On The Circuit
Murtagh linked with Middlesex
CricInfo sources have revealed that Surrey seamer Tim Murtagh is in line for a move across the capital to Middlesex
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
CricInfo sources have revealed that Surrey seamer Tim Murtagh is in line for a move across the capital to Middlesex. The transfer should suit both parties as Murtagh, 25, has struggled to break into the Championship side, while Middlesex have been been noticebaly short on firepower in recent seasons.
Murtagh, whose brother Chris is also on the Surrey staff, was a regular member of Surrey's one-day and Twenty20 sides last season and has one year remaining on his contract at The Oval.
In 38 first-class appearances for Surrey he has 76 wickets at 37.07, while in Twenty20 cricket he has 37 wickets at an impressive 22.91. It was in this format that he enjoyed his finest hour as a Surrey player when taking 6 for 24, a record in the competition, against Middlesex in 2005.
If the deal goes through he will join Chaminda Vaas, Murali Kartik and Richard Johnson in a new look attack at Lord's.
Full postTrio extend Kent contracts
England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones is one of three Kent players who have agreed contract extensions with the club
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones is one of three Kent players who have agreed contract extensions with the club. He joins captain Robert Key and Martin van Jaarsveld in signing deals that will keep them at Canterbury until 2009.
Graham Johnson, the chairman of cricket, said: "Robert Key has made a major contribution to the club in his first year as captain whilst Martin has made a superb contribution with the bat. He is also an excellent example to all our young, aspiring cricketers.
He added that there are plans in place to cover for the loss of Jones if he returns to a full-time position in the England team. "We are obviously pleased to hear that Geraint is likely to be selected for the first Ashes Test and we all wish him well. There is a great deal of cricket to be played between now and the end of the next World Cup and I am sure we all hope that he will be successful in regaining his place in the England squad on a permanent basis.
"If, as we approach the 2007 domestic season, it becomes clear that Geraint may be away for prolonged periods we have in place contingency plans to ensure cover capable of delivering the right level of performance with both gloves and bat in our wicket keeping.
Full postNorthants sign van der Wath
Northamptonshire have announced that Johannes van der Wath, the South Africa allrounder, has signed as the club's second overseas players for 2007
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Northamptonshire have announced that Johannes van der Wath, the South Africa allrounder, has signed as the club's second overseas players for 2007. He is a versatile all-rounder, capable of lively pace bowling and powerful hitting in the middle order and is currently playing for the Eagles in South Africa.
van der Wath said: "I'm really looking forward to a full season in England. The time at Sussex last year whetted my appetite and I've heard really good things about Northamptonshire. Plans for the season sound exciting and I want to let the club fans know that I'll be doing my best to help make it a successful one."
The chief executive Mark Tagg added:
Full postJohnson keen to stay with Somerset
Former England seamer Richard Johnson is keen to stay at Somerset after talks with Kent and his old club Middlesex.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Former England seamer Richard Johnson is keen to stay at Somerset after talks with Kent and his old club Middlesex.
"I have spoken to a couple of counties but I am trying to sort things out with Somerset. I am very keen to stay," he told the Western Daily Press. "It is a little bit of an uncertain time at the moment but I don't want to make too much of it and I am hoping things are sorted out fairly soon."
Full postNash and Hopkinson commit to Sussex
Carl Hopkinson and Chris Nash have both extended their contracts with Sussex until 2008.
Will
25-Feb-2013
Carl Hopkinson and Chris Nash have both extended their contracts with Sussex until 2008.
Hopkinson joined the club in 2002 after graduating from the Sussex Academy.
Full postTudor extends contract with Essex
Alex Tudor, the former England fast bowler, has extended his contract with Essex for two years to keep him at the club until the end of the 2008 season.
Will
25-Feb-2013
Alex Tudor, the former England fast bowler, has extended his contract with Essex for two years to keep him at the club until the end of the 2008 season.
Tudor, 28, joined Essex in 2005 but missed most of the season through injuries
Full postRhodes to recovery on and off the field
Worcestershire achieved their pre-season goals of winning double promotion and creating a happy dressing room
Will
25-Feb-2013
Worcestershire achieved their pre-season goals of winning double promotion and creating a happy dressing room. Steve Rhodes, the director of cricket, chose his overseas players wisely with Phil Jaques, Lou Vincent and Zaheer Khan all making significant contributions on the pitch and helping create a happy glow off it. Graeme Hick basked in the warmth. The decision to drop him to No.5 had seemed to signal the beginning of the end; instead he finished a good season by passing 1,000 first-class runs for the 20th time and rejecting an offer from Derbyshire. Worcestershire
Full postTwo leggies at Leeds- whatever next?
David Byas is not seen as a gambler
Will
25-Feb-2013
David Byas is not seen as a gambler. But he took arguably the biggest punt of his time as director of cricket when, on August 16, he named his Championship team to face Kent. Byas included not one but two young legspinners, Adil Rashid, aged 18, and 20-year-old Mark Lawson. Together they were about o give Yorkshire
Full postWhistling while they worked
On the last day of the one-day league even a par display against Somerset would have ensured double-promotion for Butcher and Son
Will
25-Feb-2013
On the last day of the one-day league even a par display against Somerset would have ensured double-promotion for Butcher and Son. It did not happen but for the first time since 2002 whinges were scarce, despite a whopping wage bill. There were too many extraordinarily pleasant surprises for that. It did not require a clairvoyant to foresee Mark Butcher staging an assertive comeback or Mark Ramprakash enjoying one of the most run-drunk postwar seasons: 2,993 runs at 74 in all formats. (And no, he was not aware that Bradman
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