Gloucestershire CCC: Tom Richardson carries on search for key overseas signing
Gloucestershire still intend to sign an overseas player before the start of the county cricket season in April.
With less than two months to go before the campaign commences, the club have still to secure the services of an overseas hired hand to play County Championship cricket.
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Gloucestershire CCC chief executive Tom Richardson
And money is in short supply after the county failed in its attempt to win planning permission for ambitious ground redevelopment plans.
With the future of international cricket in Bristol in doubt, Gloucestershire are having to further tighten their belts and the club this week withdrew their offer of a new contract to long-serving batsman Chris Taylor in the interests of making ends meet.
But club chief executive Tom Richardson remains committed to recruiting an overseas player for the entire season.
Gloucestershire have already secured the services of Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan to play Twenty20 cricket and now plan to go down the overseas route to replace Jon Lewis, last season's leading wicket-taker, who left to join Surrey in the winter.
Having engaged top-order batsman Kane Williamson last summer, Gloucestershire will almost certainly return to New Zealand in their search for a new ball bowler.
Richardson confirmed: "It is still very much our intention to make an overseas signing for the 2012 season.
"As people will already know, money is tight and we face a challenging situation financially.
"But we want to sign an overseas player and, at this stage, New Zealand looks to be the most likely route for us.
"We have a good relationship with New Zealand cricket and are considering a number of options."
But it is unlikely Ireland international Kevin O'Brien will return to Gloucestershire this summer.
Hired to play one-day cricket in 2011, the explosive batsman played a prominent part in Gloucestershire t20 and 40-over league campaigns.
But a shortage of funds will make it difficult for Gloucestershire to re-sign the 27-year-old all-rounder.
2 Comments
by ChrisNeil54
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 5:42PM
“you are correct in everything you say CJGlos...I have copied and pasted a reply to the news item that let us know that Chris Taylor was being released -
I completely agree with Arthur_T. GCCC plead poverty in deciding not to renew Chris' contract but sign Murali again for the T20s, who at best was very average last season. They give Housego a 3 year contract, this is a player who has played 15 first class games in his 3 years at Middlesex and can only be described as a good 2nd XI player at best and they are on the lookout for yet another unknown New Zealander to sign as their overseas player.
Chris has been a loyal servant for many years and to be treated this way is shameful.
Oh, and did I mention, not only is he a world class fielder and fielding coach, he was also our best batsman last season.
Shame on you GCCC for getting your priorities so badly mixed up and I for one will not be renewing my membership this season.”
by CJGlos
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 10:45AM
“This shows how Glos are thinking, they let the top wicket taker and run scorer go, also O'Brian who did contribute towards winnning a few matches but Murili great as he is did not win a match, he may have added a few bums on seats.
Surely the best way to spend the limited money is to keep your best players, I don't know what Murili costs but that money might be better used to keep our best batsman especially as the batting has been a weak aspect over the last few seasons.
If the County elect to stay in Bristol then unfortunately this is the signs of things to come.”