County Championship 2019 Thread

by jimbohammers Tue 26 Feb 2019, 3:29 pm

First topic message reminder :

Just over a month to go until the new season starts.

Same old questions...

Who are your picks for the title?
Who is going down?
Surprise team?
Most runs?
Most wickets?
One to watch?

How is your team shaping up for the start of the season? Any inside news?

Discuss here...

by Duty281 Mon 08 Apr 2019, 3:51 pm

Duty281 wrote:Somerset's last wicket stand clubbed fifty-odd, and Kent are 1/2 and in deep trouble.

Comfortable victory for Somerset in the end.

Yorkshire cruising to a credible draw - Root's got another half-century.

by **LondonTiger** Mon 08 Apr 2019, 5:07 pm

Ballance hits a 6 to bring up his ton and everyone shakes hands for the draw. Promising from Root with an unbeaten 130 to help save the game after the openers fell pretty early.

by guildfordbat Tue 09 Apr 2019, 8:46 am

Undefeated centuries to stave off defeats from a couple of former Test players - Ballance and Malan.

by guildfordbat Tue 09 Apr 2019, 8:58 am

guildfordbat wrote:
alfie wrote:Surrey to win again , Kent for the drop and Essex might be the main danger at the top.
Lancashire and Middlesex to fight out Div 2

Cook to make a bucket of runs and fully fit all season Jack Leach to do the same with the wickets .

Alfie - don't think you'll be far off the mark with any of that.

Surrey or Essex are my picks to top the table. Essex should benefit from not losing players to international calls but their squad could be exposed if there are any individual losses of form or injuries. In contrast, Surrey have masses of strength in depth.

I would also suggest Sussex will be in the mix to win Div 2. Interesting game currently going on between them and Leics at Hove. The home started poorly but appear to be coming back into it ....

Surrey's opening CC game is against Essex starting at the Oval on Thursday. Essex's keeper and batsman Wheater injured his hand early on in their trouncing by Hants and took no further part. If he's still crocked on Thursday, that could be a problem for the visitors, particularly with Foster now retired.

by Gooseberry Tue 09 Apr 2019, 9:52 am

guildfordbat wrote:Undefeated centuries to stave off defeats from a couple of former Test players - Ballance and Malan.

Not bad for a guy with no guts and an away specialist Wink

by jimbohammers Wed 10 Apr 2019, 12:44 pm

This weeks set of fixtures:

Hampshire vs Yorkshire
Notts vs Somerset
Surrey vs Essex
Warwickshire vs Kent

--

Durham vs Sussex
Glamorgan vs Northants
Gloucestershire vs Derbyshire
Leicestershire vs Worcestershire
Middlesex vs Lancashire

by king_carlos Thu 11 Apr 2019, 2:53 pm

Player watch in who the **** might bat in the top 3 for the Ashes:

The evergreen Daryll Mitchell is unbeaten on 80.

Ballance has got an unbeaten half century to follow his century.

Stoneman and Burns both got in then got out for Surrey.

Haseeb Hameed is in the Lancs side and down to bat at 3. They are bowling first with Jimmy Anderson playing but Glenn Maxwell bowling 9 overs already on day 1 suggests they might have judged the pitch wrong.

Dawid Malan has just arrived at the crease for Middlesex.

by Duty281 Thu 11 Apr 2019, 2:56 pm

Clarke and Duckett both out cheaply as Notts struggle against Somerset. Lewis Gregory extending his superb start to the season.

by king_carlos Thu 11 Apr 2019, 3:22 pm

Century up for Daryl Mitchell.

Ben Foakes falls on 69 for Surrey though. It would have been a timely moment for Foakes to get a century.

by JDizzle Thu 11 Apr 2019, 3:33 pm

Zak Crawley tons up for Kent. He was my one to watch in 2018, hopefully I was just a year early!

by king_carlos Thu 11 Apr 2019, 5:22 pm

Ballance brings up a timely second century in consecutive innings.

I'm in the group who feel that Ballance will continue to struggle against Test seamers. He always batted deep in his crease and against bowlers with some extra pace he got found out due the ball having that bit longer to swing. Mitchell Starc should love bowling to Ballance given the left arm angle.

