2021 English Cricket Season

[wpdavid]

I know I'm getting ahead of myself after table-topping Surrey's start to the Royal London Cup, but I'm just wondering how this tournament pans out. I do know there are two groups of 9, presumably with each side having eight matches. But then what? Do the top 4 from each group play quarter-finals, or the top two from each group play semi-finals? And given how long the group stage looks like lasting, do we expect the star players to return after the Hundred has finished? So many questions.

 

[tony p]

I know I'm getting ahead of myself after table-topping Surrey's start to the Royal London Cup, but I'm just wondering how this tournament pans out. I do know there are two groups of 9, presumably with each side having eight matches. But then what? Do the top 4 from each group play quarter-finals, or the top two from each group play semi-finals? And given how long the group stage looks like lasting, do we expect the star players to return after the Hundred has finished? So many questions.

The top 3 counties in each group progress to the knock out stage.
QF's on Aug 14th, Group A 2nd place v Group B 3rd place, Group B 2nd place v Group A 3rd place

Semi-finals, Aug 17th, Group A winner plays a winner of one of the above, Group B winner plays the other winner.

Final, JUST 2 DAYS LATER AT TRENT BRIDGE, on Aug 19th. ( which is a BLOODY Thursday), ECB doing their utmost best to completely **** up the competition if they haven't already done so.
If not, they will do it next year, just incase people happen to enjoy 50 over cricket.

 

[wpdavid]

The top 3 counties in each group progress to the knock out stage.
QF's on Aug 14th, Group A 2nd place v Group B 3rd place, Group B 2nd place v Group A 3rd place

Semi-finals, Aug 17th, Group A winner place a winner of one of the above, Group B winner players the other winner.

Final, JUST 2 DAYS LATER AT TRENT BRIDGE, on Aug 19th. ( which is a BLOODY Thursday), ECB doing their utmost best to completely **** up the competition if they haven't already done so.
If not, they will do it next year, just incase people happen to enjoy 50 over cricket.

Thanks Tony. I'm old enough to remember when the finals for previous versions of this were the showpiece of the domestic game; real events, and a great day out for the supporters of both sides. Now, they just seem to be intent on getting the whole thing out of way as quickly as possible.

 

[tony p]

On a unrelated note, I have always posted on county cricket on the Cricket24/7 Kim Jones cricket forum, but since last week the forum seems to have gone, or is it something wrong with my computer. I just keep getting, not found on this server.?

 

[wpdavid]

On a unrelated note, I have always posted on county cricket on the Cricket24/7 Kim Jones cricket forum, but since last week the forum seems to have gone, or is it something wrong with my computer. I just keep getting, not found on this server.?

I had a look, and I don't think it's just your computer.

 

[tony p]

On a unrelated note, I have always posted on county cricket on the Cricket24/7 Kim Jones cricket forum, but since last week the forum seems to have gone, or is it something wrong with my computer. I just keep getting, not found on this server.?

It's back after about 10 days.

 

[wpdavid]

I spent most of yesterday watching Surrey vs Warwickshire on youtube. Decent match, despite both teams being severely weakened by The Hundred and England call-ups. Cameron Steel's leg spin looks a decent acquisition for Surrey, with his second four-for in consecutive matches. Ultimately, Tim David won the match with a blistering 140, being especially murderous against the visitor's young spinners, but also against the not so young Tim Bresnan. Australian CWers will probably know far more about David than I do. Now I just hope that he isn't called up to join one of the teams in The Hundred. Surrey's win means that the final two qualifiers from this group will be from themselves, Yorkshire, Somerset Leicestershire and Notts, so I'll probably spend much of Thursday on youtube again when Surrey play their final game against Derbyshire.

 

[wpdavid]

Interesting chain of events in the Royal London Cup. Middlesex vs Gloucestershire has been abandoned due to an outbreak of covid in the Gloucestershire squad. As a result, that group will be decided on points per game, which, if my sums are correct, puts Gloucestershire ahead of Lancashire in 3rd place and therefore qualifying for the quarter finals. Lancashire probably won't be happy with that, but, for me, the more interesting issue is how will Gloucestershire raise a side for the quarter final anyway?

