NICK HOWSON takes a look at Spirit's player recruitment and suggests what more needs to be done before the start of the new season
Who has been retained?
This was a squad gutted last summer before Shane Warne was able to get his hands on it. Three of those kept on didn't make a single appearance last term.
He was particularly impressed by the skills of Blake Cullen and Brad Wheal so there is little surprise to see them remain, though the latter only played a bit-part role.
Retaining Glenn Maxwell might look unnecessary given they have the first draft pick, but it keeps open two spots in the top price bracket. Ravi Bopara had a poor tournament but at £40,000 feels like a shrewd addition at that level.
Adam Rossington was arguably their player of the tournament as the second-highest run-scorer and a steely presence behind the stumps.
Cullen became an early favourite of Shane Warne (Gareth Copley/ Getty Images)
Who has been released?
The Joe Denly experiment is finally over after his six outings yielded 66 runs and not a single wicket. If those modest returns didn't do the job, Maxwell and Dan Lawrence being available probably rubber-stamped his exit.
Roelof van der Merwe was another of the positives you had to really squint to see at Lord's but the left-armer, who is deceptively quick through the air and good for runs down the order, has been discarded.
Josh Inglis enjoyed a fine summer in England and was probably good for another campaign but ultimately misses out given what could be available elsewhere. Mohammad Nabi no longer affects games with the regularity that he used to.
Glenn Maxwell will act as a talisman (William West/AFP/Getty Images)
What will be the main focus of the draft?
Though shifting Maxwell up to open feels like the obvious option, this squad is very light on runs. They could also spend the season mostly without Crawley if his Test return continues.
Support is needed throughout the line-up, particularly if Eoin Morgan can't recapture his mojo.
It remains to be seen if Mohammad Amir submits himself for the draft but he feels like an obvious pick-up as both a much-needed left-arm and death bowling option.
Competition for Rossington is also required while Warne's declaration that he's considering Mitch Marsh says at the very least a top-order allrounder is being targetted.
With the first pick in the draft after finishing bottom of the pile in 2021, they have two gaps in the top price bracket, two more in the £75,000 category and £50,000 each to splash out on two more players.
Squad: Zak Crawley, Mark Wood, Glenn Maxwell, Eoin Morgan, Mason Crane, Dan Lawrence, Adam Rossington, Ravi Bopara, Blake Cullen, Brad Wheal (10)
Overseas players: 1
Spaces to fill: 7
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