Mishra move strikes hitch (From Worcester News)

Mishra move strikes hitch

6:00am Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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AMIT Mishra’s move to Worcestershire has been thrown into doubt after the Indian leg-spinner was named in his country’s emerging players squad.

The 26-year-old will head to Australia later this month for the Emerging Players Tournament from July 20 until August 1.

But the Delhi star has also been named in India’s initial 30-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, which begins in South Africa on September 24.

It is believed the County have started work permit application proceedings for a player to replace Australian all-rounder Ashley Noffke next month.

The 32-year-old heads back Down Under to join his new club Western Warriors after making the switch from Queensland Reds.

With work permits taking longer than a month to go through due to more complicated procedures, Worcestershire know they must move quickly to secure an overseas player for the final six weeks of the campaign.

The County admitted last week that Mishra, who played five Tests in the autumn, was one of the targets they had spoken to with a view to replacing Noffke.

It is thought the County were moving closer to securing his signature.

But, with Mishra in Australia until the start of August and in the 30-man squad for the Champions Trophy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India may want the player to rest when he returns from Down Under.

Mishra has taken 20 Test wickets at 29.65, which includes a five-wicket haul on his debut against Australia, while he has 337 wickets at 25.94 in first-class cricket overall.

Having played for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League, he has scored 1,931 first-class runs at 19.5.

Should Steve Rhodes capture Mishra, there will still be plenty of County Championship cricket to be played with the season not ending until the last weekend of September.

Worcestershire, who head to Lancashire tomorrow (11am), are yet to win a game in Division One this season and seem set for an immediate return to Division Two.

If Mishra does come to New Road, it will be likely the director of cricket will play two spinners with the Indian teaming up with Gareth Batty.

That would also leave left-arm spinner Ian Fisher’s future at the County in doubt after he signed a one-year contract in the autumn following his release from Gloucestershire.

The 33-year-old Yorkshireman was signed primarily for Worcestershire’s one-day campaign but the signing of another spinner, even for a short space of time, is likely to leave Fisher staring at a New Road exit.