Usually this isn't really deserving of a thread, but with the amount of CA contracts set to be reduced, an increased salary cap not looking likely and just generally all the success stories over the past few seasons it seems player movement will be higher than ever in the 2012 off-season. Which is of course a good thing, because we ant the best 66 players playing, and if 38 of them come from QLD whatever.
I intend for this to be the thread to post all the articles, rumours and confirmed signings that happen over the next 6 months, and also for good discussion to take place.
It's worth noting is that Australia is scheduled to head to India to play 4 tests in February to the end of April (eg last 2-3 games of the season + Final) so teams will need to consider what impact that'll have on their squad. We've seen this season the trouble that brought.
So here's a post about what I think each squad needs and what it can lose.
Queensland:
Wants: Top order batsmen (More than one), keeper (depth)
Surplus: Seam bowlers (More than one)
Champions, but as the final showed it's nothing to do with their long dysfunctional top order. I feel for them a bit because they did lost Forrest, which was their off-season attempt to help fix that, and to be fair, pre-BigBash it wasn't as bad as it usually is, but come crunch time it crumbled. Bowling wise they ain't got s**t to worry about. You'd expect QLD to lose some of their fast bowlers so any new signing would just be depth. SA or WA might attempt to grab their OD keeper Ben Dunk meaning they'll need to get another one. They've been linked to Daniel Christen and Usman Khawaja. I was worried given his injury woes this season that James Hopes might consider retiring (making the Christen acquisition a straight swap) but given his heroics in the final that might not happen anymore. Oh and Luke Pomersbach is in QLD so they might throw a contract to him.
Surplus players: Ben Dunk (maybe), Luke Feldman, Chris Swann, Scott Walter
SA:
Wants: Top order batsmen (More than one), Wicket keeper, spinner (depth)
Surplus: Seam bowlers (Not really that much of a surplus, but it's their strength currently)
Another s**t FC season. No surprise there. They need a total revamp and with Jamie Cox, the head of SACA free from moonlighting as a selector he seems keen to finally do it. I disagree with most of the article really (Callum Ferguson captain? Jesus christ) but hey better than doing nothing. The one thing that always strikes me whenever I see the SA squad is, apart from how s**t it is, is the amount of players who are List A players only pretty much - Blizzard, Borgas, Haberfield, D. Harris, O'Brien - so I'd like to see them sort that out. I'm not saying get rid of them all, but if you're giving contracts to players who aren't likely to play test cricket for Aus(not something I'm against) why not give them to _quality_ players, even if their overseas or 30yo+ veterans?
They obviously need a wicket keeper, but they might struggle to get one, they need openers, and they might one or two, they need a spinner to cover for Nathan Lyon and they overall, they just need a star or two. Esp. if they lose Christan. So far they've been linked to Nic Maddinson (like it), Steve Smith (Like it, but don't want to see him gone from NSW) and James Muirhead (young Victorian leg spinner), Ryan Harris (Like it) and Peter Handscomb (way back) which would all add to the squad. I've also decided to link them to Mitchel Johnson, which I think could be a great move but has about a 0.2% of happening and of course, as is my way, I want them to get an overseas player.
Surplus players: Uh none really. None that play both formats anyway.
WA:
Wants: Wicket keeper, spinner (depth), general depth
Surplus: Veteran batsmen and seam bowlers
Thinking about it, WA probably had the most complete team of the season (eg good batting and good bowling and decent enough depth) but the injury gods just hammered them. As a result, I don't really see the need to make big changes to the team. Simon Katich seems to be done already, making their middle order: Shaun Marsh, Marcus North, Simon Katich, Adam Voges. Which is, you know, great. It also allows them to bat Mitch Marsh at 7 and their new keeper at 8, which works out pretty good. Oh and Mitchell Johnson might be at 9... I'd like to see Simon Katich throw his name out to open though, just in case Wes Robinson goes back to sucking and Mitch Marsh lifts his batting output or something.
