***Official*** English Domestic Season 2009

[wpdavid]

Surrey 11-3 replying to 333, kinda glad I didn't go today now.

Quite. No Ramps, Butcher or Newman doesn't help. Instead we've now got Michael Brown from Hants and a youngster called Evans opening the batting. It's going to be gruesome viewing at the Oval this year.

 

[Richard]

If the selectors manage to summon up some small level of competency then they wouldn't take any notice of The New Ramprakash's latest soft run feast.

Still pushing that old chestnut eh? In spite of the fact Bell's career so far bears precisely no resemblence whatsoever to Ramprakash's.

 

[Richard]

You and Richard are of a similar mind then ... can't say it bothers me tbh, players who do well against universities usually get pitched aginst counties before long anyway.

at the whoooooooooosh, but TBH, it's not unusual that they don't - not in the same season anyway.

 

[Woodster]

With Masters, it is a shame that he does not have that extra 5mph, because his accuracy, from what I saw last year, was Mcgrath esque and he often extracted enough seam movement and bounce from pitches.

Yes I agree, just needs that bit of extra pace to make him more of a wicket-taking threat on all surfaces. In terms of accuracy, there are few better.

 

[Manee]

Yes I agree, just needs that bit of extra pace to make him more of a wicket-taking threat on all surfaces. In terms of accuracy, there are few better.

He is a bit old to put on much extra pace, which is a shame. If he'd have come in to county cricket with such accuracy, maybe there'd have been room for improvement.

 

[Woodster]

Another bowler for Essex, Chris Wright, finished off with decent figures today of 4-86 off nearly 30 overs. Haven't been massively impressed by what I've seen of him so far, but his return in the CC last season was very acceptable (29 wicks at 27.31). Maybe this year he may step it up again, only 23 years old.

Worcester in serious trouble, skipper Solanki going to have to revert to one-day cricket in the morning session tomorrow if they are to gain any sort of target for Hants. (England possible Tremlett 2-20 off 10.1, not bad).

No play at Grace Road between Leicester and Northants means Andrew Hall is still 5 runs short of his 6th first-class ton.

Really pleased to see Bell go on and make a big hundred. I don't care what anyone says about 'soft' runs this, that, and the other, he had an opportunity to get himself a big one and he did. Warks were 66-3 at one stage and in a spot of trouble. Top knock Belly! Positive response so far from Somerset, Trescothick is another one that may book in for a while.

Not much happened down at the Oval, four each for Nel and Dernbach wrapping up the Gloucester innings without too much undue fuss. Then the swinging opening pair of James Franklin and Jon Lewis leave Surrey with an uphill battle. The promising Laurie Evans given the chance to open up for Surrey, a sign of things to come from them as they eye up options for the future.

 

[Woodster]

He is a bit old to put on much extra pace, which is a shame. If he'd have come in to county cricket with such accuracy, maybe there'd have been room for improvement.

Yes don't even think Ian Pont would be able to extract much more pace from Masters without any consequences to his impeccable line and length.

 

[Manee]

Yes don't even think Ian Pont would be able to extract much more pace from Masters without any consequences to his impeccable line and length.

I do, but he is no longer involved in Essex, I believe.

 

[Woodster]

I do, but he is no longer involved in Essex, I believe.

No he's not at Essex no more. But if anyone could get more pace from a bowler, Pont's the man.

Just seen Jimmy Franklin's two wickets against Surrey, looked like perfect inswinging yorkers to remove both Surrey openers.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Really pleased to see Bell go on and make a big hundred. I don't care what anyone says about 'soft' runs this, that, and the other, he had an opportunity to get himself a big one and he did. Warks were 66-3 at one stage and in a spot of trouble. Top knock Belly! Positive response so far from Somerset, Trescothick is another one that may book in for a while.

Yea good response on a road.

Bell's runs are once again utterly.meaningless. We all know he can get soft runs against piss poor bowling on roads. We all know he can boost his average during a declaration chase. This innings should make sod all difference to his selection prospects.

 

[TT Boy]

Quite. No Ramps, Butcher or Newman doesn't help. Instead we've now got Michael Brown from Hants and a youngster called Evans opening the batting. It's going to be gruesome viewing at the Oval this year.

Indeed. The side they have got out is a shocker. Evans opening, Spriegel at 3, Batty at 5 and then a bowling attack (Andre Nel aside) which is currently pop-gun (Jordan could be anything...). Good job that division two cricket is bottom of the barrel, as Surrey still might push promotion once Ramps and Collins comeback.

 

[Woodster]

Yea good response on a road.

Bell's runs are once again utterly.meaningless. We all know he can get soft runs against piss poor bowling on roads. We all know he can boost his average during a declaration chase. This innings should make sod all difference to his selection prospects.

Yes would have enhanced his chances much further had he scored a duck!! Then you could say at least he gets out when the going's good! It's not his fault he was up against a below par Somerset attack at Taunton. All he could do was score runs, and runs aplenty he scored, no-one's saying he's the best batsman around now on all tracks, just that he has started exceptionally well!

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Panesar 24* (19b, 5x4) at Grace Road

 

[stumpski]

Nothing much has changed at Taunton I see - 847 for 13 so far.

Bad light has prevented a ball being bowled at the Oval.

And Leics 36-5 replying to 387!

 

[TT Boy]

van der Wath is a star. Real shame he didn't play more for South Africa.

 

[TT Boy]

Pettini seems to be batting lower and lower in the Essex side.

 

[TT Boy]

Well at least Woakes is doing ok. Coach, AD has said it is only a matter of when before Chris plays for England. He seems to be able to hold a bat as well.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Yes would have enhanced his chances much further had he scored a duck!! Then you could say at least he gets out when the going's good! It's not his fault he was up against a below par Somerset attack at Taunton. All he could do was score runs, and runs aplenty he scored, no-one's saying he's the best batsman around now on all tracks, just that he has started exceptionally well!

He's in a no-win situation on roads against bowling attacks like that. He's in a no-lose situation when the pitch has a bit in it and he's up against a good bowling attack with a bit of pressure. We already expect him to do nothing substantial in the latter situation. Until he does that a lot more regularly he shouldn't be in the England side.

 

[superkingdave]

Caught a couple of Woakes wickets on Sky, looks to nip it about a bit. Certainly one to follow.

Essex Northants on sky on Sunday..they could have picked a better game to start with surely, Essex are very good but Northants are just meh, could have had Durham-Yorkshire or Warwickshire-Somerset.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Caught a couple of Woakes wickets on Sky, looks to nip it about a bit. Certainly one to follow.

Essex Northants on sky on Sunday..they could have picked a better game to start with surely, Essex are very good but Northants are just meh, could have had Durham-Yorkshire or Warwickshire-Somerset.

They're going with the Champions-beginning-their-defence angle.

Interesting to see Somerset v Durham in the CC under the cameras the week after next. Hope Davies plays and we will get a proper look at what he can do on roads.