***Official*** English Domestic Season 2009

[GIMH]

 

[The Masterplan]

Sajid is a legend, and will one day play for England again I have no doubts. You won't be laughing when he takes 7-12 in the ashes.

 

[GIMH]

I wasn't laughing at what you said, more the way you put it across

 

[Pothas]

Dissapointing defeat for Hants today but an enjoyable day to watch. They definetly got a few too many but the run chase looked on for a good while with Lumb underlining why he is so frustrating a player with a really good 61. A few really poor dismissals including a stupid run-out meant that we lost convincgly in the end
I know one cannot judge a player and one performance and his career record so far is nothing special but Moeen Ali was terrific today, perfectly paced innings with some real flourish at the end.
Best thing of the day for me though was seeing Crawley in such good form, got a bit bogged down at the end but looked great at the start, a fit Crawley on form would make a real difference for us this season.

 

[FBU]

How Sutton is considered for OD cricket i don't know, crap average and scores really slowly, and Cross is a better keeper.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[gettingbetter]

No talk of Moeen Ali?

 

[Pothas]

Yeah, I saw him today and he was excellent, perfect one day innings and very good to watch. Obviously he has to do this on a more regular basis as his record thus far is pretty poor but he has a lot of talent.

 

[Woodster]

A very professional job done by Essex yesterday in chasing down a rather imposing score of 281 ro strengthen their claims as the side to beat in the FP Trophy again this year (even minus Bopara and Napier). The experience of Grant Flower and Matt Walker ensured there was no middle order wobble.

Talking of imposing totals, a Moeen Ali inspired Worcestershire took the game away from Hants with 320 off 50 overs. After their troubles with the bat in the CC game, this should alleviate any confidence problems for now. Tremlett was very expensive, 10-0-76-3. A fit John Crawley is a big boost for Hants and a cameo from the talented, yet frustrating, Michael Lumb was all they had to offer.

Leicester were blitzed by an exciting looking Notts line-up. Some match winners in their side, and an imperssive depth of batting too. Good to see Swann take 3-24 off 8.4 overs, and the classy looking Mark Wagh led them to victory with 68*. I hope he really kicks on this season after threatening so much in past campaigns.

Durham comfortably turned over in their own backyard, Kruis and Bresnan doing the damage for Yorkshire with the ball, Rudolph and Brophy helping post a competitive total for the visitors. Vaughan made a virtual run a ball 43, any length of time he spends out in the middle scoring runs is a huge bonus for England. Another pretty bad day for Harmison.

Sussex didn't quite make enough against Gloucester, despite half centuries for Prior, batting at 3, and Yardy. A partnership of 122 by Chris Taylor and Craig Spearman saw Gloucester home.

Fairly easy for Lancs at O.T. A surprise with Tom Smith opening the innings, but it worked as he and Faf Du Plessis top scored both with 66. Kyle Hogg then did the damage up top with the ball, 3-21 off 8. Not the only bowler for Lancs to register decent figures, Saj Mahmood 7.2-1-17-3. Has he found the accuracy that has been talked about in pre-season?? I know what most of you will say, but this may be the start for Saj!! Scaly suggested cheap wickets, not sure I agree at all. The opposition captain and big wicket, Jamie Dalrymple, the innings top scorer, Mark Wallace, and Dean Cosker.

Ian Bell does it again, another century. But it wasn't enough because Somerset also had a man in excellent form with the bat, Craig Kieswetter followed on from his 150 in the CC game, with 138 not out off 131 balls. When does he become available for England, just out of interest? I've seen him bat and have been reasonably impressed, but have never taken a massive amount of notice with regards his keeping, can anyone shed any further light ?

 

[The Masterplan]

Kieswetter is a solid glovesman. If he didn't have to wait i'm sure he'd be in the performance squad by now at least.

 

[superkingdave]

Kieswetter is a solid glovesman. If he didn't have to wait i'm sure he'd be in the performance squad by now at least.

Why? before his two innings this week he had a poor FC record and an average OD one, despite playing at the home of the flattest pitches in the land. If a guy like Stephen Davies, who has a much better record and has performed for longer and doesn't necessarily play on roads all the time can't make the performance squad, why would Keiswetter be in there 'at least'

Nowhere near selection.

 

[The Masterplan]

Why? before his two innings this week he had a poor FC record and an average OD one, despite playing at the home of the flattest pitches in the land. If a guy like Stephen Davies, who has a much better record and has performed for longer and doesn't necessarily play on roads all the time can't make the performance squad, why would Keiswetter be in there 'at least'

Nowhere near selection.

