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CRICKET: Oxon eye up Test star Tudor

4:53pm Wednesday 30th December 2009 in Sport

Alex Tudor Alex Tudor

Former England paceman Alex Tudor has been in discussion with Oxfordshire with a view to joining next season.

Tudor is without a team after being released by Surrey earlier this autumn.

In his prime, Tudor played ten Test matches for England between 1998 and 2002.

Tudor’s Test debut came in the 1998/99 Ashes series in Australia.

The next summer he made 99 not out against New Zealand , the highest score by an English nightwatchman, which led him towards a Cricket Writers’ Club Young Cricketer of the Year award.

But his career has been blighted by a series of injuries.

The 32-year-old took 220 first-class wickets at an average of 28.41 in two spells at Surrey. His last appearance came against Northamptonshire in September.

Oxfordshire captain Ian Hawtin said: “I have spoken to Alex, but it’s too early to give any indication.

“We won’t have any more news before the New Year.”

Oxon have not had a professional player since Jamie Hewitt in the 2006 season, although Hewitt continued as a player and coach for two more years.

  • Pierre Lefort received the player -of-the-year award at Witney Mills CC’s presentation night.

Lefort scored 300 runs and took a record 58 wickets in the Oxford Times Cherwell League last summer.

The second team award went to Brian Anderson, who scored 226 runs and took 12 wickets.

Comments(48)

black socks says...
5:00pm Wed 30 Dec 09

How much will he want....£5k-£10k. Would that money not be better off spent elsewhere. He wont give a toss and will be injured most of the time.. how will oxon cricket benefit!!

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Red Rum says...
1:29am Thu 31 Dec 09

Lets hope Oxon get a decent physio in on a decent whack, because it'll be a waste of money!, they'd be better off giving money to clubs to nuture young promising players than waste money on players that wont make a matter of difference and to fund the silly old sods in blazers on a cheap holiday to Devon.!

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crofty says...
9:59am Thu 31 Dec 09

Coulndn't of put it better myself chaps, and i would think they would also have to take a bowling 12th man in case he pulls up in the worm up

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A FAIR WIND says...
7:29pm Thu 31 Dec 09

I agree chaps. If we have that sort of money, why do we not entice Stuart Hole to play more for Oxon. Sill a fine bowler at that level. We have to have someone there for the right reasons and I am afraid The Surrey man is not the right choice. C'mon Hawts we can do better.

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Power says...
1:17pm Sat 2 Jan 10

If Tudor plays for Oxfordshire you may as well forget about the entire youth and development structure for the sake of having a has-been injury risk for part of a season. Why not encourage some young players from OXFORDSHIRE to play for their county. There are plenty of good young players not playing for Oxford or Banbury to look at, perhaps selectors could go to some Cherwell league games to look at some of them or is that below them? There will be plenty of opposition to Tudor playing from around the county and to be honest, if you had seen him play during the last couple of years, you would question his attitude and commitment anyway.

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winevaults says...
6:51am Mon 4 Jan 10

hopefully he still bowls quick, looking forward to seeing some of the flat track, front foot minor counties batters smelling a bit of leather! can bat a bit too! 99 not out was it?
personally would love to have a former test cricketer in the oxfordshire ranks!

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Flat one says...
2:53pm Tue 5 Jan 10

Do you not think we are being a bit short sighted chaps?

Oxfordshire have produced 3 top young seamers in recent years but one has moved on to bigger things (well done Jack) and 2 of them do not want to make themselves available.

Those who are aspiring to play minor counties cricket but have not reached the standard yet (we are kidding ourselves if we think we have a good quantity of minor counties standard seamers to pick from) now will have someone they can really learn from.

I would much rather see oxon pay some money for someone who can really add a lot both on and off the field than bring people in from outside the county who are only marginally better than what we already have.

If Tudor can give everyone else in the squad a boost then get him in!

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davecherwell says...
10:21am Wed 6 Jan 10

Right - where are these seamers in and around oxon? yes Brooksy - well done and keep doing us proud for northants - other young seamers will for sure be snapped up by major counties for the forseeable future. Also the standard of wickets in the cherwell league makes for slow medium non penetrative bowlers (" Qoute given by Keith Arnold who i reckon knows a bit about bowling and cricket a that - anyone who argues this your clearly very recreational)

Even for minor counities players it will be a honor to play with a test cricketer and pick his brains. I also believe he will be doing some work with the junior cricketers.

