The Cricket Thread

This strengthens our T20 side even more! Very good T20 bowler and also adds depth to the batting.

 

Howell is an ideal addition to our T20 side. If there was one thing we were lacking it's the Ravi Bopara type player. A canny medium pace bowler who is really tricky to score off and can score runs down the order. Re-sign Ellis and our bowling attack looks like:

Ellis
Wood
Howell
Crane
Dawson

That's a top, top bowling attack and provides so much variety as well - a fast bowler with an excellent slower ball, a left arm seamer, a medium pacer, an off spinner and a leg spinner.

 

Judging by his interview (after day 3 I think it was) in the Yorkshire game, I don't think Abbott will be playing in the 50 over comp this year. He was talking about looking forward to a rest coming up. Interesting that Barker was listed as 12th man, perhaps they'll be tempted to use him on the odd occasion?

I was expecting Organ, Prest, Gubbins, Donald, Albert, Brown (wk), Middleton, Holland, Currie, Turner, AN Other so was quite surprised that they reckoned Brown needed a rest as well. Donald is a very makeshift keeper I think, not very secure. I hope that Brown comes back in, will add to the batting as well, but they'll probably stick with this side now.

 

Howell is a great signing. As with Whiteley, "white ball contract" essentially means t20 only. But that is fine.

If it was this season, it would have been Crane who lost his place. So there's pressure on Mason to get his form back next season (I'm very interested to see how he goes in the 100 - without wanting to sound too dramatic, his career is somewhat at a crossroads right now). Even more so when you consider that Howell likes to bowl the middle overs too.

If he does return to form next season, it gives us real options in the bowling attack assuming that one of our two overseas players is once again a bowler (whether than be Ellis - hopefully - or someone else).

Most importantly though, it solves my issue of not having batting at 8. Stick Howell in at 7, drop Dawson down to 8. Perfect.

 

McManus leaves for Northants on a permanent basis

 

No Bairstow tomorrow - he's decided to rest ahead of the test series.

Good for England. Good for Brave.

 

That's some run chase by Kent.

 

Almost Worcs' first choice attack, and Robinson goes and plays an innings like that! Makes you wonder why Kent loaned him to Durham for the t20s, when you consider how awful Kent were.

 

"Jimmy Cricket" on form for the Braves! 71 not out.

 

I think Jason Roy should be a tad concerned about his World Cup place. Vince isn't so much knocking on the door as ramming it down.

 

A fairly straightforward win for Southern Brave, and to rub salt into Welsh Fire's wounds, the 'winning run' was a no ball.

 

This is where my loyalties are divided - I want Vince to be noticed and to do well, but not at the expense of becoming unavailable for Hampshire.

 

I think a good Hundred for him and Vince is on the plane. The fact that England have been really inconsistent of late plays right into his hands. Vince also offers something different from the brute power of Bairstow, Livingstone, Buttler etc. He's also got excellent tactical awareness.

 

Won by 9 wickets with 31 balls to spare, what an exciting game! I thought the franchise competition was supposed to promote close games?

(meant in jest)

 

Somerset getting absolutely slaughtered by Notts.

 

Could tell that Tom Curran hasn't bowled for a while. 0-40, ouch.

 

All Hants wicket

 

Post update: Carlos Brathwaite, BBC Test Match Special summariser: I am speechless!

As summarisers go, Carlos, you seem to have misunderstood your role

 

I did wonder why they'd picked Briggs, if all they were going to give him was five balls at the start. Fair play Danny!

I think Wood might be making way for Wheal next game. And, unfortunately, Mason is still struggling. Top stuff from Ellis and Dawson again though.

 

Kyle Abbott has extended his contract