The management at New Road have announced an initial 12 man squad for the season opener against our local rival Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
D K H Mitchell, S C Moore , V S Solanki *, B Smith, G A Hick, S M Davies +, G J Batty, K Ali, GM Andrew, S P Jones, S J Magoffin, M M Ali.
It appears, if from the order they are written down if nothing else that Moeen Ali is set to be the waterboy for the season opener. This matches up with the team I predicted, with Gareth Andrew, Simon Jones and Steve Magoffin earning their debuts for the county.
At the top of the order it seems that Daryll Mitchell is confirmed as the first choice opener alongsde Steve Moore and this is a partnership that we could see all season.
Updates will be provided as and when possible throughout play.
Showing posts with label county. Show all posts
Showing posts with label county. Show all posts
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Saturday, 12 April 2008
First Full Day!
So the first full(ish) day of county cricket has been and gone, so I thought now would be an appropriate time for another blog!
At Fenners Cambridge had a long day in the field, being made to toil by the Essex batsmen – Mark Pettini (153) and Ryan ten Doeschate (146*) in particular. On his first class debut for his new county Jason Gallian made 38.
There was no play at Derby where they are playing Durham UCCE.
At the Rose Bowl – recently announced as a future test match venue – Hampshire stuttered to 237-8 against Cardiff UCCE, the highlight being 103* from James Adams.
Without doubt the most impressive performance from a county team was from Kent, who made 366-2 against Leeds/Bradford UCCE. Key (105) and Denly (122) put on 225 for the first wicket, and van Jaarsveld and Walker both knocked half centuries.
Whilst down at the Brit Oval Loughborough performed most admirably out of all the students’, closing on 148-1 on a weather interrupted day. Their opener, Richard Johan Anders Malcolm-Hansen – a Danish Kentishman!! – finished the day on 93*. Surrey’s bowling attack looked weak, although one cannot think that too many of them will begin the championship opener later this week.
Finally, an update on the MCC match. Sussex had not had very much fun over the first couple of days, but on day 3, aided by the injury late on in day 2 to Steve Kirby, however, they took full control. This was mainly thanks to England hopeful Luke Wright. He smashed 155* off 185 balls with 21 fours and 3 sixes. This is a really big season for Wright – he has established himself in England’s one day team, and many more innings like this will soon see him pushing for test contention.
How happy I am the cricket season is back upon us!
At Fenners Cambridge had a long day in the field, being made to toil by the Essex batsmen – Mark Pettini (153) and Ryan ten Doeschate (146*) in particular. On his first class debut for his new county Jason Gallian made 38.
There was no play at Derby where they are playing Durham UCCE.
At the Rose Bowl – recently announced as a future test match venue – Hampshire stuttered to 237-8 against Cardiff UCCE, the highlight being 103* from James Adams.
Without doubt the most impressive performance from a county team was from Kent, who made 366-2 against Leeds/Bradford UCCE. Key (105) and Denly (122) put on 225 for the first wicket, and van Jaarsveld and Walker both knocked half centuries.
Whilst down at the Brit Oval Loughborough performed most admirably out of all the students’, closing on 148-1 on a weather interrupted day. Their opener, Richard Johan Anders Malcolm-Hansen – a Danish Kentishman!! – finished the day on 93*. Surrey’s bowling attack looked weak, although one cannot think that too many of them will begin the championship opener later this week.
Finally, an update on the MCC match. Sussex had not had very much fun over the first couple of days, but on day 3, aided by the injury late on in day 2 to Steve Kirby, however, they took full control. This was mainly thanks to England hopeful Luke Wright. He smashed 155* off 185 balls with 21 fours and 3 sixes. This is a really big season for Wright – he has established himself in England’s one day team, and many more innings like this will soon see him pushing for test contention.
How happy I am the cricket season is back upon us!
The Three Pears - Introduction
I am running this blog because I think that there are a lot of people out there who, like me, have a keen interest in county cricket, and love debate and argument on the topic.
