Klusener... Don't Look Back In Anger

Northamptonshire’s decision to part company with star all-rounder Lance Klusener has been greeted with disbelief and derision in certain quarters. The standard view appears to be that the County has made a serious error in electing not to extend the contract of the 37-year old former South African international.However, considering the level of financial investment it would have taken to retain Klusener’s services, a new contract would have been a serious risk for a County that is at a huge financial disadvantage to the likes of Lancashire, Surrey and Hampshire.

In his study of Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics – the number one bestseller Moneyball – Michael Lewis highlighted the merits of the system employed by the visionary general manager, Billy Beane. Beane essentially refused to pay the going rate for big names and transformed a team with one of the smallest payrolls in the sport into a perennial World Series contender. Beane ignored reputations and concentrated on recruiting players who had been discarded by other teams and building a competitive team without superstars on a shoestring. Beane concentrated on players who delivered in the clutch – coming to their side’s rescue in crucial moments and coming through when it mattered most.Although baseball is a more statistically-driven sport than cricket, there are similarities to the situation that Northamptonshire find themselves in comparison to Oakland. Neither are big players in the player-movement market.

The golden days when Northamptonshire could trump all bidders for the likes of Greg Thomas, Kevin Curran and even Devon Malcolm are long gone. Fiscal realities mean that they find themselves in a position where they are required to maximise every pound they spend on player salaries.

At first glance, the decision to release Klusener looks a mistake. After all, he has scored 1,000 first class runs in each of his three seasons at Wantage Road. He has registered 10 centuries, including a maiden double-hundred against Glamorgan at the end of last month, a performance that hardly suggests his powers are on the wane despite the fact he has recently turned 37. Additionally he retains the reputation as one of the most lethal hitters in world cricket.

However, it is pertinent to ask whether or not Northamptonshire have received a suitable reward on their investment. Without access to the official payroll, it is necessary to apply a certain amount of speculative guesswork to where Klusener’s total financial package sits in comparison with others. However, as an international player of great renown and a player who can hardly have found himself short of suitors, it seems reasonable to suggest that he is on better terms than all but David Sales. He is certainly being paid top dollar for his performances – top dollar for an all-rounder’s performances.

Klusener was signed as an all-rounder, not as a batsman. If a Kolpak batsman had been the priority, Northamptonshire would have presumably targeted such a player, specifically one who would have been able to bolster a relatively weak top order. His batting powers may remain intact but age and injury have restricted his bowling and while he may remain a fine batsman, he is singularly not the bowler he once was. His fielding has never been his finest attribute and at times his running between the wickets has been little short of lamentable.

So has he earned that money by turning in a series of match-defining performances, transforming the County’s fortunes in the blink of an eye with a match-winning spell with the ball or a crucial innings with the game on the line?The answer, brutally, is no.During Klusener’s three-year tenure with Northamptonshire, the County has won 37 games in all formats of the game, securing 11 victories in the Championship, 13 in the Twenty/20 and 13 List A triumphs.

Let us first consider the Championship where Klusener has been arguably Northamptonshire’s most reliable performer aside from Sales. In 2006 – they year when he scored six centuries and was apparently at his peak – Northamptonshire won three games. Klusener scored centuries in two of those games. However, the platform for the victory over Somerset was initially provided by Bilal Shafayat (101) and Sales (88) and clinched by Jason Brown and Monty Panesar who both claimed five wickets in an innings. Klusener’s 131 did hurry Glamorgan towards defeat but Panesar’s nine wickets in the match were arguably more important.

In 2007 the County won five Championship matches, essentially by relying on strong team performances. Stephen Peters, Steven Crook, Nicky Boje, Niall O’Brien, Johan Van der Wath, Panesar and Sales all produced individual performances that were superior to anything that Klusener managed. He did take five wickets in the win over Glamorgan but that triumph had been set up by excellent batting from Peters, Sales and Rob White.In 2008 Northamptonshire have won three matches (to date).

