***Official*** English Domestic Season 2009

[Neil Pickup]

Unless he's improved exponentially in the last year, he can't.

92 from number nine ain't too bad...

 

[JimmyGS]

92 from number nine ain't too bad...

From reading cricinfo it looks like he's had a bit of a slog and gotten away with it. Dropped twice...

The coaches have seen him batting for ages and play him at 9, which is probably all that has to be said, haha.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Did anyone catch Fred's wickets on SSN? Looked to be carrying a bit of timber around the belly to me?

Not great news if so.

 

[grecian]

Well, he's got a while to sort it out. Important thing is he's obviously not had a bad reaction to his first days bowling and he's cleaned up the Durhamers tale. Should get a rest now for a bit, apart from the 5 minutes or so he'll be batting.

 

[Manee]

Indeed, Flintoff's weight should never be a massive issue, he has always been an expert at bowling long spells and racking up dozens of overs per innings.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Well, he's got a while to sort it out. Important thing is he's obviously not had a bad reaction to his first days bowling and he's cleaned up the Durhamers tale. Should get a rest now for a bit, apart from the 5 minutes or so he'll be batting.

Yeah, fair enough, but you'd think Team England would have conditioners on his case 24/7, practically. In theory he should've had nothing but rehab and fitness work to occupy himself with. Do sometimes wonder about the efficacy of our fitness staff given the rate our quicks get injured and/or put on weight. Sid last year had clearly gained extra poundage during the season.

 

[Manee]

Flintoff wraps it up, ending up with 4/47 - not too bad for the return game. Onions gets an early wicket to take it up to 25 wickets this year in CC Division 1, at 13.20, a marvellous effort.

EDIT: Hoggard has 4/19 against Somerset - HE'S BACK, ladies and gentlemen.

 

[JimmyGS]

In theory he should've had nothing but rehab and fitness work to occupy himself with.

Yea. Come on Freddie, why weren't you testing that knee out with shuttles and road running before you were confident with it?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yea. Come on Freddie, why weren't you testing that knee out with shuttles and road running before you were confident with it?

Ah, come on. It's not like running is the only cardio exercise, is it? Swimming or exercise bike would put far less strain on the joint.

 

[Goughy]

Indeed, Flintoff's weight should never be a massive issue, he has always been an expert at bowling long spells and racking up dozens of overs per innings.

He is a kindred spirit to myself. As Flintoff has repeatedly stated, I always feel stronger, sturdier and less injury prone when I have a bit of 'thickness'

As has happened multiple times, Ive dropped 7 kg and Im as weak as a kitten and hurt myself. From what Ive read, Flintoff is similar.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Onions has the top 3 now. He'll probably bowl a load of overs straight after lunch too, so might pick up another 5-fer shortly.

 

[BoyBrumby]

He is a kindred spirit to myself. As Flintoff has repeatedly stated, I always feel stronger, sturdier and less injury prone when I have a bit of 'thickness'

As has happened multiple times, Ive dropped 7 kg and Im as weak as a kitten and hurt myself. From what Ive read, Flintoff is similar.

Well, with regards to Freddie, when he was young & 18 stone rising he bowled medium-fast and was constantly crippled with back problems. After Fairbrother & Chubby Chandler staged an intervention and he lost a couple of stone he gained pace and became, however briefly, the world's premier all-rounder.

Loveable lug that he is, I do think he needs to be taken a firmer line with than some coaches have been wont to. When Donald was our bowling coach he suggested Flintoff might consider changing his delivery stride to reduce the strain on his oft operated-on ankle, but was blown off with "I'm nearly 30, I'm too old to change now".

I'm all for personal responsibility and not treating players like kids, but equally a one-size fits all approach isn't the way to go either.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Harmison takes his first wicket, now bowling at Flintoff...

 

[wpdavid]

Elsewhere, Surrey have done itheir usual failure-to-bowl-out-the-tail routine, with Panesar of all people featuring in a decent 9th wicket stand.

Maybe worth noting that Panesar was the 2nd top scoring in Northants innings, which can't have happened very often.

 

[stumpski]

Didn't know Luke Fletcher could bat. If so makes him even more of a prospect.

Gawd do England need some

Averaging 100 with the bat in FC cricket

Unless he's improved exponentially in the last year, he can't.

From today's report in the Times:

'Peter Walker, the ECB pitch liaison officer, went so far as to say that Fletcher reminded him of Wally Hammond.'

Absurdly high praise, it would seem, though it suggests someone strong on the off-drive - but how old is Walker? Hammond last played county cricket in 1946.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

From today's report in the Times:

'Peter Walker, the ECB pitch liaison officer, went so far as to say that Fletcher reminded him of Wally Hammond.'

Absurdly high praise, it would seem, though it suggests someone strong on the off-drive - but how old is Walker? Hammond last played county cricket in 1946.

Assume it's this chap. Born in 36 at Brizzle, so would have seen him post-war.

 

[BoyBrumby]

From today's report in the Times:

'Peter Walker, the ECB pitch liaison officer, went so far as to say that Fletcher reminded him of Wally Hammond.'

Absurdly high praise, it would seem, though it suggests someone strong on the off-drive - but how old is Walker? Hammond last played county cricket in 1946.

SJS posted an article about his abortive comeback in '53 (I think) when he was (again IIRC) 48 on here quite recently. A one off tho, I believe and he wasn't the player he was.

Even if Walker was ten in 1953 he'd be 65 or 66 tho.

EDIT: Bah, Norway does the ageing fenman for pace.

 

[stumpski]

Hmmm ... it did occur to me that it might be the former Glamorgan and England all-rounder, but I thought it unlikely. I knew Hammond played a one-off game in 1951 but discounted that as it would hardly have left a lasting impression on many youngsters watching. He also played a match in Ireland for MCC in 1950.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Hmmm ... it did occur to me that it might be the former Glamorgan and England all-rounder, but I thought it unlikely. I knew Hammond played a one-off game in 1951 but discounted that as it would hardly have left a lasting impression on many youngsters watching. He also played a match in Ireland for MCC in 1950.

Ah, fair call. Console myself that I was close. Ish.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Harmison taken off during the middle of an over shortly after bowling Flintoff for 3. Friggin super.

That was according to the Crincinfo card. The BBC has him with extra overs tacked on...