That said the cupboard is bare and Ballance is one of the few options who actually bats at 3.

by **Afro** Thu 11 Apr 2019, 7:27 pm

Duty281 wrote:Clarke and Duckett both out cheaply as Notts struggle against Somerset. Lewis Gregory extending his superb start to the season.

Bowling superbly. Took 6 to move up to 14 wickets in 3 innings

by Nathaniel Jacobs Thu 11 Apr 2019, 8:00 pm

Ballance could score 1000 runs before the Ashes and still not be worthy of Test selection. As soon as the bowlers get up in and excess of 140kph Ballance will be back to bricking it. His ship sailed many moons ago.

by Duty281 Fri 12 Apr 2019, 1:04 pm

Loving Glamorgan's progress - 570 in four sessions!

by dummy_half Fri 12 Apr 2019, 1:58 pm

Duty281 wrote:Loving Glamorgan's progress - 570 in four sessions!

Root for England? (Billy, top scoring with 126)

by dummy_half Fri 12 Apr 2019, 2:30 pm

And Hameed's rehabilitation into some sort of batsman continues, after his 200+ against a University attack, he has a half century against a decent Middlesex attack including Finn and Toblerone Jones. After only making 170 runs all season last year, encouraging signs...

BTW, although I wouldn't word it as coarsely as Nathaniel Jacobs above, I agree with the sentiment that Balance really isn't in line for an England recall even if he scores 1000 runs before the end of May. He's proven now that he's a very good FC batsman but just doesn't have it to make the step up to international class (as with Ramps, Vince etc)

by JDizzle Fri 12 Apr 2019, 3:36 pm

Good to see some young lads getting in the runs this round - Abell, Bartlett, Crawley, Carlson, Patel, Hameed, Barnard, Lawrence etc. Hopefully they can all kick on and have big years!

by jimbohammers Fri 12 Apr 2019, 4:13 pm

Very strange tactics from Yorkshire, they should have declared 2-3 hours ago at least. 537-6 and what 2 more hours of day 2/4.
Not that i am complaining Smile

by dummy_half Fri 12 Apr 2019, 4:44 pm

Jimbo

I assume the wicket is not an easy run-scoring one, hence Yorkshire's relatively slow run rate. I presume the intention is just to bat once and get Hampshire following on.

Hameed with his century for Lancashire. What odds he scores more in his first FC innings of this season than he did throughout last season?

by Duty281 Fri 12 Apr 2019, 5:09 pm

Great score for Hameed. Not the easiest bowling attack to face, either, with Finn, Murtagh and Roland-Jones in it.

by king_carlos Sun 14 Apr 2019, 7:44 pm

A strange win for Lancashire today against Middlesex.

Both sides seemed to completely miss read the pitch as seam heavy attacks were selected but Glenn Maxwell ended up taking a five-fer in the second innings. That's to go with Malan getting three wickets in Lancs first innings and Sam Robson picking up a couple as they chased 39 to win!

by Jetty Mon 15 Apr 2019, 1:14 am

king_carlos wrote:A strange win for Lancashire today against Middlesex.

Both sides seemed to completely miss read the pitch as seam heavy attacks were selected but Glenn Maxwell ended up taking a five-fer in the second innings. That's to go with Malan getting three wickets in Lancs first innings and Sam Robson picking up a couple as they chased 39 to win!

Roland-Jones and Finn - 58-5-182-0
Murtagh and Anderson - 39-17-78-6 and 38-16-70-6 (one is 37 and the other 36)

by **LondonTiger** Mon 15 Apr 2019, 7:26 am

Shame that Liam Dawson could not get the extra 8 runs for a century. At the very least some of the other Hampshire players owe him some time with his feet up.......two half centuries and 60 overs bowled.

by guildfordbat Mon 15 Apr 2019, 8:16 am

LondonTiger wrote:Shame that Liam Dawson could not get the extra 8 runs for a century. At the very least some of the other Hampshire players owe him some time with his feet up.......two half centuries and 60 overs bowled.

