*Official* English Domestic Season 2006

[Barney Rubble]

Middlesex? The fact that Alan Richardson spearheaded their attack last season suggests they need a decent bowler...need to sack Styris first, mind...

Didn't Richardson have a really good year, though? I may be wrong.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Didn't Richardson have a really good year, though? I may be wrong.

He did have his best year: selected for Cricinfo's Division 1 team of the year after taking 57 wickets @ 25.22. Figures look good, but they were basically two-for-sod-all - his five-fors were 7-113 v Notts (total 546, Chad Keegan nought for 103, Nantie Hayward nought for 91 - slogs, I reckon), 6-106 v Surrey (and Ali Brown STILL made 154...) and 5-32 v Gloucestershire (8-74 in the match, but Glos were woeful last year). And after the Surrey game (11 June), he took 19 wickets @ 33.89.

Shah and Joyce enjoyed fantastic seasons last year and they still struggled to survive - if Middlesex stay up this year I'll be very surprised.

 

[Neil Pickup]

He got a nasty injury at some point IIRC, and the second half of the season was affected by it. I saw him bowl against Surrey (I think) on Sky and was very impressed. The wickets were well deserved - but I'm not sure he'll match those heights again this summer.

 

[Autobahn]

He did have his best year: selected for Cricinfo's Division 1 team of the year after taking 57 wickets @ 25.22. Figures look good, but they were basically two-for-sod-all - his five-fors were 7-113 v Notts (total 546, Chad Keegan nought for 103, Nantie Hayward nought for 91 - slogs, I reckon), 6-106 v Surrey (and Ali Brown STILL made 154...) and 5-32 v Gloucestershire (8-74 in the match, but Glos were woeful last year). And after the Surrey game (11 June), he took 19 wickets @ 33.89.

Shah and Joyce enjoyed fantastic seasons last year and they still struggled to survive - if Middlesex stay up this year I'll be very surprised.

Well actually while reading ramps season diary, it sounds like Richardson was roughing them up a bit and to be fair he tailed off because he was bowled into the ground as no-one else was effective.

 

[Timewell]

Richardson is nothing special. For years, he struggled to make it into the Warwickshire side and was always in and out. No great pace, no great penetration with the ball and a slow fielder that can't really throw.

 

[Rich2001]

Ah yes...I remember that catch. Wasn't it in Twenty20 or was it a National League game. It seems like Glenn McGrath is interested in playing County cricket...now begs the question who for! Glamorgan are looking for a second, as are Lancashire.

Glen McGrath doesn't want to play for the whole season but just a month or so, so I guess any county that needs to fill a gap for a short period.

He has played for Worcs and Middlesex recently so I guess he would favour a return there but not sure of their overseas players commitments.

His more than welcome at Kent though, considering both our overseas players will be away at the same time, and can bowl the tail out which seems to be our constant problem!

 

[marc71178]

Richardson is nothing special. For years, he struggled to make it into the Warwickshire side and was always in and out. No great pace, no great penetration with the ball and a slow fielder that can't really throw.

IIRC he did play a great innings from 11 with Nick Knight though?

 

[Timewell]

Yeah he had one good innings of 91 (his only FC 50) - but other than that, I would say Richardson is an average tailend batsman and an average player in general. I mean, look at his strike rate in FC cricket - 63!!! But, you know, good luck to the guy - I hope the move to Middlesex has turned him around, after all we cannot have someone from my neck of the woods being ***** now can we? Just think...Sydney Barnes (the first and only man to play for England whilst playing "league cricket", Bob Taylor, Kim Barnett, Dominic Cork...etc

 

[superkingdave]

Well the news is that Simon Marshall has been tearing it up on Lancs Caribbean preseason tour, big things expected this year...

Karl Brown has also been very impressive, look for him to maybe get a few OD games

 

[superkingdave]

I see the ECB have released the performance based academy funding for this year. Lancashire received the most scoring 257pts, Notts were second (189), then Glamorgan(166) and Warwickshire (151). Its based on number of players involved in the England age groups etc.