Hope this doesn't offend the right wing oxford locals. Give us the names of these seam bowlers and let us all laugh out loud

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davecherwell says...
10:22am Wed 6 Jan 10

Right - where are these seamers in and around oxon? yes Brooksy - well done and keep doing us proud for northants - other young seamers will for sure be snapped up by major counties for the forseeable future. Also the standard of wickets in the cherwell league makes for slow medium non penetrative bowlers (" Qoute given by Keith Arnold who i reckon knows a bit about bowling and cricket a that - anyone who argues this your clearly very recreational)

Even for minor counities players it will be a honor to play with a test cricketer and pick his brains. I also believe he will be doing some work with the junior cricketers.

Hope this doesn't offend the right wing oxford locals. Give us the names of these seam bowlers and let us all laugh out loud

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Steps TDCR says...
1:58pm Thu 7 Jan 10

If it gives Oxfordshire the chance to be more competitive and push themselves forward then that can only be good. It will then give the younger players the opportunity to get noticed if Oxforshire are doing well. So for that reason alone I think it is a good call. Generally the quick/meds bowling standards in the county are not great and I don't see that any decent players miss out. The Oxford / Banbury scouting network is proficent enough to take care of that. Wise words from flat-one!

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black socks says...
7:24pm Thu 7 Jan 10

I dont see how the younger players can get noticed steps if they are not playing, I am sure the majority of people would like to see players they know and have seen improve through the ranks instead of players from out of the area, who it seems pick and choose when they play. Just an opinion!

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The third man says...
12:36pm Fri 8 Jan 10

Lets get to basics - Oxfordshire CC spending "our" money on a pro which benefits who ? The eleven playing the game - the selectors on the boundary - and ??? The local leagues are against overseas players and their logic also applies here. Okay Hawts you captained a side that won a-b-c in 2010 and will go down in record accordingly but with a majority of players who play locally. No !
Can some one advise us how Hewitt benefited the County on a coaching and a playing basis and then maybe we may see the bigger picture.

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Flat one says...
2:09pm Fri 8 Jan 10

First of all 'The third man' I do not think it is on for you to single out individuals on here and question their motives and motivations. Especially when these people volenteer their time and you are able to hide behind a false name.

Hawts is a very reasonable man, if you wanted to discuss this with him I am sure he would oblige.

This is a forum for opinon and if you have an opinion it is no more or less valid than the next mans. But you clearly know nothing of Hawts and how much time and effort he puts back into cricket so I suggest you leave him out of it.

As far as how much coaches put back into oxfordshire, that is clearly intagable. There is no real way of measuring what people have gained from a coach.

Young seamers in the county may now have, if Tudor signs, the opportunity to play alongside, be coached by and learn from a former test cricketer. This a dream come true for most.

There are at least 3 seam bowling spots to be filled and with Brooksy at Northants, others unavialable and Arnie probably one injury away from retirement any young seamer in the county could be sharing that new ball with a former England player. What an opportunity for them!

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Coach111 says...
2:51pm Fri 8 Jan 10

Surely, we don't want to go back to the days when the county side included half a team that was just not good enough & got beaten most of the time.

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davecherwell says...
1:53pm Sat 9 Jan 10

personal attacks on oxon players isn't helping -from experience I can say that playing with top payers who have much more experience than you (not village, overweight, limited ones) pushes you to improve yourself. Most players will agree that just one gem of advice can really transform a young player - of last years squad that i watched their seemed to be quite a few oxon lads playing.

Can anyone - in a now non-aggressive manner mention any young oxon seamers who are ready to bowl in a three day game? or are worth looking at? perhaps this debate could be useful?

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Captain Britain says...
9:18am Mon 11 Jan 10

Interesting pros & cons guys.

But at the end of the day, is Tudor the right man? A look at his record is worth a thought first, and I'm not just on about his injuries. Is he really going to be "up" for it?

