**Official** County Cricket 2017

[theegyptian]

Big call - No Foster for Essex. Wheater keeping wicket. Also Cook out injured.

Alsop and Will Smith don't make the squad for Hampshire and that's with Bailey having not even turned up yet.

 

[theegyptian]

Leicestershire deducted 16 points for poor discipline, Cosgrove as captain banned for one game and Shreck suspended by the club for two games. All less than 24 hours before the start of the championship season. https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/364325

 

[Howe_zat]

kinell, they might not even get 16 points

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Could be a good battle in the race to 0 points then.

 

[Woodster]

Big call - No Foster for Essex. Wheater keeping wicket. Also Cook out injured.

Alsop and Will Smith don't make the squad for Hampshire and that's with Bailey having not even turned up yet.

Yes big call that, thought it might be possible that Essex opt for batting depth and perhaps include them both, so a relatively attacking move in that respect to get the extra bowler in there. Wheater certainly didn't do his case any harm with his knock in the final warm-up game and Essex's batting depth still looks decent with him or RTD at seven and potentially Harmer at eight. It's more than likely that they're going to need to that depth against Jimmy Anderson and co. in the opener today.

 

[SeamUp]

It should be a formality for Notts with the bowling attack of Pattinson, Broad, Fletcher, Gurney, Patel & Ball returning but of course the game isn't played on paper. Not sure why Brett Hutton is anywhere near the squad though when there is lots of talk about Ben Kitt particularly and obviously Jack Blatherwick but still quite young. Paul Franks says he would be happy to throw both in tomorrow but just have to wait for their chance.

The batting looks it's usual self for Notts and should be enough for division 2 but I reckon this season needs to see the development of Jake Libby, Billy Root and Tom Moores continue. Lots of solid campaigners (Mullaney, Smith, Wessels, Read) but also limited overs is more the game (Lumb, Hales).

 

[Scaly piscine]

Suppose I'll be supporting Yorkshire by default for the first few days, as they're playing Hampscum. Here's hoping they get badly pulverized in each and every match.

 

[superkingdave]

Hameed fit to play, Davies opening with him (presume he is keeping as both Chapple & Vilas have said he's there as a batsmen and backup keeper to Davies) and Parry playing. Livingstone up to no 3.

 

[theegyptian]

Ackermann away with a straight drive on debut facing Broad and Pattinson. WOn't get any harder than that in Div 2.

New thing for the ecb for the season. videos of the boundaries and wickets looks like.
https://www.ecb.co.uk/county-championship/match-centre#videos

 

[fredfertang]

Hameed fit to play, Davies opening with him (presume he is keeping as both Chapple & Vilas have said he's there as a batsmen and backup keeper to Davies) and Parry playing. Livingstone up to no 3.

Delighted to see Parry making his 11th First Class start - not so sure about Livingstone at first drop, but he's still there so we'll see

 

[Scaly piscine]

Hampscum with 5 entirely foreign players and Wheal who's of South African origin and plays for Scotland.

At least Surrey have the decency to buy English players in when they can.

Glamorgan pretty dire as well.

 

[Compton]

Livingstone at 3 is an interesting one. Looked a proper batsman last season, hope it works out.

 

[superkingdave]

Hampscum with 5 entirely foreign players and Wheal who's of South African origin and plays for Scotland.

At least Surrey have the decency to buy English players in when they can.

Glamorgan pretty dire as well.

Lancs isn't great with 2 saffies, a trinidadian & a Zimbabwean, but at least the other 7 are all homegrown.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Yea hopefully 2017 will be the peak for Kolpak players. Although I don't think anyone really knows how it will work out with Brexit.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Donald scoring most of Glamorgan's runs. Could end up with an absurd percentage if he bats through. Already has 26* out of 43/6.

 

[SeamUp]

Warwickshire must be up there for relegation ? An average attack with no Woakes.

A bit of Grandad's army too.

Westwood (35)
Trott (36)
Bell (35)
Porterfield (33)
Ambrose (35)
Clarke (36)
Jeets (37)
Wright (32)
Barker (31)

Obviously they got the big boys Bell and Trott but if they have mediocre years they in trouble.

 

[Biryani Pillow]

A rather decent percentage of the Surrey squad came through the county age group and club system in the county.

Rather better at that than a number of counties who 'buy in' from outside (cough Postcode cough), but every time they do pick up a player from another county the ignorant moan goes up.

 

[SeamUp]

1000th FC catch for Chris Read : https://twitter.com/englandcricket/status/850339228806512640

 

[theegyptian]

Yes they are very light on depth too. No younger players have really come throuhg for a long time. Going to be a lot on Trott, Bell, Jeets and Barker.

Hadn't really thought of it until today but smart by essex to have wagner/amir to make some footmarks for Harmer. Good on them for picking the extra bowler today too.

Yorkshire in for a struggle in this game with all their bowling out. Fidel is such an asset for Hampshire. Hampshire play them twice in the first 3 games.

 

[fredfertang]

****, some things never change .......................................