County Championship 2013

[SLICKR392]

^ How has Compton been doing? Any better opener for the Ashes apart from him? Huges, Napier seems like a good back up for Cook & Compton., Root :hatsoff: Watched a bit of Kieswetter a week back. He gets set up pretty quickly..few in swingers and played a short wide one to the hands of the slip. IIRC Bumble or Naseer was suggesting Kieswetter and Dernbach would do good in Test during the SA LOI series.

[Straight Drive]

^ How has Compton been doing? Any better opener for the Ashes apart from him? Huges, Napier seems like a good back up for Cook & Compton., Root :hatsoff: Watched a bit of Kieswetter a week back. He gets set up pretty quickly..few in swingers and played a short wide one to the hands of the slip. IIRC Bumble or Naseer was suggesting Kieswetter and Dernbach would do good in Test during the SA LOI series.

I liked the way Compton played versus India. His front foot technique was exemplary. You could see the back leg almost parallel to the ground and the left leg well extended on the drives. Just like Rahul Dravid , he was getting proper knee bent which helped get weight and balance for the front foot defense and drives.That is mighty impressive.You may watch the technique in the tests he played (especially the one at Wankhede). He also did well against the Kiwis. On India series he showed promise by getting starts , whereas versus Kiwis he showed that he can actually convert starts into ton.He has had a very good start to his career. England selectors had option to go for Joe root as opener but they preferred for Compton. Cook is comfortable with Compton's performance as opener so far and they have striked a good rappo. Considering that Napier bats at 7 or 8 for his county essex, they would never opt for him as opener or specialist batsman.he doesn't puts enough runs on board. In fact his bowling is better than his batting. I think Joe Root will be batting in the middle order during the Ashes.England would not experiment much apart from the change of strategy which they used in India i.e. 1 spinner instead of 2 for Ashes. Napier had a good county champs last year.His bowling has improved a lot.IIRC he was not in part of the Englands Lions which toured Australia this year nor was he in their EPP squad.So definitely he is not in consideration for international spot this England season at least. The England Lions team that will play against touring Kiwis is as follows: Joe Root capt, Jonny Bairstow (both Yorkshire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Michael Carberry (Hampshire), Varun Chopra (Warwickshire), Simon Kerrigan (Lancashire), Graham Onions (Durham), Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Chris Wright (Warwickshire). Carberry has always been one who was talked about for years for a place in international squad as openor.He had a fantastic county 2011 season. His form dipped tremendously in 2012 season. He was injured as well last year, but recovered from it and played the Clydesdale Bank Pro 40.England are the only country who have 40 overs tournament in domestic cricket. However, ECB have decided that from 2014 onwards they will scrap 40 overs format and replace it with 50 overs domestic competition from 2014.Maybe that will help the players to adapt well to the 50 overs ODI format played at international level.Carberry has a clot due to which he cannot take long distance flights.That also accounted against him.If he plays well against Kiwis next week then he will do a world of good for himself. Varun Chopra too has been scoring prolifically consistently in county.So the backup options are Carberry and Chopra.It was surprising England played Compton (who bats at 3) as openor against India and Joe root (who bats as openor) as middle order against India. So these 3 are possible candidates who can fill up the openers spot if need be. I guess they have persisted with kieswetter enough and they are likely to invest more time in Jos Butler for ODI and T20 format.Dernabach was one of their best bowler in domestic format,however, he has not carried that form in international level.Having said that England do not have better bowling options in that format.Woakes is still not a proven material, so i guess unless Woakes settles well and Bresnan is back in form after recovering from injury, Dernbach's place is pretty safe.

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Can't see Dernbach or Kieswetter get a test spot.

[SLICKR392]

Compton was impressive since the 2nd innings at Ahmedabad.

His front foot technique was exemplary. You could see the back leg almost parallel to the ground and the left leg well extended on the drives. Just like Rahul Dravid , he was getting proper knee bent which helped get weight and balance for the front foot defense and drives.That is mighty impressive.You may watch the technique in the tests he played (especially the one at Wankhede). He also did well against the Kiwis. On India series he showed promise by getting starts , whereas versus Kiwis he showed that he can actually convert starts into ton.He has had a very good start to his career.