We may have some lean pickings here in Oxfordshire, but surely picking Oxfordshire players who "want" to play is the way to go.

It must be about building for the future, and if that means a lean season, but with some new young blood getting valuable experience, then surely that's the way to go.

If it's a case of "learning/coaching" surely that money would be better off having a few sessions with a top level coach instead?

Dave - I heard the young Paul Humphrey's showed some good form last year. Might be worth a look?

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Coach111 says...
9:25am Mon 11 Jan 10

As someone who in the past has been involved with Oxfordshire cricket (but not the senior side) I have in the past few years been pleased to see the 1st team doing rather well. Despite what others on this comments section may say the vast majority of the players have in the past played their club cricket in the county.
Rather than obviously uninformed comments being made i would much prefer to see constructive ideas ie if you are saying that there are players that should be considered for selection & at present are not then, name them.

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Keen Observer says...
10:04am Mon 11 Jan 10

Tudor has a first class record of 351 wickets @ 31 with a strike rate of 51 on mainly the 2 flattest pitches in the country in the Oval and Chelmsford, I would say his record is pretty good and more than good enough to be playing for Oxfordshire.

If the guy didn’t want to play he wouldn’t, I’m sure he isn’t been offered a Premiership salary to play for Oxfordshire and he could get more money playing somewhere else. As for the injuries he will be playing a lot less so he should be fitter and have less problems. I think its a good move and would benefit the team and the young seamers who he would be working with in the Development Team and playing alongside in the full county team. For me there is nowhere near the quality in the seam department in Oxfordshire for us not to consider bringing in a pro. Hopefully with Tudor working and playing with our young bowlers more will come through to be good enough.

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Captain Britain says...
10:57am Mon 11 Jan 10

Very true Keen Observer, but like many like minded people like yourself, we must stop reliving past glories and look to the future.

Is Alex Tudor the future of Oxfordshire cricket - somehow I think not.

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Keen Observer says...
11:16am Mon 11 Jan 10

Captain Britain wrote:
Very true Keen Observer, but like many like minded people like yourself, we must stop reliving past glories and look to the future. Is Alex Tudor the future of Oxfordshire cricket - somehow I think not.
Who would you say is the future Captain?

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Captain Britain says...
11:41am Mon 11 Jan 10

Certainly not someone who is injury prone that is going to cost OCCA a fair bit of readies.

I'm sure Clive Ricks is available to do that - and he'll do it for free!

What about the Development Squad below for starters?

M Ali, S J Ali,J W Barrett, A R Blanchard, J A Brooks, J Faruq, M Hancock, D J Harding, A Harris,
F Khalid, A Khan , D H Morris, A Morteza, E R Phillips, C J L Sandbach
D Smith, ED SMITH, Patrick Stern,
C P Watling, J C R West, J M Williams

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Keen Observer says...
12:57pm Mon 11 Jan 10

Not the best example CB, this is the Development team from 3 seasons ago! Also not sure apart from maybe and if he is fit khalid who you suggest could open the bowling in place of Tudor for Oxfordshire?

A fine man and coach that Ricksy is, I think that Tudor might be more suitable to the younger generation, just going back to you comment on "we must stop reliving past glories " there CB.

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Captain Britain says...
1:12pm Mon 11 Jan 10

The Ricksy point was meant in jest KO.

Good observation! You have helped lead me in to my next point. Surely the development squad from then must be ready? If not, someone's not doing their job properly in selection or coaching - surely?!

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Keen Observer says...
1:34pm Mon 11 Jan 10

Very good, he's still a fine man/wine connoisseur/raconteu
r with a classical side on action!

Sandbatch, Ali, D Smith, West, E Phillips, all played 3 day cricket for Oxfordshire last season + J Brooks played 1st Class Cricket. I would say that’s a very good percentage of players coming through from the Development team. It would it would compare well against, Bucks, Berks, Herts, and Beds

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Captain Britain says...
2:08pm Mon 11 Jan 10

My point exactly!

No need for Tudor then!

You are pushing my point forward with every posting - thanks!