Beer looks like he'll be the reverse spinner in that Indian tour, so they'll need to develop another spinner but outside of that, and the keeper, everything is looking pretty spiffy. They've sought permission to sign Peter Nevill but I really don't see NSW letting him go, given he's contracted. But as above, the new keeper might only need to bat at 8, so they might just stick with their current keepers. They've already got a young batsman-who-can-bowl-spin-a-bit in Tim Armstrong over from NSW.
Surplus players: Travis Birt (ha), Jason Behrendorff, Matt Dixon, Ryan Duffield and so on. If their bowlers stay fit...
VIC:
Wants: Wicket keeper (reserve)
Surplus: Batsmen (general), seamers
Like WA, Victoria look to be developing a pretty good squad and I can't really think of any pressing needs. Ryan Carters didn't shine as Matt Wade's replacement so a reserve keeper to cover Wade is probably the most immediate need. Bowling wise they're pretty set, with about the only big debate to be whether to keep Darren Pattinson on as depth.(no-brainer for me)
With Michael Hill set to be fit again next season I would have thought one of Handscomb/Finch/Hill might be leaving, cause next season Dussey won't be missing as many games 'cause it's only a 5 game series against the WI instead of a tri series, and White and McDonald won't be dropped. So you're looking at Quiney/Rogers/Dussey/White/McDonald in the top 5 for most of the season. Oddly enough however they've been linked with Phil Hughes...?! So I dunno know Rogers might be planning to leave or something. But yeah that's the strangest rumour I've seen so far.
John Hastings and Clint McKay returning to full fitness may mean a couple of seamers leave town. No idea where'll they look for their keeper.
Surplus players: D. Pattinson, Finch, Handscomb, Scott Boland
TAS:
Wants: Top order batsmen (one + depth), middle order batsman (depth), seam bowler (one + depth), spinner (depth)
Surplus: Wicket keeper, all-rounders
A few areas to work on for Tassie, which seems odd for the best performed team over the last two seasons. They def need an opener 'cause steve Cazzulino ain't a very solid option imo, and Cowan will miss the last couple of games next season anyway. Rogers could be an option if he leaves VIC but I think they'll just be looking 'round Sydney grade for an option (Sam Robson.......) and hope Cazzulino can step up. I think Faulkner bats too high at 6, but next season Paine could be back and batting at 6, so I'm not sure if they really need a middle order batsman to come straight into the team, but they def need a depth option to replace Kruger.
Jason Krejza needs to **** off as reserve spinner, although Doherty shouldn't miss the backend of the season next season. So a new depth FC spinner, and they need a starting seamer to replace Hilf, as well as a depth seamer to replace Drew who blows hard. Adam Maher could fill one of those roles though, and some guy up in Sydney grade the other.
I guess they should fight hard to retain Triffet 'cause who knows with Paine. Not much else in the surplus column, and not much linked to Tassie yet.
Surplus players: Tom Triffet A few all-rounders like Johnston too I guess
NSW:
Wants: Depth players of all sorts
Surplus: Talented players of all sorts
A diabolical season for NSW. But I see their role more along the lines of QLD and VIC, you know, losing talented players. This is mainly because a reduced amount of CA contracts hits NSW hardest - Smith, Usman, Hughes, Bollinger, Hauritz will hit NSW's cap hard and I don't really see how everyone can stay, and so notable players from interstate is probably not an option either. But also because I think NSW should be fine losing some under-performing players with a profile like Nic Maddinson and doing a revamp of what they've got (And more importantly, cleaning out the behind the scenes people like the selectors...).
For me retaining Steve Smith and Peter Nevill is the big thing, and making them the new captain and vice captain, and if that means losing Hughes and Usman so be it. Signing Sam Robson to an overseas contract is a no-brainer. I'd try to keep Katich but that's a losing battle it seems.
I think most of the signings will come from within NSW eg youth players and grade players like Chris Tremain who bring low salary cap hits. The two things they might look interstate for is an youngish all-rounder, because they seem to want to play 5 bowlers every game, which is fine when Moises Henriques is playing, but when he's injured...and a reserve keeper because Daniel Smith is Daniel Smith.
Surplus players: Nic Maddinson, Nathan Hauritz (who is a very interesting case, I think he'll stay at NSW), Burt Cockley, Josh Lalor, Sean Abbott, plus the guys like Usman. And Brad Haddin.
