Durhamfootman wrote:in fairness, Rimmer, while nothing like the quality, was always likely to be more fit, more often, at the time. I had no problem with the decision made... the spectre of Harmison taking the club that nurtured him to the cleaners was still looming large... nor did I have a problem with Bunny upping sticks in consequence. When the decision was made, we had a top quality, high earning, but ageing player for whom injury was becoming increasingly problematic, coinciding with the fallout from FTECB imposing swingeing and crippling financial penalties on the club. It was the sensible decision under the circumstances. Lancs could afford to take a punt on him, and indeed Chapple said, that when they signed him, they expected him to only be available for some of the time, but that that 'some' was worth it to them. Of course it was.... different ball game for them.
That Bunny went on to stay fit for far longer than even he could possibly have hoped for is typical of our luck, but also perhaps an indictment of our fitness dept, for whom none of us, justifiably, have any sort of regard
Yep. His insistence on a two year deal rather than a rolling one was something he could have compromised on.
My feeling at the time was we probably should have taken the risk given so many others had jumped ship and I remember him playing the last few games looking much more like his old self. Very tricky though with his injury issues, money in short supply and the Harmison experience.
I see Bancroft is in the Aussie test squad.