England Players Resting Periods (Page 1 of 5)

Especially as Matt is not required to go to WI (ie dropped) and presumably wants to redemonstrate his ability. There appears no logic...it would be nice if he could play as a batsman and Hoddy as keeper....

Really is pathetic that he has been told to rest!

If he really appreciates his job for what it is then he would want to do nothing more than play cricket whenever possible. This is I suppose the main downside to central contracts

If fit he should play i am sure he wants to this is what he does for love not just money.

Back from my hols now and not much has been going on. Congratulations to Yards for his 2020 selection, I think he could do well for England, although its not such good news for Sussex. With us always at the mercy of the the ECB over Prior, to be fair they do pay his wages, we can ill afford to lose Yards. A top six of Nash, Yardy, Joyce, Goodwin, Prior and Wright is as good as any in this division, take out Yardy, Joyce, Prior and Wright and we're in trouble. Nash, Machan, Thornley, Goodwin, Gatting and Hodd doesn't look so strong.
Were Muzza again to struggle for for form, I dread to think how we'ed cope.
It looks as if its going to be Rana as our locum overseas and I don't have a problem with that. Fingers crossed its the Rana of old and with some good old Sussex TLC, maybe he can become a top wicket taker for us once again. I still think if we can post the big totals, then spin will be our best chance of success.

During the summer I sometimes catch a bit of cricket though I run there most nights. To be honest I want to try and watch a lot more of Sussex this year but working in the events industry it isn't easy. Plenty of time off in the winter but pretty much six days a week in the summer.

Well - here's the reply:

Hello Jon

thanks for your email

don't think we've announced any details yet of contracted players county commitments

that's at the discretion of the England management, and all the counties buy into the concept

players' decisions to play abroad in free windows in the calendar is just that, their decisions; and the form that Collingwood and Pietersen can build in the IPL can only help ahead of the ICC World Twenty20

best wishes

ECB Feedback

Thats illuminating...England management can stop you playing for your county in a free period but you are always free to go overseas to play

Last edited by triple century (06-04-2010 11:42:55)

"players' decisions to play abroad in free windows in the calendar is just that, their decisions"

Er I thought they had contracts (even though greedy *** wont sign them).

Bell and Trott apparently start for us on Friday.

Well maybe he does want more time off and fancies sitting Cardiff out, only been back a couple of weeks from a month in Bangladesh, having been there myself i think you need a bit of time to recover.

Cardiff in early April Mmm. It was cold enough there last year watching a few days of the Ashes, that was later on in the season as well.

Sure it isn't just the ECB quaking in the presence of the IPL? I mean, if Collingwood and Pietersen fancied a 'rest' instead, their franchise and mr. modi wouldn't allow them to even consider it. I could understand that they would feel obliged to play due to the money they recieve, but surely the ECB would not want to step on the IPL's toes for the fear of losing potential income.
I agree the system is wrong and slightly twisted. It isn't right that counties should miss out on their best players for an enforced rest. I agree the players might be tired, but they have not played for a fair time and I am sure Prior wants some big scores under his belt before the return Bangladesh series.

And that is why I fear for the future of county cricket when it is the hand of these clowns.