Poor? It was a fairly good one to be honest for a 21 year old wicketkeeper. It was evident last season that he's got the skills to pay the bills, maybe he wasn't overly consistent with the bat, but there are good signs, he's fairly inexperienced aswell. You're probably right about him 'at least' being in the performance squad, i was being slightly ambitious, but i've no doubt he will be.

 

[superkingdave]

1012 runs @28.9 prior to this season with no hundreds and 5 fifties. I'd call that pretty poor. Away from Taunton its 400@ 23.5. The guy has scored more hundreds in the last week than he'd scored in his career previously

 

[superkingdave]

Anyway, i'm not saying he doesn't have potential, just that he's a long way from consideration at the moment and there are plenty ahead of him. Needs to put in a good season or two (ie averaging over 35 and scoring some hundreds, especially away from home)

Anyway, next round of CC games starts today, with Peter Moores taking Lancashire to Sussex. Weather seems set fair this week so we should get full games in. Lancashire have a strong side out with only Loye (and Flintoff) missing. Probably too optimistic to hope for a win but i'll take a high point scoring draw. Jimmy to star hopefully.

 

[zaremba]

Anyway, next round of CC games starts today, with Peter Moores taking Lancashire to Sussex. Weather seems set fair this week so we should get full games in. Lancashire have a strong side out with only Loye (and Flintoff) missing. Probably too optimistic to hope for a win but i'll take a high point scoring draw. Jimmy to star hopefully.

Well I'm looking forward to the game today but I'm not optimistic.

Our best hope against a strong Lancashire team is that they will be disorientated and confused by the sunlight.

Our batting looks capable and our batting order is pretty deep. However our big problem is our seam bowling which is a combination of the ageing and the unproven. Unfortunately 10 (ten!) average seamers doesn't add up to 4 excellent ones, and our two best seamers, Lewry and Arafat, aren't available due to illness and IPL respectively. I think our best hope of taking enough wickets this season is by producing turning pitches and playing our young spinners. However I can't see that happen this early in the season and so I don't expect to see the battle of the Tom Smiths today.

 

[TT Boy]

Anyway, i'm not saying he doesn't have potential, just that he's a long way from consideration at the moment and there are plenty ahead of him. Needs to put in a good season or two (ie averaging over 35 and scoring some hundreds, especially away from home)

Anyway, next round of CC games starts today, with Peter Moores taking Lancashire to Sussex. Weather seems set fair this week so we should get full games in. Lancashire have a strong side out with only Loye (and Flintoff) missing. Probably too optimistic to hope for a win but i'll take a high point scoring draw. Jimmy to star hopefully.

Faf playing as the spinner, or is Keedy getting a go?

 

[superkingdave]

Faf playing as the spinner, or is Keedy getting a go?

Keedy will be playing...two of Smith, Hogg and Newby to miss out from the squad, probably Smith and Newby

Horton
Chilton
Prince
Croft
Du Plessis
Sutton
Hogg
Chapple
Mahmood
Anderson
Keedy

Can't see us leaving Keedy out 5 front line seamers with Croft for back up is a bit overkill when you've already got a damn good attack by county standards, you might Smith opening if he gets chosen instead of Hogg. Can't see Newby playing. Really Chapple, Anderson, Mahmood should be a decent enough seem attack that the remaining seamer should be chosen to complement the batting.

 

[superkingdave]

Looks like the battle of the Tom Smith's at Hove as both are included if Cricinfo are to be believed. 2 Decent games in the First division starting today, Broad, Patel and Swann playing for Notts, Davies, Moore, Moeen Ali and presumably Kabir Ali playing for Worcestershire, Prior and Joyce playing for Sussex and Horton and Anderson playing for Lancs, definitely some interest for the national side.

 

[TT Boy]

Kent look poor without the likes of Kempie (where is he?), McLaren and Arafat. 25 year old, Philip Edwards is a new one to me. First class debut in 2004 but he has only played 6 first class games.

 

[Pothas]

Kabir pulled up with an injury on Sunday, went straight off the field so would be a bit suprised if he is fit. Will be following Moeen' s progress for the rest of the season, have seen few better innings at county level.

 

[TT Boy]

Damien Wright is a bit of 'meh' overseas signing. Sami was good for them, as he offered them something else but Aga, Collymore, Wright and Martin-Jenkins, it doesn't put the frightens on anyone.

Where is Pepler Sandri?