The case for an overseas batsman
Warwickshire are busy hunting for an overseas fast-bowler for next season. Ashley Giles and Allan Donald are out there like Hercule Poirot and the redoubtable Hastings detecting around the globe.
They are on the case. But a case could be made that their target should be an overseas batsman.
The Bears' top-order options, as they stand, don't have much depth and, while each of those options is capable of having a fine season in 2009, each has a caveat.
Ian Westwood - Must deal with the demands of captaincy.
Darren Maddy - Vulnerable early in his innings. If he gets in, then a big one may well follow but failed to reach double figures in ten of his 21 championship innings last season.
Tony Frost - Can he reach the same heights again, with the additional demands of a benefit?
Jonathan Trott - Averaged 19 with the bat last time in Division One.
Jim Troughton - Well, you never quite know do you?
Ian Bell - Probably not available much.
Tim Ambrose - Might not be available much and must deal with the baggage of being on the periphery of the England team, which is more difficult and wearing than being a regular in it.
All these chaps are capable of scoring big runs next season but will enough of them do so? And, of course, will enough of them stay fit? Two injuries simultaneously would pose a big problem.
So would the Bears be better off bringing in a Rohan Kanhai-type figure to add serious weight of runs?
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Brian Halford - Brian Halford’s look at Edgbaston.
1. That looks very much like the top 6 that helped us get relegated - minus Sangakarra
2. Any fast bowler wont be fast after a month - think Dale Steyn.
So yes - another deecent bat plz.
Yes, a batsman. What about Martin Love or one of the other just-below-Test-status Aussies that score heavily in county cricket.
The 2009 fixtures, by the way, according to the ECB, will be made public on December 18.
Something tells me Tiny Tim will be VERY available.
A last a voice of reason. I have been on about this since the end of the season. The current batting is just not good enough. Without the runs on the board we just won't have a chance. What's the point of having a second rate fast bowler when we only have 200 on the board.
Rant over....................
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I share your concern Beatie. While the bowling is not worldbeating I think it has enough in it - Ian Salisbury especially - to potentially win a few matches.
But without runs on the board, as you say, the bowlers are pretty helpless.
I agree a decent and reliable batsman would be best, when we won the championship last i've always thought it was largely down to Brad Hogg's lower order batting (admittedly he was hired as an overseas bowler).