if captaining in all 3 formats may affect his batting.

Paul Collingwood signs a new 1 year playing contract with Durham. Next season will be his 21st in first class cricket.

jimbohammers wrote:Rumours that Shane Watson will return to Hampshire next year as captain.

rumours today suggesting that he will only be playing white ball cricket from now on..

Solanki has retired.

Marcus Trescothick has signed a 1 year deal with Somerset. He may not be scoring the weight of runs he used to but he's still got over 1000 div 1 runs at an average close to 40 this season.

Monty has been released by essex.... not a huge suprise, think its the best move for both parties, but at 33, he still has a lot to offer, and i dont think he will have a problem finding another county

It will be an investment for the county which takes Monty but as long as he is open to another contract I'm certain he will get one.

Perhaps a return to his home county at Northants could help him settle off field a bit more? They would certainly be welcome to a spinner for their CC side especially.

I suspect more than one county will be wary of signing Monty. I certainly think any interested potential employer will want to be satisfied that ''his head is in the right place'' and even then will insist upon a tightly drawn contract.

Interesting one.. Somerset release George Dockerell. Thought he was highly rated?

jimbohammers wrote:Interesting one.. Somerset release George Dockerell. Thought he was highly rated?

Does not seem to have kicked on, and has he played much for them this season?

He hasn't had any opportunities with Somerset this season I don't think.

He has been away with Ireland, where he performed solidly. He also went on loan to Sussex where he got one first class match but bowled 44 wicketless overs.

His second team returns have been solid from what I can find though.

Whenever I saw him bowl I was impressed but as with all spinners he will need to play first class cricket to improve. If a county were willing to give him CC opportunities whilst accepting he would need time to improve then he could still be a very good bowler in my opinion. Counties who are willing to do this are becoming more limited however.

Leics have signed Mark Pettini, to add to Dexter and Paul Horton.

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Leics have signed Mark Pettini, to add to Dexter and Paul Horton.

Good for them. They've spent too long in the doldrums. Those of us of a certain age (and then some) remember well when Leics were a power in the land. These things go in cycles and everyone can't be top dog at once, but it's not fun to see a once major power slooshing around forever glued to the bottom of CC2. Here's hoping their signings gel with their young talent and their stock rises a bit in 2016.

As Leics are keen on restocking the shelves, they could do worse than have a look at Dockrell. Particularly as they've recently released Naik.

Mind you, Leics might have some competition for Dockrell's signature from Essex following Monty being ushered out their door.

Interesting state of affairs although not great for the young Irishman whom I've always liked. Strange to recall that not long ago there were suggestions that England were interested in poaching him.

Meanwhile, there's also talk of Leics being interested in Meaker.

We could do with a spinner. Seems like the type of signing we'd make, someone who isn't getting many games with their current county like we did with Ross Whiteley.

Middlesex have signed Fuller (from Gloucs).  That looks like a good signing for them.

Sussex have released several players - Liddle, Piolet and Zaidi.

Middlesex have released Sandhu.  I think he would be a good signing for another county.  Wonder whether Surrey might be interested. He took 7/31 against Surrey in a second team match in August, so Surrey will have had a chance to see him in action.

Richard Oliver has left Worcs. He's had a disappointing season (after a very promising start in 2014), but I would have thought he might be picked up by another county.

Somerset have signed Chris Rogers. Somerset have reportedly said that Tom Abell will open with Trescothick, with Rogers coming in at No 3. Plenty of experience at the top of the order.  Tresco will be 40 by next season and Rogers is 38.

He turned down a one year deal to go and play in Australia this winter, Worcs wanted him to stay and work on his fitness and fielding apparently. There are a few Counties who could do worse than give him a shot though.

Danny Briggs joins Sussex. Gutted. Disappointed. Shocked.

jimbohammers wrote:Danny Briggs joins Sussex. Gutted. Disappointed. Shocked.

Just seen that.

Very surprised by that! I guess that Briggs must have been assured more FC cricket at the Hove.

jimbo - Do you think Hants will back Crane to step up with Dawson bowling a bit more or will you be in the market for another spinner? Monty perhaps?

Hi Carlos,

Was very surprised that Briggs has left. He was vital to our one day set up. We wont sign anyone else to play his role, I expect they are pinning their hopes on Crane playing a lot of cricket next season. You make a good point about Dawson too.

Wonder what Will Beer, the Sussex leg spinner, makes of this.  Will his first team opportunities become even more limited....

Ryan McClaren signs for Hampshire for the season in all formats. Happy with this. Only played a couple of games at the end of last year but impressed. Also a very handy batsman.

Shane Watson will be our t20 overseas i think.

Looking like:

Carberry
Adams
Vince
Smith
Dawson
Ervine
Wheater
McClaren
Crane
Edwards
Topley

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/dec/03/monty-panesar-england-recall-hopes-paranoia

A frank and honest interview from Monty detailing his personal struggles more candidly than he has previously.

I know many are at the stage where they feel he doesn't have much left to offer. However as a long time fan of his and sucker for a dramatic comeback I'm delighted to hear that he is in a better place and hoping to return to county cricket.

Given the dearth of spinners English spinners currently I wouldn't be surprised if a county took a punt on him. His lack of variation let him down at times internationally but at his best he can still give the ball a rip and consistently hit the right areas to cause issues to good batsmen.

Thanks, Carlos. Hadn't seen that article. Interesting and encouraging stuff.

I was actually at the Oval back in April (the date mentioned as to when Monty's problems really hit the surface) and came across him wandering through the members' pavilion looking far from happy.

Admittedly from a distance but it's often looked to me that his main problem in recent seasons has not been his spinning ability but his head and attitude. To get those right, I guess the first thing required is to recognise the problem (no charge for the cod psychology ).  Monty at least has done that. If he can continue to progress mentally as much as anything, he could play an active Championship role in 2016 and from there who knows.

At this stage he'll come with no guarantees but could be worth a punt, especially for any Division Two side seeking promotion - particularly thinking of what Ojha did for us in 2011.

I've been wondering if he might return to his home county with Northants taking a punt on him?

Their only current spinners are currently Graham White (who predominantly plays one day stuff) and 17 year old Saif Zaib (can't say I know anything about him).

He'd offer a better CC option than either I would wager. Plus playing for a 'less fashionable county'* would allow him to take himself out the spotlight a bit and just get back to bowling.

*I really dislike the long standing clique within county cricket where certain counties are perennially ignored but as long as it's there someone may as well try to get something positive from it!

Not a transfer but worth a mention imo. Toby Radford has left his role as head coach of Glamorgan a year early. Little on the face of it seems to add up - he's ''disappointed'' whilst the suits are full of praise for his work.

Glamorgan did show a lot of promise last season but fell away badly in the last couple of months. Maybe it was that inconsistency which did for him.

Suspect he'll soon be in demand (if not already). He's done decently as a batting coach for West Indies and before that Middlesex.

I played against him once when he was a teenager opening the batting for Reading. It was thought by many then that he was on the brink of a glorious playing career but it never really happened for him. Just short spells with Middlesex and Sussex. However, coaching - until now anyway - has been a more successful calling. Good luck to him.

Kent have signed Rabada for their t20 campaign