Surrey hopeful of keeping star players

The five per cent increase in handouts to the First Class counties next season should ensure that county champions Surrey can keep their successful squad together.

Surrey have several players, including Martin Bicknell, Alistair Brown and Ian Ward, currently tied to the club for the 2001 season but negotiating long-term contracts. The club is limited over the offers it can make to players because it has to share its wages pool among a squad containing 10 internationals.

But the five per cent increase should now ease that burden and Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon says he is confident that the club can keep the squad intact.

He said: "We are doing everything within our means to keeping these players together. Other counties are bound to be interested in quality players because there are not that many around, so it is more and more difficult to keep these players here.

"But they cannot speak to other counties while under contract and we have a good record in retaining players."

Cricketers' salaries have increased by about 50 per cent in the last six years but the England and Wales Cricket Board's financial contribution has failed to keep pace, and Sheldon has urged restraint over further wage hikes.

"Players have to be realistic at a successful county," Sheldon added. "We have a bonus system in place in our pay structure which is absolutely vital in making up the difference. We try and add incentive to each contract.

"But you have to explain to the players that if you are going to play for trophies, with a good squad, you cannot pay massive salaries.

"I suppose it's a stumbling block in retaining players but there is no evidence of money swilling around the game. There has been a lack of success in English cricket until recently and there is only a limited amount of money in the pot."