County Championship 2022 Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

With howling winds, snow, and minus temperatures hitting the green fields of England and Wales, it's a perfect time for the County Championship to return.

Back to basics this year. Two divisions. Ten teams in Division One, eight in Division two. Two get relegated from the former, two get promoted from the latter. The team that tops Division One are the County Champions, with no five-day final or conference system this season.

Division One
Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire, Yorkshire.

Division Two
Derbyshire, Durham, Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, Sussex, Worcestershire.

Essex (7/2) and Lancashire (9/2) are considered the leading favourites to be County Champions. Lancashire fell just short last year, while Essex had a Covid-induced aberration of a season. It is tightly contested, however, and Somerset, Yorkshire, Hampshire, and defending champions Warwickshire should all be in the mix. Gloucestershire, Northants and beautiful Kent will be the ones battling to stay up.

Division Two may be somewhat mismatched, with Nottinghamshire (13/10) strong favourites to canter onwards and upwards, and Middlesex, Durham and Glamorgan are the most likely teams to be fighting for the second promotion spot. Derbyshire and Leicestershire will no doubt be looking at the wrong end of the table.

Will Warwickshire defend their title? Or is this the year Somerset finally win the main event? Are Nottinghamshire going to breeze through Division 2? And will Darren Stevens finally get the England call-up we all want to see?

[Duty281]

Yeah, that looks right to me, but this is England so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Bohannon down at 6 or even for him to open the batting!

Bracey's had a good start to the season as well (two centuries), and could easily return this summer if Foakes struggles, but difficult to see Bracey slotting in at 3.

Openers? May as well put some names in a hat and draw them out. Burns is averaging 32 this season, Crawley is averaging 22, Hameed has a 21 average, and Sibley's the worst of the four with a 16 average. Only one fifty between the four of them, in an April run-fest, and it was made by Crawley.

The only opener to make a significant score this season is Alex Lees, with 182* in the opening game, but he's been injured for games two and three.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

https://twitter.com/lucasmcegg/status/1518227014213320705?s=21&t=FGmcv1e_8mKSCVgxPSi3yQ

Maybe the worst decision I’ve ever seen

[Duty281]

Quality stuff...unless you're the batsman!

Surrey and Hampshire leading after three games in Division One, but Lancashire have a 100% record and a game in hand. Essex got hammered by Warwickshire, it's another slow start for Essex with just one win in the first three. Somerset in deep trouble, three losses out of three, no real consolation that two of their defeats were quite narrow.

Notts and Derbyshire (!) currently leading the way in Division Two.

[guildfordbat]

https://twitter.com/lucasmcegg/status/1518227014213320705?s=21&t=FGmcv1e_8mKSCVgxPSi3yQ

Maybe the worst decision I’ve ever seen

Ludicrous!
I had to check cricinfo to see if the umpire had given it caught or lbw. I couldn't believe either.

[guildfordbat]

Quality stuff...unless you're the batsman!

Surrey and Hampshire leading after three games in Division One, but Lancashire have a 100% record and a game in hand. Essex got hammered by Warwickshire, it's another slow start for Essex with just one win in the first three. Somerset in deep trouble, three losses out of three, no real consolation that two of their defeats were quite narrow.

Notts and Derbyshire (!) currently leading the way in Division Two.

Essex losing Harmer to South Africa for this summer's Test series is likely to further harm their chances.

[Duty281]

Broad's return for Notts (1/42 from 8 overs) overshadowed by Paterson's 8/52! Anderson picked up a couple of wickets with the new ball, and Pope continues to be Ramprakash with another 50 and a season average of around 75.

[Afro]

Wickets atumbling this morning at Taunton, which might not be a bad thing when you already have 350+ on the board. I'm curious to know if the conditions are more bowler friendly or we have just reverted to previous batting form.

If its the former, then not a bad thing to try and bash our way up to 400 for the bonus point before we are all out and then have a good go at them

[JDizzle]

Ed Barnard scoring second innings 100s on green tops against Test quality attacks is it?

[king_carlos]

Ed Barnard scoring second innings 100s on green tops against Test quality attacks is it?

