There's no way that we planned to get Topley. We've picked him up simply because, very surprisingly, he happened to still be available. At least it means we won't suffer this time for the games when the ECB order Jofra to rest.
Rockets probably look the most balanced. Manchester's batting looks serious. Us and Spirit look strong at the top and bottom, but have gone too deep on the bowling options at the detriment to our middle orders. Fire are confusing. Lots of odd choices. Oval and Phoenix were already very strong and have barely changed.
Edwards picked up a knee injury whilst bowling in the first innings of NSW's final 4-day game which finished earlier. He wasn't able to bowl in the second innings, but did bat in both innings albeit down the order. Hopefully that means it isn't too serious and he will be fit for our opening game in just over two weeks. We'll see.
Yes, I noticed that with Edwards, hopefully it's nothing too serious. I'm not sure how much one can read into pre-season friendlies but interesting to note that there's no Stoneman, Fuller or Currie in the squad for the home warm-up against Sussex. Also no Barker, which might lend more weight to the suggestion that he's actually left or is in the process of leaving us? I saw a while ago that Hants seem to have removed the squad lists and profiles page from their website which doesn't help.
Not too fussed about the results TBH. For the bowlers it's just about finding that rhythm. Sounds like Turner struggled but I'm sure he'll come good.
Turner continuing to bowl himself out of the XI for the first match... Although a couple of the boundaries I've seen have been outside edges down to 3rd man. Still no Fuller, perhaps he's got a knock. And no Barker or Currie.
Turner is clearly a concern. 2 teams in a row now have taken him apart. On the plus side, Abbott looks in good form.
I haven't listened to the entire episode, but in Barker's latest podcast he's been talking about being in training at the moment. And he was seen at the ground last week. So it sounds like he is still contracted for 2025 (or is trying to get himself one). He also says that the injury news on Edwards isn't good, and that we might have to replace him with someone else.
Interesting, there weren't any other insights but basically he revealed that he is indeed still part of the Hants squad (just inferred from the conversation obviously) and that Edwards probably won't be joining us, at least not for the first few weeks. That's a big blow but I hope they've got someone exciting lined up instead at the last minute.
Looks like it's Dewald Brevis. Another young South African, middle order batsman who can bowl a bit of leg spin.
Will definitely be going to several T20 matches at the Bowl now. Vince Pretorius Prest Orr Brevis Fuller Howell Dawson Wood Wheal Turner That's what I'd consider our strongest line up. There's defintely some flexibility with the batting order. Having Orr in the middle order means we could have a left hand-right hand batting combination throughout a lot of the innings. That's a seriously strong and deep batting line up.
