England Players for Counties

Finally, England players are allowed to return to the counties, something Duncan Fletcher rarely let happen.

Most importantly, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard will return to Durham and Yorkshire to play the start of the county season. This is a relief after their wayward bowling in the first Test in New Zealand, and hopefully they will start firing again. If not though, England have good bowlers in the developing Stuart Broad and the highly successful Ryan Sidebottom who has impressed since his introduction to the England team.

Nottinghamshire have been rightly praised for Sidebottom’s improvement by Sidebottom’s dad, Arnie, as well as then-captain Stephen Fleming.

Michael Vaughan who had an unsuccessful New Zealand tour will also be available for Yorkshire, and Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen will return to Durham and Hampshire in May. In April, Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell will play for their counties, but Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Monty Panesar, Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad have a month off.

Glamorgan Doubts Gillespie

Glamorgan’s manager, Matthew Maynard, is doubtful that Glamorgan will see Jason Gillespie bowling for them this season, since his signing with the ICL (Indian Cricket League).

Glamorgan is waiting for a No Objection Certificate from Cricket Australia, who have said that since Gillespie retired from both international and domestic cricket in Australia, he is no longer their concern.

This will worry Glamorgan, so have also signed Matthew Wood, Adam Shantry, and Middlesex’s Jamie Dalrymple.

Relief for Sussex, but not for Surrey

Sussex should be very relieved that top wicket taker Mushtaq Ahmed has been allowed to play for them during the 2008 season. Although Sussex did say that they would be able to cope without him, he has played a pivotal role in their success.

 However, Surrey are not so hapy, as Pakistan will not allow Mohammad Asif to play for them due to an elbow injury.

Warne leaves Hampshire

Shane Warne has retired from Hampshire, and to be honest, I think it’s the best thing he could have done.

 If he had stayed, he would have returned in August and suddenly the team would have been under a new captain. This would have been awful for the team who would have had any success under another captain. I think the decision was made for the best of the team, and I hope Warne succeeds in his poker and at the IPL.