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Coach111 says...
2:15pm Mon 11 Jan 10

CB, the problem is bowling & that is borne out by the players you have listed.
The county needs seam bowlers to come through. apart from Hole & Brooks there don't appear to have been any that are good enough.

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Keen Observer says...
2:16pm Mon 11 Jan 10

About from none of them bowl apart from Brooks who cant play for Oxfordshire! That been the main point!

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Coach111 says...
2:27pm Mon 11 Jan 10

Interesting that the previous participants have failed to come up with names.

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The third man says...
9:30am Tue 12 Jan 10

Coach111 wrote:
Interesting that the previous participants have failed to come up with names.
Its not about coming up with names, it is the principal. Okay we may have a shortage of "class" opening bowlers so you coach111 would just rather bring in a paid pro. We probably do not have a shortage of bowlers who would like to be given a chance to prove themselves. Chas Taylor was never going to play for Oxon but served Middlesex well for a number of years ! I see our current position as just an opportunity to try unproven new talent or is it all about winning. I have always seen the Minor county game as an opportunity for young players to progress in the game not the other way round. Yes we will have good years and yes some bad. And when good they will bring pride to the whole county for the right reasons.

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Coach111 says...
10:25am Tue 12 Jan 10

The Third Man, I am not sure what objectives the County has but, one would assume that when a side is selected it is done on the basis of winning the game as with any cricket team playing competitively.
If, as you suggest Minor Counties is there as opportunity for young players to progress in the game, then maybe Oxfordshire togther with all the other counties (including first class) need to change there objectives. However, Oxfordshire would no longer be a representative side but merely a Development team. This may then mean that the top level club cricket then takes over as the best cricket available in the county leaving the county side meaningless.

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davecherwell says...
11:41am Tue 12 Jan 10

Now I must say that i think all the chat has now been productive. A more balanced view and one that mah help oxon.

I agree a short termist view isn't going to help the side but I have a few issues.

Please don't be fooled by the awarding of level 3 etc by the ECB. This really is a load of Sh**e! Often the worst coaches get through these awards and can't relate to young or experienced players. As a coach you need to have a few things

A) Be able to communicate and enthuse (Tudor can do this as a pleasant and well liked man).

B) Have either experienced the game or studied it vigorously (Tudor has these qualities in spades).

C) Go past merely saying whats wrong - but show ways to move forward.

With 351 firs class wickets, sorry if this wrong, on surfaces including bouncy, dry, low, green, slow, he will have a lot of information to share.

He will also be able to use experiences abroad - and lets face it will have played with/ or been coached by, some steady minds fletcher, medlycott, Gooch, lloyd, Stewart, Thorpe, Bicknell, Gouch, Caddick, Fraser, Saqlan Mushtaq,

I don't want to sound biased - by if my son was a young 17 year old bowler - I'd want Tudor not some OCA/ cherwell medium pacer tolearn from

come on forget the money think of the quality.

By the way hes a gun batter as well - dont be fooled by thinking that first class cricket is easy

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The third man says...
11:41am Tue 12 Jan 10

coach111 you are so right !! Ironically a well known first class player, Burns the ex pro keeper for Somerset, actually questioned the benefits of county cricket to this game, as he believed there to be many fine and potentially better cricketers who did not wish to turn pro but were happy just to play at the highest club level possible.

Representative - your definition is strange.
ps
I would only play a sport to win and be competitive; that is an emotion and does not rely on making up a side with ex pro's, win at all cost

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Coach111 says...
11:51am Tue 12 Jan 10

Should we therefore just get rid of both Minor County & First class County cricket then?
Therefore, no Oxfordshire Cricket Board, just club cricket.
Interesting thought.

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davecherwell says...
12:16pm Tue 12 Jan 10

get rid of 2nd xi cricket

make minors better

improve standard of club cricket (travel further) old players )40 + who dont like to travel bye bye)

aussie system - most wickets, catches, runs, get picked

minor county every sunday one day

midweek l3 dayers for top minor players

just a thought

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Coach111 says...
12:38pm Tue 12 Jan 10

Dave, People in the ECB should take note of your suggestion. Simple really.

