SpaceMonkey
International Debutant
Just seen the long term weather forecast for the North-East. Lets just say its not good at all. If its accurate i doubt we'll see any play whatsoever on Friday at least.
Could this be why (apart from it being a relavively new ground in a newish county) that it wasnt worth risking having an Ashes Test there?Well it's chucking it down, and it is supposed to stay the same all week IIRC.
Actually Holding said in the Sky coverage of the third test that Sophia Gardens would supplant Old Trafford as the test venue with the highest average rainfall.Could this be why (apart from it being a relavively new ground in a newish county) that it wasnt worth risking having an Ashes Test there?
Ive no idea of the relative rainfalls of Glamorgan and Durham but if there is a significant difference then there may be good financial reasons why there are few major games in Durham.
Cambridge has clearly the lowest rainfall & yet once again the ECB overlooks Fenners for an Ashes test. Disgrace.
It could rain all winter and have a high annual rainfall as long as its relatively dry during the summer.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/index.htmlIt could rain all winter and have a high annual rainfall as long as its relatively dry during the summer.
Rather than annual rainfall, rainfall from June-Aug would be more relevant. Maybe it only rains hard in November in Cardiff
Yes please. Pollard for Chanderpaul, too.Might not mind Rampaul in for Collymore TBH.
Princetown 460.3mm, 49.8 dayshttp://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/index.html
Cardiff rainfall from May to August: 281.3mm (39.9 days with rainfall more than 1mm)
Manchester Airport rainfall from May to August: 251mm (42.6 days with rainfall more than 1mm)
Durham rainfall from May to August: 210.1mm (36.8 days with rainfall more than 1mm)
(Greenwich: 185.8mm, 31.1 days with rainfall more than 1mm)
Conclusion: It rains more in Cardiff when it rains, but it rains more often in Manchester. Durham is less wet than both. This would indicate more frequent breaks in Manchester, which is presumably the reason why little cricket gets played there (when there's long but continuous breaks you can always go off for lunch)
The kid has played one full season of cricket...Pollard's bowling was go damn awful at the WC, please pick him.
If WI had won the OT Test Rampaul would get nowhere near the side but what's the use of playing Collymore to try and win a dead Test. I'd rather the most important players be rested apart from say Gayle who needs to play. Who knows? Rampaul may just bowl well. Not like there's any pride in hading out these caps anyway what with Sylvester Joseph getting more than one.When Rampaul proves that he's worthy of playing Test cricket, then give him a cap. Until then, and he's nowhere near that right now (and not entirely fit either), I'd prefer to have the number 9 world-ranked bowler in the side, given that the man who took 40% of the England wickets in the last Test probably won't play.
He bowls about 10km/h slower than Bravo and Sammy though, and he wasn't very accurate either. He seems no more of a batting allrounder than Mahela Jayawardene for mine. He could develop it, obviously, but he's certainly nowhere close to having his bowling influence selection at international level IMO. Has a good record with the bat though obviously...The kid has played one full season of cricket...
And he's definitely a batting allrounder, though he hardly managed to show it (hardly got the chance to) in the World Cup. He has some potential with the ball, in that he's enthusiastic and passionate a la Bravo/Sammy.