RICHARD CLARKE AKA The Grumbler

In the next week or so, the county cricket rumour mill will start to turn. On June 1, players who are out of contract at the end of the season can sign for another club, so expect a little gossiping ahead of time.
That said, there was little forewarning when, on June 15 last year, Surrey announced the signing of Dan Lawrence from Essex.
This was the cue for much gnashing of teeth among the Chelmsford faithful about the loss of a youth product coming into his prime to a richer rival. Then there was the awkward process of seeing out the season.
It was a simil...