The Cricket Thread

We have done that by seconds. Literally. Fantastic.

 

Hampshire won Fawlty!

 

Amazing tension - the rain literally arrived just after that wicket - one eye on the cricket, and one on the radar

 

That makes up for Liverpool last year, as long as we go on to win the title of course! Get in, fantastic result and let's hope that it continues to rain next week to keep Surrey to a draw

 

Win of the season, all things considered.

I've just spent the last hour driving home from the office - heading east in the direction of the ground, as it happens - and the rain was getting heavier and heavier.

 

How vital could that turn out to be. Now it's Surrey's turn to be nervous about the weather.

 

Us winning means Northants aren't completely safe from relegation either so hopefully they'll give Surrey a decent game on their own turf.

 

Will be interesting to see how we replace Dawson for our last two games.

No real logic to bring in Wheal - we already have five seamers (although I guess he might have to come in for Abbott, if Kyle isn't fit).

So do we bring in Crane, and push the lower order all up one place? Or do we bring in a batter (potentially a straight swap for Brown, if he's fit again) and use Organ as our front line spinner?

I suppose the weather will have a big say in that.

 

I was convinced the rain would beat us but it's a fantastic effort all round. Sadly the forecast in Northampton next week is rather good so it looks like they'll get 4 days in there.

 

Surely it has to be:

Organ
Holland
Weatherley
Gubbins
Vince (c)
Prest
Donald (wk)
Barker
Fuller
Abbott (or Wheal if Kyle's not fit)
Abbas

If Brown's fit then he replaces either Weatherley or Prest and takes over keeping duties.

 

There are all sorts of rumours flying around that, as a result of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, professional sport, in all its forms, will be suspended for twelve days. I have absolutely no hard evidence for this, but it may be entirely possible that Hampshire will be Div One winners, almost by default.

 

England v SA will resume tomorrow.

 

The cricket showing today exactly why all sport should be going ahead this weekend. Fitting tributes, reflection and the national anthem.

 

Very moving, and it's going to be very odd hearing "God Save the King" at sporting events for quite some time to come.

 

It was noticeable (to me, anyway) that the singer stressed the word 'King' in the first line of the National Anthem. Rather like Saints fans singing 'Oh when The SAINTS', whenever we play Spurs (or supporters of any other team that use our song)

 

England on fire!

 

Very pleasing to have Robinson back fit this summer. Like Woakes, he's such a good bowler in home conditions.

 

Utterly pathetic batting from England. Really poor - lost the last 6 wickets for, what, 29 runs? Dreadful.
Now only 40 ahead when they should have buried them …..

 

Lees and Crawley aren't good enough. Despite his recent 100, I'm not at all convinced by Foakes (fo example, a no.7 needs to be able to bat with the tail, and he can't). And nothing will convince me that at home, alongside (very good) seamers who can't bat, we should be picking a spinner who also can't bat.

 

If the Test team can learn anything from T20 and the Hundred, it's the importance of having batters all the way down the order. Given the limited time in this match, a couple of partnerships able to put on a quick 30 or 40 runs was required this morning, not the abject collapse we saw today. Having said that, the openers just aren't up to facing top class pace armed with the new ball. That needs to change before the Ashes as a priority.