***Official*** English Domestic Season 2009

[Howsie]

How good is Phil Hughes going, he really is going to be one of the best ever opening batsmen.

 

[zaremba]

Usman Afzaal thwarted by Sussex's ex-Liverpool strike force:

c Keegan b Collymore

 

[superkingdave]

Usman Afzaal thwarted by Sussex's ex-Liverpool strike force:

c Keegan b Collymore

Wasn't a very dogged innings by Afzaal itbt

 

[zaremba]

Wasn't a very dogged innings by Afzaal itbt

nice

 

[Manee]

Wow, Meaker is certainly quite the quick. Up to 90.5mph in the second over. Nel did get up to 91.3mph at one point though, so still not the quickest on show, but then Nel has a good ten years on Meaker.

 

[TT Boy]

Wow, Meaker is certainly quite the quick. Up to 90.5mph in the second over. Nel did get up to 91.3mph at one point though, so still not the quickest on show, but then Nel has a good ten years on Meaker.

And he hasn't been quick for over 4 years.

What is up with Sky's speed gun this year? Nel didn't break over 130kph back in the Republic (in games where de Wet was clocking 140/45kph and Alexander 145/50).

 

[stumpski]

Schofield running through 'em now.

May turn out to be a win too late for Surrey, but after the start to the season we've had, I'll take it.

 

[stumpski]

nice little knock from young Redfern as well coming in with Derbyshire in a bit of trouble, only made 47 but important none the less. Some old codger at the other end bashed a few.

Wins for Scotland (albeit D/L assisted) and Derby on the same day - it's not often you can say that.

 

[Manee]

And he hasn't been quick for over 4 years.

What is up with Sky's speed gun this year? Nel didn't break over 130kph back in the Republic (in games where de Wet was clocking 140/45kph and Alexander 145/50).

The speed gun may have been a trifle high but Nel was certainly bowling quickly, as was Meaker. Nel had his tail up and was charging in, whereas his run up has been slower recently and Meaker did the batsman for pace on a few occasions.

 

[Manee]

Schofield running through 'em now.

Thanks to some of the worst application of the sweep shot that I've ever seen.

 

[rivera213]

How good is Phil Hughes going, he really is going to be one of the best ever opening batsmen.

I've seen a lot of comments like this.

Based on 6 test innings, people are already putting him up therew with the Barry Richards & Sunil Gavaskar's of the world. Unbelievable.

Wow, Meaker is certainly quite the quick. Up to 90.5mph in the second over. Nel did get up to 91.3mph at one point though, so still not the quickest on show, but then Nel has a good ten years on Meaker.

How fast did Meaker get it up to?

I was watching the Bangalore game.

He can get it up to 95-96mph but that is when everything clicks and when the weather is nice and warm.

And he hasn't been quick for over 4 years.

What is up with Sky's speed gun this year? Nel didn't break over 130kph back in the Republic (in games where de Wet was clocking 140/45kph and Alexander 145/50).

Well, Nel has occasional games where he is quick. His action is so strange that when it clicks and he has rhythm, he can get it up there to fast-medium level, but when it doesn't- he's around 80-83mph.

I don't know what type of speed gun Sky use. Maybe it was a back-up?

 

[Goughy]

so still not the quickest on show, but then Nel has a good ten years on Meaker.

Since when was being old a good thing for bowling rapid?

 

[zaremba]

I've seen a lot of comments like this.

Based on 6 test innings, people are already putting him up therew with the Barry Richards & Sunil Gavaskar's of the world. Unbelievable.

I've not seen him play yet and I take your point that it's a little early for too much hype, but it's fair to point out that he has a FC average of 69.36 after 24 matches, which is pretty impressive (his Test record is consistent with this - he averages 69.16). Those runs have all been scored in State cricket in Oz, in Tests in South Africa and early-season County Cricket, none of which is a particularly easy place to play. And for a 20-year-old that's a decent start to his career.

I'm really looking forward to watching him in the Ashes, and will be hoping that we can start bringing those averages down a la Mike Hussey.

 

[Manee]

Since when was being old a good thing for bowling rapid?

I am just thinking that now, perhaps I was trying to make a point about Meaker being young.

 

[Manee]

How fast did Meaker get it up to?

I was watching the Bangalore game.

He can get it up to 95-96mph but that is when everything clicks and when the weather is nice and warm.

He got up to 91.5mph.