For me, country cricket does not get enough press coverage. At my club's training session last week, at least 75% of the people there did not realise the season started this week! So I am going to come on here and offer my opinions on the county game. It may not be a regular thing, it may only be weekly or bi-weekly, but I am going to offer an opinion nonetheless.
The focus, as the page suggests, will be Worcestershire County Cricket Club, however, the county game as a whole is of great interest to me, so whether it is an outstanding individual display or a gritty team performance, I will try to give it a mention!
All feedback, comments and criticism will the greatly appreciated!
Martin
For me, country cricket does not get enough press coverage. At my club's training session last week, at least 75% of the people there did not realise the season started this week! So I am going to come on here and offer my opinions on the county game. It may not be a regular thing, it may only be weekly or bi-weekly, but I am going to offer an opinion nonetheless.
The focus, as the page suggests, will be Worcestershire County Cricket Club, however, the county game as a whole is of great interest to me, so whether it is an outstanding individual display or a gritty team performance, I will try to give it a mention!
All feedback, comments and criticism will the greatly appreciated!
Martin
Preview of 2008
2007 in a Nutshell:
Again, like normal 2007 was a mixed season for Worcestershire! Relegated from the First Division in the Championship, finishing 2nd in the Pro40 division one, another disappointing T20 effort and a fairly poor attempt in the Friends Provident Trophy would be how the season went in terms of cricket played.
Best Performances
Championship
Batting – Graeme Hick, again – 963 runs at an average above his age – 42 - (only just!)
Bowling – Kabir – over 50 wickets at 22 – standout bowler once again
Limited Overs
Batting – Graeme Hick – an average of over 70, what more can be said!
Bowling – Kabir – an average of 19 – brilliant.
Worst Displays
Phil Jaques – only 500 first class runs from the overseas “star”
Gareth Batty – only 8 one day wickets at 55. Awful.
Probable side:
County Championship Mitchell, Moore, Solanki*, Smith, Hick, Davies+, Batty, Kabir, S. Jones, Magoffin/Edwards, Mason
One Day Games Davies+, Solanki*, Moeen, Smith, Hick, Mitchell, Batty, Kabir, S. Jones, Magoffin/Edwards, Mason
Openers: Mitchell and Moore formed a pretty decent partnership towards the end of last season, they will look to consolidate this early on in the season. With no real openers in back up attention could turn to Solanki or perhaps the promising Moeen Ali to step up should Mitchell or Moore look out of touch early on.
Middle Order: As has been the case at Worcestershire for the last 20 years, Graeme Hick is key here. Although he has moved down from 3 to 5, he still nearly topped 1000 runs last year, and will be looking to do that this year, as many think this could be his last. Ben Smith is not getting any younger either, and with players such as Moeen and the young Dutchman Alexei Kervezee waiting in the wings the pressure will be on early doors.
Wicketkeeper: There is no doubt here – Steven Davies. Although he didn’t enjoy too profitable a year with the bat – just 690 runs at exactly 30 and with no centuries, Davies will be looking to shake that off and put himself back into England contention. He is, however, an almost faultless wicketkeeper – responsible for 47 dismissals last season – a good effort from a keeper in a team who often failed to bowl the opposition out twice. Backup will come from Josh Knappett – an Oxbridge graduate who has impressed in the second team.
Fast Bowlers: This is where we really struggled last year and Kabir would have often been seen bowling 20 odd over’s in a row. However, this year we hopefully have a bit more depth than in previous seasons. The overseas combination of Magoffin and Fidel Edwards will be interesting – and could work out really well with Magoffin bowling on green tops early on in the season and Edwards bowling on the harder bouncier tracks later on. Simon Jones is an incredible acquisition and with a full pre season behind him looks fit and ready to go – maybe a stab at the Ashes in 2009? Matt Mason is also hopefully fit again, after missing all of last season with a shoulder injury. He will probably start the season in the team, but will face competition from youngsters Richard Jones, Gareth Andrew and Chris Whelan.
