Cricket

[Harvester]

It has must been announced that Ben Stokes will miss all the remaining Tests this summer due to his hamstring injury. Ollie Pope will take over as captain for the series against Sri Lanka.

 

[SuspectUsual]

It has must been announced that Ben Stokes will miss all the remaining Tests this summer due to his hamstring injury. Ollie Pope will take over as captain for the series against Sri Lanka.

Has Pope got any first class captaincy experience?

 

[jfollows]

Has Pope got any first class captaincy experience?

One first class match, per Agnew on the radio just now.

 

[SuspectUsual]

One first class match, per Agnew on the radio just now.

And there’s one of the issues with central contracts

 

[Busaholic]

A dreadful tragedy of course, but disappointing that the Coroner did not seemingly express any sympathy or concern for the train Driver and other staff, railway and non-railway, involved in this terrible incident.

I don't think that's the role of the Coroner.

 

[HST43257]

It has must been announced that Ben Stokes will miss all the remaining Tests this summer due to his hamstring injury. Ollie Pope will take over as captain for the series against Sri Lanka.

Will be very interesting to see how the balance of the side goes. Do you replace Stokes with:

A batter, with Root and Lawrence supporting the 3 seamers and Bashir? This could see Cox open (as he has done for Kent) and Lawrence at 6 (where he’s played this season for Surrey).

An allrounder, for the most like-for-like change from Stokes? Sam Curran is a possibility, being an in-form seam allrounder, however his lack of recent first class cricket is a concern.

A bowler, allowing for more specialist bowlers with Woakes at 7. A Potts, Cook or Robinson comes in, but the tail is suddenly incredibly weak.

 

[Falcon1200]

I don't think that's the role of the Coroner.

As per the Times article in Post #9029;

At Surrey Coroner's Court in Woking, Area Coroner Simon Wickens offered his "sincere condolences" not just to Mr Thorpe's family, but to "all those touched by his life and career".

A few words about others involved, especially the Driver who will surely have been affected more than anyone except Mr Thorpe's family and friends, would not have been amiss.

 

[ian1944]

As per the Times article in Post #9029;

At Surrey Coroner's Court in Woking, Area Coroner Simon Wickens offered his "sincere condolences" not just to Mr Thorpe's family, but to "all those touched by his life and career".

A few words about others involved, especially the Driver who will surely have been affected more than anyone except Mr Thorpe's family and friends, would not have been amiss.

I agree. Would the driver have attended the inquest, as the prime witness? If so, I hope that appropriate words were received, both before and after after giving evedence.

 

[DarloRich]

disappointing that the Coroner did not seemingly express any sympathy or concern for the train Driver and other staff, railway and non-railway, involved in this terrible incident.

rather than in opening remarks i would expect such sentiment to be expressed when the person concerned gives evidence and at the end of the hearing.

 

[JD2168]

The 3 match test series against Sri Lanka began today at Old Trafford in front of a less than full crowd. There was a minute’s silence before play for Graham Thorpe.

Sri Lanka finished on 236 all out.

 

[3rd rail land]

In the County Championship Surrey are dominating day 1 of their match against Lancashire. Can't see anyone but Surrey winning the title this season.

 

[Harvester]

The morning session was washed out at Old Trafford. Since the restart England have taken a first innings lead over Sri Lanka, and are now 239-5.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

How can a county such as Lancashire not have a team of high quality players, when a football equivalent such as Manchester City seems to have no such problems?

 

[jfollows]

How can a county such as Lancashire not have a team of high quality players, when a football equivalent such as Manchester City seems to have no such problems?

££££££
I don’t follow football, but didn’t Manchester City “simply” buy its way to the top?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

££££££
I don’t follow football, but didn’t Manchester City “simply” buy its way to the top?

Perhaps Lancashire should attract some "Government wealth funds" from abroad.

 

[Bald Rick]

In the County Championship Surrey are dominating day 1 of their match against Lancashire. Can't see anyone but Surrey winning the title this season.

Good day for Rocky Flintoff though, GCSE results first thing, then a decent 32 on first class debut in tricky conditons at the Oval, and out to a brilliant catch too.

 

[HST43257]

A batting-heavy Yorkshire limit league leaders Sussex to 187-9 at Scarborough in tough overhead conditions. A huge game for the promotion race, which will be very interesting if Yorkshire win this. Eyes also on Middlesex and Leicestershire in their games

 

[Howardh]

Thinking ahead to next season, already mutterings about the number of fixtures to fit in, and they seem to want to keep the three-day gap between CC fixtures. I remember when they played a 3-day game with a Sunday game in the middle followed, immediately, by another 3-day game or an important cup game!

Some are thinking could the Championship season start earlier but abroad? Presumably thinking "Middle East" but I'm sure (especially when Easter falls in March) fans would prefer southern Europe; I know there are grass pitches (I've seen one of them) but not sure how many there are?