Klusener was absent for the first, scored 0 and 10* in the second and despite scoring 65 in the third was overshadowed by a stunning century from Sales that thwarted Leicestershire’s bowlers in distinctly unfriendly conditions for batting.Klusener may have scored consistently in the Championship but he has not proved to be a difference-maker in leading Northamptonshire to wins against the odds. He may have been the difference between defeat and a draw on occasion, but ultimately he has not been able to swing games in the County’s favours.Surely the statistics will be weighted more favourably in Klusener’s favour when we consider the shorter formats of the game.

Unfortunately that is not the case. Although Klusener has produced some brilliant performances in limited overs cricket for the county they have not counted for much – for example consider his unbeaten 111 in a losing cause against Worcestershire in the Twenty/20 in 2007. Astonishingly, Klusener has not played a central part in any of Northamptonshire’s 13 Twenty/20 victories, a fact that is perhaps emphasised by his bit-part role in this year’s competition, where he was increasingly marginalised almost as an “In case of Emergency Break Glass” type of player.

The names that come up most frequently when studying Northamptonshire’s success in the Twenty/20 format are Sales (by a mile), followed by White and this year O’Brien and Andrew Hall. In Northamptonshire’s six victories in 2008, Klusener batted just four times and reached double figures once.Despite finishing second in the Pro 40 in 2006, few could argue that Northamptonshire have come anywhere close to fulfilling their potential in one day games during Klusener’s time at Wantage Road. They have won just 13 times (three of those victories have been against Scotland and Ireland) and Klusener has produced a solitary defining moment, scoring 45 and claiming 5-33 to secure victory over Middlesex on the final day of the season in 2006, a performance that admittedly helped the County claim the runners-up spot.

However, the seven wins that the County have achieved in the past two seasons have all been secured primarily through the efforts of other players. Klusener has played little more than a bit-part role in any of those successes – he has certainly not commanded centre stage and shattered opponents single-handed.Consequently the decision not to extend Klusener’s contract was emphatically the right one. There is no disputing the fact that he has been a fine player for the county or that he could produce another 1,000-run season in 2009. The point is that he is not the player he was and for one reason or another he has failed to consistently deliver a series of match-winning performances.

Ultimately, despite providing a certain amount of box office appeal and producing some prodigious displays with the bat, Klusener has not done enough to help Northamptonshire defy the odds and win games; consequently has not given them full return on their investment. That may be a harsh assessment on a fine career at Wantage Road but ultimately it proves the wisdom of not retaining the services of a once-great player when the numbers no longer stack up.

NatWest Pro40 - enjoy it while it lasts

The NatWest Pro40 is nearing its completion and there is much to play for in both divisions.

It is easy to view the NatWest Pro40 as the poor relation of the domestic competitions. Failing to replicate the structure of international cricket in the way the Friends Provident trophy and Twenty20 cup do, the 40 0ver format appears irrelevant and redundant.

From 2010, that is exactly what it will be, for next season is the last in which a 40 over league will be played. Despite its diminishing stature, this season’s Pro40 has been enthralling and provides a dramatic climax this weekend.

Four division one teams go into the final round of matches with a chance of lifting the penultimate title, whilst the rest of the top flight are not yet safe from relegation. Four teams in division two will battle it out for the two automatic promotion spots and the play off place against the side finishing third from bottom in division one.

A final weekend of such permutations and possibilities reflects well on the competition, although the amount of matches lost to rain has contributed to the condensed nature of the tables.

Nottinghamshire are eyeing a league double and should be expected to see off Sussex, despite their panicked collapse against Lancashire in their penultimate match. The Sharks can make that clash at Trent Bridge a winner-takes-all affair with a win over Middlesex from their game in hand. Not quite the pressure of the Stanford Superstars match, but good preparation for Samit Patel, Graeme Swann and Luke Wright nonetheless.

Essex and Kent gaining promotion from division two would have been one of the more attractive cricket bets of the summer and neither have disappointed.

The Home Counties pair featured in Twenty20 finals day and contested the Friends Provident final and would surely have tied down the automatic promotion places if the bad weather hadn’t intervened.

Unbeaten Essex are all but guaranteed a top two finish and it is the Spitfires, hungry for revenge for their Lord’s defeat, who I expect to come out on top in this Canterbury showdown.

Should the rain stay away an interesting weekend is in store, which is unlikely to be the case next season. No rain is needed to make the 2009 Pro40 finale a damp squib, as only the top teams in division one will have anything to play for.