 

[Pothas]

Im really not happy with the structure of one day cricket this season. They have ruined the C&G by making it into a massive group stage and the pro 40 being stuck on the end i dont really understand. Is it just so more games can be played?

Still looking forward to the county championship though, i really hope Hampshire can win it this year just got to pray and hope the top order can do its job

 

[Haddin]

Mark Cosgrove signs for Glamorgan:
From Cricinfo:
Matthew Elliott has pulled out of his county deal with Glamorgan after finally succumbing to the knee injury that has plagued his season for South Australia. Mark Cosgrove, Elliott's team-mate in Adelaide, will take his place after an impressive domestic season.

Elliott's withdrawal means Glamorgan have lost both their original overseas players following Michael Kasprowicz's decision to turn down the county to prolong his Test career. However, Elliott is confident Cosgrove will prove an able replacement. He old the South Wales Evening Post: "Mark is one of the best young batsmen in state cricket and he will play for Australia one day. I am sure he will score a lot of runs for Glamorgan this summer."

"I am very disappointed to be missing the 2006 county season for Glamorgan," added Elliott. "The club have been very understanding of my situation but at the end of the day I have to follow the surgeon's advice, I can't take any risks by rushing my comeback.

"I love playing for Glamorgan and have made a lot of friends in Cardiff. I definitely want to go back to Sophia Gardens next year.

Glamorgan are still in the market for a second replacement overseas player to cover for the loss of Kasprowicz, but have said they won't sign a player just for the sake of it. In a commendable approach they have refused to bolster their squad with Kolpak signings, instead giving youth a chance, which has resulted in them struggling in recent seasons but could still bring benefits in the long-term.

They were relegated to the Second Division of the Championship last summer, but are in the top flight for the revamped Pro40 league.

© Cricinfo

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

MCC v Nottinghamshire, Lord's

Stephenson to lead MCC in curtain raiser

Cricinfo staff

April 4, 2006

MCC has announced its side for the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season, their match against the County Champions, Nottinghamshire.

The MCC side will be led by former England opener John Stephenson, who is now the club's head of cricket, and includes Monty Panesar and Alastair Cook.

The four-day game begins at Lord's on April 14 and continues throughout the Easter weekend. Ticket prices are £12 for adults and £6 for juveniles (under 16 years of age) and over-65s.

MCC (from) John Stephenson (MCC, capt), Ravinder Bopara (Essex), Stuart Broad (Leicestershire), Rikki Clarke (Surrey), Alastair Cook (Essex), Steven Davies (Worcestershire), Ed Joyce (Middlesex), Robert Key (Kent), Alex Loudon (Warwickshire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Luke Parker (Warwickshire).

© Cricinfo

Don't really think Stephenson should be dragged out of his retirement bed yet again, but as strong looking side, though a little light on seamers given a green-tinged early season pitch.

 

[steds]

Would be awesome to have a Clarkewatch at that game...

 

[luckyeddie]

Would be awesome to have a Clarkewatch at that game...

A wonderful idea, but I'm having a few days jolly hols in Brizzle as a special treat before I have an operation. Don't let me stop you though - but take a vacuum flask.

Now if you were paying attention yesterday, you should know just how good James Dewar's finest invention is.

 

[superkingdave]

I guess the team was limited by the fact there are 2 CC games starting the day after it finshes and 2 more the day after that, a quick glance shows no one from Lancashire, Hampshire, Somerset and Gloucs who start on the 18th and none from Kent, Durham or Yorkshire (who start on the 19th) either, as do Notts.

 

[chris.hinton]

How is the MCC picked what give the right for Parker to be in it

 

[Neil Pickup]

How is the MCC picked what give the right for Parker to be in it

More to the point, who the hell is he?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

More to the point, who the hell is he?

Luke Parker (born 27 September 1983) is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler.

Born in Coventry, and having previously played for Oxford UCCE and British Universities, he has come through the ranks to play for Warwickshire, for whom he is soon hoping to make an impact in the side.

That should explain everything.

 

[Neil Pickup]

That should explain everything.

So random it's brilliant. Still, that game's all about the Rikki.