News

Surrey axe four to trim squad

Surrey have released four players, including former England bowler Jimmy Ormond, as cricket manager Chris Adams trims his squad

Cricinfo staff
12-Aug-2009
Surrey have released four players, including former England bowler Jimmy Ormond, as cricket manager Chris Adams trims his squad. The contracts of Ormond, Chris Murtagh, Murtaza Hussain and James Benning will not be renewed at the end of the season.
Ormond, 31, has taken 221 first-class wickets for Surrey at an average of 34.15 after starting his career at Leicestershire. He also played in two Tests for England in 2001 against Australia and India.
Benning, the 26-year-old allrounder, departs after struggling to find a regular first-place. For a short while he was tipped for England one-day honours after he scored a memorable 152 off 134 balls to help Surrey to a 50-over world-record total of 496 for 4 in April 2007.
Both Murtagh, whose brother Tim plays for Middlesex, and Hussain also struggled to establish themselves and will be free to speak to other clubs.
"As we build for the long term future of Surrey, it has become clear that these four players will not figure in our plans for next season and we have acted now to give them the best possible chance of finding employment," said Gus Mackay, Surrey's managing director of cricket. "I would like to pay tribute to them all for the contribution they have made to the club and wish them well for the future."