*Official* England\UK off-season 2008/09 \ build-up to 2009 season thread

[TT Boy]

Not sure of McLaren's position. And my understanding is that Yasir's contract at Kent is about to expire, and the rumour is that he would like to return to Sussex.

Yasir is off to play IPL next year I believe, so he may not fancy it.

 

[TT Boy]

Well the rumours on the Sussex messageboard are

1. Joyce (apparently it's a done deal but will be confirmed after some 20:20 knockabout in December)

2. Compton

3. Sayers

Also one or two others that I'm not allowed to tell anyone about and which are longshots in any event.

As for an overseas player, my hope is that Yasir Arafat is re-signed from Kent, and that's where my money is too (excellently though Mo Sami played in the last few weeks of the season).

Wow his cack, seriously.

 

[superkingdave]

Lancs have signed VVS Laxman for next season, he'll come over after the IPL and play for the rest of the season. Good move, we need a batsman after getting rid of Law. It also means you wont see Lancashire signing any ICL players as i think its one of the conditions of the BCCI letting him come over

 

[Neil Pickup]

Good to see Northants taking on Jack Brooks - both from the fact that he's not another bloody Kolpak and that it's another youth product for Oxfordshire.

 

[Richard]

Lancs have signed VVS Laxman for next season, he'll come over after the IPL and play for the rest of the season. Good move, we need a batsman after getting rid of Law. It also means you wont see Lancashire signing any ICL players as i think its one of the conditions of the BCCI letting him come over

It is ind33d.

You wonder whether they got rid of Law in order to get Laxman now, really.

Still, disappointed they won't be having Mendis, was quite looking forwards to that.

 

[fredfertang]

I would have loved to have seen Lanky sign Mendis but with Law gone, and judging by the fragility of our batting last season with him, I fear that even the mercurial one would never have had enough runs to bowl at

and VVS is wonderfully easy on the eye - will be a pleasure to watch him at work next season

 

[Manee]

A fine county stint for VVS would also help silence the doubters who say he should retire from international cricket so early.

 

[Richard]

and VVS is wonderfully easy on the eye - will be a pleasure to watch him at work next season

Let's just hope he isn't a letdown, as that'd be a crying shame. And with only 2(?) months in which to purvey his skills, he won't have long for acclimatisation.

 

[fredfertang]

According to cricinfo we've got him from a week after his IPL committments end so 5 June at the latest - I don't know who he plays for in that, nor do I care, but whoever it is I hope they get knocked out at the first available opportunity.

 

[Richard]

Ah, June the 5th? Much earlier than I'd thought. Thought the IPL went on until the end of June.

 

[Manee]

Let's just hope he isn't a letdown, as that'd be a crying shame. And with only 2(?) months in which to purvey his skills, he won't have long for acclimatisation.

VVS does not acclimatise to the conditions, the conditions acclimatise to VVS.

 

[fredfertang]

I expect we'll be able to arrange some monsoon conditions if he gets homesick

 

[GIMH]

This is good news (Y)

 

[Woodster]

Yes good move for Lancashire, I know they were after an overseas that was going to be present for pretty much the whole campaign, although they have not ruled out the prospect of signing someone else while he is India in the IPL. A classy player and as said above, such a performer like him was crucial after letting Law go.

 

[brockley]

Well i thought stu law was released so lancashire could play the world T20 club championship,phew i was wrong its because lancashire wanted to sign laxman

 

[GIMH]

We went out in the quarters itbt so were nowhere near qualifying, unless you are talking about next year

 

[Richard]

I guess this is probably the best place to put Arthur's SA deal extended. Thus putting paid to any thoughts of him going to coach whichever country it was rumour-mongered that he was going to.

What's also very interesting in that report is that Michael Procter is going to be SA COS, meaning he presumably is no longer a Match-Referee. That is very, very good as Procter's Refereeing principles were eminently questionable.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Saqlain gets the arse from Surrey

From the BBC.

Interesting Surrey are being quite so upfront about it being another ICL-inspired decision. As he's a British citizen might this not leave his former employers on something of a sticky wicket when it comes to potential wrongful dismissal litigation?

 

[Goughy]

From the BBC.

Interesting Surrey are being quite so upfront about it being another ICL-inspired decision. As he's a British citizen might this not leave his former employers on something of a sticky wicket when it comes to potential wrongful dismissal litigation?

hmm it is an interesting one.

As long as his contract was up I dont think it would be a problem. If it was a case of not renewing the contract, rather than terminating the contract, then it may be ok.

He is not prevented from working elsewhere and Surrey are under no obligation to offer him a new contract.

As long as there isnt a blanket policy across all 18 counties then individual choices by each club at the end of a contract would appear to me (with limited knowledge) to be fine.

 

[Richard]

Yeah I can't see that anyone could be penalised for not offering a player a new contract, just doesn't seem right. zaremba for the expert analysis.

EDIT: reading that report, seems Surrey have also offered Tudor a one-year deal, which he's accepted. I guess he earnt that with his outstanding performances during his loan spell last summer.

Oh well, at least he's always been a player with great potential, and if he's playing I'd prefer it to be for Surrey than anyone else. But come on - hands-up who seriously expects him to start delivering at the age of 31 after 14 years of unfulfilled promise?

And Harbhajan = Saqlain Mark Two. Only other spinner to successfully deliver the Doosra and maintain control of flight. It's a shame to see Saqlain leave The Oval, but he's just not the force he once was, is surely older than 31 in reality, and Harbhajan would be THE perfect replacement. Just hope he can play a relatively full term.