OVERSEAS POLICY NOT FOR ME...

THEY have started with a bang down on the south coast at Hampshire. A thrilling win against Yorkshire in the opening round of matches was followed up with a plucky draw against Middlesex.

While I admire Hampshire’s appetite for on-field success, I have reservations about the way the county is operating to attain it and the omission of Mason Crane from their First XI this season before today’s match against Yorkshire – a player who has worked tirelessly to improve over the winter in Australia – doesn’t sit well with me when they have a plethora of overseas talent on the park instead (see letter below).

There is a twist of irony because Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove always took great pride in seeing his young players – like Chris Tremlett – make their senior breakthroughs. For all his efforts to bring in the Shane Warnes and the Kevin Pietersens, blooding the kids was a key part of his remit and the county really bought into that.

❚ Great to read Monty Panesar’s very open and honest interview in the Daily Mail last week. Monty is facing up to life without a county this summer but, more importantly, he is facing up to the mental health issues that have plagued his personal life in recent years. There has to be a county out there for Monty. At 34 age is not on his side, but it is not yet against him. It’s a punt worth taking for a side who may just get more than they are bargaining for.