CrawlingFox

To be fair they've applied the standard ECB fast bowler development plan, steady backwards progress with stress fracture due soon. Really hope we see him back to his best next season. How great would it be to have a homegrown pair of Hull and Green opening the bowling.

I'd be ok if they wanted to give Gumbs a run and see how he goes. Eskinazi as a plan B might be ok but would prefer us to look at someone like Savin Perera who could add some competition to the top order.

He had a good season at 3 in the promotion season I think if he'd have backed that up with a dominant season there in D1 this season just gone it would have been interesting. As it is I suspect England see him as an interesting player because he's a leggie but he looks a touch "bits and pieces" and I struggle to see him finding a consistent spot in any format. Agree with those who said he needs to knuckle down, start to really churn out the runs in red and white ball. His record in all formats currently is ok but nothing that is really that impressive. Fine whilst he's 22 but by the time he's 25 needs to have a batting average nearer 40 or a bowling average under 30, both might be greedy! Currently 32.6 for batting and 37.7 for bowling, 17.9 and 27.4 in t20. Good for us, but won't be more than bits and pieces or maybe handy for a tour where spin will be dominant for England at best.

Whilst this is true I always think it's hard to really tell as spinners in England don't get the luxury of a raging turner very often and I'd wager Rehan just doesn't get the overs he'd really need to develop as a leg spinner (one of the hardest and most unforgiving crafts in the game). That's through a combination of missing games due to England/IPL as you say and the number of games we play on seaming decks where Holland may make hay but a spinner isn't going to get much of a look in.

I think that he was an excellent white ball bowler (sub 8 economy in t20) and whilst his bowling in red ball was never top drawer it was good enough to compliment a frontline spinner (which is what Rehan could be) on a spinning deck where 2 spinners would be warranted. Such a situation is rare in this country which is why he was again valuable with his batting average of 29.9 with 10 50s meaning he can more than hold a bat. So for a county like us without the budget for a big squad he offers: White ball bowling Backup spinner Batting depth Great fielder I think that's a useful and versatile skillset to have at our level.

Losing Hill and Cox in one go is big drop in experience. Cox's grit has been all that stood between us and humiliation at many points this season. Trevaskis is a loss as well I think. More positively Handscomb would plug that hole, experience wise and the drop to D2 means we should be looking to younger and hungrier players more than 30+ players in my opinion. My side for next season: Gumbs Budinger Ahmed Shaikh Handscomb (c) Blake/Tattersall (wk) Scriven Holland B.Green Davey A.Green Worryingly there is only Hull in reserve bowling wise and Eskinazi batting wise, plus whichever keeper misses out - none of whom I rate highly right now. Also no spinner if Ahmed is away, which seems less likely for next season to be honest at least. Letting Trevaskis go is poor as he could bat too. I think Gumbs is the most obvious player where the remaining overseas slot could be used to find an upgrade but we'd need to find a couple more seamers somewhere for depth either way. If looking nearer for an opening bat then Savin Perera could be an excellent pick up if available, a lot of runs for SACA and in second XI cricket as well as some decent knocks for Somerset in the ODC.

Just suggesting it. There was a list floating about and to be honest not many interesting names out of contract so not sure there will be much activity coming in. Ben Mike to Gloucestershire is an interesting one. Did hear a rumour Derbyshire were interested in Budinger too though he's under contract for next season so unsure there is much in it.

Brad Currie was who I meant, Sussex are releasing him.

Ben Mike off to Gloucestershire apparently. Cox to Warks again also. Wood also leaving. https://inews.co.uk/sport/cricket/essex-new-captain-leicestershire-surrey-keeper-sussex-4790644 Currie could be a good pickup to boost the attack.

It seems as though we are being priced out of appealing as the club may believe there is a probability we go down anyway and the legal costs of appealing are therefore wasted. The whole thing is a sordid affair and the blazers at the ECB will be pleased to see us back in what they see as our place. If we had the temerity to appeal the ECB would probably wait to see the final table and work out if they could do us a "leniency" if we're down anyway and move the points penalty to next season to further penalised us.

Very pleasing result. Kelly and Cox superb.

I'm convinced that he could bat much higher than 8. 6 or even 5. Fonz seems to love stacking the side with bowling all rounders and Scriven has in the past bowled well but he's for me by far the best bat in that group. Always comes in late, usually stuck batting with the tail and yet still so reliable. Technique is solid and he has no glaring weaknesses.

That joke is ruff.

Patel has plenty of talent, but I think his t20 record sums him up in a way - 83 games and 2 tons (and bear in mind there are plenty of very, very good batters on the franchise circuit or in international teams with 0 hundreds) but only 3 50s. He's talented but inconsistent. That said, he's developed into a Division 1 level opener in the red ball game and there is no more difficult job. We'll miss him up top. Hopefully Shaikh offers solidify to the 3 or 4 slot and we prioritise an overseas opener next season.

Shaikh and A.Green are serious players.