*Official* English Domestic Cricket 2012

[Woodster]

Liam Dawson has 7 catches at present from second slip for Hampshire in their current match - he's also keeping Briggs out of the team at present with his SLA's as Dawson seems to be doing a good job and hampshire are going with 4 other seamers.

Briggs isn't a serious test contender for England as he doesn't spin the ball (much) but I'd guess it's a bit worrying for Briggs that he can't get in the Hampshire team and Dawson seems a decent bowler and obviously offers a load more with the bat/ in the field - so Briggs may find he doesn't get all the chances he wants in four day cricket this season unless the weather improves.

On these pitches that heavily favour quicker bowling, then Dawson may well get the nod as the sole spinner, but I'm sure Briggs will get ample opportunities throughout this county season for his four-day game to develop. With Dawson being picked mainly as an opening batsman, it does allow Hants to select a specialist spinner (Briggs) while also being able to pick three specialist quicks and also have Sean Ervine in the line-up.

Briggs probably will hope to become more effective in the longer format and as you say, he's not a big spinner of the ball, so the more four-day cricket he plays the better picture we will get of his role Hants will want him to play in the side.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Anyone else heading to Wormsley tomorrow to see Unicorns Derbyshire?

Apparently it's a beautiful ground, but gonna be a cold one!

I have no plans for tomorrow whatsoever. It's certainly tempting.

EDIT: Oh, it's today. Still haven't got out of bed. Bugger that.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Ravi Bopara shows the batting talent that England is letting through the net - Telegraph

Scyld Berry thinks we're missing out on a generation of Ravi Boparas.

Thank God for that.

 

[TT Boy]

"England’s cricket team is no longer representative of the population — an alarming development that threatens the sport’s popularity and the team’s strength."

And, last time it was a bit representative circa 90s, England were crap, immensely unpopular and we had clowns like Ronnie Irani play test cricket.
Ravi Bopara, a guy of Indian origin won’t appeal to the say the youth of East London, as one their parents are Bangladeshi, two, they can’t play cricket in school and three, they can’t watch cricket on terrestrial TV.
Featuring the University of East London's Tymal Mills or Lewisham's Bell-Drummond (forget the Millfield education) would probably be more apt case studies or the countless young kids from Bangladeshi backgrounds playing representative cricket at U17 or U19 level.

 

[Spikey]

pffft the dutch playing van der Gugten instead of motty. a downgrade and a half

and as for borgas..

 

[TT Boy]

Bit early for counties to be manufacturing results and why Worcestershire would do that against a very good Middlesex attack doesn't make much sense.

 

[BoyBrumby]

"England’s cricket team is no longer representative of the population — an alarming development that threatens the sport’s popularity and the team’s strength."

And, last time it was a bit representative circa 90s, England were crap, immensely unpopular and we had clowns like Ronnie Irani play test cricket.
Ravi Bopara, a guy of Indian origin won’t appeal to the say the youth of East London, as one their parents are Bangladeshi, two, they can’t play cricket in school and three, they can’t watch cricket on terrestrial TV.
Featuring the University of East London's Tymal Mills or Lewisham's Bell-Drummond (forget the Millfield education) would probably be more apt case studies or the countless young kids from Bangladeshi backgrounds playing representative cricket at U17 or U19 level.

Tymal's an East Anglian, tbf. Plays club cricket for Mildenhall*. Must be one of the few players who left Yorkshire and than found cricket.

*As a vicarious claim to fame, his club captain is my manager's manager.

 

[TT Boy]

Matt Coles has blown away Yorkshire.

While 5 overs, 5 wickets, 5 maidens Luis Reece is playing for the Unicorns.

Surrey being brought down to earth on a tough wicket. Too early in the season for Roy to be playing up North.

 

[TT Boy]

Tymal's an East Anglian, tbf. Plays club cricket for Mildenhall*. Must be one of the few players who left Yorkshire and than found cricket.

*As a vicarious claim to fame, his club captain is my manager's manager.

Sure but he is also studying at East London and was playing for their university side. I played against them years back and they were awful but I doubt many students would be getting in-line facing Tymal.

 

[TT Boy]

Good start by the Dutch. They were a dangerous side last year and nearly qualified out of their group.
If Stephan Myburgh is Dutch, then the Netherlands should look to get his older brother and one time likely New Zealand international, Johann Myburgh into the mix. Not played for Hampshire in 12 months.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Good start by the Dutch. They were a dangerous side last year and nearly qualified out of their group.
If Stephan Myburgh is Dutch, then the Netherlands should look to get his older brother and one time likely New Zealand international, Johann Myburgh into the mix. Not played for Hampshire in 12 months.

Huh. Weird. 99% sure Hants signed the elder Myburgh as a Kolpak, which suggests he's a non-EU citizen. Seems unlikely his kid bro would qualify for a Dutch passport if he didn't, unless they're only half-brothers or something.

Guessing Stephan must qualify on residence or something.

 

[Jarquis]

Maynard and Ansari out from Surrey's game against Somerset. At least Rudolph finally gets a gig, omitted from their first game and was made 12th man on his birthday. Showing his quality now though, albeit against Scotland.

 

[Jacknife]

Bad decision that against Gale, massive inside edge.

Looking at the Yorkshire side, it looks a bit light in the bowling, must be resting Siddy.

 

[stumpski]

Seven down now, would be just like us to lose to bloody Scotland after streamrollering Somerset on Friday.

But I think we've got enough.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Coles bowling on Sky just now. My first look at him I can recall. Looks a big,strong lad, but medium-fast pace at best. Only cracked 80mph once this over.

Wicket off his last ball as Rafiq holes out to mid-off.

 

[Jacknife]

The umpire at this Coles end hasn't called about 5 wides, 3 of them have been on the outer white line and one way down the leg side, strange to say the very least.

 

[Jacknife]

Coles bowling on Sky just now. My first look at him I can recall. Looks a big,strong lad, but medium-fast pace at best. Only cracked 80mph once this over.

Wicket off his last ball as Rafiq holes out to mid-off.

I think a few people thought he was a bit quicker than that because he bowled around that last year and quite a few thought he'd added some pace.


Lost the plot these umpires, now a 5 ball over.

 

[Howe_zat]

Rashid attemping a salvage job but it's hard to see where you can go from 130 odd for 7. 180 maybe, with a bit of luck?

 

[BoyBrumby]

No great pace, but Coles gets some fair climb. Just sconed Patterson there. Slight hint of Gus Fraser about him? Certainly has Angus's Eeyore-ish trudge back to his mark.

Plus, must be said, he's bowling about 10mph quicker than Davies, Ball or Stevens managed.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Well, he's taken six now so he's obviously doing something right.