Stack the Test side with all rounders so we bat to 11 and play on green tops ey?

3.Bohannon
4.Root
5.Stokes
6.Bairstow
7.Foakes (wk)
8.Woakes
9.Stevens
10.Barnard
11.Surran

Just need to find a couple of openers that turn their arm over now. Haines and Lammonby?

[guildfordbat]

Ed Barnard scoring second innings 100s on green tops against Test quality attacks is it?

Stack the Test side with all rounders so we bat to 11 and play on green tops ey?

3.Bohannon
4.Root
5.Stokes
6.Bairstow
7.Foakes (wk)
8.Woakes
9.Stevens
10.Barnard
11.Surran

Just need to find a couple of openers that turn their arm over now. Haines and Lammonby?

Surrey's Ryan Patel? Averaging 53 this season opening with the bat - one century, two fifties - and 2 wickets at 53.50 from his medium pace seamers.

[king_carlos]

Cracking shout Guildford.

Didn't Dolly the third open the batting for Worcs at one stage? A couple of tons and 2 wickets for 4 runs this season.

Liam Dawson was a makeshift opener at one point too come to think of it.

Stevo's turns 46 today as well. Get him that cap!

[Lowlandbrit]

Surprised to see Kent salvaging something against Yorkshire, writing seemed to be on the wall a few times.
Bit hard to explain Crawley being seen as a solution for England when he seems to be getting so directly outperformed by Compton.

[JDizzle]

Managed to see Harry Brook bat on Friday, from 0 till he was on about 60 before I had to shoot off. He looked a class apart from everyone else that included Malan and Karunaratne. Hit the ball so authoritatively and offered no chances, whereas even Malan offered a couple. I worry about how square on he gets when defending and against an attack better than Kent’s (4 bowling points and conceding an average First Innings total of 560 in four games this year!) he might come unstuck - but how he hit the ball reminded me of how I felt watching Livingstone bat live. And that is high praise.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Managed to see Harry Brook bat on Friday, from 0 till he was on about 60 before I had to shoot off. He looked a class apart from everyone else that included Malan and Karunaratne. Hit the ball so authoritatively and offered no chances, whereas even Malan offered a couple. I worry about how square on he gets when defending and against an attack better than Kent’s (4 bowling points and conceding an average First Innings total of 560 in four games this year!) he might come unstuck - but how he hit the ball reminded me of how I felt watching Livingstone bat live. And that is high praise.  

*pencils in Harry Brook at #5 into JDizzle's England side, alongside Ed Barnard at #6*

[JDizzle]

Managed to see Harry Brook bat on Friday, from 0 till he was on about 60 before I had to shoot off. He looked a class apart from everyone else that included Malan and Karunaratne. Hit the ball so authoritatively and offered no chances, whereas even Malan offered a couple. I worry about how square on he gets when defending and against an attack better than Kent’s (4 bowling points and conceding an average First Innings total of 560 in four games this year!) he might come unstuck - but how he hit the ball reminded me of how I felt watching Livingstone bat live. And that is high praise.  

*pencils in Harry Brook at #5 into JDizzle's England side, alongside Ed Barnard at #6*

I know your captain now Ben, but you are batting 7 and you’ll be grateful for it.

[Duty281]

Seven matches, no rain, and not a single team bowled out on day one! Sibley and Burns managed to score tons.

If this carries on first-class batsmen in England and Wales will have vastly inflated averages, it'll look like the Ranji Trophy.

[JDizzle]

Poor Josh Baker! 18 and fed to the wolves against a rampant Stokes - 34 from the over and a 64 ball ton for the new skipper!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Poor Josh Baker! 18 and fed to the wolves against a rampant Stokes - 34 from the over and a 64 ball ton for the new skipper!

64 ball ton - he was 12 off 30 balls! 88 runs off 34 balls!

