Some Thoughts on Next Season

At the moment it is not certain which division Warwickshire will be playing their Championship cricket in next year, but what is clear is that some changes will need to be made before their campaign starts.
I have had a lot of trouble finding out information about who we are signing, who we aren't signing and who we are releasing so more for my own use than anything else I have been trying to compile as much information as possible on our player activities at the moment:

Neil Carter - Has now been offered a new contract following the club's earlier announcement around August 2nd that he was surplus to requirements. It has not been announced whether he will be accepting this deal or not. (members forum, IC Birmingham)

Dougie Brown - Will not be offered a playing deal next season, but curiously is still meeting Povey on 17th September to "discuss his future". On September 06th it was reported that him and Reeve had offered their 'support' to the club, which seems to indicate a coaching function. (Members forum & IC Birmingham)

Alex Loudon - Is out of contract this season, but has expressed a desire to stay with the club (12th August - Post)

Michael Powell - is out of contract this season, but wants to stay (12th July - Mail)

Nayan Doshi - Following all the problems with his registration it seems as if he might not play for Warwickshire at all. He has had an operation on his shoulder and the club will monitor his progress. He has signed some odd contract that no doubt Mr Povey feels is awfully clever, but the upshot seems to be if he doesn't recover he won't really have a contract. It remains to be seen whether he would play with Botha.. (Forum)

Ant Botha - He has signed until 2009. He is not actually a Kolpak, as he discovered his dad was not his real dad, and his real dad was born in England. (IC Birmingham)

Vaughan Van Jaarsveld - Another problem registration, ultimately he will play in the squad from next season, as he is marrying his fiancée in the offseason, who apparently has an EU passport. (Forum)

Heath Streak - Has retired from the end of the season. I must confess I was never completely convinced by him as a bear, but this is a very good article on his contribution to the club.

Ian Bell - Povey has assured the members at the forum that he is on a very long term contract, which is good news following his frustration at not been picked for the C&G semi-final.

Jim Troughton - signed up for next two season (club website)

Tim Groenewald - signed up for next two season (club website)

Alfonso Thomas - he's South African, he's a little over medium pace. What's not to like? No confirmation yet, but I fully expect him as a Kolpak next season.

Michael Barnes - Has been released by the club (club website - updated 11/09)

Adam Shantry - Has been released by the club (club website - updated 11/09)

This is all the info I have on the current playing staff, if anyone knows anything else, please post a comment.

Rumours/potential signings:
Mushtaq Ahmed - at 37, one for the future. I don't think anyone apart from Mr Povey thinks we can get him. Latest news is that the post reported 05/09 that Povey hadn't given up on getting him, despite him agreeing a new contract with Sussex, because there have been "complications" in the negotiations. Confirmed on Cricinfo and the Guardian that he has signed for two more years with Sussex (11/09)

Stephen Flemming - has confirmed he will not be rejoining Notts next year. Although with NZ touring next year do we really need another half-seasoner??

Shane Bond - really? Do we not have enough injured seemers!? Anyway at least he is a real quick, but see above for problems with NZ players.

Boyd Rankin - Appears we might just be trying to raid Derbyshire. Has been reported that we have made a formal approach. But only 4 CC games for mediocre mid-table Div2 Derbyshire tells a story. I don't have any faith in our bowling coaching to bring through talent, so I don't see the point in signing him.

Niall O'Brien - It was reported that we had made an approach to Northants on Aug 15th (IC Birmingham), although it is all based on Tim Ambrose getting an England call. Not sure why he would want to come as an understudy...

It seems to me that our seem bowling department is the one that needs the overseas boost. Mushtaq is going nowhere and each county is only allowed one overseas - so where is Naved-Ul-Hasan going? 50 wickets at 28 in the championship suggests he is no slouch, he is out of the reckoning in the international team at the moment and Pakistan have virtually no cricket during the English summer, so he would almost certainly play every game. We are going after the wrong Sussex player in my opinion.