Overseas pro as gigolo
Stat | Quote | Six Sense | Turnfurlong 4ths
Derby – Why feel sorry for a foreign batsman, especially an Australian one, who plays county cricket? Surely it should be the bowlers you should pity as said overseas pro salivates at the prospect. There are plenty of high-profile examples of players for whom it has all gone right – Stuart Law has been plundering the shires for years and Darren Lehmann is never averse to a full-frontal assault.
But there are expectations attached when you decide to join the English domestic circuit, as several of the world's leading players have found out. A cash-strapped county doles out its cash on the understanding that they will have a star who can single-handedly pick the team up. This isn't the international arena, where the crowd provides a lift; it is six days a week before a crowd of deckchair critics, who are only too quick to point out that their membership fees are paying salaries.
Recent regulations have eased the pressure a little, allowing call-ups late in the season, but six months can seem like much longer when the runs aren't coming. Yuvraj Singh is a darling of the India one-day side but found himself in the Yorkshire 2nd XI after failing to impress last year. And Jonathon Moss must have been feeling the pressure to perform after a run of rotten luck so far this term. It isn't the place for sweeping statements, just nitty gritty.
Moss is less high-profile than most of his Australian compatriots but he arrived in the UK after averaging 43.18 with the bat for Pura Cup winners Victoria but had struggled for his first two months in county cricket.
He really broke his duck last Sunday, though, a little lucky to survive a run-out chance on his way to 114. When he pointed his bat to the dressing-room, the relief was palpable.
I didn't get to the post-match debrief but his reaction was reportedly pretty basic: "Good to get in the runs", "Luck went my way" etc. It highlighted the fact that there is only one mark of success for the overseas pro, and if you don't work your are unlikely to get paid in future.
Stat of the week
Following resounding defeats at the hands of West Indies and New Zealand this week, England have now gone nine successive matches in which they have batted first without a win.
Quote of the Week
"I've been trying to bowl a bit faster in the one-dayers."
Six sense
1. I said last week that Andrew Flintoff's absence might make England work out what to do without him. Instead it offered another example of how the selectors lose their heads when Fred is unavailable. With other positions you can find a similar player to plug in as injury cover. Flintoff is unique and the clutch of county all-rounders they tried out were pale imitations of the big man. Far better to work out whether they need an extra batsman or bowler, according to conditions, and go for the strongest players available, rather than getting in a bunch of jacks-of-all-trades, who all fail to do the job.
2. South Africa's Percy Sonn has been named as the ICC's new vice-president and will take over the top job next year. In case you were wondering, yes, that is the man who was so drunk at a World Cup match he "fell out of his pants".
3. Warwickshire lead the County Championship at the half-way stage but there are still – I reckon – two other sides that could snatch the title from them. Middlesex are coming together at the right time, made a bold captaincy change with Ed Joyce taking over from Owais Shah, and welcome Glenn McGrath for a month when the first-class game resumes after the Twenty20 break. And I still think Kent can mount a challenge, although their pace bowling still takes turns between nation-leading and terrible.
4. You read it here first a couple of weeks ago – Zimbabwe Exiles to tour UK – although that was a bit of a flight of fancy rather than hard reportage. A shame that Zimbabwe had lost most of their stars even before the rebel 15 pulled out, although some of those are being lined up for a Zimbabwe World XI to take on the tourists. The bankable remaining players – Ervine, Streak and Blignaut – are also doubts but that shouldn't stop people coming out to say thanks so a group who showed up the problems underlying the game and are unlikely to gain any decent financial reward.
5. Meanwhile the grubby world of small business continues as the ECB commit to play five one-day internationals in Zimbabwe rather than the originally-contracted four, presumably to make up for the lost Test matches. Apparently now Zimbabwe's Test status has been suspended Robert Mugabe can do what he pleases without opposition.
6. I got a text message on Friday evening from a rugby fanatic and Sky TV subscriber: "20-20 is the way ahead".
Turnfurlong 4th XI update
Spent most of the week phoning round to try and get a game, without luck. Good job really as Gary had rented the clubhouse out for a yogic flying convention. About the only time anyone round here has anything to jump up and down about.
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