Close Season Transfer Gossip

[Zainub]

Will Ed Smith stay at Kent?

[Notts Exile]

Notts have signed Stephen Fleming for 2005, and he will skipper the side. Wonder what Gallian thinks to that.

Note: definitely not a second rate overseas player!!!

Fleming says "I have harboured an ambition to captain a leading English county team'. Begs the question ............ why Notts then !!!!

[Richard Jenkins]

Kent are 'hopeful' Smith will stay.However according to the juciest gossip, Cook is coming to Kent from Middlesex and Smith is going to Middlesex. Kent were also 'allegedly' after Pieterson but Notts offered him a new contract. Louden is 'more likely' to go (according to the official web site Message board, but I wouldn't believe a word of it if I were you!) .Kent have also 'allegedly' been asociated with 'sicknote' Tudor from Surrey but so has every other county.
Trott and Dennington are also 'alleged' departures. Also talk of signing Stevens. And post drug banned Wagg.

http://www.kentccc.com/audio/news.pdf
gives the kent final averages.

[Notts Exile]

Wouldn't be too shocked if Pietersen left Notts now. The batting begins to look very solid and KP's departure would not come as a great surprise. Surrey or Kent would be my two top bets.

[Andy Mellon]

Murali has re-signed for Lancashire! If CC2 is as bad as Ernest has been saying (see the A-team thread) then surely none of the batsmen in that division will be able to cope with the spin of Murali? I assume that Lancs fans are overjoyed to see the return of Murali.

In other Lancs news, with Stuart Law soon to be England qualified, Lancs are hoping to sign Brad Hodge as a replacement for Carl Hooper. How do Lancs fans feel about this?

[R W S]

Seamer Simon Cook has left Middlesex to join Frizzell County Championship runners-up Kent on a two-year contract.

Cook was Middlesex's leading wicket-taker in the championship with 35 but had a better season in the totesport League, taking 39 wickets at an average of 15.3.

"I would like to thank Middlesex for their support over the last eight years," said Cook.

"I feel that it is time to make a positive move for my career and Kent is a club with big ambitions and I look forward to helping them fulfil their goals and aspirations."

Kent's chairman of cricket Graham Johnson added: "We are delighted that Simon has agreed to join Kent.

"His all-round ability will strengthen our squad in all forms of cricket and we are looking forward to him making a significant contribution to the future of Kent cricket."

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Murali has re-signed for Lancashire!

I think it is a good signing, till the press get at him.

Originally Posted by Andt Mellon

In other Lancs news, with Stuart Law soon to be England qualified, Lancs are hoping to sign Brad Hodge as a replacement for Carl Hooper. How do Lancs fans feel about this?

I doubt Stewart will get in the England team, not against the aussies anyway, remember the carping when that Kent quick Aussie born played against them, his name wont come in my mind, the same time as Igglesdons return..

I will be sorry to see Hooper go, I would rather him be staying to be honest.

The charts mike put in the thread shows that out of the three promoted from Div2 last year, only one remains, the other two relegated, and yes I am aware lancashire will be playing in Div 2 next year, how they got there with the players they had???????

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by ernest

I doubt Stewart will get in the England team, not against the aussies anyway, remember the carping when that Kent quick Aussie born played against them, his name wont come in my mind, the same time as Igglesdons return..

Do you mean Martin McCague? I remember him playing for England around that time and he definately played for Kent. I also have vague recollections of him being an Aussie.

[Statto]

I think it is good to see Lancs signing world renowned players like Murali but what now for Keedy? Are they going to play 2 spinners batting at 10 and 11 - I doubt it so it seems that Keedy will miss out. Having said that, Murali is only there for the 1st half of the season so Keedy will make up some games then. The only way in for both spinners is if Cork and Chapple are both playing batting at 6 and 7, Hegg at 8 and probably Mahmood at 9, which in all fairness should knock over most Div 2 sides pretty easily. I would like to see Law stay on at Lancs as I think we need his class in the batting and I think another quality top order bat is necessary and if Hodge is that then so be it.

[Rachael]

Instinct says maybe this is the kick up the **** the groundsmen need to start really working on spinner's wickets... but then again... Murali wil be effective in early season even on damp wickets.. where Keedy might not warrant a place.. and Keedy wil just get the spinner-friendly games in the latter part of the season: seams a fair division of labour.