The Cricket Thread

[Aber gas]

Thought I may have caught a couple of Yorkie fish with that one! Root has been centrally contracted for 3 years now and plays all forms for England so it was going to be obvious that you would probably denied him for the bulk of the season. I see your point re Bairstow, and probably Ballance, but both have had incremental contracts for this season so would probably miss large portions. Willey and Plunkett were both brought in when on incrementals so absolutely no sympathy there.

The pitches debate is a valid one, had Middlesex been allowed to prepare their own pitches they would have won the CC in July. They have been hamstrung by the MCC insisting on boring draw pitches all year that wont produce a result if you played for 10 days on it. Somerset on the other hand have got away with murder in the way they have prepared theirs. Producing pitches that turn square and breakup after lunch on day 1 and barely gets a game past day 2 is not on, if a team that had a strong seam attack left pitches green to suit them, they would be fined for producing a substandard pitch.

The contrived result was always going to happen after Somerset won in 3 days (again, see above). Want did Trescothick want, for both Middlesex and Yorkshire just slug out a draw on and non-result pitch and just hand the title to them? Never going to happen, a solution was always going to be found that allowed for either team a chance to go for the win.

I've got to take issue with a couple of points here. I don't actually have a problem with what happened at Lords. It happens and we would probably have done the exact same thing in similar circumstances. Criticism of the Taunton pitch is out of order imo though. We've had years of people moaning about Taunton being a featherbed which produces boring cricket and of pitches in the county game not being conducive to English spinners learning their art. Now we're being criticised for having a result pitch which benefits spinners . The match against Notts might have finished in 3 days but Rogers and Hildreth ( on one leg) didn't seem to find it too hard.
Congratulations Middlesex but I hope we keep our " Bunsen " next season.

 

[slaphead]

I've got to take issue with a couple of points here. I don't actually have a problem with what happened at Lords. It happens and we would probably have done the exact same thing in similar circumstances. Criticism of the Taunton pitch is out of order imo though. We've had years of people moaning about Taunton being a featherbed which produces boring cricket and of pitches in the county game not being conducive to English spinners learning their art. Now we're being criticised for having a result pitch which benefits spinners . The match against Notts might have finished in 3 days but Rogers and Hildreth ( on one leg) didn't seem to find it too hard.
Congratulations Middlesex but I hope we keep our " Bunsen " next season.

I agree to a certain extent, but make it fair across the board. Last year we were deducted points, that nearly cost us a place in the division, because of a percieved seamer friendly pitch that saw 21 wickets fall in a day. If we are going allow counties to produce spinner friendly wickets because they have decent spinners and the oppo don't, fine. But but by that token allow counties with a decent seam attack to produce seamer friendly wickets without fear of a points deduction for an alledged sub-standard wicket.

 

[JonBCFC]

Yep, spinners paradise Taunton yet both Notts spinners didn't do to well on it did they? After we bowled them out for 138, we then batted comfortably to 313-5. Same with other teams that played at Taunton, same conditions for both teams.. we just happened to come out on top. How dare we want to prepare a wicket that turns out results.

 

[slaphead]

Yep, spinners paradise Taunton yet both Notts spinners didn't do to well on it did they? After we bowled them out for 138, we then batted comfortably to 313-5. Same with other teams that played at Taunton, same conditions for both teams.. we just happened to come out on top. How dare we want to prepare a wicket that turns out results.

Again, I agree to a certain extent. But you didn't address my point of allowing teams with decent seamers to produce seamer friendly wickets without fear of punishement. It can't be right that teams that produce greentops get hammered, but those that produce a wicket that turns and breaks up on day 1 are allowed to carry on regardless. There needs to be some consistancy.

 

[JonBCFC]

Again, I agree to a certain extent. But you didn't address my point of allowing teams with decent seamers to produce seamer friendly wickets without fear of punishement. It can't be right that teams that produce greentops get hammered, but those that produce a wicket that turns and breaks up on day 1 are allowed to carry on regardless. There needs to be some consistancy.

To be fair, I didn't actually know that was the case. But yes, I agree with you. If spinner friendly wickets are allowed, then so should seamer friendly.

 

[Aber gas]

I agree to a certain extent, but make it fair across the board. Last year we were deducted points, that nearly cost us a place in the division, because of a percieved seamer friendly pitch that saw 21 wickets fall in a day. If we are going allow counties to produce spinner friendly wickets because they have decent spinners and the oppo don't, fine. But but by that token allow counties with a decent seam attack to produce seamer friendly wickets without fear of a points deduction for an alledged sub-standard wicket.

I didn't realise the ECB could deduct points for a seamer friendly wicket. I thought it had to be judged " dangerous". You're right though, home advantage shouldn't be punished. Saying that counties have got away with greentops for years. I'm thinking Notts with Andre Adams in his pomp, Durham and Yorkshire to be going along with.

 

[slaphead]

Reflecting more on my decision yesterday to pop down to the Aegas for the afternoon sessions after cutting the pitch for todays game. I'm not sure where Hampshire go from here, Bransgrove's comments on the future of county cricket leave me confused, but I'm not sure he knows what direction we need to take yet. I can see where it went wrong, losing your two big signings in Topley and Fidel Edwards before the end of the first game of the season, to lose the runs of Wood in the second. Couple that with Vince's (who isn't Test class yet, even following a good Lions tour) ill-fated England adventure, and Carbs illness, that's 5 top class players we've had to replace with youngsters. One or two we could cope with, five no. Hopefully, Bransgrove sticks with this side, get Fidel back and we give CC2 a go. But I still fear Bransgrove with chase the one-day money and we end up in CC2 for a while yet.

