Corey Collymore to depart Middlesex
LONDON, England (AFP) — Former West Indies fast bowler Corey Collymore is to leave Middlesex after the Lord’s-based county announced yesterday they would not be offering the 35-year-old a new contract.
Collymore has spent three seasons playing for Middlesex, helping the club win the Second Division County Championship title in 2011 and taking 86 wickets in 33 first-class appearances at an average of 29.03.
Middlesex managing of director of cricket Angus Fraser said Collymore, who played 30 Tests for the West Indies between 1999-2007 and has also had spells in county cricket with Warwickshire and Sussex, was being released to give the London club’s young fast bowlers a chance of first-team cricket.
“It is not a coincidence that Corey’s three years at Middlesex CCC came during a period when the club has made considerable progress,” former England seamer Fraser said in a Middlesex statement.
“He is a wonderful pro and an exceptional man. He is proud, honest, hard-working and has set a wonderful example to our young and seasoned cricketers. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him.
“At Middlesex CCC we are fortunate enough to have a number of talented young fast bowlers who need to be pushing for first-class cricket. The challenge for them is to seamlessly fill the hole created by Corey’s departure.
“Like Middlesex’s previous Barbadian cricketers — Wayne Daniel, Desmond Haynes, Roland Butcher and Pedro Collins — Corey will always be welcome at Lord’s,” Fraser added.