English off season 2012/13

[theegyptian]

ohh and the heavy roller is back in next season (according to sources on twitter- i haven't seen it officially) which should be good use for batsmen.

[Woodster]

Yes this is why Patel and Hales probably aren't too disappointed.

Lumb may have more reasons to be resentful given he is never playing test cricket for england; he is coming towards the end of his career; and 20 over cricket is the one format where he has any chance of playing for England - and so it would be both benficial to him financially and to English Cricket as a whole if he played in the IPL imo.

Yes don't disagree at all with this.

[Pothas]

Well Ajmal for the end of the season is brilliant news.

Ever so slightly mixed feelings as I do hold a somewhat brumbyite opinion on his action but I will not be complaining if he bowls us to promotion.

[morgieb]

ohh and the heavy roller is back in next season (according to sources on twitter- i haven't seen it officially) which should be good use for batsmen.

I think they should ban it in general but if they're not gonna ban it in general then they shouldn't use it at the domestic level.

[Neil Pickup]

If we have another summer like last year then the batsmen need all the help they'll get to make some runs.

[theegyptian]

See Shiv Chanderpaul signed for Derby for next two seasons (+1 more if agreed). Good signing imo even at 38. Kinda signing Derby need if they want to stay in the first division.

Derbyshire sign Chanderpaul

I See in the last couple of days Mike Hussey has been linked to Northants again.

[Marcuss]

He'll score buckets.

[morgieb]

See Shiv Chanderpaul signed for Derby for next two seasons (+1 more if agreed). Good signing imo even at 38. Kinda signing Derby need if they want to stay in the first division.

Derbyshire sign Chanderpaul

I See in the last couple of days Mike Hussey has been linked to Northants again.

Interesting. Wouldn't that put a tax on his family too though?

[brockley]

Adam Voges to play t20 with Middlesex.

[theegyptian]

I see Ian Blackwell released a year early by Durham. Had a shoulder op and won't be fit until at least August. Looks like he's going to take up professional umpiring according to his twitter - although not sure if he hopes to find another county and play some cricket before doing that or what.

Still if it is the end a good career- could have been more but one of most entertaining players on the circuit,

[theegyptian]

Interesting. Wouldn't that put a tax on his family too though?

apparently it was only t20 and it doesn't look like happening now anyway.

[fredfertang]

I see Ian Blackwell released a year early by Durham. Had a shoulder op and won't be fit until at least August. Looks like he's going to take up professional umpiring according to his twitter - although not sure if he hopes to find another county and play some cricket before doing that or what.

Still if it is the end a good career- could have been more but one of most entertaining players on the circuit,

I suppose it will depend on the prognosis but I'd have thought he was still worth a punt - did OK with the bat at Warks at the end of last season and his "explosive" capabilities will always be useful

[grecian]

I see Ian Blackwell released a year early by Durham. Had a shoulder op and won't be fit until at least August. Looks like he's going to take up professional umpiring according to his twitter - although not sure if he hopes to find another county and play some cricket before doing that or what.

Still if it is the end a good career- could have been more but one of most entertaining players on the circuit,

Well he can work on being an umpire whilst getting "fit", if his recovery goes well who knows?

Anyway, know there's been talk of him being an awkward character, but I always wish Somerset hadn't got rid of him, feel him in tandem with Kartik, and his batting may have given us our elusive first championship.

He helped Durham win, was MVP, once in one of their championship years, I think. So a very fine career. Should have played more ODIs IMHO, had a decent economy-rate, fitness held him back. Shouldn't ever have played a Test, yet but for a mis-stumping would have nabbed Dravid.

[Woodster]

Will be a shame if Blackwell does have to call it a day following his latest shoulder op. Still seemed to be a very competent domestic performer during his recent spell with Warwickshire, and has been immense for Durham and Somerset over the years. But for his obvious fitness battles would surely have played more ODI cricket for England.

[Neil Pickup]

Low scorer at WPCC for the U19s' sole warmup game - WCINV 117 (36.1 ov, A Mather 2*, DP Sibley 1/0) - Stumps | Live Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Great to see Miles Hammond in the wickets - only just 17 and the first Oxford boy in England colours for some time.