*Official* English Domestic Cricket 2012

[theegyptian]

Benny Howell set to sign with Gloucestershire apparently. Had a couple of trials and impressed the right people. Looking at his age and record you'd have to wonder why he didn't already have a club though.

Scored 207* for Gloucestershire 2nds today against Surrey so should boost his chances of a contract. Then again even Jonathan Batty managed 113* as Glos ended on 343-0. Glos don't have any real resources though so still wouldn't be surprised if we don't pick him up or someone else offers him something better.

 

[Biryani Pillow]

I think it's ironic that Lords prepare road after road, which has seen more draws than results in tests in recent years, gets **** all slack for it but then does when there's a pitch that finally helps the bowlers.

Your first point is irrelevant with regard to pitch penalties.

Secondly there is a huge difference between a pitch which gives some help to the bowler (in fact, that is a truly 'good' pitch if the help is consistent) and one where there is dramatic and erratic seam movement and the likes of Murtagh can, at times and from nowhere, get the ball to kick and fly through from a good length.

If I get a pitch like that in a Club match the pitch will get a poor mark.

 

[Cabinet96]

Your first point is irrelevant with regard to pitch penalties.

Secondly there is a huge difference between a pitch which gives some help to the bowler (in fact, that is a truly 'good' pitch if the help is consistent) and one where there is dramatic and erratic seam movement and the likes of Murtagh can, at times and from nowhere, get the ball to kick and fly through from a good length.

If I get a pitch like that in a Club match the pitch will get a poor mark.

I wasn't making a point with regards to pitch penalties.

I haven't seen much footage from the match, so I can't really speak about the quality of the pitch. My comment was more of a general comment with regards to how pitches get slatted.

 

[Woodster]

Look I agree that if the pitch was not upto the standard that is expected for a first-class game at Lords, then it isn't really on. However, it does appear to be sour grapes on Adams part and quite a few of the wickets did look as though they were thrown away but then it isn't always the delivery that gets you out on a dodgy pitch more a result of what's happened before.

 

[theegyptian]

Yorkshire looking to bring in Mitchell Starc. Not sure that's a wise decision really. Obviously hugely talented and massive potential but pretty big risk taking someone so young and inexperienced. There have been plenty of hugely talented young bowlers who have come to England and done badly. e.g Steyn.

And with Yorkshires financial position and there desperate need to get promoted back to div 1 it seems pretty risky. They may have been much better off going down the Sussex route and picking up an experienced performer like Magoffin who is probably getting paid a lot less than Starc will be and will be able to support his younger teammates.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yorkshire looking to bring in Mitchell Starc. Not sure that's a wise decision really. Obviously hugely talented and massive potential but pretty big risk taking someone so young and inexperienced. There have been plenty of hugely talented young bowlers who have come to England and done badly. e.g Steyn.

And with Yorkshires financial position and there desperate need to get promoted back to div 1 it seems pretty risky. They may have been much better off going down the Sussex route and picking up an experienced performer like Magoffin who is probably getting paid a lot less than Starc will be and will be able to support his younger teammates.

Fantastic move for Starc but yeah not sure it's the best option for Yorkshire.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Hope he performs about as well as Shaun Tait did when he played for Durham. Could make Yorkshi*e an even bigger laughing stock if they have him and Shahzad missing the cut strip, Rashid looking really promising (apparently) whilst getting hammered around by a 9th wicket partnership and a couple of medium pace plodders to fill up the other slots.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Think it's a great deal for Yorkshire personally. There have been a few 'young and experienced' seamers who have taken big hauls already in the championship , and I can definetely see Starc getting alot of bowled/lbw's with his in-swing.

 

[Jacknife]

Hope he performs about as well as Shaun Tait did when he played for Durham. Could make Yorkshi*e an even bigger laughing stock if they have him and Shahzad missing the cut strip, Rashid looking really promising (apparently) whilst getting hammered around by a 9th wicket partnership and a couple of medium pace plodders to fill up the other slots.

Oh bless, 1 out of 10 must try harder.

Yorkshire looking to bring in Mitchell Starc. Not sure that's a wise decision really. Obviously hugely talented and massive potential but pretty big risk taking someone so young and inexperienced. There have been plenty of hugely talented young bowlers who have come to England and done badly. e.g Steyn.

And with Yorkshires financial position and there desperate need to get promoted back to div 1 it seems pretty risky. They may have been much better off going down the Sussex route and picking up an experienced performer like Magoffin who is probably getting paid a lot less than Starc will be and will be able to support his younger teammates.

Hmmm, can see the attraction in Starc but like you say young lad learning his game and bowling in England is very different from Australia. I'll trust Dizzy to do the right thing as he knows more about fast bowling them myself but out of all the available ones from Aus, Copeland's medium pacers could have proved very handy over here.

 

[social]

Starc is one of the most promising young pace bowlers in the world

Unless they are paying him stupid money, it's a great move

 

[Woodster]

Yes on the Starc debate, he could be a potentially exciting signing, but in Yorkshire's position I think a more experienced bowler would fit the bill better, especially with such emphasis on getting out of division two at the first attempt.

Just noticed that Neil Dexter has stepped down as Middlesex captain, Aussie Chris Rogers takes over for now, but it seems that when Dexter's form returns he will take up the reins again.

 

[Jacknife]

Starc is one of the most promising young pace bowlers in the world

Unless they are paying him stupid money, it's a great move

He might be promising but we're after a bowler to hit the ground running, he might very well do that but with him having no experience over here and still learning his own game, it could be a risk.

 

[Woodster]

He might be promising but we're after a bowler to hit the ground running, he might very well do that but with him having no experience over here and still learning his own game, it could be a risk.

Yes I agree, I don't think anyone is discrediting his potential, just that they probably cannot afford that bedding in period that a young overseas player sometimes requires and the alternative of a seasoned campaigner that, as you say, can hit the ground running seems a better option.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Yorkshi*e don't exactly have a great track record with talented bowlers lately. There are better finishing schools. I guess Starc would really firm up their batting lineup though, would be their third best batsman after Bairstow and Sidebottom.

 

[zaremba]

Lol. Great to see you back and posting scaly.

 

[Riggins]

you guys should pick whiteley from derby for the england team coz he's my mate.

 

[Riggins]

Yes, WAC.

Am I correct in thinking that Mick Hunt is actually employed by the MCC rather than Middlesex so prepares the pitches based on what they tell him?

Hoping Surrey fail miserably this season, far too overhyped a side.

Please tell me that's not his real name!?!

 

[stumpski]

Hmmm, you wouldn't expect Wales to be staging the only county game being played atm, but it's only the West that's escaped the rain today. Middlesex seem to be over-stocked with openers but presumably they'll let the England captain go in first when the time comes.

 

[Kippax]

Today's Wagner eligibility news shortens the odds on Howsie's idea Trent Boult would be Williamson's Gloucs replacement for the 2nd half of the season.

 

[theegyptian]

Philander already feeling the full effect of county cricket. Somerset bowling lineup looks pretty threadbare with Trego opening the bowling. Adams also missing for Notts to even things up a bit though.