The Cricket Thread

207 all out . Last 6 wickets fell for 15 runs

 

Good to get that over with...dust ourselves off and move on.
What tour of India? Did we go in 2016? See...gone already.

 

In the 77/78 promotion season, Lawrie bought his team up to Burnley (I think it was; one of the Manchester milltowns, anyway) and at half time we were being stuffed 3-0. Second half we played well, their keeper had a blinder and we only scored once. On MOTD that night he told a reporter that he's asked the team to play for their pride in the second half.

Contrast that to the pathetic display from England today. Just bat out the day on a wicket where a kid just out of nappies has scored 303 not out. Sorry, no can do. I rarely criticise my sporting heroes, and as an ex club cricketer myself I do admire the skill of this England team. But by God that was shockingly awful.

 

That senile dementia can come in handy, can't it whatsyername?

 

Seconded .

 

Hampshire rumoured to have signed Kyle Abbott on a long term Kolpak deal. Excellent news if true.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2017/content/story/1075163.html

 

I know it was strongly rumoured after his spell with us in 2015, but it was never realistic due to him being in and around the international team. Which is exactly why this is so astounding if it comes off. I get that there's is so much fear around the closure of the kolpak route post Brexit, but giving up your international career at 29 is a hell of a decision. But what a signing it would be. Abbott, Fidel, and Topley (with Berg in support) suddenly looks like a top D1 attack, if all are fit and on form.

 

I think we are about to become the most hated county. I can just imagine the reaction if we win division 1 next season!

 

Indeed.

And having just re-read the article, there's a sentence in there I had missed: "Hampshire are also understood to be in talks with Rilee Rossouw."

That could potentially be even better than Abbott. Now there's a batsman who can play in all three formats. Averages around 40 in ODI cricket for SA.

 

We obviously want to get back to Finals Day. With T20 overseas players to come we could have a frighteningly good line up.

 

Vince has just signed for Sydney Thunder, to replace Morgan. I'm sure he can have a word with Watson (his new captain) whilst he's over there.

 

Both deals confirmed today. With these two in the side, Topley (hopefully) fit again and Vince unlikely to be playing tests the Hampshire side looks quite a bit stronger.

 

Topley having surgery on his left shoulder so more questions about his fitness.

 

Confirmed .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/38517892

 

Naturally of course a lot of county fans will see us as enemy number one, for signing a couple of kolpaks to go alongside us somehow being in the wrong for still being in D1 this coming season, but being biased I really don't care. In the space of just three signings this winter (including George Bailey) we've suddenly got ourselves possibly the best squad I can remember during my time of following the club. And they key word there is squad. It goes beyond the first XI. Hell, just picking a first XI is hard enough. And that is without yet signing a second t20 overseas player (who will hopefully either be an opener, or an allrounder - our t20 team could still do with either, subject to Carberry's future).

If the best happens, and Carberry recovers to return, the teams could be something like:

CC

1 & 2: Adams/Caberry/Smith/Alsop filling the top two spots, with two left out.
3 - 6: Ervine/Bailey/Vince/Dawson/Rossouw filling the next four spots (in whatever order), with one left out.
7: McManus (Christ, just think what a batting line-up we would have if Wheater was still here)
8: Berg
9: Abbott
10: Fidel
11. Topley/Wheal (Topley may not be fit, and even if he is, his workload will almost be managed in favour of limited overs cricket)

That's one top bowler short of being title contenders in my view. But certainly sufficient to avoid a bottom two finish, even if a smaller division now.

There's three batsmen there for cover, in addition to Topley or Wheal, plus Crane and the kids (I think realistically we can't now think of Wood as a four-day player, simply due to the injuries he picks up).

One-day

Carberry (if he doesn't recover, then probably Berg or Smith, with everyone moving up one - otherwise we're looking at 10 overs from Slug, albeit an excellent other 40 overs)
Vince
Alsop
Bailey
Ervine
Rossouw
Dawson
McManus
Wood
Abbott
Topley

t20

Carberry
Vince
Bailey
Ervine
Rossouw
Dawson
Overseas All-Rounder (otherwise Berg or Smith - so that Slug is our 6th bowler, regardless)
McManus
Wood
Abbott
Topley

 

It's the words in the article: "We said this is a guy who can play at the closest level to AB de Villiers in the one-day teams."

 

Rossouw will open in the T20 and will be higher than 6 in the OD format I would think.

 

You'd have thought so. But then when you look at the squad, it's already quite top heavy in limited overs. And arguably the hardest time to score runs is deeper into the innings (even Dawson, who has become excellent at the death, needs a lot of time of the crease before being able to fire). Hence I'm putting Rossouw a lot lower than his quality warrants - but because of such quality.

Not that it particularly matters though. Put him anywhere you like in the order for all I care. I'm just delighted to have him.

 

The SA coach is seriously pissed off at the moment! Got to feel for him.

 

Saw Carbs on TV the other day and he looked really well so fingers crossed he's back. Could be a very exciting season.