We'll suffer in the t20 as a result of this, that is pretty much a certainty. But by all accounts he would have left in 12 months time any way, when his contract was up. I mean, come on, it was getting to the point last season where he couldn't even get into our one day team, let alone our four day team. Maybe in five or ten years time he might be in a position in his career where he's happy to play just t20 cricket and a bit of one day cricket, but right now he has to continue to try and make it in the four day game.
Fair play to us therefore for agreeing to let him go now. We could easily have put our foot down and insisted he stayed. But clearly that wouldn't have been fair on him, and it might have risked his t20 performances for us next season dipping slightly. We've done the right thing for him, even though it's probably not the right thing for the club or us supporters.
It'll be interesting if this now changes our winter spending plans. Extra wages available to use, an extra space available in our t20 side.
I wonder how Will Beer feels now. That could be the end for his time at Sussex now. In many ways, he was their Briggs - able to get into the limited overs teams, but sidelined for four day cricket.