English off season 2012/13

[Pothas]

Not really happy about this I have to say. Am sure he will prove a decent signing but think it is really hard on Bates, his record with the bat may not be good but his keeping is really superb and played a really important part in our limited overs success last season. He also showed some potential with the bat n the early part of last season, think he deserved another season at least. Maybe Wheater could just play 4 day cricket but either way it is dissapointing.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Hain's possibly the first of the new eligibility moves, IMHO. Over here before he's 18 so will only have to serve four years as opposed to the new seven for those who arrive in Blighty post the age of majority.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Maybe Hampshire will play Wheater as a batsman in the shorter forms?

They'd be out of their minds to omit Bates.

 

[Biryani Pillow]

No doubt these awful performances from Meaker will be quickly forgotten, just as they were with Turdbach.

Because Surrey/Southern players get such an easy ride

You really are a sad little person, aren't you?

Oh, and how did your wonderful Onions go today

 

[theegyptian]

feel sorry for the counties without the money to go abroad for preseason or haven't left yet. Frreezing outside today. Less than a month to the start of the county championship.

 

[superkingdave]

Lol so apparently the two new stands we build last year will have to be knocked down and rebuilt #shambles

 

[Woodster]

Just on the Adam Wheater issue, disappointed to see him leave Chelmsford, is a very good talent and I can fully understand the move for all concerned with Foster and Foakes vying for the gloves at Essex and Hampshire wanting an extra keeper with the possibility of rotating them depending on the format.

Initially it was suggested from the Essex camp that Wheater had received assurances from Hants that he was to get the gloves, a claim Wheater has since refuted. I don't see any reason why keeping duties cannot be split through the season, with Wheater taking the gloves in the CC and Bates in the LO competitions, Wheater's batting certainly looks good enough to hold a position as a specialist when necessary.

I think he'll prove an excellent signing for Hants, and it'll also allow Foakes the chance to blossom should Essex utilise a similar rotation policy, allowing Foakes a further taste of senior cricket.

 

[stumpski]

Because Surrey/Southern players get such an easy ride

You really are a sad little person, aren't you?

Oh, and how did your wonderful Onions go today

I'm just amused at the widespread loathing of Surrey on here tbh (and, tbf, there was general sympathy after last season's tragedy). Especially as the county has won almost nothing in the last ten years - that whole 'Surrey strut' thing is so 1999. A lot of it is just resentment and jealousy at the amount of money the club has, but unsurprisingly it's also one of the most expensive counties to join. I reluctantly decided not to renew my membership in 2011 because I couldn't see how I'd get there often enough to recoup a yearly outlay of £150 - especially with train fares at £20 a time.

Just on the Adam Wheater issue, disappointed to see him leave Chelmsford, is a very good talent and I can fully understand the move for all concerned with Foster and Foakes vying for the gloves at Essex and Hampshire wanting an extra keeper with the possibility of rotating them depending on the format.

Initially it was suggested from the Essex camp that Wheater had received assurances from Hants that he was to get the gloves, a claim Wheater has since refuted. I don't see any reason why keeping duties cannot be split through the season, with Wheater taking the gloves in the CC and Bates in the LO competitions, Wheater's batting certainly looks good enough to hold a position as a specialist when necessary.

I think he'll prove an excellent signing for Hants, and it'll also allow Foakes the chance to blossom should Essex utilise a similar rotation policy, allowing Foakes a further taste of senior cricket.

Counties play a lot of matches during the course of the season and there's no reason why both shouldn't be able to get plenty of cricket. I'd have thought Hants would want to play their best keeper in the four day game though, where a missed chance can cost 200 runs or more. Stewart used to keep for Surrey (when available) in ODs and then a specialist such as Kersey or Batty would play the four day game.

 

[Pothas]

Bates is so good standing up though, I am fairly sure that they would not have won the twenty20 or Pro40 without him, It really was integral with the sort of bowlers that Hampshire have.

It would definitely makes sense for Wheater to play as a keeper in four day cricket, and we really could do with the extra runs. The only problem is that Bates has generally shown a lot more promise with the bat in 4 day cricket than he has in limited overs where he hardly even gets a chance at all, fear that playing him as a limited overs specialist would mean his batting will never get the chance to reach a decent standard.

Understand the signing and hope Wheater goes well but personally wanted to give Bates at least another year to prove he is a good enough batsman to play a role in all formats.

 

[Pothas]

I'm just amused at the widespread loathing of Surrey on here tbh (and, tbf, there was general sympathy after last season's tragedy). Especially as the county has won almost nothing in the last ten years - that whole 'Surrey strut' thing is so 1999. A lot of it is just resentment and jealousy at the amount of money the club has, but unsurprisingly it's also one of the most expensive counties to join. I reluctantly decided not to renew my membership in 2011 because I couldn't see how I'd get there often enough to recoup a yearly outlay of £150 - especially with train fares at £20 a time.

Hampshire (again probably not surprising) is about the same, my Dad pays £180 for his and didn't really come close to recouping it last season, partly because the weather was so shocking. I still think it reasonable value though, get plenty of free tickets with it so I never have to pay to get in.

Not really got anything against Surrey and am definetly planning to go to the Oval quite a few times.

Might pop down to Guildford as well, like outgrounds a lot and Hampshire are a lot poorer for not really going to them these days.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Membership at Yorkshire is £175 but they've e got all them alternative things going on too.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Membership at Yorkshire is £175 but they've e got all them alternative things going on too.

Soap boxing, sabre rattling and boules?

 

[theegyptian]

great news about the radio/internet coverage of the whole county season. Enjoy massively listening to the cricket all summer.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

great news about the radio/internet coverage of the whole county season. Enjoy massively listening to the cricket all summer.

It is indeed great news, though rather surprising. There's going to be times when the commentators are talking to no one.

 

[theegyptian]

It is indeed great news, though rather surprising. There's going to be times when the commentators are talking to no one.

i think in the past couple of years they've got fairly solid but unspectacular figures. My guess is that the ECB have given this off to the BBC virtually free. They make so much from sky that can throw a bone in other areas to promote cricket.

 

[Scaly piscine]

The MCC v County Champions curtain raiser is under way.

 

[Pothas]

Time for a new thread then, surley.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Yep. I'll let someone else do the honours.