Spinners: Gareth Batty was the main spinner last season, and with the departure of Ray Price looks as though that will carry on. He was ineffective in one dayers, and economical and probing in the championship, and will thrive playing on second division pitches – most notably going back to the spinner’s paradise at Northampton! His poor performance in one dayers last year may mean one of the younger spinners – Shaftab Khalid or David Wheeldon get a chance to shine in the shorter version of the game.
Key Man: Difficult to say. It would be easy to say Graeme Hick, as although he is going to be 42 this season, when he scores runs we tend to win matches. However I am going to go for Kabir Ali. Over 50 wickets in the championship last year, he has developed into a very mature bowler as well as a very, very useful lower order batsman. He is key to the bowling attack, and to get promoted we will need to win a lot of matches – and to do that we need to bowl teams out twice – something we cannot do without the male model on top form. Do not be surprised if he “does a Sidebottom” in the next couple of years.
Rising Star: Last year this would have gone to Steven Davies, or maybe Darryl Mitchell, however, both of these are now pretty much cemented in the team. For this reason I am going to go for Moeen Ali. He got a fair crack of the whip towards the end of last year, and if one of the top 4 or 5 start badly this time around, he will be chomping at the bit to get in. Also look out for young Dutchman “the new Graeme Hick” Alexei Kervezee.
Captain and Coach: Steve ‘Bumpy’ Rhodes and Vikram Solanki. Bumpy’s first season was a tumultuous one – as if replacing the legendary Tom Moody needed to get any harder he then had to face the prospect of playing every match away from New Road for the last 1/3 of the season. Interesting to see how he develops, however his iconic status at New Road will ensure he gets time. Vikkers, now entering his 3rd season as captain has flourished in the role, and, assured of his place in the team for both forms of the game will be looking to lead his team to at least one trophy this year and himself to 1000 runs for only the 3rd time.
2008 Prospects: Again, I would say that our best chance is in the championship as our team looks set up for that, and promotion back to the top tier has to be the priority. Lack of investment in real ‘stars’ mean the T20 is out of the window, and the other limited over’s competition are of little real importance anyway. If our key players – Solanki, Hick, Kabir and Simon Jones – all play well then we will walk the second division and maybe even get to a Lords Final.
Predictions:
Championship (Div 2) - 2nd
Pro40 (Div 1) - 4th
T20 - Group Stage
Friends Provident - Group Stage
Again, like normal 2007 was a mixed season for Worcestershire! Relegated from the First Division in the Championship, finishing 2nd in the Pro40 division one, another disappointing T20 effort and a fairly poor attempt in the Friends Provident Trophy would be how the season went in terms of cricket played.
Best Performances
Championship
Batting – Graeme Hick, again – 963 runs at an average above his age – 42 - (only just!)
Bowling – Kabir – over 50 wickets at 22 – standout bowler once again
Limited Overs
Batting – Graeme Hick – an average of over 70, what more can be said!
Bowling – Kabir – an average of 19 – brilliant.
Worst Displays
Phil Jaques – only 500 first class runs from the overseas “star”
Gareth Batty – only 8 one day wickets at 55. Awful.
Probable side:
County Championship Mitchell, Moore, Solanki*, Smith, Hick, Davies+, Batty, Kabir, S. Jones, Magoffin/Edwards, Mason
One Day Games Davies+, Solanki*, Moeen, Smith, Hick, Mitchell, Batty, Kabir, S. Jones, Magoffin/Edwards, Mason
Openers: Mitchell and Moore formed a pretty decent partnership towards the end of last season, they will look to consolidate this early on in the season. With no real openers in back up attention could turn to Solanki or perhaps the promising Moeen Ali to step up should Mitchell or Moore look out of touch early on.
