Jos Buttler leaves Somerset to seek full wicketkeeping role
by Richard Rae
Cricket news, scores and fixtures
• Lancashire and Warwickshire battle for England ODI player
• Kieswetter is preferred behind the stumps at Taunton
Jos Buttler is leaving Somerset, the county has confirmed. Buttler, who has won 19 England one-day international and 25 Twenty20 caps as a wicketkeeper-batsman, is expected to join Lancashire, although Warwickshire are also understood to be competing for his signature.
Somerset's chief executive, Guy Lavender, confirmed the 23-year-old had decided to move because he has not been keeping wicket for the county, a role currently performed by Craig Kieswetter.
In a statement Lavender said: "Both Jos and the club have worked extremely hard over the last few months to find a solution, which satisfies Jos's understandable desire to have more time behind the stumps in order to advance his international career.
"However the club, on a matter of principle and pragmatism, feels unable to offer a guarantee to Jos – or any other player – of selection in their preferred role. Such a situation would be unfair on team-mates as well as those selecting the side."
Buttler said: "I am very sad to be leaving Somerset but feel it is a decision I must take in order to develop my expertise as a wicketkeeper. I am immensely grateful for all the help and support that everyone at Somerset has given me which has shaped the player and person I am today."
However, speculation that Marcus Trescothick was considering retirement has been dispelled, with the former England opener saying he intends both to keep playing and to remain Somerset captain, despite the county enduring a disappointing season during which his own form has been relatively poor.
The former England opener failed to score a century for the first time since 1998, with his 804 championship runs coming at an average of 27.72. Somerset spent the season fighting relegation, with their survival confirmed only when Derbyshire were beaten by Warwickshire on Thursday.
On the field at Trent Bridge, a potentially exciting final day drifted disappointingly to a draw as Nottinghamshire finished one place above their opponents. That a large crowd was in the ground hoping to see the home side win their first County Championship Division One match in 11 seemed to be an irrelevance as Notts, having long since made the game safe, extended their second innings well into the afternoon session before being dismissed, leaving Somerset a purely notional 333 to win off a maximum of 45 overs.
A flat wicket and short boundary on one side did not help but the sense that neither side cared too much after Derbyshire's defeat on Thursday ensured neither could be relegated was also palpable.
"What we wanted to achieve out of this game we did in the first three days," said Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, Mick Newell.
Newell also confirmed that the county would be looking for an overseas bowler for next season, rather than a batsman as has been the case in recent years.
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Richard Rae
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