The Ashes & Hampshire Cricket Summer Thread - II

He's an opening batsman. Let him open with Capt Cook and let Joe take root down the order. Root can bowl a bit of spin and so could arguably be used as an all-rounder, although that would admittedly make the bowling a bit light.
I can't see Monty getting a look in unless Swan gets injured.

How about this for a line up?

Cook
Carberry
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Root
Prior
Broard
Swann
Finn
Anderson

 

I ilke that better than having Bairstow in.

 

Worcestershire 64/6 against Northants.
Assuming they're going to be bowled out inside 110 overs that means if Essex don't bowl Hants out Northants will be promoted after the first innings.

Hants currently 101-1 in the 25th over.

 

Carberry and Dawson going well.

 

I think Carberry has initially been taken as the back-up opener - but if Root does not go well in say the first 2 tests that may change

I can see Ballance getting a go at 6 (though suspect it's likely to be Bairstow)

Much will depend on form in the warm-up games

 

Hants finish on 458 with Wheater scoring 122 off 122 balls. Essex 5/1.

 

Very pleased Carberry is in the squad.

 

5 wickets before lunch. Looks like Hants might round off an indifferent season with an innings victory

 

Yep looks like we might have finally found a penetrative fast bowler. That's 8 for Coles in the match so far.

 

Hampshire should sign Coles now. He has impressed and he has indicated he wants to stay at Hants.

 

I thought we already had. Is it Braithwaite thats signed or are both still on loan?

 

We signed Coles on loan. Braithwaite on trial I think.

 

Cheers. 6 down now.

 

Hampshire win by an innings and 31 runs


.....and so endeth the season

 

We signed Brathwaite up permanently surprisingly quickly. Just one first team on trial before hand. Coles has now signed up permanently as of this week.

There's only one I in Brathwaite by the way.

Lots of rumours that James Faulkner will be our overseas player next year. Rod has already confirmed that we want an overseas bowler, and quite right too. My concern with Faulker though is his availability. IPL at the start of 2014, Aus ODI series during the summer, and potentially a Champions League campaign at the year (he's currently playing in the 2013 CL).

White has laughed off the Bopara rumours though.

 

I'd be delighted with Faulkner. He is a fantastic one day bowler and a good 4 day one.

 

Very pleased we've signed Coles. He's young and improves both our batting and more importantly, our bowling.

 

I get the impression that we're looking for a maximum of two more players. An overseas bowler - be it Faulkner or someone else - looks a certainty. And potentially a batsman too, depending both on whether McKenzie returns, and whether Carberry manages to earn himself an IPL contract. We've already had Sam Northeast turn us down, White has confirmed that.

We could get by, just about, if all we'd be missing would be the first six weeks or so of the season without one of Carberry and Macca. Either Terry could play, or either Bates or Wood could slot in at no.7. But we'd really suffer being without both at the same time, and likewise we'd suffer being without Macca for the whole season (regardless of Carberry).

But if for one moment you say that we'd have both of them (except for those first six weeks or so without Macca), and also Faulker, then our four day side next season would be (when Faulkner is available too):

Carberry
Adams
Dawson
McKenzie
Vince
Ervine
Wheater
Coles
Faulkner
Balcombe/Wood/Briggs/Brathwaite
Tomlinson

With Terry, Bates, and the three bowlers not selected above, all in reserve.

Still not division one standard IMO, but should give us the best chance of promotion back to division one since we got relegated. We can release Riazuddin, and maybe Rouse too. Keep Roberts for the time being though, just to cover for injuries.

 

Don't follow the youngsters closely but doesnt Jake George bat. Thought he was supposed to be something special .

 

Hampshire have signed batsman Will Smith from Durham on a 2 year contract. We have the makings of an excellent Championship side now if we get a quality overseas bowler.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/24332770