The Glamorgan all-rounder Jim Allenby is on the verge of a shock move to Somerset, with a formal announcement confirming the move expected in days.
Allenby signed a four-year contract extension with Glamorgan last summer but it is understood that he has negotiated a release and will join up with his friend and former mentor Matthew Maynard at Taunton for the 2015 season.
Although born in Western Australia, Allenby made his first-class debut back in 2006 for Leicestershire, where he played for three years before moving to Glamorgan. The 32-year-old has been the county’s leading runscorer in the County Championship for the past two seasons and in 2013 he helped Glamorgan reach the final of the Pro40 competition.
Last year was another successful season with bat and ball for Allenby; he ended up being the county’s leading T20 wicket taker as well as topping Glamorgan’s batting averages in the Natwest Blast.
His performances over the last couple of years have also led to talk of an England call-up and although Allenby was born in Australia, he has always expressed his desire to play for England, having qualified to do so eight years ago. A move to a Division One county would almost certainly increase his chances of catching the eye of the selectors.
Maynard, who recently became Somerset’s director of cricket, developed a close working relationship with Allenby during his time as coach at Glamorgan; a job he resigned from in 2010. Last week, Somerset’s opening batsman Nick Compton announced he was leaving the county only 12 months into a new three-year contract and Maynard is looking to boost Somerset’s resources over the winter. He has already secured the services of the Pakistan spinner Abdur Rehman for his second spell as the county’s overseas player for 2015.
The Guardian also understands that the former Warwickshire captain Jim Troughton, who retired this year, was approached by Somerset to be second-team coach, but did not accept the post. It has instead bene given to ex-Gloucestershire and Somerset wicketkeeper Steve Snell.
