Ian Sideman
Active member
Interesting one. Must be a story behind this.
Will probably join Surrey and score 1000's just like his hero Ramps.
Will probably join Surrey and score 1000's just like his hero Ramps.
You are Jason H and I claim my five pounds.I don't think he was ever given a fair chance by the England set-up.
Yes this was something that shocked me over the years, he was a very talented classical batsman, very elegant cover driver etc, I once saw him make a hundred at Taunton, he made the game look so easy and looked a very elegant player, for some bizarre reason his game changed completely a few years ago and he became very bottom handed, I could never understand what had happened, I have rarely seen a batsman change so much.He simply tried too hard when it came to the Tests, knowing he would never get the opportunity as the management didn't like him - this translated to the general nervousness you'd see with him - whether it was anxiety between the wickets or poor fielding. You could probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of run outs he has been involved with at Middx, likewise dropped catches.
The technique was quite a strange thing really - growing up he had the most classic of styles (and was also a more than handy quick bowler!) - I wonder if it was when he spent some time with another slightly unorthodox batsman in Azharuddin that he adapted his style.
Shocking management anyway. How can you release someone who has played for you for 20 years, and who turned down offers from other counties during that time, and not even bother telling them? I hope that he does find another county and he "does a Ramps" (i.e. scores 200s against Middx every bl**dy year!).
The other strange thing is that they have done this ostensibly to release funds to keep Eoin Morgan, who in reply will play just a handful of matches each season currently.