***Official*** English Domestic Season 2008

[morgieb]

They have? Wow. Surprising.

Don't suppose it's much if any worry to him mind with his ICL bucks coming in. He doesn't need to play proper domestic cricket anywhere any more.

Northants could do to do the same to Hall, van der Wath, Boje and Louw too. Think a fair few of them are ICL-ers too. And surely now they've got O'Brien they don't need Wessels as well?

Ever heard of backup? Odd to see Northamptonshire release Klusener.

 

[Richard]

Ever heard of backup?

Noticed the fact Riki has mostly played as a batsman this season? With very poor results?

Also noticed the fact that he joined the club when his dad was coach there?

 

[stumpski]

Yeah he's bowled a bit earlier this season - which makes the biggest question, I suppose, why he rather than, say, Nixon, has been brought on to send down the joke-bowling.

Well Nixon is having a go now, so let's hope that the declaration is imminent.

Grim stuff down at the the Oval, where Surrey have added three runs in the first half hour for the loss of Dernbach. At least he showed more stickability than some of the top-order have this year.

 

[stumpski]

Meanwhile we've got Pettini and Foster in the attack at Northampton and Peters about to complete a very cheap hundred - it's like the 80s are back.

 

[Richard]

Yeah was thinking that - 2 games simualtaneously featuring joke-bowling. An extreme rarity these days, but weather means needs must.

 

[Richard]

I don't think I've ever seen this before:

Bowling   O M R W Econ  
J Lewis   6 6 0 1 0.00

Definately seen 5 maidens off the reel at the start of an innings, but don't ever recall seeing 6.

 

[Richard]

And also I just wonder if anyone knows anything about RJA Malcolm-Hansen. Looking at those names (Richard Johan Anders) and the fact he's played and apparently grown-up in the UK and also played for Denmark I'd imagine he's half British half Danish. Wonder if anyone (Haakon?) knows more?

Also he seems to be an opening batsman for his UCCE and a bowler for his county. Not unlike Spriegel at Surrey who seems to be opening batsman with county treating him as a middle-order-batting all-rounder (though he has got the opening slot in the current game).

 

[Uppercut]

I don't think I've ever seen this before:

Bowling   O M R W Econ  
J Lewis   6 6 0 1 0.00

Definately seen 5 maidens off the reel at the start of an innings, but don't ever recall seeing 6.

I thought Mitchell Johnson got 7 bowling to Dravid+Jaffer in the first test back in December?

 

[Richard]

Did he? I wasn't following every session of that series ball-by-ball. Can easily be looked-up though, as Test cards are recorded ball-by-ball. Let's have a luke...

 

[Uppercut]

Nope- some were Brett Lee, he only got five. My bad. Hazy memory of late-night matches and all that...

 

[stumpski]

And also I just wonder if anyone knows anything about RJA Malcolm-Hansen. Looking at those names (Richard Johan Anders) and the fact he's played and apparently grown-up in the UK and also played for Denmark I'd imagine he's half British half Danish. Wonder if anyone (Haakon?) knows more?

Also he seems to be an opening batsman for his UCCE and a bowler for his county. Not unlike Spriegel at Surrey who seems to be opening batsman with county treating him as a middle-order-batting all-rounder (though he has got the opening slot in the current game).

Saw him make 93 in this match back in April - doesn't seem so long ago when we started the season full of hope - and he had a good partnership with Spriegel as you can see. Probably unlucky that he had to go off for rain when in sight of his 100, and didn't resume until two days later. Looked to have a solid technique and plenty of shots, and I don't recall him giving a chance. As for Spriegel, I've seen him opening in the CC and don't rate him there tbh. I'd like to see him work on his bowling over the winter though.

Have to feel a bit for Richard Clinton (another Loughborough man) who didn't bat or bowl in that match and hasn't been picked since. Presumably he hasn't done anything special in the 2nds though, or in a season like this he'd have had a few more chances.

 

[Manee]

And also I just wonder if anyone knows anything about RJA Malcolm-Hansen. Looking at those names (Richard Johan Anders) and the fact he's played and apparently grown-up in the UK and also played for Denmark I'd imagine he's half British half Danish. Wonder if anyone (Haakon?) knows more?

Went to my school. He really was absolutely amazing with the bat. Didn't score massive scores, but would churn out 80 or so on a weekly basis.

 

[Uppercut]

HAAAAMPSHIIIIRE

Haven't been this excited about domestic cricket in a while...

 

[stumpski]

With that 20-pointer, they're not completely out of contention, especially as no-one else managed a win.


The less said about Surrey, the better really. When Afzaal and Saqlain were digging in this afternoon I wondered if we might scrape a draw, but it would have been completely undeserved.

 

[wpdavid]

With that 20-pointer, they're not completely out of contention, especially as no-one else managed a win.


The less said about Surrey, the better really. When Afzaal and Saqlain were digging in this afternoon I wondered if we might scrape a draw, but it would have been completely undeserved.

Wheraes our relegation couldn't be more deserved. You'd hope the AGM will be an absolute bloodbath, but that probably isn't the Surrey way. More's the pity.

 

[stumpski]

I'd have thought there was a good chance of both Butchers getting the chop, though.

 

[Richard]

Ironically, they being two of those who've done least wrong this year.

Counties routinely employ too many players but, well... I've said it several times already, Surrey have much mediocrity and little depth. Had all their top players stayed fit and been picked they'd have had a semi-reasonable team this season, but no-one can say they've been aught but by far the worst in the division.

 

[Spitfires_Fan]

Have lost track of the domestic season really having been away so much over the last month and a half, but Kent are looking on course for promotion in the Pro40 which will be some compensation for missing out at the final hurdle in 20:20 and the C&G Cup. Graham Ford deserves tremendous credit for the turnaround in Kent's fortunes in limited overs cricket - I'd rather see us win the championship but it's good to be competitive in all areas.

A win against Essex should see us win the title actually. Looking good at 174/3 from 32.4.

 

[Woodster]

Yes thanks to Rob Key's 120 not out today, Kent currently in pole position against Essex, who have Graham Napier likely to be out of batting contention. Went over on his ankle on his last ball and was stretchered off the pitch.

Don't count Essex out though, they will win the league with a win here, and I am looking forward to a big contribution from Ravi Bopara.

 

[Spitfires_Fan]

Bopara in second ball - Pettini out for a golden.