[dummy_half]

Lunch in Durham, with Stokes having reached 147 off 82 balls in 111 minutes. Apparently about 2 yards short of taking 36 off an over..
Just for clarification, after a slow start, he has scored 135 in the last 52 balls of his innings. 8 fours and 15 sixes, only one short of the County Championship record.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hampshire up by 160 runs on first innings…

Lose two early wickets, with 8 overs left James Vince sends out a nightwatchman. Stupid

That nightwatchman gets out. He sends in a second nightwatchman! Who gets out first ball.

Then he goes in finally at four down.

Shambolic

[alfie]

Hampshire up by 160 runs on first innings…

Lose two early wickets, with 8 overs left James Vince sends out a nightwatchman. Stupid

That nightwatchman gets out. He sends in a second nightwatchman! Who gets out first ball.

Then he goes in finally at four down.

Shambolic

And I presume this would be the same James Vince some people on the internet (and even some in the media) were advocating as a good alternative to Stokes as the next England Captain

[Duty281]

I missed this initially, but the great Darren Stevens turned up yesterday.

Kent are playing the snazzily named Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI in a four-day FC game, and Stevens developed his batting average by blasting 168 off 142 balls.

[Duty281]

Blimey, Middlesex have chased down 370 in 74 overs to defeat Sussex.

[dummy_half]

A new week and a new set of matches
In Div 1 particularly, bat holding sway over ball
Zuummerzzet 270-3 vs Glarster
Surrey 250-3 v Kent
Northants 320-1 v Wuss
Lancashire 237-2 v Yorkshire, another century for Keaton Jennings (and one for Steven Croft)

Div 2, Hameed out for 112 for Notts, Stokes being subdued for Durham - 80 in 106 balls. Has passed the Durham CC record for most 6s in a season based on about 4 hours of batting.

[Duty281]

Good to see Hameed in the runs column again. Jennings has had an impressive start to the season with two centuries in two games, he may be considered for the Pakistan tour. Stokes, eye-catching yes, but division two bowling is cannon fodder for him.

Only this round of games and next week's fixtures before the first test v NZ, as the CC will go on a short break until the 12th June, so not much time left for players on the fringes of national selection to make their case.

[Duty281]

Combined first innings scores in division one currently reading 1804/18, with Jennings now in the double ton column.

[Duty281]

Potts with figures of 11/101 as he bowled Durham to victory over Glamorgan, that'll help his rumoured England chances.

[guildfordbat]

Tense stuff in the Roses match.

Lancs need 4 wickets in 15 overs for an innings win assuming Yorks don't score another 39 to level the scores ....

[guildfordbat]

Tense stuff in the Roses match.

Lancs need 4 wickets in 15 overs for an innings win assuming Yorks don't score another 39 to level the scores ....

An unbeaten 82 from Harry Brook gets Yorks the draw. He's one who could be knocking on the England door this summer.

[JDizzle]

Jack Haynes - Super talented 21yo. Had a disrupted season with an ankle injury last year, but if he gets a full season I expect him to be the hot name on everyone's lips next winter.

Jack Haynes breakout year is on. Three hundreds in three games. Look forward to Notts trying to poach him this winter…

[king_carlos]

Anyone boarding the TRJ for England train with me? What a comeback it would be!

Guildford's man Ronnie Barker bundling Somerset out today as well. The definition of a useful cricketer.

[Duty281]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/county-championship-2022-county-game-has-much-to-consider-as-early-season-championship-dishes-up-thin-gruel-1316436

Good article about the snoozefest of the 2022 County Championship. One key statistic is that 'as many as 32 players average more than 60 as the first stage of the season comes to a close, compared to only six when the 2021 season came to an end.'

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/countycricket/warwickshire_make_moves_sign_moeen_ali_saqib_mahmood.html

Moeen, Saqib and Ed Barnard on the radar of Warwickshire - who seem to be trying to make a play to become the home of JDizzle's heart and soul

[JDizzle]

The only shock is it is Warks not Notts after Barnard! He has to go and bat top 6 for a D1 county if he had England aspirations. It’s why I don’t like any suggestions of a three tier County structure. It makes losing your best players to bigger teams more likely.

[JDizzle]

Imagine playing the knock Bairstow did and it only being the second best knock by a player with a surname beginning with B on that day - Ed Barnard is 116* for Worcs.