I didn't actually proof read this so I hope it isn't too horrible to read.
I intend for this to be the thread to post all the articles, rumours and confirmed signings that happen over the next 6 months, and also for good discussion to take place.
It's worth noting is that Australia is scheduled to head to India to play 4 tests in February to the end of April (eg last 2-3 games of the season + Final) so teams will need to consider what impact that'll have on their squad. We've seen this season the trouble that brought.
So here's a post about what I think each squad needs and what it can lose.
Queensland:
Wants: Top order batsmen (More than one), keeper (depth)
Surplus: Seam bowlers (More than one)
Champions, but as the final showed it's nothing to do with their long dysfunctional top order. I feel for them a bit because they did lost Forrest, which was their off-season attempt to help fix that, and to be fair, pre-BigBash it wasn't as bad as it usually is, but come crunch time it crumbled. Bowling wise they ain't got s**t to worry about. You'd expect QLD to lose some of their fast bowlers so any new signing would just be depth. SA or WA might attempt to grab their OD keeper Ben Dunk meaning they'll need to get another one. They've been linked to Daniel Christen and Usman Khawaja. I was worried given his injury woes this season that James Hopes might consider retiring (making the Christen acquisition a straight swap) but given his heroics in the final that might not happen anymore. Oh and Luke Pomersbach is in QLD so they might throw a contract to him.
Surplus players: Ben Dunk (maybe), Luke Feldman, Chris Swann, Scott Walter
SA:
Wants: Top order batsmen (More than one), Wicket keeper, spinner (depth)
Surplus: Seam bowlers (Not really that much of a surplus, but it's their strength currently)
Another s**t FC season. No surprise there. They need a total revamp and with Jamie Cox, the head of SACA free from moonlighting as a selector he seems keen to finally do it. I disagree with most of the article really (Callum Ferguson captain? Jesus christ) but hey better than doing nothing. The one thing that always strikes me whenever I see the SA squad is, apart from how s**t it is, is the amount of players who are List A players only pretty much - Blizzard, Borgas, Haberfield, D. Harris, O'Brien - so I'd like to see them sort that out. I'm not saying get rid of them all, but if you're giving contracts to players who aren't likely to play test cricket for Aus(not something I'm against) why not give them to _quality_ players, even if their overseas or 30yo+ veterans?
They obviously need a wicket keeper, but they might struggle to get one, they need openers, and they might one or two, they need a spinner to cover for Nathan Lyon and they overall, they just need a star or two. Esp. if they lose Christan. So far they've been linked to Nic Maddinson (like it), Steve Smith (Like it, but don't want to see him gone from NSW) and James Muirhead (young Victorian leg spinner), Ryan Harris (Like it) and Peter Handscomb (way back) which would all add to the squad. I've also decided to link them to Mitchel Johnson, which I think could be a great move but has about a 0.2% of happening and of course, as is my way, I want them to get an overseas player.
Surplus players: Uh none really. None that play both formats anyway.
WA:
Wants: Wicket keeper, spinner (depth), general depth
Surplus: Veteran batsmen and seam bowlers
Thinking about it, WA probably had the most complete team of the season (eg good batting and good bowling and decent enough depth) but the injury gods just hammered them. As a result, I don't really see the need to make big changes to the team. Simon Katich seems to be done already, making their middle order: Shaun Marsh, Marcus North, Simon Katich, Adam Voges. Which is, you know, great. It also allows them to bat Mitch Marsh at 7 and their new keeper at 8, which works out pretty good. Oh and Mitchell Johnson might be at 9... I'd like to see Simon Katich throw his name out to open though, just in case Wes Robinson goes back to sucking and Mitch Marsh lifts his batting output or something.
Beer looks like he'll be the reverse spinner in that Indian tour, so they'll need to develop another spinner but outside of that, and the keeper, everything is looking pretty spiffy. They've sought permission to sign Peter Nevill but I really don't see NSW letting him go, given he's contracted. But as above, the new keeper might only need to bat at 8, so they might just stick with their current keepers. They've already got a young batsman-who-can-bowl-spin-a-bit in Tim Armstrong over from NSW.