I think we can let Ronnie Barker off though. 30 overs sent down in Yorks' innings (admittedly for a nil return) and a half century of his own to take him to a CC batting average this season of 104! Whilst I do wonder if his body will hold up for the 2 years of his contract, Hants supporters need not worry he's looking for an easy final pay day.

by **LondonTiger** Mon 15 Apr 2019, 10:51 am

Yeah, if the top order could have shown half the fight Dawson and Barker managed.

by jimbohammers Tue 16 Apr 2019, 10:19 am

You're not wrong guys. Dawson certainly did his job in the game! Toss was a big factor but truth is we were completely outplayed in all departments, so congrats to Yorkshire.

by **LondonTiger** Wed 08 May 2019, 6:58 pm

Dom Bess joins Yorkshire on what has been described as "initially a 1month loan". Not sure if there are thoughts to make it longer, but for now he will be available for 3 CC matches.

by **Afro** Mon 13 May 2019, 12:36 pm

Another loan out from Somerset. Jamie Overton loaned out to Northants, although he can still play for us in the RL final

by Gooseberry Mon 13 May 2019, 12:52 pm

Seems good business all round, england will be happier that they arent bench warming

by **Afro** Mon 20 May 2019, 12:30 pm

There's something in the air today.

Somerset 86/5
Surrey 65/5
Sussex 46/4
Worcester 39/7
Durham 38/5

Notts letting the side down as Hants 68/0

by Gooseberry Mon 20 May 2019, 12:44 pm

Pretty bonkers, Hants who many of us had tipped for the bottom could end up to of the able at this rate and the invincibles of Surrey being even more firmly rooted in the lower reaches

by guildfordbat Mon 20 May 2019, 1:41 pm

As a strong supporter of outground cricket, I'm pleased that the wicket for Hants v Notts seems to be playing true. This game is on the Isle of Wight, a lovely treat for residents and holiday makers. First time Hants have used the Isle as a home venue since 1962.

by JDizzle Mon 20 May 2019, 1:41 pm

Warwickshire have conceded 39 extras already in Somerset’s 143-6... That is not ideal.

by **Afro** Mon 20 May 2019, 2:17 pm

JDizzle wrote:Warwickshire have conceded 39 extras already in Somerset’s 143-6... That is not ideal.

The 39 extras is the same runs that our top two scoring batsmen added together at this exact moment in time!

by jimbohammers Mon 20 May 2019, 4:43 pm

Rahane makes just 10 on debut.
We have a new Hameed in town.. Soames opening the batting with 44 off 190 balls.

Jimmy Anderson with 5-25. Lower order runs for Worcestershire otherwise they were looking at an extremely low total.

Chris Jordan who couldn't get a game for England despite being in the squad... Shows what he can do with the bat.. 100* !

by Corporalhumblebucket Mon 20 May 2019, 6:51 pm

Somerset fought back against Warks on a day when 17 wickets fell. Extras in Somerset innings were top scorers.

Hants innings faltered after a strong start. Reached a sedate 288 - 6 by the close. Mullaney bowled 12 maidens for Notts, conceding just 42 runs off 24 overs.

Surrey fought back well after their early collapse, gaining full batting points. Could well turn out to be a high scoring match at Kent's Beckenham ground.

by guildfordbat Mon 20 May 2019, 7:02 pm

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Somerset fought back against Warks on a day when 17 wickets fell. Extras in Somerset innings were top scorers.

Hants innings faltered after a strong start. Reached a sedate 288 - 6 by the close. Mullaney bowled 12 maidens for Notts, conceding just 42 runs off 24 overs.

Surrey fought back well after their early collapse, gaining full batting points. Could well turn out to be a high scoring match at Kent's Beckenham ground.

Things probably weren't so sedate at the Isle of Wight ground when play was stopped for a few minutes by a swarm of bees! Smile

by guildfordbat Thu 23 May 2019, 5:08 pm

Good win for Hants on day 4 against Notts in their 'home' game on the Isle of Wight. Sounds like a real treat for spectators. Abbott, Edwards and my man Barker sharing equally 18 wickets.

by **LondonTiger** Fri 24 May 2019, 6:34 am

I am struggling to understand how a Hampshire side that lost to us so abjectly has won their other 3 games, especially considering we are pretty average.

by **LondonTiger** Wed 29 May 2019, 9:31 pm

LondonTiger wrote:I am struggling to understand how a Hampshire side that lost to us so abjectly has won their other 3 games, especially considering we are pretty average.

