Capel Stays With Northants And Other News (18 Dec 1995)

Northants persuade Capel to stay on

By Charles Randall

DAVID CAPEL, the England all-rounder, yesterday signed a threeyear contract with Northamptonshire, ending speculation that he was about join Gloucestershire.

The uncertainty at Northampton began in September when Rob Bailey was appointed ahead of Capel and several other team-mates, to take over from Allan Lamb.

Capel, 32, would have been a good signing for Gloucestershire, having scored three championship hundreds last summer and taken seven for 44 against Warwickshire.

His presence at least ensures John Emburey has a full-strength staff at his disposal when he takes over as manager on Jan 1, if Lamb returns for his final year.

Andrew Symonds still has not signed a much-enhanced contract with Gloucestershire, but it seems certain he will do so if Australia do not make him ineligible by selecting him for the World Cup next February.

He will not be affected by the Test and County Cricket Board`s newly worded declaration for dual-qualified players. Gloucestershire doubt whether the document is legally enforceable, though signing it might increase the embarrassment factor.

The new wording is to be: "I declare that it is not my desire or intention to play cricket for any country outside the European Union, and accordingly I will not play and I am not seeking and will not seek to qualify to play cricket at any level for any such country."

Leicestershire have taken wicketkeeper Phil Whitticase, 30, back on to the playing staff for next season as deputy for Paul Nixon.

The county have agreed to release their left-arm seam-bowler Alangir Sheriyar, 22, for personal reasons.

England women ended their India tour by losing the final one-day match in Madras by seven wickets and the series 3-2.

Earlier in the week they won the three-Test series 1-0 when last pair Debbie Stock and Clare Taylor lasted for three hours to force a draw.

The two tail-enders produced one of the great feats of international cricket, batting through 40 overs, crowded by the increasingly desperate Indian fielders.

In the one-day match England struggled to 146 for nine from their 50 overs and, thanks to Anjun Chopra`s 57 not out, India ensured victory with more than five overs to spare.

Danny Kelleher, the former Kent seam bowler, has died suddenly in London aged 29. He played for five seasons until 1991 without becoming established in the first team and finished the last two years of his career with Surrey.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph