When you’re 20 years old and already being eyed as a future England pace star, the choices you make early in your career matter.
For Archie Bailey, that meant packing up from Gloucestershire and heading all the way north to Durham in 2026 – a bold decision that could define his journey to the top.
A Sporting Legacy and a New Chapter
Archie’s not new to high-performance pressure – he’s the son of Kim Bailey, the legendary racehorse trainer who achieved the holy grail of jump racing by winning the Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National.
But instead of following his father’s path in the stables at Thorndale Farm, Archie is blazing his own trail on the cricket pitch.
His move to Durham – a club with a proven record of developing seamers into international stars – is a big statement.
Think Harmison, Onions, Wood, Carse, Potts… even Ben Stokes.
It’s the kind of environment where a young fast bowler with ambition can thrive.
McCullum’s Got His Eye on the Future
Archie Bailey is one of three young quicks – alongside Hampshire’s Sonny Baker and Eddie Jack – currently on England’s radar.
Head coach Brendon McCullum is already a fan after watching Bailey perform for a county select XI against Zimbabwe back in May.
It’s clear he’s considered part of England’s long-term plans.
Kasey Aldridge Also Makes the Switch to Durham
Bailey isn’t the only one making moves. Somerset all-rounder Kasey Aldridge, who’s been on loan at Durham for T20s, will also be joining the club permanently at the end of the 2025 season.
It’s another step in Durham’s impressive recruitment drive.
Gloucestershire’s Nervous Summer Finally Gets Some Relief
It’s not been an easy summer at Gloucestershire. Nine players are out of contract and rival clubs are circling.
Dominic Goodman has already been lured away to Sussex, and others like Ajeet Singh Dale, Zaman Akhter and Josh Shaw are weighing up offers.
But there’s finally some good news: Craig Miles is returning on a three-year deal from Warwickshire.
The 31-year-old seamer had huge success in his earlier Gloucestershire days, and the hope is that returning to familiar turf will revive his career.
Somerset Facing an Unwelcome Exodus
Somerset have their own headaches. Aldridge’s departure is just the beginning.
Ben Green and Josh Davey are also on the move – both heading to Leicestershire, a team on the hunt for promotion.
For Green, the move brings the promise of a bigger role – possibly even captaincy.
Davey, a reliable Scotland international, wants more white-ball cricket after being used mainly in the red-ball game.
Leicestershire’s coach Alfonso Thomas is keen on players who can do more than one job, and Davey fits the bill.
Yorkshire Struggling to Compete in the Market
Over in Yorkshire, it’s all about tightening belts.
Financial troubles have left them unable to seal big moves – they missed out on England hopeful Michael Pepper, who chose to stay at Essex and smashed an unbeaten 87 the same day.
They’re hoping to retain some of their youth, including Will Luxton, but fringe players like seamer Matt Milnes may be heading out.
Nottinghamshire and Kent are reportedly interested in giving him a fresh start after his injury-hit spell at Headingley.
Kent and Others Caught Up in the Transfer Web
Kent are bracing themselves too. With Nathan Gilchrist edging closer to a move to Warwickshire, they’re looking for replacements.
Joey Evison and Tawanda Muyeye are still undecided about their futures, with Muyeye catching Hampshire’s eye.
Even Paul Coughlin, a long-time Durham player, is being linked with Lancashire as his playing time comes under threat from the club’s recent signings.
Counties Rebel Against the Kookaburra Ball Experiment
Off the field, county cricket bosses are not holding back.
Fourteen of the 18 counties have voted to scrap the controversial Kookaburra ball trial in the Championship.
The Australian-made ball was introduced to promote fast bowling and spin by reducing seam movement, but the results have been underwhelming – long, drawn-out matches and flat pitches.
Groundsmen have had to resort to either leaving extra grass or adjusting the pitch just to give bowlers a fighting chance.
The counties are urging the ECB to bring back the traditional Dukes ball permanently.
The decision now lies with the ECB’s cricket committee, but pressure is mounting.
Players Buckling Under the Brutal Schedule
Lastly, there’s growing concern about the county schedule.
The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has called out the madness of back-to-back fixtures that are pushing players to breaking point.
Lancashire’s Liam Livingstone and Saqib Mahmood both picked up injuries after arriving home from an away match at 3:30am, only to be back on the field later that same day.
Sussex players Harrison Ward and Tom Alsop suffered similar fates.
A PCA survey showed 81% of players are worried about the physical toll of the current schedule, and two-thirds don’t think it supports high performance.
Even with a slight reduction in T20 matches from 2026, the PCA says overnight travel before games likely won’t disappear anytime soon.