Firebirds farewell duo after night out
Wellington have parted company with Twenty20 imports Jade Dernbach and Evan Gulbis, following a big night out in Nelson.
The pair, both aged 30, were not considered for the Firebirds’ clash with Auckland at the Basin Reserve on Thursday and won’t feature in the side again. Thursday’s match was to have been Gulbis’ last anyway and he has returned to Australia while Dernbach - a former England fast bowler - has been released from his contract.
The duo were reportedly out until 4am, the morning of Wellington’s match against Central Districts in Nelson on December 18. They both played in that nine-run loss, before Cricket Wellington (CW) and Firebirds management deemed Dernbach and Gulbis should be stood down for the Auckland match.
‘‘They were both not considered for selection for yesterday’s game because we were unhappy about how they prepared for the Nelson match,’’ CW chief executive Peter Clinton confirmed.
Gulbis was on a short-term contract, but Dernbach was meant to be in Wellington for the duration of the domestic Twenty20 competition. But that situation changed once Wellington omitted him from their team to play Auckland today.
‘‘He wasn’t selected in the travelling 12 for Auckland so, as I understand it, he went away yesterday evening, considered his options and came back this morning and said ‘in the circumstances I’m looking for a release to return to England’.
‘‘We gave that some thought and decided that was a fair request and probably a good outcome for everybody.’’
Dernbach took 1-37 in his four overs in Nelson, while Gulbis had 0-37 from three overs. Dernbach had an economy rate during his stint of almost 11 runs an over and Gulbis 9.80, to go with efforts of 18 and 10 with the bat, so it could be argued they’re not great losses.
Still, it’s not a great look from imports and Wellington aren’t on the lookout for replacements.
‘‘Everyone’s disappointed. We expect all of our cricketers to prepare in a professional way for a match and at all other times; training and recovery and any other requirements,’’ said Clinton.
‘‘So we’re all disappointed and none more so I’d imagine than the players involved.’’
This was Dernbach’s second stint with Wellington, while Gulbis came from the Stephen Fleming-coached Melbourne Stars.
At this stage there’s no suggestion the pair behaved poorly on their night out and the Firebirds’ players aren’t subject to curfews. The issue, said Clinton, was that the imports had been unprofessional.