Lawdy Miss Clawdy...

I read tonight that a number of counties are "clamouring" - not my word - for the signature of Worcestershire spinner Gareth Batty.

"When a player of Gareth's quality becomes available, you have to be interested," said Ashley Giles, Warwickshire's Director of Cricket.

Let's get this right. This year, Warwickshire have enjoyed the skills of New Zealand off spinner Jeetan Patel and his six wickets at 66. They're now hoping to replace him with a man who currently has eight first class wickets at 84...

He'll be in good company with some of our former players there. Boyd Rankin (17 wickets at 41), Ant Botha (10 at 61) and Rikki Clarke (7 at 71).

If Batty goes there and says it is for his England ambitions, someone take him his pills. He has more chance of becoming Miss World than an England player bowling at Edgbaston. It also makes the efforts of Jake Needham (7 wickets at 50) resemble the new Jim Laker.

Coming one day after I questioned the spin bowling talent in the country, it merely emphasises how bare the cupboard really is. Somone mailed me to say I'd omitted Monty Panesar from my list of good spinners, but the truth is that I think he's gone backwards over the last two seasons and his eight wickets at 74 supports that view somewhat.

So in answer to the question "would I like to see Batty at Derby"?

No thanks. He's a decent one day, tight bowler, but nothing more. A decent bat, but nothing more. A good fielder, but no better than we already have.

Says it all really.