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Giddins ready for prompt start at game's lower level

By Geoffrey Dean

22 August 1996

A PHILOSOPHICAL Ed Giddins said yesterday that he sees playing as a professional in league cricket as the way forward following his 20-month ban for taking cocaine. ``I'd even be available to play this Saturday,'' said the Sussex fast bowler, who is considering whether or not to appeal against his suspension.

Giddins, who is precluded from appearing in first-class and Minor Counties cricket but not in the leagues, is hoping for the rest of this season to benefit from the 'deputy pro' scheme, which applies in certain northern leagues. If a club pro pulls out a day or two before a match, a stand-in can be enlisted to act as a temporary substitute. Devon Malcolm played recently as a sub-pro for Werneth in a Central Lancashire League game and was paid #200.

Giddins is desperately keen to fix up a contract with a club for the 1997 season. ``Cricket's my trade and I've got to play. Like everyone, I've got a mortgage.'' He can expect offers from clubs in the biggest-paying leagues in Lancashire and Yorkshire. This summer, Rishton are paying Allan Donald #20,000, a one-off figure that Giddins would have no chance of getting. A sum of around #10,000 is more realistic.

Clubs in the Lancashire League can afford these figures thanks to gate receipts (#500-#600 per match) and bar takings.

The Birmingham League, arguably the strongest in the country, is another possibility. Old Hill captain, David Banks, the former Warwickshire batsman, confirmed yesterday that his club would be interested in Giddins. He could expect around #8,000 from them for the season, which includes 20 league games, six less than in the Lancashire League.

One place Giddins says he will not be playing next year is the Sussex League. ``There's no money in it,'' he said.

The Sussex player's father, businessman Simon Giddins, a veteran MCC member, yesterday criticised the Test and County Cricket Board's punishment of his son. He said: ``This ban is a terrible shame for him because cricket really needs mavericks like him. One of the game's greatest stars, Ian Botham, was once villified for taking drugs but no one cares about that, they just remember what a fantastic cricketer he was. I haven't even told Ed off for taking cocaine and all the family will just rally round him at the moment. He's basically a good boy but is a maverick ... and this was a silly, stupid mistake.''

Source: The Electronic Telegraph
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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 15:01