Championship - Week 18

A good week for those with a week off as the weather plays havoc with this round of matches. In Division 2, Worcestershire are almost home at the top, although their home ground is under water again.

Division 1
Somerset met Nottinghamshire in a top of the table clash, and were indebted to 86 from Peter Trego to get them up to 252 all out in bowler friendly conditions. Charl Willoughby then took two quick wickets, but Notts could only get up to 46 for 2 by the end of the match as less than a full days play was possible.

Also looking to make ground at the top of the table were Durham against struggling Lancashire. Durham got up to 280 for 3, with the impressive Will Smith scoring an unbeaten 144. Unfortunately that was it and Lancs suffered another game with very few points.

Slightly more play was possible at Scarborough, where Sussex and Yorkshire got into the second day before the washout came. Sussex collapsed from 195 for 2, with Andrew Hodd and Chris Nash having put on a hundred for the second wicket to 265 all out, Adil Rashid taking four wickets. In reply Yorkshire struggled to 133 for 7, with Michael Vaughan’s 19 looking better and better as the innings went on. Yorks are still in the relegation zone, but level on points with Lancashire and still only 21 points off the top.

A Mark Ramprakash century got Surrey to 307 for 9 against Kent. Joe Denly and Rob Key then put on 159 in 21 overs in an attempt to get to bonus point territory. However, the weather stopped even that, with Kent finishing on 160 for 1.

Division 2
Worcestershire and Warwickshire ironically played as much cricket as anyone before New Road reverted to being a public baths. Worcester made 339 in their first innings, although at 200 for 1, they would have expected more. Neil Carter took six wickets and Chris Woakes four as the Bears fought back. Jon Trott then made an unbeaten 88 as Warwickshire made 251 and Worcester made just 45 for 1 when the rains came and Worcestershire will be moving to Kidderminster for the rest of the season, although they ought to secure promotion at Glamorgan this week.

Graeme Wagg took 5 wickets as Derbyshire dismissed Glamorgan for 348, Gareth Rees scoring his second ton of the season. Derbyshire were on 225 for 5 at the close of the game, which ends their promotion push.

Gloucestershire made 218 as Alan Richardson took 5 wickets for Middlesex. Jon Lewis also took five wickets, although a Billy Godleman ton led Middlesex to declare on 313 for 7. Gloucester had wiped off the lead and reached 161 for 4 before the close of the game and remain bottom, three points below Glamorgan. Middlesex’s season finished with the 20Twenty win and they will remain in Division 2 next season.

England Player Watch
Michael Vaughan made 19, which ended up being Yorkshire’s second top score against Sussex. Rob Key and Joe Denly made a rapid 76 and 80 respectively in the hunt for bonus points, while Andrew Strauss’s 43 was overshone by a Billy Godleman century as he pushes for a winter Lions spot.

Adil Rashid’s fine form with the ball continues with four wickets while Darren Pattinson took three to keep himself in the selectors minds.

Player of the Week
Durham’s top order has a very international look. However, it is a young Englishman who tops the averages and has scored more centuries than the rest of the Durham batsmen combined. Initially selected as replacement for Paul Collingwood, he’s made the position his own and looks a decent bet for a Lions tour this winter. For an unbeaten 144, the Player of the Week is Will Smith.

King Kev's bright new era

Here is how England's players rated in their 4-0 win over South Africa:

Ian Bell 6.5
His superb innings in the third game showed he has the ability to pierce the infield, and the game to be a very successful ODI opener. Still, the instances of a bewildering inability to assert himself - his 69-ball 35 being a case in point - remain too frequent.
Matt Prior 8
Thirteen catches - several of them exceptional - suggested an improved wicket-keeper, although the real challenge will come in Tests, when reserves of stamina and levels of skill are tested to the limit. He batted with intent and class at the top of the order, scoring at a strike-rate of 93, even if some dismissals were a little too reminiscent of Prior's last spell in the one-day side.
Owais Shah 7
Given the opportunity to bat in his county position of number three, Shah improved as the series wore on. His 44* in the fourth game was testament to what a fine limited-overs player he is, though it remains to be seen what is ultimately his best position. Credit must also be given for the improvements in his fielding, which will help his Test claims.
Kevin Pietersen 9
Moving back down to number four, where he is most comfortable, Pietersen did not bat like a man weighed down by responsibility. With his captaincy seeming inspired, and credited with reinvigorating Flintoff and Harmison, and his bowling crucial in the first game, journalists were incapable of writing a piece without reference to his "golden touch". And, so far, no one can argue.
Andrew Flintoff 10
After a run of dire batting form, the decision to promote Flintoff to five attracted some surprise. But it has always been his favourite position, for it allows him the time to play himself in; indeed, he has never been particularly adept at coming in during the slog overs. Powerful, destructive and yet calculated, Flintoff's batting looked back to his '04 ODI vintage. Add 10 wickets at less than 13 to his 187 runs for once out, and no one could argue that this was Flintoff's best ever one-day series. There is still a fear he unbalances the Test side, but in ODIs no such fears exist.
Ravi Bopara 4
His series amounted to two overs for 11 - and the doubts over his ability at international level persist.
Paul Collingwood 5
Essentially anonymous in his four games - but he is certainly a reassuring presence at number six.
Samit Patel 8
Marked his debut series with a five-fer and made a vital and composed 31 in his only innings. His batting oozes class; his bowling is canny but probably not as good as Graeme Swann's. Patel looks an international player, however. His selection may suggest bits n' pieces, but they are high quality.
Luke Wright 4
Another player who was inconsequential. The life of a non-bowling (apparently) number eight is fraught with danger. Wright offers destructive, match-turning potential, but should make way for the unlucky Swann in India.
Stuart Broad 8
His elevation to fourth in the official ODI rankings may seem a little hasty, but Broad's one-day bowling continues to improve, and his 5-23 may mark an important turning point in his career.
Steve Harmison 7
Showed the virtue of having hit-the-deck bowlers in the middle of the innings. While he is in this form, England are a much stronger ODI outfit for his return.
James Anderson 5
Anderson's miserable one-day international form continued, although at least his economy rate was more respectable. Still, Ryan Sidebottom and Kabir Ali will fancy his place, for all his tremendous improvements as a Test bowler.

The Verdict
A 4-0 victory over South Africa almost defies belief. There are certainly some significant caveats - like England in South Africa in 2004/05, the tourists put everything into the Tests and clearly did not care much for the ODIs, while their side suffered from imbalance and a weak batting line-up from five down. Still, England can claim a considerable degree of responsibility for this. Flintoff was obviously phenomenal, while Prior, Patel and Harmison also offered marked improvements on those discarded after the New Zealand defeat. The result of it all is England's one-day side has a pretty convincing look - the openers did well; numbers three to six have shown they are excellent players, while Patel and Swann complement an imposing four-man pace attack. If they can win in India, then the notion of England being second may no longer seem preposterous.

Winter touring squads Part Two

A trip to India follows hard on the heels of the Antigua cash bonanza, which marks the start of England’s preparations for next year’s Ashes.

A seven match One Day series in India in mid-November would normally see a vastly different-looking team to one that performs in England, but only one change should really be expected. The spin department will require strengthening, so Swann will surely replace Wright in the first choice line-up.

Bopara will travel as reserve batsman and Mascarenhas’ ability to bowl cutters on the slower wickets should guarantee his recall. Tim Bresnan and Chris Tremlett will battle it out to join Sidebottom as back-up seamers and James Tredwell, a member of the preliminary 30 man Champions Trophy squad, could get the nod to provide a spin alternative.

The selectors might decide to take two wicket keepers, which will re-open perhaps their most discussed issue. That the same England keeper does not play more than three consecutive series is one of the safest cricket bets around.

Matt Prior is guaranteed a berth and Pietersen’s apparent desire for consistent selection might see the Sussex gloveman regain his Test spot. A readymade One Day understudy exists in Steven Davies – three fifties and two tons in six NatWest Pro40 knocks this summer – although a more experienced stopper will be needed to challenge Prior in the Test series.

James Foster’s expertise in standing up to Danish Kaneria for Essex this term might be a crucial factor and he has improved his batting form at the right time, hitting successive unbeaten Championship tons. Tim Ambrose and Phil Mustard have had disappointing seasons and will be surprised to see their names in either party.

