Northants decide on future without Vaas

By Paul Bolton, County New Correspondent

Northamptonshire have confirmed that they will not be re-engaging former Sri Lanka all-rounder Chaminda Vaas as their overseas player next season.

Vaas returned home early from his third season with Northamptonshire, which was blighted by injury and in which he took just six wickets in as many LV= County Championship matches.

“He has contributed a great deal to Northants during his time here, but I would also pay tribute to his standing in the international list of greats,” said Northamptonshire coach David Ripley.

“I have felt for Chaminda as he has strived for fitness but has just not been able to beat the injuries this year. A real gentleman of cricket, we wish him all the very best in his future.”

Vaas first arrived at Wantage Road in 2010 as a specialist Twenty20 overseas player and scored 412 and took 23 wickets to take Northamptonshire into the quarter-finals.

Last year he took 70 first-class wickets and scored more than 400 runs but he was a pale shadow of his former self as he laboured through the first half of this season.

Northamptonshire have yet to decide whether they will sign a new overseas player to replace Vaas or instead invest in domestic recruits to strengthen their squad.

They have already released batsmen Ben Howgego and Rob White and seamer David Burton and have given Ireland international wicketkeeper-batsman Niall O’Brien, who is under contract for a further year, permission to speak to other counties.

Seamer Jack Brooks has also exercised a get-out clause in his contract and has announced that he will be playing elsewhere next season with Middlesex favourites to sign the England Lions player.

But Northamptonshire have offered new deals to seamer Luke Evans, whose season was ruined by a back injury, and South African slow left-armer Con de Lange.


Date: 19/09/2012 15:05:57 by Paul Bolton
In: Today | Northamptonshire |