[Duty281]

https://youtu.be/0vgaK-FUQfM?t=25283

Anyone a bit down at the state of the catching in the test should look at this one handed grab, on the run, by Duffy for a superb caught and bowled. This dismissal led to three wickets falling in four balls and what should be* a comfortable victory for Kent tomorrow.

*Though after what happened today in Nottingham, I'm not sure of anything!

[Duty281]

https://youtu.be/0vgaK-FUQfM?t=25283

Anyone a bit down at the state of the catching in the test should look at this one handed grab, on the run, by Duffy for a superb caught and bowled. This dismissal led to three wickets falling in four balls and what should be* a comfortable victory for Kent tomorrow.

*Though after what happened today in Nottingham, I'm not sure of anything!

I just looked at the scorecard for this (Guildford, prepare yourself!).

At the start of the over, Gloucestershire's no.10 Chappell was in as a night watchman. He was dismissed by the excellent catch. Then Gloucestershire put out the no.11, Singh-Dale, as a second night watchman. He was dismissed first ball. So then Gloucestershire sent out the no.8 as a third night watchman! He was dismissed second ball. After all that they had to put out the no.4 for the last over of the day. Farcical stuff.

[Duty281]

Good day of chases in the County Championship. Hampshire getting 198, Kent getting 91, Surrey getting 195 and Glamorgan getting 141. Best of all was Lancashire chasing down 329, thanks to an unbeaten 175 from Luke Wells.

Compton got another half-century this week for Kent, pushing his FC average close to 70.

Unbeaten Surrey and Hampshire separated by three points at the top. Gloucestershire look relegated. Essex's season hasn't fired at all, and Somerset are in a relegation battle.

[guildfordbat]

https://youtu.be/0vgaK-FUQfM?t=25283

Anyone a bit down at the state of the catching in the test should look at this one handed grab, on the run, by Duffy for a superb caught and bowled. This dismissal led to three wickets falling in four balls and what should be* a comfortable victory for Kent tomorrow.

*Though after what happened today in Nottingham, I'm not sure of anything!

I just looked at the scorecard for this (Guildford, prepare yourself!).

At the start of the over, Gloucestershire's no.10 Chappell was in as a night watchman. He was dismissed by the excellent catch. Then Gloucestershire put out the no.11, Singh-Dale, as a second night watchman. He was dismissed first ball. So then Gloucestershire sent out the no.8 as a third night watchman! He was dismissed second ball. After all that they had to put out the no.4 for the last over of the day. Farcical stuff.

Thanks for flagging, Duty.

Sheer lunacy by Gloucs and fully meriting the loss they suffered today.

[Duty281]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2022/06/17/county-championship-matches-could-played-overseas-first-time/

How do you fancy watching Somerset v Essex in Dubai? Or a Roses match in Galle?

The ECB are conducting one of their infamous reviews, and in their infinite wisdom it may be decided that some County Championship matches will be played abroad in the UAE or Sri Lanka. Playing games in such places will help potential English batsmen learn how to play spin in spin-friendly conditions, it is argued, with spinners currently only bowling 23% of overs in the County Championship. The West Indies is also being considered as a venue.  

Another idea is regional first-class cricket to be played, I think as a separate entity to the current County Championship, either during the Hundred or in the off-season overseas.

[JDizzle]

Somerset have announced Tom Kohler-Canmore will join them at the end of the season. He is the second Yorkshire player after Willey to announce their departure.

It is likely that Tom Banton will leave Somerset now this winter. Might be for the best as he has never kicked on from a stunning debut season in England and then Australia and the T10.

[JDizzle]

https://youtu.be/0vgaK-FUQfM?t=25283

Anyone a bit down at the state of the catching in the test should look at this one handed grab, on the run, by Duffy for a superb caught and bowled. This dismissal led to three wickets falling in four balls and what should be* a comfortable victory for Kent tomorrow.

*Though after what happened today in Nottingham, I'm not sure of anything!

I just looked at the scorecard for this (Guildford, prepare yourself!).

