***Official*** English Domestic Season 2008

[stumpski]

Jones still has 2 overs, oui?

He has, although he did go for 22 off his last three overs, and Worcs need to keep it tight now, as well as take wickets.

I've been impressed with Brown, this is only his 2nd one-day 50 although he's been around a few years. Plays mostly in the Championship side. Might not have had a game if Pothas had been available.

 

[TT Boy]

He has, although he did go for 22 off his last three overs, and Worcs need to keep it tight now, as well as take wickets.

I've been impressed with Brown, this is only his 2nd one-day 50 although he's been around a few years. Plays mostly in the Championship side.

His also playing here as a (makeshift) keeper, isn’t he? Pothas is out and the kid who replaced Nic, Burrows (?) is no where to be seen. Hants have got a **** load of injuries.

 

[stumpski]

Just going to miss out on a ton I think, don't think he can do it unless he finishes it with a 6.

 

[Woodster]

Gareth Andrew is the worst bowler I have ever seen at county level, with the possible exception of Chris Wright.

Very harsh

 

[Pup Clarke]

Just wondering if Wright has been playing in a televised game?

 

[Richard]

Very harsh

Possibly, and obviously they're far better than I'll ever be. But I cringe at the thought they're being paid - and, worse, have been signed by not one county but two!

Anyone think of anyone worse BTW? Of those who've played more than the odd few games in 1 or 2 seasons.

 

[Richard]

That's the first time Butcher has opened in quite a while, it may encourage him to continue.

I'm unspeakably annoyed that he's been batting four since 2005. It makes no sense whatsoever. He's an opener, and Jonathan Batty isn't FFS. His only chance of winning back his England place was to open. That's gone now, obviously.

He might open again in one-dayers for the rest of this season if we're lucky, but I highly doubt he'll go back to the top of the Championship order.

Well, amazingly, Butcher has elected to go back to the top of the Championship order! Opens-up with Newman against us at The Oval.

Obviously I want us to win this, but I really, really hope those two can put-on some good runs, and stay there for the rest of the season.

Bit odd that Butcher is facing second when he's opening with Newman, mind. Newman must really want the first ball.

 

[Richard]

Leicestershire fall to 4 for 4 against Palladino and Masters at Chelmsford.

And it seems Dirk Nannes is playing for Middlesex - yet another overseas-player that's slipped under my radar.

 

[Woodster]

The two experienced players Essex have brought in this season in Masters and Gallian have excelled. After losing players such as Irani, Andy Flower and not having masses of experience in the seam department, these two have played major roles so far.

Nice to see Danish Kaneria back.

 

[wpdavid]

Leicestershire have avoided being bowled out for single figures.

And Yorkshire have unleashed 18 year old Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who may well have the poshest sounding name ever to represent the county. Shouldn't he be playing for the home side?

 

[Richard]

Saw that name, thought "WTF's he?"

 

[Woodster]

Leicester slumped to 31-5, Masters 3-9 off 7 overs. Seems like it may be a typical nuggety Nixon innings that goes some way to rescuing them, he's currently 6 not out off 33 balls.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Live commentary of Surrey v Yorkshire is on BBC London if your interested Rich.

 

[Spitfires_Fan]

Hannon-Dalby gets the wicket of Ramps - not bad going!

Kent doing the business at the Nevill Ground.

 

[Richard]

After a poor start to his season, this is more what we expect from Corey Collymore at Trent Bridge:

CD Collymore 17 6 31 2 1.82

 

[Richard]

The two experienced players Essex have brought in this season in Masters and Gallian have excelled. After losing players such as Irani, Andy Flower and not having masses of experience in the seam department, these two have played major roles so far.

Nice to see Danish Kaneria back.

Leicester slumped to 31-5, Masters 3-9 off 7 overs. Seems like it may be a typical nuggety Nixon innings that goes some way to rescuing them, he's currently 6 not out off 33 balls.

Nixon easily top-scoring for Leics, 57 with Jacques du Toit also adding 43. No-one else beyond 13. 6 for 24 from 14 for Masters. Bit of a disappointing start to Kaneria's season though, 6 overs for 39 before grabbing the last wicket. 3 for 33 for Palladino, and even Tudor bowled economically, 11 overs for 26.

Meanwhile at Swansea Niall O'Brien's smashed 108 as an opener and Sales currently on 46* from 34. Dean Cosker playing his first Championship game of the season. Northants playing an astonishingly small number of South Africans today - just five!

And at Edgbaston the Middlesex top-order has been decimated by... Darren Maddy. Zondeki appears to have been injured, which, after the season he's had so far, might be a blessing for all concerned.

 

[Richard]

Well, amazingly, Butcher has elected to go back to the top of the Championship order! Opens-up with Newman against us at The Oval.

Obviously I want us to win this, but I really, really hope those two can put-on some good runs, and stay there for the rest of the season.

Bit odd that Butcher is facing second when he's opening with Newman, mind. Newman must really want the first ball.

Well, Newman doesn't get many (21) but Butcher posts a century. Superb.

Beginning to think he, not Robert Key, should be first-reserve opener TBH. And it'd be VITSTL if both Strauss and Cook were to go down tomorrow.

Decent start for Hannon-Dalby:

OJ Hannon-Dalby 10 2 23 1 2.30 (1nb)

but Rana debuting poorly so far

Naved-ul-Hasan 14 2 55 0 3.92 (2nb)

Nonetheless, the combination of Kruis, Bresnan and McGrath has picked through the Surry middle-order, though the tail (Nicholson, Murtaza Hussain, Ormond, Saqlain Mushtaq) is a more than decent one, so plenty to do yet.

 

[Manee]

Impressive. What’s his run up like? Was bowling off a couple of yards last year and still sending it down close to 80mph.

Annoyingly couldn't see the length of his run up, but it was definately more than a few yards. I think it is still the elongated run up which he used in the 2005 Ashes - still nothing more than a brisk jog to the crease though, as always.

Interestingly enough, I have two other FC cricketers to generate near 80mph off a few steps. Carl Greenidge, in a T20, bowled at 78mph off a 'hop, skip and jump' (to quote Bumble) and Praveen Kumar hit 130kph in the IPL off a five step run up.

 

[Richard]

I wonder if anyone knows why Warwickshire keep picking James Anyon? Despite a massive staff of seam-bowlers including unproven types like Hole, Woakes and MacLeod, they continue to select this useless bowler who's been useless for years.

Honestly, Warwickshire's staff this season is even more ridiculous than usual. Seam-bowlers: Zondeki, Daggett, Tahir, Carter, Groenewald, Anyon, Hole, Woakes, MacLeod, Miller. And despite all that lot their best bowler this season has been the part-time stuff of Darren Maddy. Spinners Nicholas James, Botha and Salisbury - Salisbury who should've retired at the end of last season for my money and Botha who's an EU-passport player. Great.

 

[Richard]

Annoyingly couldn't see the length of his run up, but it was definately more than a few yards. I think it is still the elongated run up which he used in the 2005 Ashes - still nothing more than a brisk jog to the crease though, as always.

Interestingly enough, I have two other FC cricketers to generate near 80mph off a few steps. Carl Greenidge, in a T20, bowled at 78mph off a 'hop, skip and jump' (to quote Bumble) and Praveen Kumar hit 130kph in the IPL off a five step run up.

Yeah, and Shahid Afridi's been doing it for years too.