**Official** County Cricket 2017

[theegyptian]

Do you think it's such an extreme ? For football without a doubt.

Always felt rugby and cricket work more with national union/board in terms of planning ahead.

Whenever I read interviews with coaches and management staff of the counties and their aims they don't tend to ever mention creating England players. It's not something they are actively looking to do.

It's about winning comps, being financially solvent etc. Which is fair enough for the most part (if you don't factor in the money the ecb ploughs into the counties to keep them afloat).

Making good English players likely is a byproduct of being a successful team so all is good. Except when the rules of the land distort the vision of county cricket that the ECB have. In an ideal world you'd maybe have 2 overseas players allowed per county, but all the rest had to be english qualified players. Fact is right now counties could have an all kolpak xi, none of whom are eligible for England and the ECB couldn't do anything about it except for offering incentives.

 

[Biryani Pillow]

Weird ?

https://www.kiaoval.com/main-news/zafar-ansari-announces-retirement/



https://twitter.com/surreycricket/status/857179684613869568

No, Zafar is a very intelligent person with a number of potential career options outside cricket.

I know people who know his family, one said last year that they didn't reckon he'd stay in cricket for the long haul.

If it hadn't been for the winter tour selection he'd likely have retired last autumn.

 

[Woodster]

The end of Zafar Ansari, a shame from a Surrey and England perspective, while his spin wasn't going to put in the same bracket as a Graeme Swann, he was a serviceable county cricketer whose all round abilities will certainly be missed at Surrey. A shame when a 25-year old cricketer goes out of the game, especially one that may still have developed and come again with regards international selection.

However, he seems a particularly clever chap who I'm sure will now earn a lot of money in other industries. Always find it difficult to understand, in terms of someone walking away from cricket, but presumably his passion lies elsewhere which could also make financial sense.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Strange one, good luck to him. Was never going to be picked again after this winter as was way out of his depth.

 

[Scaly piscine]

8 team T20 competition for 2020 given the go ahead.

 

[fredfertang]

The end of Zafar Ansari, a shame from a Surrey and England perspective, while his spin wasn't going to put in the same bracket as a Graeme Swann, he was a serviceable county cricketer whose all round abilities will certainly be missed at Surrey. A shame when a 25-year old cricketer goes out of the game, especially one that may still have developed and come again with regards international selection.

However, he seems a particularly clever chap who I'm sure will now earn a lot of money in other industries. Always find it difficult to understand, in terms of someone walking away from cricket, but presumably his passion lies elsewhere which could also make financial sense.

Read somewhere he fancied a legal career - bloody idiot

 

[91Jmay]

Got more youngsters in the side than Warwickshire.

I think Crane probably should have played the last couple of games, but I can understand why he didn't. Want leg spinners to get game time, then schedule less Championship games in April.

9 English eligible players including 4 former England Test players.

 

[Pothas]

And what does that have to do with them being youngsters?

 

[Woodster]

Read somewhere he fancied a legal career - bloody idiot

The mind boggles!!

 

[ImpatientLime]

snow, single digit temperatures.

ah this is how early season county cricket is supposed to be.

 

[theegyptian]

Northants warwickshire in the 50 over cup on sky later. 12.30 start.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Ian Holland making his debut for Hampshire today.

Strikes me as a guy perfectly suited to England, has torn up Melbourne grade cricket for years but seen as being a yard slow for FC cricket. Great exponent of swing, especially reverse, and has been a very good bat over the past few years.

 

[theegyptian]

Crane has definitely flattened out his legspin for white ball cricket. A lot less loopy. Should serve him well in white ball cricket I guess. Hopefully doesn't get too flat for 4 day cricket.

 

[ImpatientLime]

this jofra archer kid is erratic to say the least.

still, shahzad has upstaged him by getting whacked for 24 off the final over by ryan higgins.

 

[weldone]

Sam Hain's OD batting is impressive. He should have a long career in England's ODI side.

 

[stumpski]

So who's watching today's game then? Surrey 200 up in the 39th over, Borthwick goes as I write - too many players getting out when set. 300 starting to look unlikely.

 

[theegyptian]

The foakes shovel looking in good working condition. I would think Surrey would defend this total.

 

[stumpski]

That was a fantastic over - the loss of Foakes probably the difference between 285 and 300.

 

[stumpski]

Haseeb Hameed making his List A debut today, folks. I did wonder if Lancs would give him some white ball cricket this year.

 

[grecian]

Dirtbag taking wickets is just about summing up this horror show of a season.