2014 Hampshire Thread

[SaintPowelly]

You think your boys will win this competition this year? I cant see anyone else myself

Depends on the eligibility of the 2 overseas, Abbott goes away with SA for the tests vs SL soon, and he may have a Zimbabwe tour after that, and Maxwell has a ODI tri-series at the end of August and I doubt he will be available for Finals Day ( finals day is the 23rd, Aus play on the 25th )

Abbott is potentially involved in the tri-series ( if called up to the ODI squad, after missing the SL ODIs ), but SA don't play until the 27th, so he should feature should we get that far.

We have a good chance of winning it, but winning div 2 of the Championship should be the priority.

[budgetmeansbudget]

We should qualify for the quarter finals with the current squad but its all a bit of a lottery from then on. We probably have a bit of a larger margin of error with our batting line up than others teams. Haven't looked recently but we were pre tournament favourites with Sky bet, I guess that hasn't changed.

We've had our fair share of success in this tournamentin recent seasons so like Powelly says its all about promotion to CC1.

[SaintPowelly]

Maxwell plays on Sunday, Abbott rested..shocked.

Squad v @WorcsCCC: Adams*, Balcombe, Bates, Briggs, Carberry, Coles, Crane, Ervine, Maxwell, Smith, Tomlinson, Vince, Wheater. #LVCC

No clue who Crane is, I presume him and Bates miss out.

[SaintPowelly]

Crane is a leg spinner and he is in the squad because Briggs' wife is pregnant and due soon and he may have to dart off.

Harsh on Brad Taylor.

[SaintPowelly]

I think the reason is because we are expecting a spinning pitch prepared for Ajmal, so guess it makes sense.

[budgetmeansbudget]

I think the reason is because we are expecting a spinning pitch prepared for Ajmal, so guess it makes sense.

Definitely our toughest game of the season, i'd take a draw now, so don't mind if the weather forecast isn't the greatest.

[st_brendy]

I think the reason is because we are expecting a spinning pitch prepared for Ajmal, so guess it makes sense.

Definitely our toughest game of the season, i'd take a draw now, so don't mind if the weather forecast isn't the greatest.

Yep. Winning the toss and being to bat first could ultimately be enough to decide the outcome of the game. You don't want to be batting last on that wicket, one presumes.

Thankfully being without Ali does mean they are reduced from a three man team to a two man team. But Mitchell and Ajmal are a pretty good two.

Makes a lot of sense to me to bring in Maxwell as an extra spinner for us, especially if we do lose Briggs mid-game (or before the game). Plus it strengthens the batting, as either Bates or Gatting can now be dropped.

Gives Balcombe a chance to try and grab hold of a place going forward. Coles hasn't quite got the third seamers spot nailed down yet.

[st_brendy]

Oh, of course, Carberry is back. So Gatting AND Bates will make way.

Carberry, Adams, Smith, Vince, Ervine, Maxwell, Wheater, Coles, Balcombe, Briggs, Tommo

[SaintPowelly]

Gatting isn't in the squad Brendy.

[st_brendy]

My mate says that Crane is a "gobby little spinner". Puts him and Taylor on par with each other, ability wise.

[SaintPowelly]

My mate says that Crane is a "gobby little spinner". Puts him and Taylor on par with each other, ability wise.

Still seems very mixed messages to Taylor.

[Centuryclub]

Carbs has been sounding off (again) about being excluded by England.

I totally agreed with his comments about not being picked in any limited overs matches in Oz & he was (bravely) critical of Giles for poor man-management in not explaining why he was never selected & when asked he said to Carbs that he didn't know (according to interview in Guardian).
It was also an absolute disgrace that everyone in the squad was allowed to have a partner flown over for free for the final test but as Carbs is single he asked if his mother could be accorded the same privilege & it was flatly rejected!

However, this time I feel he protests too much - he has not started the season like Robson, Vince or Mitchell. In his T20 & one 50 over game he did nothing. Despite scoring the second highest total of runs in Oz in the tests he never went on to make a defining innings - he really needs to produce some performances but I fear that he (like Compton) may not reappear in England's colours.

[st_brendy]

Fair play to Glamorgan. They've now won at the Rose Bowl and Taunton this season. Giving themselves a real chance of getting through the group.

[st_brendy]

Somerset meanwhile have now lost three of their opening four. Not sure they can afford to lose to us up next.

[SaintPowelly]

Old boy Dan Christian has 63* off 33 balls...Middlesex still need 14.57 an over for 7 overs and 5 down...good luck to him.