The Cricket Thread

He would be a great signing. We need a quality frontline spinner to supplement our top class seam attack.

 

Dawid Malan going to Yorkshire? Hope it comes off, as many more seasons as Middlesex will see him go into a rapid decline. It is a new challenge for him and might help him regain a spot in the England batting line-up. If not he is joining a county that could be back in contention to winning titles again, which is more than can be said for Middlesex.

 

Finch, Salt, Malan, Vince, Abel, Billings, Dawson, Jordan, Starc, Archer, Malinga. Donald, Moores, Mills, Briggs.

Probably won't be anything near to what we come away with on Sunday, but lets see. It's good to hear that we want to try and pick a collection of Hants and Sussex players.

 

I suppose the other thing to watch out for this evening - in addition to the primary outcome of what squad will Mahela and co have - is which Hants players don't get picked up, and therefore remain available to play one day cricket for us next season.

From a purely selfish point of view, I want us to pick up whichever of our Hants players we want to, but then no-one else to touch the rest.

Dawson is certain to be picked. Crane is almost certain to be picked. Rilee, Abbott, Northeast and Donald have recent chances I'd say, but might not get lucky. Wood, Alsop, Fuller and McManus have outside shots at best, but I don't see any being picked. (And I'll drop my jaw if any of Holland, Stevenson, Fidel, Wheal, Scriven or Weatherley get picked.)

 

Is the draft being televised?

 

On BBC iplayer.

 

Southern Brave have 2nd pick - surely they won't waste that on a domestic player. Has to be a Chris Gayle or Rashid Khan. Given that Rashid has played for Sussex in the T20 Blast he seems a likely pick.

 

And online. And on Sky.

 

I would assume that Mahela would want Malinga.

But yes, surely out first two pick - and almost certainly our first two picks - would be on an overseas player.

When we go for our third overseas player will be more interesting. I'm sure some will go for all three up top, but many I think we wait until a bit later to pick up their third - especially given how many don't have a minimum price (or, at least, are outside the top two price bands).

 

Whether it's Malinga, Khan, whoever, I'm hoping that we go for two bowling options (plus an opening batsman) for our three overseas. Whether those two bowling options can also bat, I'm relaxed on. For two reasons:

1. The Rose Bowl is the biggest ground in the competition. So in theory it should be the hardest ground to hit a quality bowler out of the park.

2. The ability to bowl the same bowler for consecutive overs means that you could, in you wanted, have the same person bowling 10 balls in a row. It's one thing trying to see off a quality bowler for 6 balls (out of 120), but it's quite another trying to see off of quality bowler for 10 balls (out of 100). You are going to have to take a chance against them. And those 10 ball spells could be game-changing. Especially if they're backed up for another 10 consecutive balls by another quality bowler.

 

Wonder what Sussex feel about Mahela being joined at the draft by two Hampshire men, rather than any Sussex men.

 

Oooh! Dre.

Great signing, if he stays fit! Big if.

 

Hmmm. Not sure about Warner.

 

Sweet Warner.

 

Fair enough. We knew we had to secure Dawson, and it's some time until we get to pick again.

 

Daws!

 

Obviously it depends on who is still available, but now that we know our third overseas player will be in a lower bracket, I reckon Carey or Wasim would be good shouts. Keeper or another spinning all-rounder.

 

Actually just noticed that Babar Azam is still available at the next bracket. I'd argue he's the best overseas pick left. But would we go with two overseas openers, especially with Vince in the squad too? I doubt it.

 

Fair enough. Not the absolute best spinner, but still decent. And can bat.

 

Nice - bit of leg spin.