 

[tony p]

Interesting chain of events in the Royal London Cup. Middlesex vs Gloucestershire has been abandoned due to an outbreak of covid in the Gloucestershire squad. As a result, that group will be decided on points per game, which, if my sums are correct, puts Gloucestershire ahead of Lancashire in 3rd place and therefore qualifying for the quarter finals. Lancashire probably won't be happy with that, but, for me, the more interesting issue is how will Gloucestershire raise a side for the quarter final anyway?

They won't have a problem, they played Kent today,winning easily by 8 wkts with their full side.
The Covid outbreak in their squad must not have been to bad, only affecting the Middlesex match

 

[wpdavid]

They won't have a problem, they played Kent today,winning easily by 8 wkts with their full side.
The Covid outbreak in their squad must not have been to bad, only affecting the Middlesex match

Thanks Tony. Somehow I'd missed the facts that the Gloucs/Middx match was from an earlier round of fixtures and that Gloucs were playing yesterday. I know that Middx weren't happy about the points being shared, and I suspect that Lancashire are even less so, as it cost them their place in the quarter-finals. So as you say, they'll have no problem raising a team to face everyone's second favourite county at The Oval on Sunday.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Surrey v Gloucestershire play tomorrow, winner playing Durham in semi on Tues, winner of that playing Essex in the final at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

 

[Tom Flint]

Essex look good for the cup haven't been too harmed by the hundred and harmer is playing brilliantly

 

[grecian]

Essex look good for the cup haven't been too harmed by the hundred and harmer is playing brilliantly

Yeah, they have Cook, Harmer, Westley and RTD, that's enough class for this comp ATM, with some decent young uns too.

 

[wpdavid]

Yes, Essex look really strong, and Durham look pretty powerful too. I think that group was rather stronger than the other one, which was won by Glamorgan. Watching the opening overs of Surrey vs Gloucs, my thought is that Surrey haven't got their selection right since Pope returned. Opener Ben Geddes has been dropped after a couple of useful 30s, with Patel moving from 3 to 2 and Pope batting at 3. That was fine against a team as weak as Derbyshire, but the remaining teams won't be as accommodating. Personally I'd have dropped Reifer, who's supposed to be an all-rounder but hasn't had a bowl and hasn't actually contributed many runs either. Anyway, I appreciate that this is only of any interest to me, and maybe Woodster.

 

[grecian]

I know you've been watching Surrey wpdavid, how good is Tim David, pretty incredible figures.

 

[Nintendo]

I know you've been watching Surrey wpdavid, how good is Tim David, pretty incredible figures.

I saw bits and pieces of the knock live, was incredible how effortless and safe David looked while playing despite having made a 150SR ton. Reminded me of the T20 blast ton Crawley made last year for Kent chasing 200 odd, Never looked a half Chance of getting out before he barbequed himself

 

[wpdavid]

I've seen much of his last three innings, and Nintendo's description sums it up. Against these bowlers, he scores incredibly quickly without looking like getting out. And today would have been another unbeaten ton if he hadn't run himself out. He's a very powerful man, so boundaries come very easily to him so long as he times it which, in the last three games, he invariably has. My one proviso when rating him is the quality of attacks that he's demolished. Obviously all of these sides are missing their best players because of The Hundred, so it will be interesting to see how he goes against better bowlers. My guess is he'll be fine, albeit not quite maintaining the ridiculous figures that he's produced over the last few weeks.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Only Durham's bowling has really been affect by Hundred, losing Potts, Carse and Raine, however the newbies have performed well, and Rushworth is still there. Surrey have been decimated by 100. We'll see though - I'll be there. Homecoming for Stoneman and Cameron Steel also.

 

[wpdavid]

Only Durham's bowling has really been affect by Hundred, losing Potts, Carse and Raine, however the newbies have performed well, and Rushworth is still there. Surrey have been decimated by 100. We'll see though - I'll be there. Homecoming for Stoneman and Cameron Steel also.

I suspect that Durham's pitch won't be as helpful to Surrey's spinners as the ones at The Oval, and Surrey's faster bowlers are their weakest link. Enjoy your day btw.

EDIT
You may already know this, but Durham will be missing Paul van Meekeren as he's had to fly back to the Caribbean.

 

[wpdavid]

Glamorgan are in danger of throwing their semi-final away. Their brilliant start meant they only needed 5 and a bit per over, but they preferred to try and win it in 40 overs. Bad move, I would suggest.

EDIT
Nope, a sixth wicket partnership of 112 saw Glamorgan home with a couple of overs to spare.