It would appear that we'll be announcing our two t20 players tomorrow. My guess is one Kiwi, and one player whose test career is behind them. Munro and Watson maybe. Heard absolutely nothing, so it's pure conjecture on my part.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/44158687 Hampshire have signed New Zealand all-rounder Colin Munro and Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman for the upcoming T20 Blast.
2 brilliant signings. Munro is a well known power hitting opener who can also bowl a bit it should be remembered. Mujeeb is a very promising young spinner. So our line up will be: Munro, Vince, Rossouw, Northeast, Ervine/Dawson, McManus, Berg, Abbott, Crane, Mujeeb, Topley. That is a very nice looking line up.
No reason to have Berg in that team, in my view. Abbott, Crane, Mujeeb, Topley and Dawson, supported by Munro, should be sufficient bowling. I also wouldn't want McManus in our top six. So drop Lewis down a place, probably Dawson too, and play Alsop instead (or Dickinson, Weatherley or Ervine: although, Dickinson might already be pencilled in to play instead of Lewis). (I'm assuming here that Mujeeb can't bat, but I could be wrong. If I'm not wrong though, then we've basically got three number 11s. So you want a strong top 6.)
Hope Taylor goes well today. Chance to stake a place in the side for the entire competition, given Dawson' injury. I'd have selected Alsop and Wood rather than Weatherley and Fidel, myself. But if our top three fire, I think we'll be too strong for Sussex. Missing Nash and Taylor from last season, and with Van Zyl injured, has left Sussex with a weak looking batting unit.
It's actually a real shame that we're without Northeast, Dawson and Abbott. If you include those three guys, suddenly our starting XI looks as good as anything around the country. But if we were to carry this XI throughout the group stage, we might not even qualify. Great first over, removing Wells. Now to get Wright early too.
Have you lads found a live stream?, Sussex have one on their website but you have to register and pay I think.
Ah ok, thought it might be on SKY today... Might give the Sussex one a go, it's only £1.99 for a visitor's day pass.
It's ok, got the Sussex Match Centre going, it's a basic behind the bowler fixed camera but not a bad picture.
Very pleasing run-rate, but concerning that we've only taken one wicket. Wickets in hand can result in so many runs being scored later on, these days.