Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

SaintPowelly wrote:Balcombe has moved to Surrey, good move for them.

Far too young for a Surrey signing-he's not 30 yet.

We've signed Jackson Bird and Yasir Arafat, perfect for us in my opinion.

is Arafat just not interested in playing FC cricket? Even if he becomes English qualified.

Hampshire wrote:We've signed Jackson Bird and Yasir Arafat, perfect for us in my opinion.

is Arafat just not interested in playing FC cricket? Even if he becomes English qualified.

Assuming Bird is allowed to play.

DiligentDefence wrote:

Hampshire wrote:We've signed Jackson Bird and Yasir Arafat, perfect for us in my opinion.

is Arafat just not interested in playing FC cricket? Even if he becomes English qualified.

Assuming Bird is allowed to play.

Dont see why not, Aussie bowler with a small chance to play in the ashes but not really the limited overs teams, match practise in England would probably be CAs preference before an ashes series.

Highly doubt we didn't double check with CA beforehand but if you don't let a bowler play BEFORE a series then that seems a bit pointless,

Hampshire wrote:

DiligentDefence wrote:

Hampshire wrote:We've signed Jackson Bird and Yasir Arafat, perfect for us in my opinion.

is Arafat just not interested in playing FC cricket? Even if he becomes English qualified.

Assuming Bird is allowed to play.

Dont see why not, Aussie bowler with a small chance to play in the ashes but not really the limited overs teams, match practise in England would probably be CAs preference before an ashes series.

Highly doubt we didn't double check with CA beforehand but if you don't let a bowler play BEFORE a series then that seems a bit pointless,

Just a bitter comment on what happened to Northants.

Oh sorry mate! Missed the sarcasm .

Very interesting to hear that Arafat might qualify as a non-overseas player. We were so, so short in 50 over cricket this summer, having lost Dimi, Macca and Katich/Tanvir from our previous two seasons (winnners in 2012, SFs in 2013). So if we could get Arafat plus an overseas player in play in that competition for us, that would allow us to go some way to filing those big holes.

Not sure what to make of the signings, time will tell, I guess.

Apparently if Bird is selected for Australia later in the season, Abbott returning is a possibility.

SaintPowelly wrote:Not sure what to make of the signings, time will tell, I guess.

Apparently if Bird is selected for Australia later in the season, Abbott returning is a possibility.

What I read said he was only contracted for the first 3 months like Adams I think. Guess he could extend that however.

With Wood, Arafat, and Adams, we would certainly bat low enough.

Good signings IMO, however can't really comment on Bird as I know nothing about him

Yasir is a great signing for Hampshire. He did play CC games a few years ago, but he probably makes a nice living here, there and everywhere as a T20 death bowler. I think he is one of the leading wicket takers in that format, having been around for so long.

Bird is a very good young bowler, like all aussie quicks these days though, suffers from injuries as well..

I hope Bates can get a new county but I'm not sure whether having one of the finest keepers in the CC is enough for a county if his batting is considered weaker than an average all-rounder.

For the record in 2014: Bates 7 matches 10 innings 25.9 batting average 16 catches 2 stumpings
Wheater 12 " 20 " 32.1 " 20 " 2 "

This possibly proves what many maintain which is that Bates is the better wickie but Wheater is the better batsman.

Bit underwhelmed by the Arafat signing as he seems to have played for pretty much every County out there, we're just the latest in a long line. I guess as he will only play in T20 and 50 over it doesn't matter so much for me. Jackson Bird is probably a pretty good signing as he is unlikely to be selected for the Ashes. Seems to have a pretty good FC average but don't rely on him too heavily to make many runs down the order, could be competing with Tommo for the number 11 berth. Why only three months?

cricketfan90 wrote:Bird is a very good young bowler, like all aussie quicks these days though, suffers from injuries as well..

Not that young, he'll be 28 when he joins us.