Cricket

[Busaholic]

Yet another series of draws in D2. Why is the County Championship, the only domestic cricket which counts, being played in early April just to accommodate cretin cricket in the summer? The sport is run by barmpots who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

And why are some games being played with the Kookaburra ball, which helped Gloucestershire bat day 4 out yesterday, and others with the Dukes ball?

All games in the last round in both divisions were played with the Kookaburra.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

I often wonder how the better-organised County Cricket teams not only have a large membership who pay their annual subscriptions, but also use their ground area to host large events of different types.

I wish Lancashire would build a proper stand instead of that cramped temporary monstrosity (stand D) which looks worryingly flimsy to me. Presumably its there so they can remove it to make space for pop concert stages. But surely there would be room for the "turns" at the opposite Brian Statham Way end?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Women's ODI series

South Africa ... 301-5 (50 overs)
Laura Wolvaardt (captain and opener) 184 not out (4 x 6 and 23 x 4)

Sri Lanka ... 305-4 (44.3 overs)
Chamari Athapaththu (captain and opener) 195 not out (5 x 6 and 26 x 4)

 

[HST43257]

Fascinating times in the IPL in the past couple of weeks. There seem to be a few pinch-hitters making crazy quick scores and it’s quite astounding. Not sure about how much of it is to do with groundstaff laying out roads to bat on, but the scores are amazing.

Yesterday, Travis Head and Abishek Sharma made 131-0 off 6.1 overs. That unlikely opening partnership for Sunrisers Hyderabad has led them to make scores up in the 270-280 region at times I think. Aussie new boy Jake Fraser-McGurk has come into the Delhi Capitals side and has started his IPL with a bang. In the match yesterday against SRH he scored 65 (18), following 55 (35) and 20 (10), and we saw him do it even more in the Big Bash this year (and not to mention is 100 (29) in a 50 over game to take the List A world record) so he certainly has a future in the short format. Phil Salt and Sunil Narine have also done amazingly for Kolkata Night Riders with some good knocks from the top of the order, including a couple of career best scores for age 35 Narine.

But what I’m really getting at is: Phil Salt is surely destined for an opening spot alongside Jos Buttler at the T20 World Cup? In the match taking place as I write he’s made 48 (14), and there’s been several other good scores he’s made quickly in this competition. We know that Stokes has made himself unavailable, Bairstow is out of form, Jacks isn’t doing amazingly with RCB and Sam Curran has been making decent scores in the Punjab middle order. So if we say Buttler and Salt open, what does the rest of the England T20 batting lineup look like? I’ve seen many hints saying Jamie Overton may have a chance, which is exciting. With Malan seemingly out of the setup, could Sam Curran take the no.3 spot and have Bairstow/Jacks fighting for no.4?

Lineup (subs) something like this: Buttler, Salt, SCurran, Bairstow, Brook, Livingstone, Moeen, JOverton, Rashid, MWood, Topley (Jacks, Ahmed, Woakes, Archer)

That’d give 8 batters and 7 bowlers in the starting XI, so the balance is good.

Your own thoughts/predictions?

 

[Howardh]

I wish Lancashire would build a proper stand instead of that cramped temporary monstrosity (stand D) which looks worryingly flimsy to me. Presumably its there so they can remove it to make space for pop concert stages. But surely there would be room for the "turns" at the opposite Brian Statham Way end?

Yes, that's exactly the reason, pop concerts, and doesn't help to stop the wind on a windy day!

As for Lancashire's efforts v Essex, I have no words. Well, none I could use on here.

 

[Busaholic]

Amid all these County Championship centuries, record scores and so on, an interesting record that hardly got any attention happened in the recent match at Taunton, played with the Dukes ball as well. Joe Clarke, playing as wicketkeeper for Notts as well as no. 3 batter, made 213 not out in their second innings. That is the highest score by a wicketkeeper in the second innings of any c.c. match.

 

[75A]

Australia have annouced their squad for next months T20 World Cup
Mitchell Marsh is the Captain and David Warner is back. Interesting to see that Steve Smith has been left out.
I've got a few bob on them winning. @ 4-1, India are the favourites @ 11-3.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Do the powers-that-be have a crystal ball that they use to garner future weather forecasts when planning out the season's County Championship matches, so they can schedule the Lancashire matches home and away when the rainfall will be the highest?

 

[75A]

Their home game with Kent starts on Friday and is live on Sky, I hope the Manchester weather is kind for once as I'd like to watch it.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Their home game with Kent starts on Friday and is live on Sky, I hope the Manchester weather is kind for once as I'd like to watch it.

The local Manchester area weather forecast for Friday is for light rain and light winds from 0800-2400 and the same type of weather is forecast for Saturday from 0000 to 2300.

 

[75A]

Oh joy.

Very good days play so far, Kent were all out for 261 before bowling Lancashire out for 92 in 30 overs. Aussie Wes Agar took 4 - 35 in 11 overs and Nathan Gilchrist 6 - 24 in 8 in what was a very enoyable afternoon.
Lancashire are now following on.

Lancashire finished at 119-4 still 50 behind with 2 days to go.
Highlight for me was Harry Finch's stumping of Keaton Jennings, what an athlete.

Thoroughly enjoyable game with Kent wining by 7 wickets just before lunch on the last day..
Kent 261 & 166-3 Daniel Bell-Drummond not out 79
Lancashire 92 all out and following on 332.
Highlights for me was Harry Finch's stumping of Keaton Jennings and watching Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon give a spin bowling masterclass in Kent's second innings. 22 overs, 1 Maiden, 2-48

 

[Harvester]

Anderson to retire from Test cricket! It appears that he has been granted one last Test appearance, against the West Indies at Lords in July as a send-off to an outstanding career. Unlikely he will now pass Warne’s total of 708 Test wickets.