He has a wonderful foot movement but in India, against the spinners, he din't really look strong on the backfoot. Probably fixed it, played some soothing drives in NZ against the seamers. Jordan's been impressive as well. I watched one of his spell against Surrey, decent pace and looks a bit tall too.

Joe Root capt, Jonny Bairstow (both Yorkshire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Michael Carberry (Hampshire), Varun Chopra (Warwickshire), Simon Kerrigan (Lancashire), Graham Onions (Durham), Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Chris Wright (Warwickshire).

Carberyy? Why not try someone young and isn't he more of a LOI player? Chopra deserved the call but doesn't seem like a long prospect. Tremlett's been scratchy since his comeback. According to his tweet before the season he seems to have not totally recovered. England's lucky to have players in both departments (batting/bowling) this season. Aussies had a bunch of quicks but lacked batsmen in their Shield season. 2-3 consistent scorers. Majority were below the 38-35 avg. mark.

Napier had a good county champs last year.His bowling has improved a lot.IIRC he was not in part of the Englands Lions which toured Australia this year nor was he in their EPP squad.So definitely he is not in consideration for international spot this England season at least.

Never watched him bowl, looked aggressive while batting. Might be a good LOI player. Though a bit old to be considered now.

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Jordan's been impressive as well. I watched one of his spell against Surrey, decent pace and looks a bit tall too. Carberyy? Why not try someone young and isn't he more of a LOI player? Chopra deserved the call but doesn't seem like a long prospect. Tremlett's been scratchy since his comeback. According to his tweet before the season he seems to have not totally recovered. England's lucky to have players in both departments (batting/bowling) this season. Aussies had a bunch of quicks but lacked batsmen in their Shield season. 2-3 consistent scorers. Majority were below the 38-35 avg. mark. Never watched him bowl, looked aggressive while batting. Might be a good LOI player. Though a bit old to be considered now.

Haven't watched Jordan. Apart form those names that we have discussed (Compton,Root,Varun Chopra,Carberry) there are no openors in England domestic cricket who are really in with a chance. Tremlett is one who is in with a big shout if he gets a couple of 5 fers. I am sure he will pick a lot if he is fully fit. Yup, not many batters in the recent Sheffield Shield who averaged above 40. IIRC Napier played one remarkable innings of 100 - 120 in a T20 match. But apart from that innings there is not much to write about his batting.Took about 40 odd wickets last season though for Essex. Even in LOI (ODI or T20) i doubt he would make the second England T20 squad.But worthy for a county team 11 for sure.

[SLICKR392]

^ Surrey vs MS bet created.

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Thanks, will bet on it in a while !! My 200000000 on draw

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Lumb has scored a ton versus Durham.

[SLICKR392]

Essex vs Hampshire bet has been put up. This is my last one until Sunday, please request someone else to add the other games.

[Sidhoni]

Tymal Mills looks interesting.

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Tim Murtagh traps Davies LBW early in the day. 3 for him as Surrey are 291/5. Still decent batting left for Surrey.

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Just noticed that Paul Stirling who was with Middlesex youth team and second 11 makes county debut on back of a newly signed 3 year full time contract.Wishing him some wickets and loads of runs in the County.

[rkt.india]

Tymal Mills looks interesting.

He is seriously quick.

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Brilliant comeback by Middlesex having picked 6 wickets today for just 64 runs.

[Sidhoni]

He is seriously quick.

Yeah. And isn't he like 20?

[rkt.india]

Yeah. And isn't he like 20?

yeah.

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What a tremendous fightback by Middlesex. Surrey enforced follow on , but Middlesex openers Robson and Rogers knocked a ton each to take a lead of 91 runs.Draw looms large with only 4 sessions left in the match.

[SLICKR392]

He is seriously quick.

Seriously quick as in? :hmmm:

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214 for Chris Rogers. Nice warmup for the Ashes.

[rkt.india]

Seriously quick as in? :hmmm:

You will hardly see such quick left arm pacer who does not only clock quick on speed guns but look quick to eyes to, hurries on to the batsmen. Saw him in county one days last year, was easily bowling over 90 mph, not many left arm pacers can do that and is just 20 years of age. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21UV328HT_o]Tymal Mills, Essex - YouTube[/ame]