***Official*** English Domestic Season 2009

[Richard]

Never, ever supportive of anything that encourages age over quality to be the consideration. It's a spur to mediocrity, IMO.

 

[Goughy]

Interesting development if it happens

ECB to offer counties youth incentive scheme in attempt to make Lions roar again - Telegraph

Don't know how many counties would follow this, I think it would be great if they did, its not that restrictive being only 5 players. Lancs could field Brown, Smith, Cross, Croft and one of Cheetham, Hogg, Newby, Kerrigan. Most members would prefer these players in the side anyway.

Its the right idea but wrong process and the rewards are too small.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah not sure it would have a massive impact but it might just come at the right time for hampshire with Dawson primarily but also Riazzudin, Wood and maybe even Vince coming through. It's about time we started to produce some young players of real quality and I hope this next group is going to do it.

 

[Woodster]

BTW I see Joseph Sayers has been restored to the first-team. I also see Kyle Hogg has ripped-out two wickets in his opening over - wonder if he'll repeat last season and make an early game against a UCCE his only First-Class match?

Yes he had a shocking season last year, still only about 25 years old, so there's time for him yet. Had a top score of 22 in nine Championship knocks last year, so surely it cannot get any worse for him this season.

 

[Woodster]

Fantasy Team done! And typically at the start of every competition like this, feeling very confident with my selections! Give it a game or two before I realise half of them aren't playing, and the half that are have suddenly developed the dreaded 'yips' and are quickly relegated to 2nd XI cricket. Anyway, here goes -

1). Trescothick (Somerset)
2). Boyce (Leicester)
3). Lumb (Hants)
4). Du Plessis (Lancs)
5). Blackwell (Durham)
6). Trego (Somerset) TP
7). Jones (Kent) WK
8). Plunkett (Durham)
9). Sidebottom (Notts)
10). Kaneria (Essex)
11). Evans (Middx)

 

[Scaly piscine]

Durham's game with the MCC restarted.

Vaughan gone for 12. Ian Bell to do his usual soft runs act.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Soft boy Bell also departs for 12.


Gotta laugh at the 'feature' on the BBC Cricket section.

Bullish Bell seeks Ashes redemption
Angry, wounded and desperate - Ian Bell as you have never seen him before

 

[superkingdave]

A good start to the season for Australians...Thorp and Claydon with the 5 wickets.


Lancs doing okay, Durham UCCE 69/6, giving plenty of overs in, one suspects, unhelpful conditions to Gary Keedy (15 overs 0-14) trying to get him match fit for the start of the season. 4 wickets for Hogg and 1 each for Smith and Newby

 

[TT Boy]

Yes he had a shocking season last year, still only about 25 years old, so there's time for him yet. Had a top score of 22 in nine Championship knocks last year, so surely it cannot get any worse for him this season.

He is shockingly bad. Though, good to see his profile at Cricinfo change. Last year they said he was an aggressive player, with all the shots. Yet, anyone who has watched Sayers would known he is as limited as they come and a typical innings of his, is one hour at the crease, sixty balls faced, ten runs scored.

No surprise to see Rudolph open. Doesn’t do it in South Africa, politely refused to do it for the national side by going Kolpak but county and university attacks, he doesn’t have an issue with it.

 

[TT Boy]

Surrey have got a lot of new names (to me) playing and one, Ricaldo Anderson. Anderson last played first class cricket five years ago.

 

[superkingdave]

Was gun on ICC was Ricaldo

 

[Chubb]

Had a decent season with Essex in 2001 I think, then he went off to Northants and got injured. Maybe he's overcome those problems, to impress Surrey?

 

[Scaly piscine]

England hopefuls not doing too well against Durham. Rashid gone for 20.

 

[FBU]

Can anyone tell me why the 2nd Division will be playing with the Tiflex ball this season?

 

[superkingdave]

I believe the ECB expressed concern over the softness of old balls in the past and this ball was trialled last year in the UCCE games and second XI, this must be an extension of this trial.

This was from the independent last year

The quality of balls being produced by Dukes has been a concern to the England and Wales Cricket Board for some time. In 2007 there were complaints and the match balls were changed in County Championship games on numerous occasions because the seam had split or they were soft and out of shape.

In an experiment to see whether there is an alternative ball in the market the ECB is trialling a Tiflex ball during this year's University matches against counties and in half of the county second XI championship matches.

I know they are using it in the Durham UCCE - Lancs match and apparently it offers more prodigious swing than the duke, one of the reasons Kyle Hogg had success yesterday

 

[superkingdave]

Century for Tom Smith..onya lad. Should be interesting who opens with Horton the first CC game now.

 

[fredfertang]

Excellent - if talent counts for anything Notts fans can look forward to having Stuart Broad all summer!

 

[Richard]

Can anyone tell me why the 2nd Division will be playing with the Tiflex ball this season?

I believe the ECB expressed concern over the softness of old balls in the past and this ball was trialled last year in the UCCE games and second XI, this must be an extension of this trial.

I know they are using it in the Durham UCCE - Lancs match and apparently it offers more prodigious swing than the duke, one of the reasons Kyle Hogg had success yesterday

That sounds good. If it swings more than the Duke, I hope they start using it in all First-Class domestic cricket and England home Tests.

 

[Richard]

Surrey have got a lot of new names (to me) playing and one, Ricaldo Anderson. Anderson last played first class cricket five years ago.

Haha, bloody hell. Surrey have picked him, Leics have picked Crowe. Evidently an early-season for those who've not played for years to return.

BTW one close-season move that I had missed was that Ian Fisher has joined Worcs.

 

[FBU]

I believe the ECB expressed concern over the softness of old balls in the past and this ball was trialled last year in the UCCE games and second XI, this must be an extension of this trial.

This was from the independent last year



I know they are using it in the Durham UCCE - Lancs match and apparently it offers more prodigious swing than the duke, one of the reasons Kyle Hogg had success yesterday

Steve James in The Telegraph

Clark had already been a little miffed last week when he discovered that Kent will not be using a Duke ball (as to be used in the Ashes) in county championship matches this summer. Nobody had told him of a hare-brained experiment by the England & Wales Cricket Board in which Duke balls will only be used in the first division of the county championship, and, a new ball, Tiflex in the second. And Kent were relegated last season. It is likely to make England selection a greater lottery than it already is, and the initial reports on the Tiflex are not good. Two counties have officially complained. Apparently the balls swing lavishly, then lose shape quickly.