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Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Gloucestershire face mass exodus with nine players potentially heading for exit
Blast champions Gloucestershire are the non-Hundred host county most vulnerable to a raid on their playing squad from bigger clubs after English cricket's contracting window opened. From June 1 counties have been allowed to formally approach players in the last year of their contracts about a move next season. Gloucestershire reached June 1 with an unusually high number of players out of contract – nine. Among this group are Ajeet Singh Dale and Zaman Akhter, the exciting fast bowlers who played for England Lions this week, as well as promising all-rounder Tom Price, fast bowler Dom Goodman, and stalwart batsman Miles Hammond. The likes of Surrey and Lancashire are thought to be interested in Singh Dale and Akhter, while Price – who, like Goodman and Marchant de Lange, is currently injured – can expect a slew of suitors too. Gloucestershire have made contract offers to all the players, but they have chosen not to commit by June 1 in order to explore the market. It is highly unlikely that all nine will leave, and club officials are confident that a good number will sign extensions. In addition, Price's brother, the batting all-rounder Ollie, has another year remaining on his deal, but is thought to have a clause that could allow him to leave this year. It seems unlikely that he will, though. Under club legend Mark Alleyne, who joined as head coach ahead of the 2024 season, Gloucestershire have defied a tricky time to build an exciting squad. Last year, they won the T20 Blast for the first time, and they are in the hunt for promotion to Division One next season, sitting fourth in the table. Nevertheless, a chaotic couple of years off the field have resulted in players entering the final year of their contracts. In December 2023, Telegraph Sport revealed that Gloucestershire were considering selling their historic Nevil Road Ground – their home since the days of WG Grace in 1889 – to developers and moving to a site outside Bristol. This would allow the club to bank up to £40 million for the city centre site, then diversify their business at an out-of-town venue in the manner that Hampshire have with the Utilita Bowl, which as well as two cricket ovals has hotels, a golf course and conferencing and events facilities. While the move is not imminent, Gloucestershire announced in April this year that they had signed a non-binding heads of terms agreement for a site at Swanmoor Stoke, which is situated between Severn Beach and Patchway in the north-west outskirts of Bristol. Such a move would help alleviate financial concerns at the club. In the last three sets of annual accounts, Gloucestershire's losses are £570,000 (2022), £1.2 million (2023), and £414,000 (2024). After losing Beau Webster and Zafar Gohar to other counties this winter, Gloucestershire signed Cameron Green. That represented a real coup, but the deal was funded by a generous member. There was major administrative churn in 2024, too. Chairman David Jones was removed by the members at the 2024 AGM, and long-standing chief executive Will Brown stepped down a few months later. At a similar time, the local business Arron Banks – one of the 'bad boys of Brexit' – launched a bid to take control of the club, which fizzled out. Eventually Neil Priscott was promoted to replace Brown, while Peter Matthews stepped in as chair and the pair appear to be bringing some welcome stability. It is increasingly common for players to move from so-called smaller counties to wealthier Test grounds. That trend could be accelerated in the coming years, with host venues taking control of their Hundred teams, potentially widening the gap between the haves and have-nots. Each non-host county is in line to receive a one-off payment in excess of £25 million when the Hundred deal is completed. However, there are guardrails from the England and Wales Cricket Board in place for how that money is used, such as paying down debt and improving infrastructure – Gloucestershire's new ground could be an example of the latter. It is not designed to pay players more. The perceived attractions of bigger counties are not only that they are able to pay players more, but also provide better facilities for training, while deeper squads mean their workloads can be managed better. Gloucestershire are not alone in being vulnerable to a raid. Kent have three key young players out of contract: batsman Tawanda Muyeye, all-rounder Joey Evison and fast bowler Nathan Gilchrist. It is thought that around half the counties could be interested in signing Muyeye, who was born in Zimbabwe but will qualify for England in the next couple of years. Essex made a statement by securing Sam Cook's signature, and it is thought that all-rounder Paul Walter, who has done well opening the batting in the County Championship this year, is close to following. Of their key players, Michael Pepper remains out of contract. A pair of loaned-out all-rounders could leave Somerset, too. Ben Green has spent the Championship campaign on loan at Leicestershire, and could leave Taunton in search of more red-ball opportunities. England Lions all-rounder Kasey Aldridge has gone on loan to Durham for the Blast, which would appear to make them favourites to sign him if he left Somerset. Somerset also have bowlers Jake Ball and Josh Davey out of contract, while it seems inevitable that the England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir will leave the club, where he sits behind Jack Leach. With England, that pecking order is inverted.
