**Official** County Cricket 2017

[S.Kennedy]

Nash averaged 27.52 last season division two which is under par from him, his first-class average being 38.72. I think the return of Will Smith is a good move for Durham. You look at what Durham lack now with the departures and they lack old hands and he is one of them, and they are such a small side, lacking in all departments, and so impoverished pertaining to signings, that all-rounders are a premium.

 

[Woodster]

Big news with Moeen signing on for another 5 years with Worcester! Big in so much as there was a suggestion he may move on from Worcester not that he's gonna play that many games for them in the near future. It can only be a positive thing for Worcester that they can keep hold of their England player, he's essentially free with the ECB covering his salary anyway, so whatever games he does play is a bonus.

 

[grecian]

Nash averaged 27.52 last season division two which is under par from him, his first-class average being 38.72. I think the return of Will Smith is a good move for Durham. You look at what Durham lack now with the departures and they lack old hands and he is one of them, and they are such a small side, lacking in all departments, and so impoverished pertaining to signings, that all-rounders are a premium.

The hope is that a new challenge will help someone improve. I mean 34 isn't that old nowadays, look at your best player, sure he had some iffy seaons where he could have retired.

Anyway, we need runs deperately to give a solid bowling unit a chance.

 

[Woodster]

The hope is that a new challenge will help someone improve. I mean 34 isn't that old nowadays, look at your best player, sure he had some iffy seaons where he could have retired.

Anyway, we need runs deperately to give a solid bowling unit a chance.

Somerset's experienced players under-performed aswell as the youngsters that were given opportunities, so big scores were always going to be a struggle. It's not often that Trescothick and Hildreth would have averaged just 30 or below.

What do you think Andy Hurry should do then in terms of the likes of Ed Byrom, Tim Rouse, and does Tom Abell keep the captaincy ? Abell must've felt the pressure, and it was always a big ask of him. Are any of those the kind of talent that deserves perseverance with at first team level ?

 

[S.Kennedy]

The Abell captaincy thing was crazy.

 

[grecian]

Somerset's experienced players under-performed aswell as the youngsters that were given opportunities, so big scores were always going to be a struggle. It's not often that Trescothick and Hildreth would have averaged just 30 or below.

What do you think Andy Hurry should do then in terms of the likes of Ed Byrom, Tim Rouse, and does Tom Abell keep the captaincy ? Abell must've felt the pressure, and it was always a big ask of him. Are any of those the kind of talent that deserves perseverance with at first team level ?

Well yes, we were appalling all-round with batting, hence why we could have been relegated, which is just why I think bringing in new names has to happen. Byrom may end up playing for Zim, so not sure we should be relying on him. In the end I hope for World Cricket he does, it seems a much better set-up ATM. Just scored his Maiden first-class century in Zim.

Abell clearly didn't handle the captaincy well. Look my main hope is we can bring in an overseas bat for much of the year and make him captain, in a Chris Rogers way. I know that isn't as easy as it sounds with International cricket, and sillly T20 events all over the place. That's a much bigger priority than bringing in a Nash

We'll see, in the end the positives was Davies did come good in the latter half, and we should have freed some money for a few decent players, and of course keeping first division helps.

 

[Woodster]

Well yes, we were appalling all-round with batting, hence why we could have been relegated, which is just why I think bringing in new names has to happen. Byrom may end up playing for Zim, so not sure we should be relying on him. In the end I hope for World Cricket he does, it seems a much better set-up ATM. Just scored his Maiden first-class century in Zim.

Abell clearly didn't handle the captaincy well. Look my main hope is we can bring in an overseas bat for much of the year and make him captain, in a Chris Rogers way. I know that isn't as easy as it sounds with International cricket, and sillly T20 events all over the place. That's a much bigger priority than bringing in a Nash

We'll see, in the end the positives was Davies did come good in the latter half, and we should have freed some money for a few decent players, and of course keeping first division helps.

You'd expect Trescothick and Hildreth will have better seasons next season to alleviate some of the pressure on scoring runs. An overseas addition are not as easy to find to fulfil the role for an entire season, but I'm sure they're out there if selected wisely, obviously it limits the options if he's going to come in as skipper aswell. Shame Dean Elgar's doing so well for SA or an enticing Kolpak offer could've been on the cards.

 

[grecian]

You'd expect Trescothick and Hildreth will have better seasons next season to alleviate some of the pressure on scoring runs. An overseas addition are not as easy to find to fulfil the role for an entire season, but I'm sure they're out there if selected wisely, obviously it limits the options if he's going to come in as skipper aswell. Shame Dean Elgar's doing so well for SA or an enticing Kolpak offer could've been on the cards.

Yes, I think Elgar somehow becoming a mainstay for South Africa through a few spokes into wheels.

