County Players Hope

Duncan Fletcher had his favourites. Chris Read most notably suffered as a result (and because he was more of a wicketkeeper than a wicketkeeper-batsman). Even when they didn’t perform, Fletcher backed the same players. Who could forget Ashley Giles playing in the 06/07 Ashes series when Monty had been performing perfectly. With the exception of a few, for example Paul Nixon, it seemed as though many county players would never fulfill ther England hopes in an England Test team. The ODI team is different, as many were tried, such as Ed Joyce.

Things look different under Peter Moores. His biggest success in team selection so far is easily the addition of Ryan Sidebottom.

Sidebottom played one lonely Test before his reintroduction in the 2007 season, and he must be one of the first names on the team sheet. Time and time again he has performed consistently and expertly, most recently in New Zealand where he rightly won Man of the Series.

So, now, finally, county players are hopefully beginning to believe that they too can be part of the England team. Bowlers especially should be working hard to perform well this season, with Steve Harmision being incredibly wayward, and finally being dropped as a result. It seems as though Moores wants his bowlers to perform, and will not choose players because he knows them, but because they perform.

The dreams of many county players could now be realised.

Northants go Overseas afterall…

Northamptonshire have decided to have an overseas player afterall, despite saying they wouldn’t. However, after they were not able to sign Andrew Hall and Johann van der Wath, they have signed South African seam bowler Johann Louw. Hall and van der Wath were not signed due to their signing with the ICL.

ECB faces problems from the BCCI

The ECB (English Cricket Board) is facing problems from the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India).

The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has given both Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved permission to play for Sussex and Yorkshire by issuing No Objection Certificates, but the BCCI does not want this permission to be granted as they both signed for the ICL. The ICL is unoffical, whereas the IPL is run by the BCCI.

Naturally, the BCCI is trying to protect its own by trying to prevent players signing up with the ICL. However, although I am not a fan of either competitions, I do wonder that if Ahmed and Naved are not able to play for their counties, if it is another sign of the BCCI being the most influential cricket board, with their opinions being the most important in the world of cricket.

It is of course money that is persuading them to make the decision to protest to the ECB.

The ECB has in fact already banned some ICL players from playing for their counties, including Hamish Marshall and Wavell Hinds.

 If Sussex and Yorkshire play Ahmed and Naved, they may not be allowed to play in the Champions League in October. This could result in a loss of money for each club, and they will not want to miss out on the opportunity. However, Sussex will also not want to lose Ahmed who is vitally important to their success.

What is more important? The county competition or the Champions League? Time will tell, but I know which one I hope Sussex, Yorkshire and the ECB will choose.