But going to the Middle East looks like the option for most, many do their pre-season training there anyway so it seems logical to play first class cricket there in March. lancs do that, and show the warm-up games on youtube. Hasn't helped them this season though!!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Some are thinking could the Championship season start earlier but abroad? Presumably thinking "Middle East" but I'm sure (especially when Easter falls in March) fans would prefer southern Europe; I know there are grass pitches (I've seen one of them) but not sure how many there are?

But going to the Middle East looks like the option for most, many do their pre-season training there anyway so it seems logical to play first class cricket there in March. lancs do that, and show the warm-up games on youtube. Hasn't helped them this season though!!

How many members of those County Championship teams will turn up in person to watch those matches played abroad, as they do normally? Could such a matter see a gradual end to membership of them?

 

[scarby]

Thinking ahead to next season, already mutterings about the number of fixtures to fit in, and they seem to want to keep the three-day gap between CC fixtures. I remember when they played a 3-day game with a Sunday game in the middle followed, immediately, by another 3-day game or an important cup game!

Some are thinking could the Championship season start earlier but abroad? Presumably thinking "Middle East" but I'm sure (especially when Easter falls in March) fans would prefer southern Europe; I know there are grass pitches (I've seen one of them) but not sure how many there are?

But going to the Middle East looks like the option for most, many do their pre-season training there anyway so it seems logical to play first class cricket there in March. lancs do that, and show the warm-up games on youtube. Hasn't helped them this season though!!

I remember that too but it was far from ideal. I don't think the game was always played with the same intensity as now - players weren't expected to hare off at full pelt to stop a boundary in a game drifting to a draw and bowlers undoubtedly looked after themselves.

Oh no, not that idea again. I don't understand how this would work to get any meaningful number of matches in. To play a full round of 9 matches at the same time you would need 9 available grounds up to first-class standard.

Much though some of the grounds in southern Europe are nice and much improved, surely they aren't up to first-class standard on or off the pitch - most have much smaller playing areas and the players' facilities are usually little more than a gazebo. Okay for a game of T20 but for four days?

Unless they went to the West Indies I can't see where they could play in order to be able to play so many games at once.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

England batted quite well and took the overnight score to 358 all out. Smith completed his century, but fell at the dreaded "111" score.

 

[Howardh]

How many members of those County Championship teams will turn up in person to watch those matches played abroad, as they do normally? Could such a matter see a gradual end to membership of them?

Lancs seem to be squeezing out their members as it is! there are different options for members, ie. a season ticket for the Blast etc, so I'm sure if one match was abroad a county could reduce prices accordingly.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Lancs seem to be squeezing out their members as it is! there are different options for members, ie. a season ticket for the Blast etc, so I'm sure if one match was abroad a county could reduce prices accordingly.

I wonder what the former Cyril Washbrook would make of that?

 

[Howardh]

I wonder what the former Cyril Washbrook would make of that?

At (Surrey) 307 - 3 right now, it would be unprintable!

Cricket has come a long way since the one-day-game "saved" it; at that time (late 60's) three day game, Sunday League and the Gillette Cup; included in that were week-long festivals, games vs the tourists and always two Roses games, televised.

I don't think 14 four-day games, a mixture of 20/20 and 50-overs, two divisions + franchise competition has taken the game any further on necessarily.

 

[Busaholic]

Good day for Rocky Flintoff though, GCSE results first thing, then a decent 32 on first class debut in tricky conditons at the Oval, and out to a brilliant catch too.

The youngest ever debutant for Lancashire to boot. He seems to be a chip off the old block.

 

[Howardh]

The youngest ever debutant for Lancashire to boot. He seems to be a chip off the old block.

When he reaches his early 20's Lancs will see little of him as, no doubt, he will be in the 100, IPL and maybe even centrally contracted by England. Enjoy it while we can! but it's saddening when a county brings a player through and then they rarely see them again - Jimmy Anderson (Eng), Liam Livingstone (IPL, 100) for example. We're basically producing players for the benefit of the IPL and get zilch back.

 

[Busaholic]

When he reaches his early 20's Lancs will see little of him as, no doubt, he will be in the 100, IPL and maybe even centrally contracted by England. Enjoy it while we can! but it's saddening when a county brings a player through and then they rarely see them again - Jimmy Anderson (Eng), Liam Livingstone (IPL, 100) for example. We're basically producing players for the benefit of the IPL and get zilch back.

It's the same for every county, though. At least with Anderson the reason for his absence from the county side was only because of England duties, and he always seemed to be ready and willing to place for Lancs in-between times, unlike some England players I could mention!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Surrey declared their first innings at 444-9, a first innings lead of 240 over Lancashire, with two more days to play.

Captain and opening bat Rory Burns led the way with 227 with 1 x 6 and 29 x 4.

Has Pope got any first class captaincy experience?

I did not know that the Vatican had a cricket team...

 

[Howardh]

I did not know that the Vatican had a cricket team...

They do, and they go on tours apparently!

 

[Busaholic]

They do, and they go on tours apparently!

In a Popemobile?