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Mr Singh says...
9:58am Wed 13 Jan 10

Hot off the press news.....
I hear Mr Tudor has signed for Aston Rowant...and has bought a house close to the ground

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Coach111 says...
11:16am Wed 13 Jan 10

That would be great news for Rowant.
Dissapointing that the likes of Power, Red Rum or The Third Man have still failed to come up with any names of bowlers that the County should be considering. Please chaps, you should only criticise when you have sensible alternatives.

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scenicafc says...
12:02pm Wed 13 Jan 10

i would have thought the powers that be might want to have a look at a few of the players from Horspath i dont think they did a bad job last year in the league the top team in oxfordshire, certainly for the development squad.

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Red Rum says...
2:20pm Wed 13 Jan 10

The best seam bowler outside Prem is Lee Mason 44 wickets at 11 tells it own story, shame he needs patching up every week for us. End of the day i'd ask A Smith at Great tew he is decent and i'd rather the county went that way. Yes Tudor is quality but my OPINION i'd prefer they went that route with solid localised players.
We finished third last season great effort from a team with an average of 24. Not one selector chose to watch my seamers for the county development read the handbook when out it's impressive reading by the bowlers. One player got a call up 17 year M Meredith recommended by Arnie and he bowls 3 overs 1 4 16 in 90 throughout the match. westy, smity bowl 40 between them. Where is the development in that?. But dont worry if he wants to bowl more we'll send him to Oxford!. :)

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Coach111 says...
2:56pm Wed 13 Jan 10

Is that the same Lee Mason that played for Bicester some years back?
As for the Smith lad i understood he was an Aussie. Can they play Minor Counties?

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Flat one says...
4:20pm Wed 13 Jan 10

So we have had 40 comments, plenty of which suggesting we pick young Oxfodshire seamers, but the only 2 names any of the nay-sayers have put forward are a bloke in his mid 30's from Bucks and an Aussie who is ineligable. Fine work boys! admittedly Lee Mason was a fine bowler in his time at Beaconsfield when i used to play against him, haven't seen him bowl for years though. But not really young, or from Oxon!!

P.S sec words are 'home-lead' how ironic!

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Coach111 says...
4:31pm Wed 13 Jan 10

Correct Flat one, the non sayers have been given their chance & failed. It is rather dissapointing that we have these critics who rather than support there county board, just criticise & then cannot back it up.

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Red Rum says...
5:26pm Wed 13 Jan 10

Smith married an English girl proberly more English than trott, kieswietter and co.
If he does come in as pro would the OCB send him around clubs to work with the best seam bowlers for an hour or two might aswell utilise his ability and produce better seamers so that Arnie aint running in to bowl when he is 90!. happy new year Jim

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Flat one says...
12:07pm Thu 14 Jan 10

Happy new year to you too Robbie.
Smith maybe moer english that a few england players but bizarrely the rules are tighter for the Minor Counties Championship, the HCPL and the Cherwell than they are for playing for England. So as good a bowler as he is Smith remains ineligable.

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Steps TDCR says...
3:31pm Thu 14 Jan 10

Disappointed you didn’t put me forward Red Rum! I am younger than Arnie and took 20 last year at 15 a piece and a strike rate of 25 (under-bowled I reckon) and I seem to remember a stone wall LBW that was turned down a few years ago against you! Oh and I can take Mondays off !!

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Coach111 says...
3:35pm Thu 14 Jan 10

All the joking aside boys, no one has actually come up with any suitable suggestions. Perhaps, that does highlight the problem.

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tuffers fan club says...
4:07pm Thu 14 Jan 10

gents, if tudor is going to put the yards in off the field as .well,ie, working with the next generation of seamers, something i have never seen arnie (legend) or rowe ( who ) doing it will be a great move for oxon. I also heard recently that tudor has brought a farm in Great Tew and is keen to play for them. so would playing in div 2 of the cherwell put the selectors off.

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coatpeg says...
1:29pm Fri 15 Jan 10

Coach111 wrote:
All the joking aside boys, no one has actually come up with any suitable suggestions. Perhaps, that does highlight the problem.
I think you might be right Coach111. After all of these posts perhaps that is what we can deduce....that there isnt anyone else. Perhaps bringing in Tudor is the best option.

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