2014 Hampshire Thread

[budgetmeansbudget]

in case you boys aren't aware of this yet, Benks has become your head coach

Thanks for pointing that out Durhamfootman, i hadn't realised. Don't know what to make of it, is it a good appointment, has he much coaching experience, or has he only just stopped playing? I see that he should be well acquainted with our new overseas signing.

[captaincolly]

in case you boys aren't aware of this yet, Benks has become your head coach

Thanks for pointing that out Durhamfootman, i hadn't realised. Don't know what to make of it, is it a good appointment, has he much coaching experience, or has he only just stopped playing? I see that he should be well acquainted with our new overseas signing.

He has been working on his coaching qualifications in recent years & was involved this winter in coaching the SA domestic side Dolphins who won the t20 competition.

[Durhamfootman]

he was being groomed to take over as head coach here, until Colly suddenly became the 'future'

there was a bit of a 'to do' after Geoff Cook had his heart attack last year. Seemingly Benks, who was out injured at the time, assumed he would take over the reins, but for whatever reason he was bypassed in favour of a batting coach/bowling coach combo. It was all smoothed over, and of course it was all fairly irrelevant because in reality Colly was running the show, but I think it soured relations between player and club.

It's a great shame for us, but he ought to be a good acquisition for you.

[st_brendy]

Could be our best off-season for a very long time.

On the field, Coles, Smith and Abbott could help lead us back into the Division One, under Benkenstein's guidance off the field. (Though this is offset slightly by not having Macca available). And whilst I might not particularly rate them, Gatting and Brathwaite do at least provide squad depth and should hopefully lead to some of those who underperformed in the Championship last season (Ervine, Wood, Balcombe etc) to bucking up their ideas, out of fear of losing their place.

And in t20 cricket, we're now very close to finalising bringing Maxwell back to the Rose Bowl. We're going to miss Dimi and Macca in t20, of course. But Maxwell and Abbott should both prove to be massive additions.

Maxwell will also be available to play Championship cricket, should Abbot ever not be available.

[st_brendy]

And on side note, a little cricinfo Q&A with Ervine: http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/co ... 13337.html

[Durhamfootman]

Maxwell is confirmed, I think

[Durhamfootman]

why is he known as 'the big show'?

[captaincolly]

why is he known as 'the big show'?

Maxwell's teammates gave him the nickname "The Big Show" due to his confidence.[9] Maxwell now dislikes the nickname and is trying to replace it with the nickname "Maxy".[10]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Maxwell

[st_brendy]

Maxwell is confirmed, I think

It was 99% confirmed.

It is now 100%: http://www.ageasbowl.com/news/Hampshire ... xwell-2014

Guessing ten of our starting t20 eleven will be:

Carberry, Vince, Adams, Ervine, Dawson, Maxwell, Wheater, Wood, Abbott, Briggs

I would imagine that Smith will be the other player, maybe slotting in between Ervine and Dawson. But if we feel like we're light on seamers, then Coles might come and slot in between Wheater and Wood. Or if we're happy with both the bowling and the batting, then Bates might start as wkt only, batting below Wood.

If Maxwell ends up playing in one-day competition for us (every chance, given that SA are playing whilst those games are on), then I'd imagine that Smith will definitely be the eleventh man, with any one of Coles, Tommo, Balcombe and Brathwaite replacing Abbot.

[budgetmeansbudget]

why is he known as 'the big show'?

Maxwell's teammates gave him the nickname "The Big Show" due to his confidence.[9] Maxwell now dislikes the nickname and is trying to replace it with the nickname "Maxy".[10]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Maxwell

And when he gets out, it will be Taxi for Maxy.

[captaincolly]

why is he known as 'the big show'?

Maxwell's teammates gave him the nickname "The Big Show" due to his confidence.[9] Maxwell now dislikes the nickname and is trying to replace it with the nickname "Maxy".[10]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Maxwell

And when he gets out, it will be Taxi for Maxy.

According to Benks he has not ruled out playing for Hampshire.
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/crick ... -1-5878789

[st_brendy]

why is he known as 'the big show'?

Maxwell's teammates gave him the nickname "The Big Show" due to his confidence.[9] Maxwell now dislikes the nickname and is trying to replace it with the nickname "Maxy".[10]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Maxwell

And when he gets out, it will be Taxi for Maxy.

According to Benks he has not ruled out playing for Hampshire.
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/crick ... -1-5878789

Interesting to read that. It's the first time I've read or heard anything concrete from either Benks or the club with regard to whether or not he has actually retired.

To be honest, I'd still be surprised if Benks does end up playing any first team for cricket for us, but the fact that he is available is good to hear. Without Macca, there is a risk that our middle order may lack sufficient experience should Smith fail to score the necessary runs to hold down a place. Or alternatively, with so many places up for grabs in the England set-up, it cannot be guaranteed that we'll have Carberry and/or Vince available for the whole summer, and so it may be that we find ourselves short in that area.

But yeah, I'd expect Gatting and Terry to be ahead of Benks in the pecking order, so I do not honestly expect him to be anything more than our coach.

[Making_Splinters]

Being behind Joe Gatting in a batting pecking order is up there with being behind Margaret Thatcher as a key note speaker at the NUM general meeting.

[SaintPowelly]

Delighted Maxwells back, was gutting to see him in a Surrey shirt ( likewise with Tahir in a Warks shirt a few years back )

[st_brendy]

Delighted Maxwells back, was gutting to see him in a Surrey shirt ( likewise with Tahir in a Warks shirt a few years back )

Not too sure that James Tredwell and Tim Phillips will be too pleased to see him again though!