News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Who Is Ajeet Singh Dale, Indian-Origin Medium-Pacer To Play For England Lions?
Last Updated: Ajeet Singh Dale, Gloucestershire medium-pacer, is all set to play for England Lions against India A. Star Gloucestershire medium-pacer Ajeet Singh Dale is all set to take the field for the England Lions when they take on India A in an all-important clash for the two sides, with quite a few eyebrows being raised as to who Ajeet is and how the 24-year-old's career has panned out till now. Born in July 2000 in Berkshire, Ajeet is a right-arm medium-pacer and right-handed batter, known for his contributions in the former role. Ajeet started his professional career with Hampshire, making his first-class debut in 2020 during the Bob Willis Trophy. He picked three wickets on debut against Sussex, including that of England allrounder Ollie Robinson. He bagged four wickets in two matches that season, at an average of 18.25. A new career-best of 7-110 for Ajeet Singh Dale, with celebrations to match — Rothesay County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 17, 2025 Ajeet signed with Gloucestershire in 2022 on a multi-year deal, with 2023 proving to be a breakout year for him. He made his T20 debut against Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI but conceded 44 runs in his three overs in that game. Ajeet made his List A debut in the Royal London One-Day Cup and bowled an economic spell of 4-0-24-0 against Surrey. It was in the 2023 season that Ajeet achieved his career-best bowling figures of 6/41 against Worcestershire. Bowling with express pace, Ajeet's talents as a fast bowler have earned him recognition with the Lions as well, in which he showed his potential on the broader stage, and is now set to play against India A. Ajeet is coming off a brilliant performance in the recent County Championship match against Kent. He picked up nine wickets in that game earlier this month, seven coming in one innings. He has picked 22 wickets in five matches in the tournament at an economy of 3.45. Meanwhile, a clutch of frontline Indian Test players, including opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, will be eager to acclimatise to English conditions during India A's first four-day unofficial Test against the England Lions. Apart from Jaiswal and Nitish, the India A team has Abhimanyu Easwaran, Dhruv Jurel, Karun Nair, pacers Akash Deep and Shardul Thakur.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Green century rescues day for Glos against Kent
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (day two)Kent 424: Stewart 182, Benjamin 93; Singh Dale 7-110Gloucestershire 307-4: Green 102*, Bracey 69*; Ball 2-67Glos 5 pts, Kent 5 ptsMatch scorecard Cameron Green demonstrated true grit in scoring a much-needed hundred to extricate Gloucestershire from a spot of bother on day two against to 139-4 in reply to Kent's first-innings 424, Gloucestershire were indebted to their overseas hired hand, who registered a battling 102 not out from 150 balls with 12 fours and a shared in a revitalising unbroken fifth wicket stand of 168 with James Bracey to steer the home side to the relative safety of 307-4 by the close, just 117 runs behind. Bracey finished unbeaten on 69 from 134 balls and Gloucestershire are already two batting bonus points to the Ball took 2-67 and Nathan Gilchrist and Grant Stewart claimed a wicket apiece as Kent applied themselves diligently in the field. But the visitors will have to make the new ball count in the morning if they are to shift pressure back onto their opponents in a contest which looks increasingly likely to end in a their first innings on 386-6, Kent had earlier lost their last four wickets for the addition of 38 runs, Ajeet Singh Dale returning career-best figures of 7-110 from 26 overs. He accounted for Stewart and Chris Benjamin, who scored 182 and 93 respectively in staging a partnership of 264 - a record seventh wicket stand in all matches for Kent, who were dismissed in 110.4 may have still been some shine left on the relatively new ball, but it was back to business as usual for Stewart and Benjamin, Kent's seventh wicket pair requiring four overs to bank a fourth batting bonus point. For their part, the home side desperately needed wickets and skipper Cameron Bancroft threw the ball to Singh Dale, Gloucestershire's most incisive bowler on day claimed his first five-wicket haul of the season in his third over from the Ashley Down Road end, inducing Stewart to play a tired