Roger Sillence, released by Worcestershire, was hoping to be in the Australian state of New South Wales this winter, playing grade cricket with a view to rediscovering his form for next summer.

Instead, he is in a state of "limbo" after his surprise release, arguably the first victim of the mid-summer floods. At the age of 30, the Wiltshire-born former Minor Counties player, signed two winters ago from Gloucestershire, admits that he is at a crossroads in the career he loves.

"I still think there's a few years left in me yet," he said, "and I certainly think that, despite the way things went for me this summer, I was still worth another year's contract, based on what I did in my first season in 2006.

"But I do also realise, that there's a chance I might have to end up going out and getting a real job. I have got long-term plans to set up a graphic design company with a mate of mine. But first, I'm going to try to get another county.

"I love this game and I'm just hoping, especially with more Twenty20 cricket on the schedule next year and given the fact that I was part of the team that won the Pro40, that my one-day ability might help me.

"I've already spoken with Paul Nixon at Leicestershire and I've been in touch with Gloucestershire, but it's a case of waiting to see if the phone rings and that means I'm in a state of limbo, really.

"My plan was to go back Down Under and play grade cricket in Sydney this winter and work on my game with a view to coming back and playing for Worcester next summer.

"I feel I've learned my lessons from this summer. There have been times when, due to all the problems we had with the floods, it was made hard for us to prepare properly and you know what they say, that failing to prepare means you prepare to fail.

"I thought that this winter out in Australia was the ideal chance to put that right but they wanted to finalise things and know whether I was definitely coming and I obviously could not say."

Playing club cricket in the Birmingham League remains an option. He has maintained his links with Barnt Green, who he helped to the Premier Division title in 2005, while other clubs would be interested. There is also the chance of a return to the Minor Counties scene if he does not obtain a contract with a first-class county. Sillence remains realistic.

"I'm lucky enough to have played the game I love all these years," he says, "and, even if I don't get another county, I'd be more than happy to go back and play for Barnt Green again. They're a great bunch of lads and it was doing well when I played for them all summer two years ago when we won the league that got me to Worcestershire in the first place.

"I've also spoken to Gordon Lord at the England and Wales Cricket Board about the possibility of a coaching career. I've already started my badges and I did a lot when I spent the winter Down Under two years ago as captain/coach in grade cricket with South Melbourne. I've got a week away in Sardinia to recharge the batteries and I'll have to see what happens next. All I hope is that it's still in cricket." :