 

[JD2168]

A great career from Jimmy Anderson, the match against West Indies will be an emotional match

 

[Busaholic]

A great career from Jimmy Anderson, the match against West Indies will be an emotional match

Indeed. Looking at the county matches so far, none of the various fast medium bowlers touted as being in line to replace him has done much to advance their cause, though neither Josh Tongue or Mark Wood has appeared. We won't even mention Joffra Archer, who might be being held hostage somewhere for all I know. Jayden Seales, though,a West Indian, is making a good impression for Sussex.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Haseeb Hameed, a Bolton lad, who Lancashire let go, is currently captaining Nottinghamshire as an opener against Lancashire, has scored a double hundred against his former county with 21 x 4 plus a very large percentage of singles.

 

[Howardh]

Haseeb Hameed, a Bolton lad, who Lancashire let go, is currently captaining Nottinghamshire as an opener against Lancashire, has scored a double hundred against his former county with 21 x 4 plus a very large percentage of singles.

*Sighs*. There must be something deeply amiss at Lancashire if they couldn't get such a talent back into form when he had that bad year when he couldn't buy a run. At the time he wasn't playing 20/20 cricket and I suggested "give him a go, let him swung the bat and maybe a quick 30 will get him back on the rails". Anyhow, really pleased for the lad and hope he's back in the England team. Could even be lined up to captain England.

 

[High Dyke]

Anyhow, really pleased for the lad and hope he's back in the England team. Could even be lined up to captain England.

Don't get too carried away. He managed 20 off 55 balls today, as Nottinghamshire slumped to 37-4.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Durham were making a good reply against Lancashire at 213-5, bur a good spell by Tom Aspinwall with figures of 9.4 - 0 - 41 - 5 saw Durham all out foe 236. Stokes went quite cheaply when he batted.

 

[Busaholic]

Durham were making a good reply against Lancashire at 213-5, bur a good spell by Tom Aspinwall with figures of 9.4 - 0 - 41 - 5 saw Durham all out foe 236. Stokes went quite cheaply when he batted.

Where is Jimmy? Surely he doesn't plan to play in that first Test without getting some match overs under his belt?

 

[SteveHFC]

Where is Jimmy? Surely he doesn't plan to play in that first Test without getting some match overs under his belt?

Everything I've read - since the end of the India tour - has indicated he was unlikely to return to action until June.

 

[Busaholic]

Everything I've read - since the end of the India tour - has indicated he was unlikely to return to action until June.

By which time the County Championship first round will be over, or will a Second xi match be considered sufficient? I'd hate his inclusion in the first Test to end up as a total embarrassment, particularly for him.

 

[SteveHFC]

By which time the County Championship first round will be over, or will a Second xi match be considered sufficient? I'd hate his inclusion in the first Test to end up as a total embarrassment, particularly for him.

I assume the plan is for him to play in the County Championship matches at Kent on 23rd June and at home (in Southport) against Nottinghamshire on 30th June ahead of the Lord's Test on 10th July.

 

[Howardh]

Durham were well on their way to chasing a high total in the 400's but a couple of wickets has swung the balance. Stokes b Wells 18. Robinson still there on 139* holding us up.
113 off 49 with 5 wickets in hand, nail-biting time. New ball due right now.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Durham were well on their way to chasing a high total in the 400's but a couple of wickets has swung the balance. Stokes b Wells 18. Robinson still there on 139* holding us up.
113 off 49 with 5 wickets in hand, nail-biting time. New ball due right now.

A brave 2nd innings effort was too much for Durham, as they were all out for 414, giving Lancashire their first County Championship win of the new season. Robinson remained undefeated at the end on 171 not out (4 x 6 and 10 x 4)

 

[Howardh]

A brave 2nd innings effort was too much for Durham, as they were all out for 414, giving Lancashire their first County Championship win of the new season. Robinson remained undefeated at the end on 171 not out (4 x 6 and 10 x 4)

The damage done by Balderson with the new ball. Mahmood never returned, I worry for his career, but his understudy Aspinwall looks the real deal. We would have been a genuine title contender but for the appalling start.

 

[ian1944]

According to Sam Curran, Jofra Archer brings the "fear factor" when (if) he returns to England cricket. He's been preparing by playing club cricket in Barbados and (wait for it) took a wicket for Sussex 2nd last week. Is this man still on a central contract?

 

[Harvester]

According to Sam Curran, Jofra Archer brings the "fear factor" when (if) he returns to England cricket. He's been preparing by playing club cricket in Barbados and (wait for it) took a wicket for Sussex 2nd last week. Is this man still on a central contract?

He was given a two year contract last October. Someone showed faith, or was it just a gamble?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Third Womens ODI, played at Chelmsford

England 302-5 (50 overs)
Sciver-Blunt 124 not out with 2 x 6 and 12 x 4

Pakistan 124 all out (29.1 overs)
Ecclestone 4.1 - 1 - 15 - 3

Seems like a good team effort with notable English batting and bowling in this match

 

[philjo]

Good performance by England at The Oval this evening. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood both bowling 90mph. Also good to watch it live on BBC.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Salt and Buttler's opening stand certainly was just what was needed. Do either of these two players have any connection with Lancashire any more?