Middle Order: As has been the case at Worcestershire for the last 20 years, Graeme Hick is key here. Although he has moved down from 3 to 5, he still nearly topped 1000 runs last year, and will be looking to do that this year, as many think this could be his last. Ben Smith is not getting any younger either, and with players such as Moeen and the young Dutchman Alexei Kervezee waiting in the wings the pressure will be on early doors.
Wicketkeeper: There is no doubt here – Steven Davies. Although he didn’t enjoy too profitable a year with the bat – just 690 runs at exactly 30 and with no centuries, Davies will be looking to shake that off and put himself back into England contention. He is, however, an almost faultless wicketkeeper – responsible for 47 dismissals last season – a good effort from a keeper in a team who often failed to bowl the opposition out twice. Backup will come from Josh Knappett – an Oxbridge graduate who has impressed in the second team.
Fast Bowlers: This is where we really struggled last year and Kabir would have often been seen bowling 20 odd over’s in a row. However, this year we hopefully have a bit more depth than in previous seasons. The overseas combination of Magoffin and Fidel Edwards will be interesting – and could work out really well with Magoffin bowling on green tops early on in the season and Edwards bowling on the harder bouncier tracks later on. Simon Jones is an incredible acquisition and with a full pre season behind him looks fit and ready to go – maybe a stab at the Ashes in 2009? Matt Mason is also hopefully fit again, after missing all of last season with a shoulder injury. He will probably start the season in the team, but will face competition from youngsters Richard Jones, Gareth Andrew and Chris Whelan.
Spinners: Gareth Batty was the main spinner last season, and with the departure of Ray Price looks as though that will carry on. He was ineffective in one dayers, and economical and probing in the championship, and will thrive playing on second division pitches – most notably going back to the spinner’s paradise at Northampton! His poor performance in one dayers last year may mean one of the younger spinners – Shaftab Khalid or David Wheeldon get a chance to shine in the shorter version of the game.
Key Man: Difficult to say. It would be easy to say Graeme Hick, as although he is going to be 42 this season, when he scores runs we tend to win matches. However I am going to go for Kabir Ali. Over 50 wickets in the championship last year, he has developed into a very mature bowler as well as a very, very useful lower order batsman. He is key to the bowling attack, and to get promoted we will need to win a lot of matches – and to do that we need to bowl teams out twice – something we cannot do without the male model on top form. Do not be surprised if he “does a Sidebottom” in the next couple of years.
Rising Star: Last year this would have gone to Steven Davies, or maybe Darryl Mitchell, however, both of these are now pretty much cemented in the team. For this reason I am going to go for Moeen Ali. He got a fair crack of the whip towards the end of last year, and if one of the top 4 or 5 start badly this time around, he will be chomping at the bit to get in. Also look out for young Dutchman “the new Graeme Hick” Alexei Kervezee.
Captain and Coach: Steve ‘Bumpy’ Rhodes and Vikram Solanki. Bumpy’s first season was a tumultuous one – as if replacing the legendary Tom Moody needed to get any harder he then had to face the prospect of playing every match away from New Road for the last 1/3 of the season. Interesting to see how he develops, however his iconic status at New Road will ensure he gets time. Vikkers, now entering his 3rd season as captain has flourished in the role, and, assured of his place in the team for both forms of the game will be looking to lead his team to at least one trophy this year and himself to 1000 runs for only the 3rd time.
2008 Prospects: Again, I would say that our best chance is in the championship as our team looks set up for that, and promotion back to the top tier has to be the priority. Lack of investment in real ‘stars’ mean the T20 is out of the window, and the other limited over’s competition are of little real importance anyway. If our key players – Solanki, Hick, Kabir and Simon Jones – all play well then we will walk the second division and maybe even get to a Lords Final.
Predictions:
Championship (Div 2) - 2nd
Pro40 (Div 1) - 4th
T20 - Group Stage
Friends Provident - Group Stage
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