 

[rivera213]

I've not seen him play yet and I take your point that it's a little early for too much hype, but it's fair to point out that he has a FC average of 69.36 after 24 matches, which is pretty impressive (his Test record is consistent with this - he averages 69.16). Those runs have all been scored in State cricket in Oz, in Tests in South Africa and early-season County Cricket, none of which is a particularly easy place to play. And for a 20-year-old that's a decent start to his career.

It's an excellent start for sure. He's a precocious talent and I was impressed with him in the South Africa series after the worst possible start. But people need to realize he is only 20 and to expect him to take the world by storm straight away is unrealistic- especially with the amount of scouting done on players today by the opposition.

I certainly don't think he'll flop in test cricket, or in this Ashes series, but his average of 69 & a century every 3 innings wont last.

As far as county cricket is concerned, he's done great, but the Lord's wicket is pretty easy to bat on nowadays against average bowling, the game vs Leicestershire saw Strauss & Morgan also make 100's and with much faster strike rates than Hughes. He owned the Surrey bowlers at the Oval, but that's the Surrey bowlers.

Hughes has gotten out to bowlers who bowl between 75 & 82mph so I think someone like Collingwood may be his Achilles heel, similar to how Yuvraj always seems to get Pietersen out.

I'm really looking forward to watching him in the Ashes, and will be hoping that we can start bringing those averages down a la Mike Hussey.

Hopefully.

I can see Hughes scoring a century at Lord's for sure, with any luck it wont be a 150+.

If our groundsmen are smart and disregard the nagging voice of capitalism in their ear, they'll prepare a traditional seam-friendly wicket for Headingly & a fast, bouncy wicket for The Oval tests.

Hughes has already scored a century on a friendly Oval wicket but he flashes his bat. A bit of pace and bounce would probably see him depart early via an edge to 2nd slip. Thank you very much! Lol.

He got up to 91.5mph.

Cheers.

I think he'll average around 91-92mph when he's in full flow during the middle of the season. Hopefully he'll have a run in the Surrey team.

 

[superkingdave]

Going to be an interesting situation when Flintoff begins his comeback from injury and wants to play county cricket. I'm assuming it will be a 'he's okay to bat, but not to bowl' situation again. If that happens, he really would not get picked for Lancashire on merit, we already have guys knocking on the door for a middle order spot in the side that can't get in so Freddie should have to start in the seconds until he scores lots of runs or is allowed to bowl.

Recent comments by the man himself seemed to indicate he hasn't go much enthusiasm for playing for Lancashire anymore in any case.

Of course he'll be straight in to the side but it could be to the detriment of our county championship campaign. We could also have slumped into awful form by then and he might deserve a place.

 

[rivera213]

Going to be an interesting situation when Flintoff begins his comeback from injury and wants to play county cricket. I'm assuming it will be a 'he's okay to bat, but not to bowl' situation again. If that happens, he really would not get picked for Lancashire on merit, we already have guys knocking on the door for a middle order spot in the side that can't get in so Freddie should have to start in the seconds until he scores lots of runs or is allowed to bowl.

Recent comments by the man himself seemed to indicate he hasn't go much enthusiasm for playing for Lancashire anymore in any case.

Of course he'll be straight in to the side but it could be to the detriment of our county championship campaign. We could also have slumped into awful form by then and he might deserve a place.

Would you swap a loss of a few games in return for a Flintoff who has both runs and (later) overs under his belt come the Ashes?

I know it's a lose-lose situation for a Lancashire fan, but County cricket is viewed by most as practice games for international players only. The county cricket players don't enter into the equation.

Michael Vaughan doesn't deserve his place in the Yorkshire team but is in because it's Michael Vaughan.

 

[superkingdave]

Would you swap a loss of a few games in return for a Flintoff who has both runs and (later) overs under his belt come the Ashes?

I know it's a lose-lose situation for a Lancashire fan, but County cricket is viewed by most as practice games for international players only. The county cricket players don't enter into the equation.

Michael Vaughan doesn't deserve his place in the Yorkshire team but is in because it's Michael Vaughan.

I'd rather Lancashire win the county championship than England win the Ashes tbh (Ashes is no 2 tbf) wouldn't care if we lost every single OD &t20 game and England won the Ashes though.

 

[Uppercut]

Notts on a major go-slow, 51/5 after 25 overs. The Lancs folk here won't appreciate me saying it, but Dominic Cork's been a huge success.