Ollie Rayner to join MidWest Rhinos for 20/20

[Train Driver]

News on the Sussex site today that 24 year old off spin all rounder Ollie Rayner is to join Rhinos for the Stanbic 20/20 tournament.

Ollie has had a difficult time at Sussex, his off spin bowling is his main forte and he has had to give way to Mushtaq Ahmed in the past and to Piyush Chawla to a certain extent last season, he is a very tall lad and able to get good bounce and turn on his day, he is also a very good catcher, mainly at slip, and has the ability, not shown often enough, to score runs. He is also thought of highly enough to have been named as a member of the England High Performance squad.

He hasn't appeared in 20/20 since 2007, Sussex have tended to use leggie Will Beer, Chawla or use spin bowling batsmen to fill in.

http://search.cricinfo.com/england/cont ... 10296.html

I'm quite surprised to hear this today, he is looked upon as much more of a 4 day player than limited overs but he is a totally committed player who will give his all for Rhinos i'm certain, he will have the added incentive of putting himself forward for the Sussex 20/20 side next season if he does well in Zim.

[zimfan1]

Good signing for the Rhinos as he can give Cremer some much needed support with the ball and chip in down the order.

If i remember correctly he was the main spinner for Sussex early last season but then lost his place to the young leggie Beer.

Think he needs to work on his PR as from his interview he does not come across as having to much respect for the Zimbabwean domestic scene.

[aydee]

http://www.sussexcricket.co.uk/sussex-t ... iesID=2393

[Train Driver]

Have to agree zimfan1, i've just had a chance to watch the interview, Ollie didn't exactly give the impression that he was the brightest light in the room, did he ?

Maybe he'd just had a hard session in the gym, he usually comes across a lot more positively than that and far more friendly as well

Fingers crossed he'll do the business on the field if called upon, fingers crossed for Rhinos fans that is .....

[Robin]

I wonder if this is part or totally funded by Sussex. It could be a sign of things to come with wealthy English counties sending players to Zim to develop their game off season.

I also wonder if this came about during discussions with Murray Goodwin or about Murray Goodwin with Sussex.

[sloandog]

I had no idea that he was born in Germnay Ya learn something new everyday. Yeah i agree with both Zimfan1 and Train Driver on the fact that he seems very negative with the state of Zimbabwean Cricket. If he'd bother to read some articles on cricinfo he'd have noticed that the standards are rising daily, and it won't be as easy as he thinks. Also, it looks like he has a bit of an attitude about him. My apologies if i'm being a little harsh, but i just get the impression that he's got hint of arrogance about him. I don't like that in a cricketer. He reminds me of Graeme Swann in the way he speaks and acts on camera. Personally i think it's great that the english guys are coming over, but i'm not liking the fact that some of them may look at Zimbabwean Cricket as a net and nothing more. They couldn't be more wrong as they'll be tested by some very talented young players. I wish Rayner all the best, although i question his look on our domestic structure.

[Mike]

Ollie is a tall person to be a spinner! Hes not a bad spinner he did against my county team, Lancashire. I think he will leave Sussex soon, especially since they have got Monty Panesar in there team for 2010

[sloandog]

Hes not a bad spinner he did against my county team, Lancashire.

That makes 2 of us. I support and live in Lancashire too

[Mike]

Hes not a bad spinner he did against my county team, Lancashire.

That makes 2 of us. I support and live in Lancashire too

I actually don't support Zimbabwe though, hahah I support England, but I'm fascinated about the new Zimababwe Domestic cricket structure and the road back to test cricket. I really hope that Zimbabwe come back to test cricket! In your day, you often put up a fight, not like Bangladesh do

[sloandog]

Oh yes i support England aswell, but Zimbabwe will always have a place in my cricketing heart.