On The Circuit
Yorkshire in a pickle
It has been a winter to forget for Yorkshire, and the Yorkshire Post has an excellent round-up (albeit one which makes depressing reading).
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
It has been a winter to forget for Yorkshire, and the Yorkshire Post has an excellent round-up (albeit one which makes depressing reading).
With just two months to go before pre-season training, Yorkshire have no director of cricket; they have no captain; their star batsman wants to leave; a number of players are fed up; and no one appears to have much of a clue what is going on.
The club are in an almighty pickle
Full postLanger to lead Somerset
Somerset have confirmed that Justin Langer, who is retiring from Test cricket after the final Ashes Test at Sydney, will be their captain for the 2007 season
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Somerset have confirmed that Justin Langer, who is retiring from Test cricket after the final Ashes Test at Sydney, will be their captain for the 2007 season. In a brief period at Taunton last summer Langer scored a career-best 342 against Surrey and amassed more than 400 runs in the Twenty20.
The Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose told the Press Association: "I was delighted to agree a provisional contract with Justin at the end of his highly successful five-week spell with the club in 2006, which he has now confirmed.
"We are absolutely delighted that Justin is coming back to join us as captain for the whole season, initially on a one-year contract with a provision that he may come back again for a further year in 2008.''
Langer have endured a barren period despite having the short-term assistance of players such as Ricky Ponting, Graeme Smith, Sanath Jayasuriya and Langer. Their Twenty20 title in 2005 is their only recent silverware.
Full postFreed prisoner given county membership
Mirza Tahir Hussain, who spent 18 years on death row in Pakistan, has received an early Christmas present from Yorkshire CCC
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Mirza Tahir Hussain, who spent 18 years on death row in Pakistan, has received an early Christmas present from Yorkshire CCC. The cricket fan has been given club membership for the 2007 season.
Full postCricket at Cresselly
Glamorgan have confirmed that their ECB Trophy match against Surrey on Bank Holiday Monday, May 28, will be played at Cresselly in Pembrokeshire.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Glamorgan have confirmed that their ECB Trophy match against Surrey on Bank Holiday Monday, May 28, will be played at Cresselly in Pembrokeshire.
"We are delighted to be able to fly the flag for cricket in Wales by taking the Surrey match to Pembrokeshire, and in particular to Cresselly, who in previous years have hosted several highly successful Benefit matches,
Full postKhan awarded British citizenship
Amjad Khan, the Kent fast bowler, is to be granted British citizenship.
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Amjad Khan, the Kent fast bowler, is to be granted British citizenship.
Khan, 26, who was born in Denmark, has been with Kent since 1999 and will now be eligible for selection for England.
He said:
Full postMurtagh joins Middlesex
Middlesex have signed Tim Murtagh, the former Surrey seamer, on a two-year contract.
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Middlesex have signed Tim Murtagh, the former Surrey seamer, on a two-year contract.
He becomes the latest acquisition for Middlesex as they aim to bolster their bowling attack and joins other new signings, Chaminda Vaas, Murali Kartik and Richard Johnson in a new look attack at Lord's.
Murtagh, who suffered an injury-hit 2006 and played just two Championship matches, said: "I have enjoyed my time at Surrey immensely and take with me great memories from on and off the field but I felt, with the number of high-class spinners on their staff and the way the team is made up, my opportunities and contributions in the future would be limited.
"With interest from a number of other counties, Middlesex were the standout option for me, with the chance to play more four-day cricket and to play my cricket at Lord's a huge attraction. I can't wait to link up with Ed Smith and the boys next season."
Full postKirtley signs two-year contract
Sussex have announced that James Kirtley has signed a new contract that will commit him to the county until the end of the 2008 season.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Sussex have announced that James Kirtley has signed a new contract that will commit him to the county until the end of the 2008 season.
"I'm delighted that Sussex has shown faith in my ability and have offered me this new two-year deal," Kirtley said. "I am very grateful for the club's support of me during the past 15 months and I hope to be able to repay them with performances similar to those in the latter half of 2006 over the next two years and hopefully longer.'
Sussex's cricket manager, Mark Robinson, said: "James is Sussex through and through and the type of player every coach wants on his team. He responds to each opportunity with an unrivalled enthusiasm and his strength of character has ensured that he's come back fighting from what has been a difficult year for him. We are thrilled that he has committed to the club for a further two seasons."
Full postButcher extends Surrey contract
Mark Butcher has extended his contract with Surrey by a year meaning he will be at the club until at least the end of the 2008 season.
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Mark Butcher has extended his contract with Surrey by a year meaning he will be at the club until at least the end of the 2008 season.
Butcher was a key player in Surrey's promotion back to division one of the County Championship scoring 1418 runs at 59.08 as well as impressing with his captaincy.
Alan Butcher, the Surrey cricket manager, said: "Securing Mark's services until the end of 2008 is great news for the club. Having his leadership is a huge bonus as he is very well respected by all of the squad, not to mention his invaluable contributions with the bat."
Young seamers Neil Saker and Jade Dernback have also signed new deals which will take them through to the end of the 2008 season as have Richard Clinton, the opening batsman, and allrounder Stewart Walters.
Full postBopara signs new deal with Essex
Ravinder Bopara, the Essex allrounder, has signed a one-year contract extension at the county taking him up to the end of the 2008 season.
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Ravinder Bopara, the Essex allrounder, has signed a one-year contract extension at the county taking him up to the end of the 2008 season.
Bopara, 21, has just flown out to Perth with the England Academy squad.
He told the Essex CCC website:
Full post