Still a chance for either side in the Yorks/Hants rematch but draw favourite. Ballance will be looking for his 4th hundred in 4 matches this season. We would be in trouble without his runs.

by Gooseberry Wed 29 May 2019, 10:42 pm

LondonTiger wrote:
LondonTiger wrote:I am struggling to understand how a Hampshire side that lost to us so abjectly has won their other 3 games, especially considering we are pretty average.

Still a chance for either side in the Yorks/Hants rematch but draw favourite. Ballance will be looking for his 4th hundred in 4 matches this season. We would be in trouble without his runs.

Guess who backed him to be top run scorer last season...and went with Pope this one Doh

by JDizzle Tue 04 Jun 2019, 12:18 pm

This Warwickshire innings looks like it has been scintillating viewing so far...

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue 04 Jun 2019, 12:31 pm

JDizzle wrote:This Warwickshire innings looks like it has been scintillating viewing so far...

Good to see they're interested in batting points...ah.

by guildfordbat Tue 04 Jun 2019, 5:28 pm

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:
JDizzle wrote:This Warwickshire innings looks like it has been scintillating viewing so far...

Good to see they're interested in batting points...ah.

Luke Fletcher 28-11-43-2.
Proper effort from the big man.

by king_carlos Tue 04 Jun 2019, 5:50 pm

guildfordbat wrote:
Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:
JDizzle wrote:This Warwickshire innings looks like it has been scintillating viewing so far...

Good to see they're interested in batting points...ah.

Luke Fletcher 28-11-43-2.
Proper effort from the big man.

It's great seeing Fletcher back after that nasty head blow back in 2017. He's a top county performer across the three formats and a highly entertaining character as well.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue 04 Jun 2019, 5:53 pm

Just saw they batted the whole day yesterday for 181-3 off 93 overs. Surely must be a first, a side batting a whole day on day one with that little wickets for no batting points?!

by Gooseberry Wed 05 Jun 2019, 9:15 am

Yeah in terms of the championship its very odd tactics from Warks to play for a draw from the off, especially given the variable weather over the course of this game.
But if England are still desperate for an opener with some stickability and guts then Sibley really is putting his hand up so far this season. Another good score, but this time over a mammoth 274 balls...Im not sure Denly has ever lasted that long in his career. He and Burns are the standout openers this season in County cricket by some distance, and both still developing their games. Think this bandwagon might gain momentum if he keeps this up through the world cup period.

by JDizzle Thu 06 Jun 2019, 11:21 pm

Sam Hain 23 off 122! I feel no sympathy whatsoever that Notts got out of there with a draw.

I’ve yet to be impressed with Sibley to be honest, weight of runs can’t be ignored forever but there is something off about his game. Northeast would be next man up for me.

by **LondonTiger** Fri 07 Jun 2019, 8:21 am

Northeast not an opener though.

Ballance's run of consecutive matches with a century ended at 5. He had an unbeaten half century when bad weather saw the game come to an early end. Will be interesting to see what happens at Guildford next week but I fully expect a home win as results are currently flattering us.

by Gooseberry Fri 07 Jun 2019, 8:33 am

Yeah at this point England need a top 3 not a mid order blaster, although North East is doing everything he can to make a case for them to not pick 3 keepers.
Im certainly not one to get too carried away with CC scores (hai Ballance) but we do know Sibley was already on the England radar having toured with the Lions. Hes stepped up this year and is absolutely the stand out run getting opener in the CC, for all thats worth given the lack of quality but at least hes playing red ball cricket.

After Burns what are the other options?
Denly ...was never good enough/selected through desperation and struggled for England. Told to go back to his county and get some runs. Hasnt so far.
Jennings...no.
Stoneman...awful season.
Hameed...promising start to the season has faded back to consistent failure.

Roy and Bairstow are about the only other options they have for the top 3 alongside Burns. Theres not even a "what about Ian Bell" bandwagon this season.
So really Sibley has to have a shot if he keeps making runs. Do think that makes him the next Cook? Nope but we have to pick someone (as per Denly/Stoneman/Jennings twice etc)
Jennings...

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