Another key area for discussion in the Test squad selection will be the top order. Alastair Cook, Pietersen, Ian Bell, and Paul Collingwood are guaranteed selection in a 16 man squad, but the necessity for two keepers, three spinners and four seamers to supplement Flintoff means two of Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss, Owais Shah and Bopara will miss out.

Pietersen might be reluctant to have two former skippers in his Ashes side, so the out-of-form senior pair might be omitted, as it is important to have as many places in the team as possible stable ahead of the Australia showdown. Bopara and Shah’s selection would necessitate another move in the order for Bell, this time to opener.

Patel and Prior can be viewed as top six batsmen, allowing plenty of back-up to be taken in the fast bowling department, although Harmison should be properly prepared after taking part in the preceding One Day series.

There are plenty of common names on my parties for the first leg of the winter tours, which is the route I believe the current regime want to go down.

15 man squad for three Stanford matches: Pietersen, Bell, Prior, Flintoff, Collingwood, Bopara, Wright, Patel, Swann, Broad, Anderson, Shah, Mascarenhas, Sidebottom, Harmison

16 man ODI squad for India: Pietersen, Bell, Prior, Shah, Flintoff, Collingwood, Patel, Swann, Broad, Harmison, Anderson, Bopara, Mascarenhas, Wright, Tredwell, Sidebottom

16 man Test squad for India: Pietersen, Cook, Bell, Bopara, Collingwood, Flintoff, Patel, Foster, Broad, Anderson, Panesar, Shah, Prior, Swann, Sidebottom, Harmison

Winter touring squads Part One

It’s time to start thinking about the winter touring squads and there is much at stake for both the selectors and players.

Due to the Champions Trophy cancellation, England’s international season is nearly over. The condensed nature of this summer’s home series – next year’s One Day series with Australia finishes on 20th September – means the players have an unfamiliar break from international cricket.

This window – they begin their three match Stanford bonanza on 26th October – also gives the selectors time to consider their options. They have been out of the firing line since the captaincy change and One Day resurgence grabbed the headlines, but Geoff Miller and his panel will again be under scrutiny, as there are some big decisions to be made.

Of course, picking the squad for Antigua is just half the job; the big money is made by those in the team and it will be a safe cricket bet that there will be no talk of rotation or burnout from the regular players on this short tour.

The Stanford matches are not just about making money; England play only one more Twenty20 match, against West Indies, before they begin their ICC World Twenty20 campaign next June. The selectors will therefore be keen to ensure that the players who cash the cheques in Antigua will be the same ones that commence the quest for England’s first ever global international trophy.

The One Day team’s current success might suggest that that squad picks itself, although it is worth remembering that Tim Ambrose, Ravi Bopara, Dimitri Mascarenhas and Graeme Swann – all currently out of the high-flying 50 over outfit – featured in the last Twenty20 match, against New Zealand in mid-June.

Ryan Sidebottom was missing for that clash and his persistent injuries, combined with Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff’s return to the bowling ranks, have seen him, against the cricketing odds, become a fringe player in the limited over set-up.

However, the all-round abilities of the current 50 over team – nine reliable batsmen and arguably 10 viable bowling options – suggests it will be hard for anyone to break into the team in Antigua.

Championship Review - Week 17

Most teams have three games left and eight teams could still win the Championship, while in Division 2, Worcestershire have a very good week off.

Division 1
Ahh, the great British summer. Evocative of such wonderful resorts including the home of the British seaside holiday. Unfortunately, this great British summer has been a bit damp, and the Surrey and Lancashire players could only manage four days on the beach as the Blackpool pitch wasn’t fit for cricket. Surrey now look doomed while Lancs are being drawn into the relegation dogfight.

On the other side of the Pennines, Yorkshire were also by the seaside entertaining Kent at Scarborough. Unusually for Scarborough, the pitch had something in it for the seamers early on and Kent were reduced to 227 all out despite a ton from Martin van Jaarsveld. Yorks then lost two early wickets before the pitch began to flatten out and 146 from Jacques Rudolph with support from Antony McGrath and Adam Lyth took Yorks to 457 and a big lead. Kent did much better second time round, with a ton from Neil Dexter, supported by Joe Denly and van Jaarsveld and some late order hitting from James Tredwell took Kent to 433 leaving Yorks needing 205 in 51 overs. In a remarkable turnaround, Yorks struggled with only Lyth able to get above 50 and were indebted to the bowlers seeing out the last fifteen overs to salvage a draw. Yorks stay in the relegation zone, albeit just 12 points behind Kent in 3rd.