In all my 47 years as a County member, I've not felt as despondant as I did yesterday. I can see a future for our young'uns, but I worry if Bransgrove puts the CC on the back burner and concentrates on one dayers, it will be too much for them and their futures will be elsewhere.

 

[Aber gas]

Reflecting more on my decision yesterday to pop down to the Aegas for the afternoon sessions after cutting the pitch for todays game. I'm not sure where Hampshire go from here, Bransgrove's comments on the future of county cricket leave me confused, but I'm not sure he knows what direction we need to take yet. I can see where it went wrong, losing your two big signings in Topley and Fidel Edwards before the end of the first game of the season, to lose the runs of Wood in the second. Couple that with Vince's (who isn't Test class yet, even following a good Lions tour) ill-fated England adventure, and Carbs illness, that's 5 top class players we've had to replace with youngsters. One or two we could cope with, five no. Hopefully, Bransgrove sticks with this side, get Fidel back and we give CC2 a go. But I still fear Bransgrove with chase the one-day money and we end up in CC2 for a while yet.

In all my 47 years as a County member, I've not felt as despondant as I did yesterday. I can see a future for our young'uns, but I worry if Bransgrove puts the CC on the back burner and concentrates on one dayers, it will be too much for them and their futures will be elsewhere.

You'll have too much for division 2. Especially if you've got Vince back. I can see you bouncing straight back.

 

[slaphead]

I didn't realise the ECB could deduct points for a seamer friendly wicket. I thought it had to be judged " dangerous". You're right though, home advantage shouldn't be punished. Saying that counties have got away with greentops for years. I'm thinking Notts with Andre Adams in his pomp, Durham and Yorkshire to be going along with.

It has to be judged 'substandard' to be punished. For some reason, the ECB think if 20 wickets fall in a day the pitch is to blame, not decent bowling. But how far do we let it go, do we really want four day matches over in two? The four day game is already in enough trouble without adding to it's woes.

 

[Aber gas]

It has to be judged 'substandard' to be punished. For some reason, the ECB think if 20 wickets fall in a day the pitch is to blame, not decent bowling. But how far do we let it go, do we really want four day matches over in two? The four day game is already in enough trouble without adding to it's woes.

I suppose ( maybe) County batsmen get better . Being serious though, I think it's good for county cricket that more results are being pushed for. Despite the agony from our point of view it was an extremely exciting end to the county championship and some of the finishes to games at Taunton were pure theatre.
I also think that the English bowling talent coming through is exciting. I look at Toby Roland Jones, Jack brooks, Ball, the Overton brothers and in the spin department Leach, Bess , Ansari .. . and think that county cricket is still producing. These pitches can only help develope them.

 

[RavenBish]

Jack Brooks is 32

 

[Aber gas]

Jack Brooks is 32

Perhaps not brooks then.

 

[Aber gas]

Although Batty is 52

 

[Skinner]

Kohli no showing in test cricket again. He needs to start delivering to justify his place alongside the 'big 3'

 

[RavenBish]

probably won't need him against us though given the way Ashwin and Jadeja are bowling in India.

 

[Matt_]

More injury frustration for Mark Wood and James Anderson. Hopefully both will be fit for the Indian tour.

In other cricket news, very sad to read of Max Walker's passing at age 68.

 

[Super_horns]

South Africa flying along chasing 295 to win against the Aussies.

193-1 off 24 overs and that is without ABdV.

 

[Skinner]

No ABdV but QdK is no mug, top 5 limited overs batsman imo

 

[TomPNE94]

Rabada and Steyn bowling absolutely brilliantly early on here against Australia. Great to watch.

 

[Super_horns]

Another convincing win for SA and Pakistan hit 340 against West Indies.

 

[slaphead]

Fucking hell, we've only been given a reprieve thanks to Durham's financial woes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/37541136

Bit harsh on Durham if you ask me, given that most of the problems were caused by the ECB in the first place.

 

[JonBCFC]

Fucking hell, we've only been given a reprieve thanks to Durham's financial woes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/37541136

Bit harsh on Durham if you ask me, given that most of the problems were caused by the ECB in the first place.

Plus they have to start on -40 something next season so can't see them bouncing back straight away. Lucky Hampshire!

 

[slaphead]

Points deductions in all competitions, salary cap and a ban from hosting Test cricket. Properly hammered for something the ECB could, and should, have avoided. They are majorly culpable in Durham's woes, though they did overstretch themselves a bit. Still seems very harsh to me. As for Kent sticking their beaks in, the shower of shit can fuck right off.

 

[Super_horns]

Guess they felt it was better to secure a long term future (if there is one) for the sake of a short term punishment..

 

[.V.]

 

[hodge]

Gloucestershire fans are practically Bristol Rovers fans The small local neighbour who occasionally do something of relevance

 

[.V.]

Gloucestershire fans are practically Bristol Rovers fans The small local neighbour who occasionally do something of relevance

Except we win major trophies and don't use gaslogic.

 

[lordofthepies]

Gloucestershire fans are practically Bristol Rovers fans The small local neighbour who occasionally do something of relevance

When did Bristol Rovers last do something of relevance?

 

[JonBCFC]

When did Bristol Rovers last do something of relevance?

At a guess he's probably referring to the occasional promotion. They have been up and down like a yo-yo in recent years though!

 

[Skinner]

Shame that, would have preferred Hamps to be down and their youngsters bed in in div 2.