shot and edge to second slip. Having advanced his career-best first-class score to 182 from 189 balls, hit 20 fours and five sixes, the Italy international walked off to a standing ovation with the scoreboard on partner in runs departed soon afterwards, Benjamin attempting to drive Singh Dale and nicking off to wicketkeeper James Bracey, who took a straightforward catch to see Benjamin go for 93 from 244 deliveries. The patient Benjamin had defied Gloucestershire for five-and-a-half hours, transforming an innings that had been deep in trouble on 137-6 on the first with an opportunity to improve upon the career-best 6-41 he took against Worcestershire at New Road in April 2023, Singh Dale ran in hard, located Ball's outside edge and raised his arm in celebration before even Bracey had pouched the catch that further reduced the visitors to 414-9. He was denied an eighth victim when Zaman Akhter had Kashif Ali held at deep backward square to bring the innings to a close shortly after top order batsmen scratched a mere eight runs from 10 overs against a new ball that nipped off the seam on the first day, but Gloucestershire openers Bancroft and Ben Charlesworth encountered few problems on an essentially flat surface as they safely negotiated 12 overs to reach lunch on 48 without there was just enough assistance from the pitch to keep the Kent seamers interested and Stewart effected a breakthrough early in the second session, Bancroft prodding defensively outside off stump and nicking to slip. Gloucestershire's skipper had scored 26 from 36 deliveries and staged an opening stand of 54 with Charlesworth inside 13 overs to at least afford the innings a decent and Stewart mustered sufficient movement off the pitch to trouble the batters, but left-handers Charlesworth and Ollie Price played steadfastly, punished the bad ball when it came along and gradually laid the foundations for a meaningful partnership. Gloucestershire's progress was smooth until Charlesworth fell into a trap set for him, pulling a short-pitched delivery from Ball and holing out to deep backward square for an 87-ball 41. The second wicket pair had added 45 in 13.5 overs and Gloucestershire were last they batted together, Price and Miles Hammond had staged a stand of 203 for the third wicket in a drawn match against Lancashire. Still in good touch following his career-best 253 at Old Trafford, Price played some glorious shots in raising 40 from 51 balls with nine fours, only to be pinned lbw by Gilchrist with the score 119-3. It felt like a big wicket and Kent were positively on a roll when Hammond fell for 18 soon afterwards, playing a back foot defensive shot to a fullish delivery from Ball and offering a catch to Tawanda Muyeye at first slip. Having lost three wickets for 40 runs in 7.4 overs, Gloucestershire were 139-4 and under mounting pressure, still 285 and Bracey ensured the home side reached the tea interval without further mishap on 156-4 and these two continued to build steadily as conditions eased in the final session, going to an assured 50 partnership from 120 balls. Green made a hundred on debut for Gloucestershire at Canterbury last month and clearly enjoys playing against Kent. He went to 50 from 106 balls on this occasion, reaching that landmark with his fourth four, a back foot force through the covers off began to flow and the fifth wicket pair required only 62 balls more to raise the hundred partnership as Kent's bowlers began to tire. Playing the supporting role to perfection, Bracey went to 50 via 101 balls with his tenth four, a cut shot off Kashir Ali. Gloucestershire banked a second batting bonus point and there was still time for Green to move to his hundred from 146 balls, the Western Australian heaving Kashif through mid-wicket for his twelfth four to spark raucous celebrations among those who had stayed on into the early evening sunshine. ECB Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Stewart century gets Kent back on track against Glos