Surplus players: Travis Birt (ha), Jason Behrendorff, Matt Dixon, Ryan Duffield and so on. If their bowlers stay fit...
VIC:
Wants: Wicket keeper (reserve)
Surplus: Batsmen (general), seamers
Like WA, Victoria look to be developing a pretty good squad and I can't really think of any pressing needs. Ryan Carters didn't shine as Matt Wade's replacement so a reserve keeper to cover Wade is probably the most immediate need. Bowling wise they're pretty set, with about the only big debate to be whether to keep Darren Pattinson on as depth.(no-brainer for me)
With Michael Hill set to be fit again next season I would have thought one of Handscomb/Finch/Hill might be leaving, cause next season Dussey won't be missing as many games 'cause it's only a 5 game series against the WI instead of a tri series, and White and McDonald won't be dropped. So you're looking at Quiney/Rogers/Dussey/White/McDonald in the top 5 for most of the season. Oddly enough however they've been linked with Phil Hughes...?! So I dunno know Rogers might be planning to leave or something. But yeah that's the strangest rumour I've seen so far.
John Hastings and Clint McKay returning to full fitness may mean a couple of seamers leave town. No idea where'll they look for their keeper.
Surplus players: D. Pattinson, Finch, Handscomb, Scott Boland
TAS:
Wants: Top order batsmen (one + depth), middle order batsman (depth), seam bowler (one + depth), spinner (depth)
Surplus: Wicket keeper, all-rounders
A few areas to work on for Tassie, which seems odd for the best performed team over the last two seasons. They def need an opener 'cause steve Cazzulino ain't a very solid option imo, and Cowan will miss the last couple of games next season anyway. Rogers could be an option if he leaves VIC but I think they'll just be looking 'round Sydney grade for an option (Sam Robson.......) and hope Cazzulino can step up. I think Faulkner bats too high at 6, but next season Paine could be back and batting at 6, so I'm not sure if they really need a middle order batsman to come straight into the team, but they def need a depth option to replace Kruger.
Jason Krejza needs to **** off as reserve spinner, although Doherty shouldn't miss the backend of the season next season. So a new depth FC spinner, and they need a starting seamer to replace Hilf, as well as a depth seamer to replace Drew who blows hard. Adam Maher could fill one of those roles though, and some guy up in Sydney grade the other.
I guess they should fight hard to retain Triffet 'cause who knows with Paine. Not much else in the surplus column, and not much linked to Tassie yet.
Surplus players: Tom Triffet A few all-rounders like Johnston too I guess
NSW:
Wants: Depth players of all sorts
Surplus: Talented players of all sorts
A diabolical season for NSW. But I see their role more along the lines of QLD and VIC, you know, losing talented players. This is mainly because a reduced amount of CA contracts hits NSW hardest - Smith, Usman, Hughes, Bollinger, Hauritz will hit NSW's cap hard and I don't really see how everyone can stay, and so notable players from interstate is probably not an option either. But also because I think NSW should be fine losing some under-performing players with a profile like Nic Maddinson and doing a revamp of what they've got (And more importantly, cleaning out the behind the scenes people like the selectors...).
For me retaining Steve Smith and Peter Nevill is the big thing, and making them the new captain and vice captain, and if that means losing Hughes and Usman so be it. Signing Sam Robson to an overseas contract is a no-brainer. I'd try to keep Katich but that's a losing battle it seems.
I think most of the signings will come from within NSW eg youth players and grade players like Chris Tremain who bring low salary cap hits. The two things they might look interstate for is an youngish all-rounder, because they seem to want to play 5 bowlers every game, which is fine when Moises Henriques is playing, but when he's injured...and a reserve keeper because Daniel Smith is Daniel Smith.
Surplus players: Nic Maddinson, Nathan Hauritz (who is a very interesting case, I think he'll stay at NSW), Burt Cockley, Josh Lalor, Sean Abbott, plus the guys like Usman. And Brad Haddin.
I didn't actually proof read this so I hope it isn't too horrible to read.