There was another remarkable finish at Basingstoke, where Hampshire played host to Durham. Durham batted first and Will Smith made 70 out of a total of just 156, with Dimitri Mascarenhas taking five wickets. Mark Davies went three wickets better with 8 for 24 as Hants made just 96 in reply, Mascarenhas top scoring with 26. James Tomlinson then got in among the wickets taking five as Durham made 179 second time round leaving Hants needing an unlikely 240 for victory. At 77 for 5, victory was a long way off, but an unbeaten 94 from Sean Ervine took Hants to a victory that took them to just a point behind Durham in 5th. Durham would have gone top had they won.

A more mundane affair at Hove, as Sussex made 339 in their first innings before Nottinghamshire replied with 558 for 7, with centuries for Bilal Shafyat and Mark Wagh and 98 for Matt Wood. An unbeaten Murray Goodwin century and 93 for Mike Yardy led to Sussex to safety at 243 for 3 and a draw, which featured Chris Read bowling a couple of overs. That was enough to send Notts to the top of the table, while Sussex are 6th, five points above Yorkshire in 8th, who they still have to play twice.

So with the end of the season approaching, just 21 points separate the top eight teams in the Division. My predictions? At the bottom Surrey have too much to do and Lancashire look like a team in freefall. At the top, I genuinely don’t have a clue.

Division 2
With Worcestershire having the week off, Warwickshire had a chance to make up ground on their neighbours at the top. With Jonathan Trott scoring 181, the Bears declared on 476 for 9 against Derbyshire. Chris Rogers led the Derby from the from with an unbeaten 248 as Derby made 474, Ian Salisbury taking 5-fer. Warwicks then made 241 for 3 in their second innings, with Darren Maddy getting a ton and the game finished in a draw. Warwicks stay 2nd while Derby are now too far behind to maintain their promotion challenge.

Third placed Northamptonshire also had the chance to close the gap against struggling Glamorgan, the Welshmen making 287 with Johan van der Wath taking 5-fer. A century from Niall O’Brien and an unbeaten 202 from Lance Klusener (in a stand of 211) took Northants to 488 for 7. Glamorgan then made 238 in their second innings, with Monty Panesar taking four wickets, to leave Nothants requiring 38 to win with just 5 overs left in the game. Alex Wharf took three wickets to keep the chase in check and Northants finished ten runs short, which could be critical come the end of the season.

Essex still entertain hopes of promotion and they did their chances no harm against Leicestershire. In their first innings only HD Ackerman with 55 got into double figures as the Foxes made just 107, Darren Masters taking 5-fer. James Foster then hit his second century in two weeks with an unbeaten 132 as Essex made 335, despite five wickets for Claude Henderson. Chris Wright then took six wickets as Leicester capitulated to 154 and Essex won by an innings to just about stay in touch in 4th.

England Player Watch
Michael Vaughan returned to action and made just ten runs in his two innings. Rob Key didn’t do a lot better with 19 while Joe Denly hit two 50s. James Foster seems to have found some batting form to go with his fine wicket-keeping, unlike Tim Ambrose, who made just 5 for Warwickshire.

Adil Rashid made a useful 43 in Yorkshire’s first innings, but could only muster one wicket in each innings. Dimitri Mascarenhas took a 5-fer and contributed useful runs in Hampshire’s unlikely win, while Liam Plunkett went wicketless on what appeared to be a bowler friendly wicket. Monty Panesar took six wickets and scored an unbeaten 30 runs, as he committed his future to Northants

Player of the Week
As always, the context of the match is critical to deciding this, so while Chris Rogers and Lance Klusener both made unbeaten double hundred and Mark Davies recorded the best bowling figures of the season, they don’t make it this week. For an unbeaten 94 which steered Hampshire to an unlikely victory over title chasing Durham, this week’s player of the week is Sean Ervine.