The comparison that comes to mind with Benjamin is Tom Banton.

When he first hit the scene he had two great years, like Benjamin he played quite a lot of ‘innovative’ type shots, the ramps and scoops and stuff

Then he had 3 absolutely terrible years, couldn’t buy a run IIRC.

But last year he came back to form and did very well again. So I do think it’s possible after a period of bad form/ being found out that Benjamin could return to form, but for his career a move was probably the best thing. Time will tell but I’ll be looking out for his scores

Sure, but in my opinion he wasn’t a better option than either Yates who has a better t20 record, or Barnard, who was in incredible white ball form

Rhodes was not the next cab off the rank even if they did drop Benjamin, which I agree they should have done.

You mention Burgess which is a really good point and I’d have him in the t20 team ahead of Rhodes, too.

Barnard deserved a shot in the t20 lineup before Rhodes did in any case, and Yates didn’t play much this year and has a better record than Rhodes, so it’s something of a moot point. I think there is very little case to be made that Rhodes was one of our 6 best t20 batsmen.

its a shame as I personally think he definitely has something and with the right coaching/support I still think he has a career in the game. he should have been dropped for his own good last season as his demeanour visibly got worse with each passing failure. His best performances had some shotmaking of real innovative aplomb.
i don't think his failure to develop and subsequent nosedive in form speaks too highly of the coaching setup.

I can entirely understand his moving to get T20 opportunities, for what its worth, as there is so much money to be made and careers are short. I think he may be a bit optimistic, though, and doubt he will be doing the Franchise circuit, unless his white ball game has significantly improved.

GerryShedd wrote:

Some fair points there. You don't mention, however, that in his last T20 season (2021), Will ,Rhodes easily topped the T20 bowling averages with 14 wickets at 11.71.

good point!

And as for batting, Chris Benjamin's figures this year of 114 runs at an average of 11.40 and a strike rate of 117.52 don't compare too well with those 2021 figures for Rhodes (192 runs at 19.84, strike rate 134.37), modest though Rhodes' figures were.

ok but its hardly fair to compare CB's worst season with Rhodes's best, lets compare Rhodes with compare Benjamin's best season, 2022, 354 runs average 39 strike rate 163 absolutely annihilates Rhodes's best season

Obviously Rhodes is a big loss to the club as a whole, seems to have been a great leader and man to have around and a big contributor to the red ball team and whatever success they have had in his time with us. I regret his leaving greatly.

regarding his non-selection for the T20 lineup, though, I have to say with some posts above I can't work out if it is poor memory or selective memory, that he 'wasn't given a chance'

as a T20 player Rhodes was somewhere between mediocre and poor and had plenty of chances in his early career with the Bears

from 2019 to 2021 he had 35 games. he played virtually every game, and, forgive me for shooting bambi here, but he basically stank the house out. he was an awful T20 batsman. Which his average being under 20 and his strike rate being way under 130 very quickly shows.
Sam Hain scored more runs in the 2024 year than Rhodes managed in 35 games over 4 seasons.

His best year was 14 matches for 258 runs at 134 strike rate. Chris Benjamin gets absolutely crucified on here for having better seasons statistically.

I'm all for mourning the ones we regret losing but perhaps some perspective?