The Ashes & Hampshire Cricket Summer Thread - II

I think they said on Sky Sports earlier that Cook was being rested as the Captaincy has taken it out of him.

 

Another reason to be happy at 'only' getting Glamorgan (and potentially for wanting an earlier SF, ie the Saturday slot) is McKenzie's involvement in the Champions League, and his Lions (SA) team in general. He was called back to SA before the end of last season too, although his team did kindly let him fly back for the Lords final.

 

It is a great draw for us and even with a weakened side I would fancy our chances against them, given how close we were to Lancs last week.

 

In last year's SF we had to replace Macca with Shafayat (Macca's SA team are decent at t20 cricket). All he did was drop a dolly of a catch on the boundary off of Luke Wright. Thankfully he wasn't required to bat.

 

So, Cook, Anderson, Bell and Swann have been rested for the ODI series. Morgan will captain the side.

 

Michael Carberry is in the ODI squad. Bollocks.

 

England squad for NatWest ODI series

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (Capt)

Ravi Bopara (Essex)

Jos Buttler (Somerset)

Michael Carberry (Hampshire)

Steven Finn (Middlesex)

Chris Jordan (Sussex)

Jamie Overton (Somerset)

Kevin Pietersen (Surrey)

Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire)

Joe Root (Yorkshire)

Ben Stokes (Durham)

James Tredwell (Kent)

Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)

Luke Wright (Sussex)

 

So we will have Briggs for the semi but maybe not Carbs. I'd rather have Briggs as our bowling attack is very limited.

 

Yep have to agree. Need Briggs badly.

 

Hampshire announce the signing of 23-year-old all-rounder Matt Coles on loan from Kent until the end of the season. He joins the squad in time for the County Championship game against Lancashire in Southport which starts on Wednesday.

Good signing. Would like him on a long term deal.

 

Hmm. Playing a SF with Terry and Roberts in our top six would not fill me with confidence. Good that Briggs will be available, of course. But if we're without Carbs and Macca, then you could argue that Glamorgan become ever so marginal favourites. Even more so with Griffiths in our bowling attack.

 

I would think Coles will play ahead of him!

 

My understanding is that Coles is only available to play first class matches for us.

And besides, I'd rather stick with Griff. Coles can be horribly, horribly expensive in limited overs cricket at times. I've spent the last three years laughing at his economy more often than not.

 

Oh. If Coles was available I would rather go with him. If only we'd made this sort of signing earlier in the season. Do you reckon this is effectively a trial? If he impresses he will sign on a more long term basis?

 

Oh yeah, I completely think this is us giving him trial. Nothing to lose really - we're way behind 2nd place, and our current bowling attack clearly isn't going to fire us up there. So take a punt. If it doesn't come off, no harm done. If he does well though, then fantastic, offer him a contract - he's already confirmed that he'll be leaving Kent at the end of the season.

If nothing else, he'll provide a little bit of competition for places. Without him, Wood and Balcombe will know they have a secured place alongside Tommo for our last five matches.

 

What does he bowl fast medium?

 

Pretty much, yeah. Does seem partial to the odd short ball, which partly explains a career t20 economy of almost 10 an over.

 

Surprised Pietersen isn't being rested. Maybe he turned the chance of a rest down

 

Popped into the local shop on the way home , saw a headline about our players pissing the ground at the OVAL , any truth ?

 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/665773.html