The Cricket Thread

That's a proper signing. Short was fantastic during his spell with Durham.

And it seemingly fits in with me wondering if we might decide to use the t20s to partly give Abbott a rest. That said, if Short makes the final cut for the Australia white ball squad to tour the WI - he is the large provisional squad - he'll miss our last four group matches (thankfully that tour also clashes with the Championship and the one-day comp, so only has limited impact on Short's availability). So if we have CDG missing our first six, and Short missing our final four, Abbott will only actually get rested for the middle four!

 

I'm now wondering what kind of pitches we're going to produce. That's 3 spinners we're going to have, 2 of them are quality and Short isn't exactly a part timer. But on the other hand, if we produce big turners it's going to somewhat nullify the power of Short and CDG and the quality of Vince.

 

Don't forget though that we play 7 away games followed by 7 home games. So if Short does miss our final 4 matches, he'll only actually play 3 home matches.

We are left massively short in the seam bowling tank, for the matches which Abbott won't play. Wood, and CDB's dobbers, are about it. We'd have to play Wheal (or Holland/Stevenson/Currie) as the third seamer.

Assuming no Donald, something like: Short, Vince, Alsop, Northeast, Dawson, CDG, Fuller, McManus, Wood, Crane, Wheal. (I so wish we could have Donald rather than McManus in that team.)

 

I thought it was against the law to have turning wickets nowadays? That’s what we were led to believe anyway...

 

Another failure for Weatherley.

 

How long are they going to persevere with him? I'd go with what you suggested in the last game, push Alsop and Vince up the order.

Winning the last game papered over the cracks a bit.

 

Phew, dropped a regulation slip catch...

 

Not a good start for Hampshire today - two out already. We're 105-3, and conditions are favouring the bowlers.

 

Not really expecting this game to go anywhere given the weather still to come. There's not even scope to declare overnight and hope that there's enough time between all the weekend rain to take 20 wickets, because the FO target is too low. We'd either have to forfeit our second innings (far too risky) or bat again and use up even more time.

Just going to have to pick up whatever bonus points we can. Only other hope is that both sides agree to forfeit an innings.

 

Another hope is a Leicestershire batting collapse in the first innings. If we can bowl them out for 100 or so and we get lucky with the weather (it doesn't look too bad to be fair) then we've got a chance.

 

But like I say, we'd need to bat again. We're not going to bowl them out with a lead of over 150 - unless we carry on batting tomorrow. And any batting which we do over the weekend (first innings or second) makes it even more difficult to find the time to take 20 wickets.

 

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. First job is to get to 250 and the second batting bonus point. Not too fussed about 300.

 

Beer match on. I took part in a few of those in a South Oxfordshire Chilterns village, Brakspears ordinary bitter good for an excellent session or two. I've had the pleasure of a tour of the old Henley on Thames brewery back in the day.

 

Roooooooot

 

Leics 5-2....

 

8-3 now....

 

A bowling point already, it's a race against the rain now...

 

10-4!

 

84 is the follow on, come on Hants!

 

Keep bowling straight and the wickets will come.