***Official*** English Domestic Season 2008

[wpdavid]

Because Warwickshire give oppurtunities to young English seamers.

Bit harsh on Lancs - Anderson, Flintoff, Mahmood, Smith, Hogg & Newby all spring immediately to mind as home grown seamers who had their opportunities there. Plus Chappell before them. More to the point, Warwicks don't develop their own, so they have to import from elsewhere.

 

[Richard]

Because Warwickshire give oppurtunities to young English seamers.

Both of them have absurdly packed seam-bowling staffs though. If you wanted opportunities, somewhere like Essex or Derbyshire would be better.

 

[Perm]

I just noticed Niall O'Brien scored his 5th FC century, does anybody else here rate him? From what I've seen of him in Ireland colours he doesn't look too shabby.

EDIT: Matt Prior not doing his chances of an England recall any harm either, batting quite well against Notts.

 

[Woodster]

I just noticed Niall O'Brien scored his 5th FC century, does anybody else here rate him? From what I've seen of him in Ireland colours he doesn't look too shabby.

EDIT: Matt Prior not doing his chances of an England recall any harm either, batting quite well against Notts.

Yes seems decent enough when I've seen him, but haven't seen nearly as much of him as I'd like to form a proper opinion.

Prior did exceptionally well in the first innings and at a crucial time in the game is showing what he is capable of again with the bat in a pressure situation. It's all good for England.

 

[Perm]

I know it was being discussed a little earlier, but is there any chance of Prior playing as a specialist batsman? Haven't really been following the fortunes of Bell and Collingwood that closely, let alone their 'understudies'.

 

[Woodster]

I know it was being discussed a little earlier, but is there any chance of Prior playing as a specialist batsman? Haven't really been following the fortunes of Bell and Collingwood that closely, let alone their 'understudies'.

I wouldn't expect so tbh, think he needs keeping as a second string to his bow. I expect him to be second in line really when it comes to Test keepers, where as were he to go for a specialist batsman position I would put the likes of Shah, Bopara, Key etc ahead of him at this stage.

Bell and Collingwood need pressure on them from these guys though to help up the intensity of their own performances. I expect them both to make runs against New Zealand in this series, and I think they have been consistent enough in the past to warrant selection if a blip in form does arise. But it is good for England to see the likes of Bopara, who I am a fan of, scoring some big runs in domestic cricket.

 

[aussie]

Really think Prior should be in the OD team, from what i've seen at least i'd say he is a better bet @ the top of the order than Mustard now the Trescothick is retired.

 

[Steulen]

Both of them have absurdly packed seam-bowling staffs though. If you wanted opportunities, somewhere like Essex or Derbyshire would be better.

Speaking of Essex, good to see the mighty RTD is in the wickets again. His bowling is really going well this season. Too bad his batting has not been up to scratch so far, generally. In His Lordship's defence, Essex does seem to be playing a fair few low-scoring encounters this year.

 

[Woodster]

I think Mustard should be given a little more time at the top and I don't think Prior showed anything more than what Mustard has so far. Very similar averages at the top, around 23, but Mustard is the finer gloveman.

We have messed around so much with our openers and trying to find the right keeper to fill that role, I hope we are consistent in selection and give Mustard more time.

 

[aussie]

Just realised that Collins in the windies players, how come he's in CC but not playing for WI?

 

[Perm]

Speaking of Essex, good to see the mighty RTD is in the wickets again. His bowling is really going well this season. Too bad his batting has not been up to scratch so far, generally. In His Lordship's defence, Essex does seem to be playing a fair few low-scoring encounters this year.

Ah RTD, the legend.

By all accounts his bowling isn't actually that flash. Usually dominates at Intercontinental Cup level, but from what I've read about it he is fairly inaccurate and doesn't really deserve classification as an all-rounder. Definitely a batsman who can roll his arm over occassionally.

 

[Woodster]

Speaking of Essex, good to see the mighty RTD is in the wickets again. His bowling is really going well this season. Too bad his batting has not been up to scratch so far, generally. In His Lordship's defence, Essex does seem to be playing a fair few low-scoring encounters this year.

Yes two good wickets for RTD but I'm also disappointed with his batting. The low scoring affairs don't seem to have affected Bopara's start to the season though.

 

[Perm]

Just realised that Collins in the windies players, how come he's in CC but not playing for WI?

I think, don't quote me on this, that he was being ignored by the West Indies selectors so decided to throw his hand in with the County Championship and make some $$$.

 

[Spitfires_Fan]

Lame finish for Kent with the last 3 wickets falling for just 8 runs. I suppose I've got too used to McLaren and Arafat wagging frantically down the order. Still, a lead of 65 isn't to be sniffed at - hopefully we can make serious inroads into the Somerset batting this afternoon.

 

[Steulen]

Ah RTD, the legend.

By all accounts his bowling isn't actually that flash. Usually dominates at Intercontinental Cup level, but from what I've read about it he is fairly inaccurate and doesn't really deserve classification as an all-rounder. Definitely a batsman who can roll his arm over occassionally.

From what I've seen of him (twice live plus the three Dutch WC games on TV), he's just a 70mph trundler, like Ponting or Bell. From the figures he's been getting lately, he must have improved his accuracy by a fair bit or found some swing.

 

[Woodster]

Lame finish for Kent with the last 3 wickets falling for just 8 runs. I suppose I've got too used to McLaren and Arafat wagging frantically down the order. Still, a lead of 65 isn't to be sniffed at - hopefully we can make serious inroads into the Somerset batting this afternoon.

Yes had visions of Kent making in excess of 300 with the depth in their batting side. A bit much to ask for them to consistently make good runs down the order. Still a decent lead for you, should be game on, esp. if they get Tres early.

 

[Woodster]

Lancs could be chasing a healthy total at Derby, the home side are 140-0 off 27.4 overs. Rogers 85*, Stubbings 41*.

 

[Richard]

Really think Prior should be in the OD team, from what i've seen at least i'd say he is a better bet @ the top of the order than Mustard now the Trescothick is retired.

Prior remains a woeful OD batsman. If he ever plays for England again, I want it to be Tests and either a) never as a wicketkeeper or b) with a damn sight better set of wicketkeeping skills than he had last time he donnes the gauntlets.

 

[Richard]

Speaking of Essex, good to see the mighty RTD is in the wickets again.

He is? FFS.

His bowling is really going well this season.

Ind33d, which is odd TSTL, he's always been such a woeful bowler. Wonder whether he actually has bowled better than usual or it's just been poor batting? My bet would be on the latter, so far.

 

[Richard]

I just noticed Niall O'Brien scored his 5th FC century, does anybody else here rate him? From what I've seen of him in Ireland colours he doesn't look too shabby.

O'Brien has seemed a quietly impressive batsman to me ever since his maiden First-Class innings (didn't bat on First-Class debut), when he took Geraint Jones' place after he got into the England Test team. Better still for him, his one-day form this season has been good, for about the first time in his career.

EDIT: Matt Prior not doing his chances of an England recall any harm either, batting quite well against Notts.

And for once, in the second-innings, starting slowly.