Other CC games 9-12 Sept 2024

Whereas I have heard of Shakib Al Hasan, but I'm still struggling to comprehend his signing by Surrey, just for the one CC game at Taunton.

The England call-ups must really be hurting.

We can only hope he has a stinker, like the rest of his team mates.

Well if we get promoted, we are certainly trying to do it the hard way and not spend a load of money we havent got on short term overseas players!

Yes, Shakib bowled 34 of the 48 overs from one end so good to see Surrey (admittedly missing several with England test team - Atkinson, Pope, Smith and several more in the ODI team - Curran, Jacks Topley) but they still played 2 overseas players in Roach and Shakib, as well as Aussie Worrall who plays on a different passport so as not to be overseas which sounds fair dinkum. Somerset only appear to have a Kiwi Brett Randell who I have never heard of but clearly taunton does not have as deep pockets as The Oval to fund short term player signings. Bizarrely for a team that has made T20 finals days and does so regularly, Somerset dont appear to have any players in the England squads of either format and are also 2nd in the CC. Rob Key clearly doesnt drink cider.

Lancashire are clearly throwing money at overseas players, Iyer and Anderson Philip (who?) in an attempt to stave off relegation , having lost Nathan Lyon so Hartley is being selected. Is it enough? Well perhaps not against Durham with new signing Chemar Holder (who?) alongside Saffer Bedingham and Dutchman de Leede and then Ackermann alson onan EU passport.

Essex continue with Dean Elgar alongside a Benkenstein (but he is English with Saffer parents) and Snater who is a Zimbabwean playing for Holland. So Notts overseas keeper Verreyne should at least be able to practice his Afrikaans sledging regularly.

Hampshire struggle to get beyond A in the contacts list of their coaches mobile as they have Abbott and Abbas as their overseas players, and for good measure they have another Saffer born Jock in Brad Wheal to provide a pace attack sadly lacking in any home grown talent. OK Turner is away with England but even he is born overseas!

Worcts have a Zimbabwean/Dutchman too - Logan van Beek but their other Saffer born player Roderick (will they release Roderick at the end of the season....?) is British now. Warwickshire also look down under to another Kiwi Michael Rae to complement their imported northern seam attack of OHD, Rushworth and Rhodes.

Gloucts have Zafar Gohar who has played for them regularly over the last few seasons but fair play to Middlesex who are overseas-less.

Northants are throwing money around like confetti with Prithvi Shaw from india and now kept company with the short term signing of Chahal for the last few games despite them unlikely to make promotion spots. Glamorgan have Saffer Colin Ingram whilst opponents Sussex trying maintain their promotion challenge in div 2 have Indian seamer Unadkat and Aussie opener Hughes.

Which leaves our game - I struggle with Leicts.... they have an opener born in Wisconsin, Indian batter Rahane, but have just lost Handscomb as their 2nd overseas. So when you look at our overseas-less line up for this game with 10 players born and bred in Yorkshire supported by lone "outsider" Dom Bess it looks like a return to the 70s and 80s with our selection policy!

While it may not be racist it is easily construed from the outside as being insular and narrow minded. It is a Yorkshire trait and I do share it, although I'm afraid it embarrasses me if I dwell on it too long.

Rules are rules as far as overseas players are concerned, although they can be tweaked or amended if your name is Jofra Archer and it's the ECB making the rules.

In the case of Dan Worrall, although he has a British passport he isn't yet eligible to play for England. I would class him, and others like him as overseas player until he/they are.

On Surrey, I have to say that it is long past time that the ECB stopped guaranteeing them international cricket on favourable terms at the Oval and brought them back closer to an even financial footing with the rest of the county game, because their stockpiling of talent is doing noone any good.

Looking at their squad for this current season, their seam bowling options are as follows:

Dan Worrall
Kemar Roach
Sean Abbott
Jordan Clark
Gus Atkinson
Tom Lawes
Sam Curran
Jamie Overton
Tom Curran
Chris Jordan
Rhys Topley
James Taylor
Conor McKerr
Matt Dunn

14! Of whom a paltry 6 came through the Surrey system (and three of them are of the Yarpie/Zimbok varietal). Nobody will convince me that that is good for the game!

Not satisfied with the status quo Sussex have had a quick dart and managed to get a fourth batting point with 2 balls to spare.