As for this innings, Mahmood and Leach may well have put England into a position to win given the unpredictability of the pitch.
You are right to pull me up about this! I hope the likes of Lees, Crawley, Lawrence make really Big scores in the second innings, while Overton and Mahmood can display their prowess with the ball. Good Luck to these guys and if it leads to England winning that is great for England and brilliant for these guys in their fledgling test careers.
Oz win the third test by 116 runs in Pakistan. That is a considerable win given the wickets were designed to negate Oz firepower. Add in the frenzied crowds, an all Asían umpiring panel, it is a great víctory for them. Although, not test world champions, they are probably the best test team in the world right now. From a Hampshire perspective, Nathan Lyon would have been the últimate overseas signing, if only Abbott were a Kolpak or was qualified to.play for England.
Kolpak's no longer exist. He was originally a Kolpak signing but these were terminated after Brexit. So he moved to an overseas player.
Some odd goings on in the Hampshire 2 Day friendly. Worcs 201 - 9 Dec. Hampshire 138 - 8 45 overs. It looks like Organ and Fuller have retired hurt, Gubbins and Weatherley substitute batters having already been out!
I'm pretty sure I am. It's a friendly - you can do all sorts of things you wouldn't be able to do normally.
I even suggested Mahmood and Leach may have propelled England towards víctory last night. Long way to go but WI are frágile.
No McManus, Prest or Donald in the squad for this week's friendly presumably provides a lot of insight as to what our XI will be in the first game of the season. 10 of these 13, plus Abbas. If so, then I'd suggest that we're looking at one of Organ or Fuller (to bat at 7 or 8), and one of Crane, Wheal or Currie. Seven bowling options would seem a little extreme (Abbott, Abbas, Barker, Dawson, Holland, plus two of the above) - especially given how good the first three are. I get they maybe feel that Donald needs some game time in the 2nd XI first, after two years out. But there is still the option of trying out Prest.
McManus now joins Northants on loan for the first month of the season. So we go from 3 main keepers on our books down to 1 before the start of the season. Let's just hope that Ben Brown doesn't break a finger on the first morning or something!
So pleased that we're utilising the loan system this season. Fringe players don't improve by playing second XI cricket, or running the drinks as 12th man. Let them play on a regular basis, even if it's only at D2 standard.
Weatherley has made a grand total of 6 runs in 2 innings against Loughborough University. Literally everyone else has had decent time at the crease - it's not really good enough.