At the start of the over, Gloucestershire's no.10 Chappell was in as a night watchman. He was dismissed by the excellent catch. Then Gloucestershire put out the no.11, Singh-Dale, as a second night watchman. He was dismissed first ball. So then Gloucestershire sent out the no.8 as a third night watchman! He was dismissed second ball. After all that they had to put out the no.4 for the last over of the day. Farcical stuff.

Thanks for flagging, Duty.

Sheer lunacy by Gloucs and fully meriting the loss they suffered today.

In this week’s bizarre night watchman event, Glamorgan sent in James Harris at 3 (after a wicket in the first over…) and his innings went flick for 4, slashing through gully for 4, huge caught behind shout, caught at slip trying to work to leg. Awful.

Another ton for Barnard though. I’m sure he could open the batting.

[Duty281]

Hampshire fall agonisingly short of chasing 299 to beat Essex. 126/1 became 213/8, but Barker nearly clubbed them to victory before chipping one to mid-off. Essex win by 12 runs, good news for Surrey.

[JDizzle]

https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/countycricket/warwickshire_make_moves_sign_moeen_ali_saqib_mahmood.html

Moeen, Saqib and Ed Barnard on the radar of Warwickshire - who seem to be trying to make a play to become the home of JDizzle's heart and soul

Barnard to Warks confirmed. Incredibly petulant statement by Paul Pridgeon:

“We’re very disappointed that Ed has chosen to go and play his cricket elsewhere.

“I have worked with Ed for a long time and seen him develop as a cricketer.

“As a Club through our academy, we work hard to help local players get the best out of their ability and are extremely proud of our record in producing first class cricketers.”

Maybe don’t be terrible in all formats then.

Looks like Sibley to Surrey will be confirmed soon too.

[JDizzle]

Dan Mousley might just be the next England white ball gun. Striking at 180+ from the middle order in this year’s Blast - at the age of only 20.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Dan Mousley might just be the next England white ball gun. Striking at 180+ from the middle order in this year’s Blast - at the age of only 20.

*adds to the list for 2023 World Cup selection*

I’ve struck Rehan Ahmed’s name from that list, and added it to the 2022 T20 World Cup selection. Kid is #special

[JDizzle]

Dan Mousley might just be the next England white ball gun. Striking at 180+ from the middle order in this year’s Blast - at the age of only 20.

*adds to the list for 2023 World Cup selection*

I’ve struck Rehan Ahmed’s name from that list, and added it to the 2022 T20 World Cup selection. Kid is #special

His googly might be more beautiful than Rashid’s. Some did the rounds on Twitter that were just *chef’s kiss*.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Dan Mousley might just be the next England white ball gun. Striking at 180+ from the middle order in this year’s Blast - at the age of only 20.

*adds to the list for 2023 World Cup selection*

I’ve struck Rehan Ahmed’s name from that list, and added it to the 2022 T20 World Cup selection. Kid is #special

His googly might be more beautiful than Rashid’s. Some did the rounds on Twitter that were just *chef’s kiss*.

Dreaming of a frontline attack of Jof, Stone, Adil and Rehan for Australia later this year - let a man live @ECB

[king_carlos]

1.Buttler (wk) 2.Roy 3.Malan 4.Bairstow 5.Stokes 6.Livingstone 7.Moeen 8.Woakes 9.Jof 10.Dilly 11.Rehan

[alfie]

Dan Mousley might just be the next England white ball gun. Striking at 180+ from the middle order in this year’s Blast - at the age of only 20.

*adds to the list for 2023 World Cup selection*

I’ve struck Rehan Ahmed’s name from that list, and added it to the 2022 T20 World Cup selection. Kid is #special

His googly might be more beautiful than Rashid’s. Some did the rounds on Twitter that were just *chef’s kiss*.

Dreaming of a frontline attack of Jof, Stone, Adil and Rehan for Australia later this year - let a man live @ECB

Nothing stopping you dreaming , Olly

But if there is even time for both of them to get match fit by WC time , then there is probably time for them to get injured again...

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