The Cricket Thread

Well done India to recover from the hammering in the first test, to win the second test. Hope India go on and take the series 3--1!!

 

England 233-3 after 38 overs.

 

England 328 all out (on last ball).

 

WI 8-2 after 2 overs

 

32-4 after 12.1 overs.

 

In other news, Ambridge Cricket Club has just voted to admit women playing members to the First XI. Earth-shaking stuff!

 

That reminds me, I haven't tuned into The Archers for a few months. I usually get a couple of weeks listening in to get myself upto speed and then I can leave it alone again. Friend of mine could name every incident, probably back to the 1960's so occasionally I'll text her with, for example... what's going on with Eddie [?] and that short cuts the whole thing.

 

WI 142 all out. England win by 186 runs.

 

I think it's sad to see the state of West Indies cricket currently. Glad we won, but still sad.

 

Absolutely fantastic to see Carberry back playing for Hampshire. And he got a century.

 

Brilliant indeed. Just a shame about other aspects of the game today. If we had two issues remaining going into the season, it's the top order and McManus. Grand total of 10 runs between Adams, Alsop and McManus. A fourth successive duck for Alsop I believe in the last three weeks. We're struggling to make 300 in bright sunshine against a university team. Carberry is clearly starting against Yorkshire, but I'm expecting at least one of Adams and Alsop to make way.

Big opportunities for Hart, Wheal and Stevenson with the ball. If Topley doesn't start against Yorkshire, then there's one bowling place up for grabs assuming that we play Dawson as sole spinner.

 

I echo that sentiment Tom, where d'ya reckon this leaves Alsop for the coming season, will he drop down the order or just wait his turn?

 

Like to see Wheal play if Topley is out.

 

I think the fact that Alsop is batting 4 today suggests that we intended to use him as Bailey's replacement (as no doubt Bailey will bat at 4. We don't tend to reshuffle batting orders around when we're missing someone). But as I say, this is yet another duck for him. Unless he scores runs in the second innings, I don't see how he can start the season. And unlike last year, we do have alternative options. Neither Smith nor Rilee are featuring in this game.

But if Alsop is left out, then hopefully he'll score runs in the 2nds and be back before too long. We do need him to get into the side on a regular basis, being at the other age of the age spectrum to Adams, Carberry and Smith. There's also the 50 over competition starting much earlier this season, and Alsop was a revelation in that last year.

 

What Brendy said. I am very optimistic about this season. We should be very difficult to beat in white ball cricket again and our bowling attack in red ball cricket is so much stronger with Abbott and Edwards.

 

Indeed. As I said a couple of months back, if we can re-sign Afridi (or another overseas allrounder), then our t20 side becomes one of the best around (at least on paper): something like Carberry, Vince, Rilee, Ervine, Bailey, Dawson, Allrounder, McManus, Wood, Abbott, Topley. I'm not sure if there's any base not covered by that XI, especially if the allrounder provides us with a second spin option alongside Dawson (as Afridi would).

But it's a totally different story without such an overseas allrounder. We would have to play another bowler instead (or else be faced with Ervine bowling a lot), which as well as weakening the batting on a like-for-like basis, also leads to McManus going one place higher up the order. Not ideal. So given that such an overseas allrounder is not an option in one-day cricket, it'll be interesting how we go there. I have no issue at all with Berg playing at 8 in one-day cricket; it's more McManus being up at 7. With the competition so much earlier this year, two new balls in April/May are bound to move about it, especially for morning starts. So batting depth could be a huge advantage.

 

Knocking Cardiff over for 98 (I know it's a university team, but still) perhaps puts that first innings score into a little perspective. Alsop has made 62 today and Hants are currently 118/2 in their second innings. Promising.

 

50 for Vince as well. Good stuff.

 

Adams aside, that was indeed a lot more promising.

In a competitive match, you'd be saying declare overnight. But given that it's a friendly, and one against a university team at that, I think there is something to be said for batting on, and allowing the tail some time in the middle.

 

**** Edwards only bowled 1.4 overs today so one assumes he has picked up an injury.