In the end Fakhar Zaman also doing well for Pakistan in limited-overs isn't good, as he was going to come in that could have been an interesting signing. Yet a Pakistani at the start of the year with IPL not wanting them may work. Yet as you say it's not easy to work these things out, and PCB may just cancel it like they did last year with him. So we've not been lucky with people suddenly turning good. Could even make the Test squad.

 

[S.Kennedy]

I was coming out the gents at Chester-le and nearly bumped into Trego. Somerset were fielding and he had decided to use the public loo to save time as opposed to going back up to the pavilion.

PS

I think he did it between overs or during a drinks interval. I hope he washed his hands as nobody likes a pissy cricket ball.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Nash went to Notts. They are spending, Notts. Onions, Coughlin, Nash.

 

[theegyptian]

Onions went to Lancs. Notts have also lost a lot of players in the last year or so, so should have plenty of spare change.

Lumb, W Gidman, Brendan Taylor, Greg Smith, Chris Read, Hutton all gone. Batting certainly needed Nash. Was hoping he would go to Worcestershire who could also have done with some added experience and depth.

Who do we reckon the early favourites for div 1 and 2 are?

 

[fredfertang]

Lancs and Middlesex

 

[S.Kennedy]

We've lost so many players I have lost track of who is going where? (to confuse matters, the rumour was that Jennings was originally going to Notts).

For division two, I think it is probably a three year rebuild for Durham so I wouldn't say them. Realistically we might finish fourth and target the Royal London Cup as a competition we could realistically win. Warwickshire are absolute shite. Enough said. Probably Middlesex and Kent - Kent deserve to go up.

To win outright? Hmm. Last year I said Surrey or Middlesex haha. Could be anyone really. I probably wouldn't say Surrey having lost Sangakarra. It is beyond difficult to retain the thing so perhaps not Essex. Lanky or Hants (Abbot) maybe.

A lot of things can change though. For all we know Anderson might quit after the Ashes and Lancashire might get an entire season with him!

 

[Tom Flint]

The day anderson retires from test will be the day retires from cricket completely no?

 

[S.Kennedy]

The day anderson retires from test will be the day retires from cricket completely no?

Don't know. Depends on whether he pulls a Strauss or a Collingwood. It is a very individual decision.

He does seem as keen and determined as ever but a lot rests on his performance this Ashes I suppose.

 

[theegyptian]

Hampshire squad is still so middle order heavy for championship cricket. Apart from Adams they don't really have another opener in the squad (carberry and will smith gone) or a qualified number 3, even if Vince might bat 3 for England. Should be a really strong team given the amount of good players but the top order just lets them down.

Really admire what Worcestershire are doing. Development of young english talent is excellent. Their coaches talk about developing the players for England. Barnard working on adding extra pace this winter. Players improve year on year. Still think they could do with at least one more top order batsmen for this coming season in Div 1. Fell didn't do it last year, Whiteley is crap. Shame Kohler-Cadmore went to Yorkshire.

Joe Clarke out of contract at end of 2018 season. I think he's waiting right now to see what happens. He wants to keep wicket but Cox is an excellent keeper. Clarke has a decent shot of making the England side as a batsman in 2018. Very highly regarded. I guess he'll probably stay at WOrcestershire if they stay up, or he makes the England team next summer. Otherwise he'll probably move away. Notts are the div one team who are lacking a proven keeper.

Hoping a few of the Yorkshire youngsters come through next year. Fisher hopefully gets a good run with no Sidebottom. Brook and KC with the bat big prospects.

Archer (along with a load of others) playing Bangladesh Premier League. It's on freesports channel (sky 424, freeview 95). Bowled well the other day. Think he'd be replacing Finn in the test squad if he was eligible. Hard to see how Archer ends up playing for England now. If he has to wait another 6 years to be eligible for England I think he'll play for Windies instead. If not he'll just play IPL and T20 leagues.

 

[theegyptian]

Thakor found guilty of exposing himself to two women. Sounds like a real perv.

Shiv Thakor found guilty of exposing himself to two women | Daily Mail Online https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...-shiv-thakor-***ual-exposure?CMP=share_btn_tw

Claimed he wouldn't have done it because he had already been “***ually satisfied” by his “16-year-old girlfriend”.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Gillespie coach at Sussex!

Bit odd considering the reason he left Yorkshire was all to do with spending time at home in Australia with his family apparently. A year later and...

 

[Tom Flint]

Gillespie coach at Sussex!

Bit odd considering the reason he left Yorkshire was all to do with spending time at home in Australia with his family apparently. A year later and...

He could see the bad days coming again for the tykes and jumped ship. Like ferguson did at man utd

 

[Tom Flint]

Also brightons a bit nicer than scarborough tbf