He is married to an English "bird", and can apply for a passport (and probably has). He has a visa to live and work in the UK. He is legally allowed to work as whatever he likes, from a fireman to a frigging darts player, except play county cricket. All because the ECB, which currently employs dozens of international coaches and staff, has decided he is too foreign.
**** me. O'Brien should sue.
Finally this move has been confirmed, been on the cards for a couple of months. Good signing for Essex, desperately in need of a consistent performer in the middle order. Need Bopara to forget about IPL also, and concentrate on first-class cricket if he wants to get back into the Test side.
Haha that's an interesting call.
CRICKET: Beard signs pro deal with Gloucestershire (From Oxford Mail)
No mate, nothing released as yet.
Yes absolutely, is this due to the actual potential of these players, or a serious lack of funds to sign new players and replace players such as Kirby and Hussain ?
It's probably a bit of both: I can't imagine Hussain was on that much - but Beard has been one of those players who's held promise from an early age. He played for Glos IIs at the age of 15 - and has been playing HCPL cricket for Thame for some time.
Would have thought regards Hussain he would have hoped his contract would have been much improved for the coming season after making such an impression in his first full season, but certainly for last season you're right he couldn't have been on too wealthy a contract.
To give you a more accurate response, it is expected the fixture list will be published around 14th December.
