The Cricket Thread 2015-16

Looks like it's Worcestershire v Hampshire in the Quarter Finals.

 

Good decision to promote Wagg up the order, Glamorgan

Can't see Glamorgan defending this, but you never know. I'd be more comfortable without Essex progressing - think they'd be a bigger threat then Glamorgan on finals day, should we get there.

 

Wed 12 Aug - Sussex v Northants
Thu 13 Aug - Birmingham v Essex
Fri 14 Aug - Worcs v Hampshire
Sat 15 Aug - Kent v Lancashire

No word yet - as far as I'm aware - if England will make Bell, Cook, Moeen, Anderson and Buttler available (although Essex might not pick Cook any way, and likewise Lancs with Jimmy)

 

I would be amazed if they did in the middle of the Ashes.

 

So would I. But the ECB were quite firm last season that they would try better to make players available for county cricket more often. And there is a week and half break between the 4th and 5th tests, which is where the QFs fall.

Possible that Bell may have dropped by then of course. Maybe even Buttler.

 

Squad for our opening one-day game tomorrow is Carberry, Vince, Adams, Wheater, Gatting, Terry, Smith, Dawson, Berg, Arafat, Wood, Briggs, Crane

I expected us to go with Arafat over Bird as our overseas player, but it's a shame that Fidel has yet to return. It's been a week now since his last CPL match.

I guess from that squad, I'd personally go with Carbery, Vince, Adams, Wheater, Terry, Dawson, Smith, Berg, Wood, Arafat, Briggs. I'm not sure that we'll need four spin options, so Crane misses out for me. Dawson is hardly a poor limited overs spinner, and the depth he adds to the batting could be important. Especially if we're talking scores of 300 being just par. And Terry did ok in one-day cricket last season (a couple of 50s, I recall), so he gets the nod over Gatting. Sadly it sounds like Slug will miss most, if not all, of the group games. Hopefully Shah might play a game or two in the lead up to the t20 QF, just to avoid him going into that game cold (he went into t20 finals day last season having come straight off the beach, and safe to say his flight wasn't exactly worth it).

Fidel to replace Berg in my chosen XI, when he does return. I look at him as a wicket-taking option, possibly our biggest wicket-taking option, and it's ben shown on a regular basis over the past six months how important wicket-takers are in modern day one-day cricket (and with these latest new regulations, which help the bowlers, I still think wicket-takers will be vital - especially when bowling first. Bowling second, you've got the help of scoreboard pressure, if the batters have done the job).

 

Good synopsis St Brendy !

 

I think Edwards is due back for our 2nd One Day Cup match.

 

Cracking knock this by Vince.

 

And by Dawson now.

 

Wood has hit some of the best 4s of the innings

 

Considering I thought our line up was a batsman light this is going to be a huge total!

 

Even with this total, I'd still say we're a batsmen light. Sussex never managed to take two wickets quickly, fortunately.

Going forward, Smith and Dawson can bowl Crane's 10. Unless of course the kid takes a sackful up next!

 

Plus we won't always get Wood involved in an 80 run partnership.

Great job guys, but be careful of Wright!

 

A bit of form from some of our batsmen which makes a change this season. Now for some decent bowling & fielding please Hants.

 

A rather painful first List A over from Crane. Fortunately he makes amends somewhat by catching Wright first ball of the next over.

 

Yes Woody! Now get Machan.

 

Excellent comeback from Crane. Huge wicket.

 

Crane again!

 

He's come back so well. Could have had two more - easy chance off Joyce dropped by Dawson, much harder chance off Wells dropped by Crane himself.