England central contracts 2007/8

[adamberry]

Matt Prior misses out, as expected, and England go a second year without a contracted 'keeper. James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom are awarded central contracts after their performances this summer.

England contracted players: James Anderson, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Kevin Pietersen, Monty Panesar, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan.

[engssmoothcriminal]

Harmison is a very very lucky boy to retain his central contract and not had the public kick up the backside his recent displays have merited. It's good to see that there is the option of additional summer contracts in place if players outside the list perform during the winter but with a number of players not far off last chance saloon (namely Strauss and Harmison) I'd still much rather have a total summer/winter split which offers more flexibility given the increasing turnover of players due to the nonstop international calendar. Also the fact that test and one day regulars (KP, Bell, Colly e.t.c) are on the same contact as a potential fringe player (Sidebottom) and the test specialists (Vaughan, Harmison e.t.c) doesn't sit well with me.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by adamberry

England contracted players: James Anderson, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Kevin Pietersen, Monty Panesar, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan.

I don't believe in England having contracted players, but being we have - not having one keeper is a joke.

Being we have these contracts I think as follows.

James Anderson - deserves.

Ian Bell - given a contract on the back of a good ODE DAY series, he was lucky to keep his place.

Paul Collingwood - the most deserving.

Alastair Cook - could go either way, this is what makes a contract system silly.

Andrew Flintoff - again if he is fit, then he deserves a contract - if not a waste of money.

Steve Harmison - same as Flintoff, fit and in form maybe - but has done little of recent times to deserve a contract.

Mathew Hoggard - England number one bowler - when fit.

kevin Pietersen - could never be ignored.

Monty Panesar - the arguments for him getting a contract would be to great for that not to happen, at least he is fit and gives 100% - deserved.

Ryan Sidebottom - has not been back in the side long enough to have been awarded a contract IMO.

Andrew Strauss - this makes a joke out of contracted players.

Michael Vaughan - same as Flintoff and Harmison, we all know he can do it - but has not done much for three years, and has a dodgy knee.
Deserved if he keeps fit.

[Ninjaman]

What's your gripe with a central contract system, Ernest?

What would you replace them with, if anything at all?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Ninjaman

What would you replace them with, if anything at all?

Nothing - I would go back to the system of picking the form players from the counties + the tried and trusted international players.

That would eliminate players so out of form from getting wages for nothing, and give other players a sporting chance of getting in the side on merit.

What do central contracts achieve - IMO nothing,

[Tyler]

Good old Montster.I may be getting his Northants Shirt aswell

[Speedboy Salesman]

when does Panesar not give 100% Ern? He's a young spinner, trying his best to improve all the time, not just in bowling, but his trying his hardest to improve both his fielding and his batting.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Speedboy Salesman

when does Panesar not give 100% Ern? He's a young spinner, trying his best to improve all the time, not just in bowling, but his trying his hardest to improve both his fielding and his batting.

I agree, that's why even though I don't agree with central contracts, being we have them - he deserves his.

But looking at the list there are players there who should not have contracts, Flintoff and Vaughan because they can't be sure of being fit for a season, Cook because he is not as yet provan, Bell is not consistent, and others like Sidebottom who has played only a handfull of matches.

But the biggest joke of all is Strauss - on form he is a great player, but at the moment has nothing to offer, why waste money on central contracts because without them the best players would still get in the side, the counties could play discarded players - and the money saved could go to developing new players.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Strauss can't buy a run right now, I think the ECB were banking on him returning to form, although I can't see it myself.