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (day one)Kent 386-6: Stewart 173*, Benjamin 82*; Singh Dale 4-97Gloucestershire: Yet to batGlos 1 pt, Kent 3 ptsMatch scorecard Grant Stewart posted a brilliant hundred to inspire a notable Kent fightback on the opening day of the County Championship match against Gloucestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium in backs firmly against the wall after being reduced to 137-6, the visitors were indebted to the seventh wicket pair of Stewart and Chris Benjamin, who staged a revitalising unbeaten stand of 249 in 56 overs to rescue a parlous situation. Stewart registered a career-best score of 173 not out from 174 balls with 19 fours and 5 sixes, while Benjamin contributed a cautious yet chanceless 82 not out, as Kent reached the close on and Benjamin made history in the Bristol sunshine, establishing a record seventh wicket stand in all matches for Kent, eclipsing the 248 scored by Arthur Day and Punter Humphreys against Somerset at Taunton in 1908. It was a remarkable turnaround in fortunes after Gloucestershire's bowlers had dominated the first few hours, Ajeet Singh Dale claiming 4-97 and Tom Price and Josh Shaw weighing in with a wicket apiece to justify captain Cameron Bancroft's decision to bowl a solid start, Kent achieved exactly the opposite, Harry Finch pursuing Shaw's second delivery of the day outside leg stump, offering a tame catch to James Bracey behind the stumps and departing for one. That set the tone, Tom Price sending down four maidens in five overs that yielded just one run as Ben Compton and Daniel Bell-Drummond fought to see off the new resistance quickly crumbled in the face of a fiery spell from Singh Dale, who generated impressive pace to remove both in the space of seven balls from the Ashley Down Road end. Bell-Drummond miscued an attempted drive and spooned a catch to mid-on, while Compton, having taken 19 balls to get off the mark and demonstrated no little application in moving his score to 19, drove loosely at a delivery that pitched outside off stump and was pouched by the diving Bracey as Kent slipped to Leaning never looked comfortable, was squared up by Singh Dale and sent a looping catch to Cameron Bancroft at second slip, at which point Singh Dale boasted figures of 3-22 from five overs. The only one of Kent's top-order batsmen to play with any authority, Tawanda Muyeye raised 25 before edging a ball that nipped off the seam to the reliable Bancroft at second slip, affording Tom Price the wicket his accuracy deserved. In urgent need of a stabilising influence, the visitors were grateful to Benjamin and Jaydn Denly, who ensured they reached lunch without further loss on to play positively, England Under-19 batsman Denly helped himself to a sumptuous cover-driven four at the expense of Tom Price to signal a change in momentum as Kent's first innings realised three figures in the 33rd over. Failing to maintain the tight lines that had characterised their work in the morning, Gloucestershire's seamers were powerless to prevent the sixth wicket pair adding 63 in 15.3 Dale returned to break the partnership, beating Denly for pace with a ball that ricocheted off bat and pad and hit the top of off stump. Denly had mustered 39 from 51 balls and was two runs adrift of his highest first-class score when he departed with the board on Singh Dale's second spell, Benjamin and Stewart found the going easier thereafter as the pitch flattened out and the shine disappeared off the ball. Adopting a forthright approach from the outset, Stewart was prepared to take risks and looked to get on the front foot and drive whenever possible. He was first to 50, attaining that landmark via 51 balls as Kent passed 200. The Australian pulled Graeme van Buuren for six to add to his half dozen fours as the visitors reached the tea interval on a relatively healthy 225-6 at the end of a session that had yielded 140 runs for the loss of just one raised a half century of his own, carefully crafted from 129 balls, as the seventh wicket alliance continued to prosper into the final session. The hundred partnership occupied 177 balls, at which point Bancroft recalled the talismanic Singh Dale. Although he went past the bat on several occasions, the 24-year-old paceman was unable to provide the breakthrough Gloucestershire off his legs, Stewart positively rushed to the second first-class hundred of his career, edging Zaman Akhter to the fine leg boundary to raise three figures via 120 balls with his twelfth four. He hooked the next ball to deep mid-wicket and was caught by Tom Price, only for the unbalanced fielder to step over the rope and concede a six, an act which helped Stewart improve upon his previous highest score of 103 made against Middlesex at Canterbury in took the new ball as soon as it became available, but were unable to curtail Stewart's lusty hitting, the 31-year-old by now scoring at better than a run a ball to progress to his maiden 150 from 152 deliveries as Kent reached the close resurgent. ECB Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
