Out of contract players 2015-16
 

As usual, there'll be players starting to move counties soon, so this thread is a little overdue. Post any rumours you've heard of here.

It seems increasingly likely that David Willey is moving to Yorkshire, and there's also rumours of Ben Duckett moving to Somerset (who are one of the few counties that need a keeper).

Gordon Muchall leaves Durham at the end of the season.

Also possibly leaving is Phil Mustard who is currently in talks with Glamorgan about an immediate loan move.

Surrey:

Vikram Solanki, Tim Linley, Chris Tremlett, Freddie van den Bergh, Aneesh Kapil all out of contract at the end of this season. No idea about any of their future plans. Linley had a brief successful loan at Sussex.

Kent:

Brendan Nash already been allowed to look for a new county.

Essex:

Monty Panesar - as well-documented, out of contract at the end of the season.

Jaik Mickelburgh - also out of contract I believe.

Worcestershire:

Injury-hit Gareth Andrew has been released and says he would like to find another county.

Other:

Ex-Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq has expressed a desire to return to county cricket.

Essex always have a lot of players out of contract as they only ever seem to give out 2 year deals. Panesar, Mickleburgh, Topley, Smith, Salisbury, Velani, Bopara, Pettini all out of contract I think. Bopara only ever signs 1 year contracts these days. I think Pettini will probabaly get a benefit next year. I wouldnt be surprised if Topley left.

It's a similar thing with Sussex. I suspect there will be a few that aren't renewed, like Anyon, Liddle, Zaidi and Piolet, plus Yardy retiring and Joyce may call it a day, though has one more year. Machan and Robinson need renewing but hopefully that'll just be a formality after having very good seasons.

Is there actually going to be much quality available this winter other than Willey and Duckett?

Topley would be one but it'd be pretty stupid even by Essex standards if we let him go.

David Willey confirmed to have signed for Yorkshire, on a three year deal.

I'm sure Harinath was also out of contract, but I'm guessing he's already been offered and signed an extension given his good form since scoring a century in each innings against Glamorgan in his first match of the season in June.

After the last relegation two years ago Alec Stewart publicly stated his disappointment that too many homegrown players had been allowed to drift away to other counties, suggesting that these players should not be released without a very good reason just because they haven't established a regular place by their early-mid-twenties. I'm guessing van den Burgh will be offered something, especially with the increasing prospect of Ansari being called up for England duty in the near future. Kapil is also still young and a handy batting all-rounder in the limited overs games. Solanki will turn 40 befroe the start of next season and has only played very occasionally in the first XI this year, so it's hard to see him being retained unless in some form of coaching capacity.

The pace bowling is less clear. Tremlett has continued to be plagued by niggling injuries, while Linley has barely featured and was loaned out to Sussex. Whilst Dernbach & Meaker are contracted to 2016, both have been troubled by injuries and neither has made any impact at all this season, and there has been speculation that they may be allowed to leave if a suitable move is on offer, but experienced players need to be replaced from somewhere, which isn't always straightforward. I wouldn't expect Tremlett & Linley to both be retained, but one of them possibly will, and I wouldn't be totally surprised if Meaker moves, as he seemed to slip down the pecking order more or less as soon as Graham Ford arrived as coach.

I'm surprised about Meaker. He'd get snapped up in an instant if he left.

Duckett has resigned for Northants, from their website:


Looking ahead Ripley commented ''Our plans to reinforce the squad are advanced; we are looking to add depth, quality and remain competetive in all formats - we will have more to say on further signings in due course. We recently announced Azharullah'a extension until the end of 2017 so we've already got the basis of an excellent squad for next year taking shape. Looking a bit further ahead we are making progress in securing other key players beyond the end of next year.

Resigned or re-signed?

surely you "resign from" something or "resign for" someone :)

that was a surprise. thought he would sign for a more glamorous county.

The big prize in free agency this winter

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33996392

he has another year left on his contract. He's not a free agent until the end of the next season.

Don't know what you mean.

Which makes this sound more like a contract negotiation tactic, rather than an actual move.

Lancs have released Paul Horton.

hmmm i'd be quite surprised if he is still at Derbyshire next year.

You can't particularly blame Footitt either, it's pretty much now or never for his England ambitions and taking wickets in the top tier would significantly benefit his case. He'd have hoped that would have been with Derbyshire's but this season has highlighted that is a mere pipedream, given our plummet back towards basement battlers.

Chris Rogers is reportedly keen on a return to County Cricket.