County Championship discussion thread 2015

[andy]

we wont top div2 unfortunately Grayson is putting an emphasis on youth in the CC,and the club have already said they are priotising the 20 20 stuff this year

[captaincolly]

we wont top div2 unfortunately Grayson is putting an emphasis on youth in the CC,and the club have already said they are priotising the 20 20 stuff this year

I think Lancs will get promotion. Not convinced about Surrey even if KP and Sanga score loads of runs.

[westoelad]

we wont top div2 unfortunately Grayson is putting an emphasis on youth in the CC,and the club have already said they are priotising the 20 20 stuff this year

I think Lancs will get promotion. Not convinced about Surrey even if KP and Sanga score loads of runs.

It'll be a very hollow triumph if they do so on the backs of Kolpaks and mercenaries. What message are they sending to their youth with such a policy?

[Making_Splinters]

we wont top div2 unfortunately Grayson is putting an emphasis on youth in the CC,and the club have already said they are priotising the 20 20 stuff this year

I think Lancs will get promotion. Not convinced about Surrey even if KP and Sanga score loads of runs.

It'll be a very hollow triumph if they do so on the backs of Kolpaks and mercenaries. What message are they sending to their youth with such a policy?

Not entirely convinced that's fair comment to be honest. As I said in my season review, our problem is not producing young players but developing them at first class level which will be the biggest challenge Giles faces. We've awarded three youth players contracts this season, so the message is clear - perform and you'll be given a chance. Sadly we're lacking the seasoned pros who you expect to knock up 1000 runs a season which is why we've needed to bring in players from outside our youth system. Aside from Yorkshire and Durham, which top team is based off their own backs?

[westoelad]

we wont top div2 unfortunately Grayson is putting an emphasis on youth in the CC,and the club have already said they are priotising the 20 20 stuff this year

I think Lancs will get promotion. Not convinced about Surrey even if KP and Sanga score loads of runs.

It'll be a very hollow triumph if they do so on the backs of Kolpaks and mercenaries. What message are they sending to their youth with such a policy?

Not entirely convinced that's fair comment to be honest. As I said in my season review, our problem is not producing young players but developing them at first class level which will be the biggest challenge Giles faces. We've awarded three youth players contracts this season, so the message is clear - perform and you'll be given a chance. Sadly we're lacking the seasoned pros who you expect to knock up 1000 runs a season which is why we've needed to bring in players from outside our youth system. Aside from Yorkshire and Durham, which top team is based off their own backs?

It's a superfcial comment by one looking in from the outside-you know the Lancs set up far better than me. It's getting the right seasoned pros rather than the mercenariies. Have Ali,White andJarvis been shrewd signings? Will Buck and Pietersen be,even resigning Prince given his age?

[Making_Splinters]

we wont top div2 unfortunately Grayson is putting an emphasis on youth in the CC,and the club have already said they are priotising the 20 20 stuff this year

I think Lancs will get promotion. Not convinced about Surrey even if KP and Sanga score loads of runs.

It'll be a very hollow triumph if they do so on the backs of Kolpaks and mercenaries. What message are they sending to their youth with such a policy?

Not entirely convinced that's fair comment to be honest. As I said in my season review, our problem is not producing young players but developing them at first class level which will be the biggest challenge Giles faces. We've awarded three youth players contracts this season, so the message is clear - perform and you'll be given a chance. Sadly we're lacking the seasoned pros who you expect to knock up 1000 runs a season which is why we've needed to bring in players from outside our youth system. Aside from Yorkshire and Durham, which top team is based off their own backs?

It's a superfcial comment by one looking in from the outside-you know the Lancs set up far better than me. It's getting the right seasoned pros rather than the mercenariies. Have Ali,White andJarvis been shrewd signings? Will Buck and Pietersen be,even resigning Prince given his age?

You won't find many a Lancashire fan who'll defend our signings over the last few years, or, who'll express much jubilation over our business in the off season this time round. White and Edwards were very poor signings, Ali and Buck are signing out of hope rather than expectation. Pietersen should do a decent job without setting the world on fire and Prince knocked off over 1000 runs last season.

I'd be delighted to see Reece return to form or Hameed come into the side at the start of the season and score runs for fun.

[captaincolly]

Is Solanki still with Surrey or did he retire/get released? I don't remember hearing anything so assume he is still there.

[Making_Splinters]

Is Solanki still with Surrey or did he retire/get released? I don't remember hearing anything so assume he is still there.

They gave him a new one year contract at the end of last season.

[captaincolly]

Is Solanki still with Surrey or did he retire/get released? I don't remember hearing anything so assume he is still there.

They gave him a new one year contract at the end of last season.

Thanks.

[braveneutral]

Is Solanki still with Surrey or did he retire/get released? I don't remember hearing anything so assume he is still there.

They gave him a new one year contract at the end of last season.

Thanks.

I had thought he had retired! Good to see he is still around!

[captaincolly]

Bad news for Middlesex, Adam Voges- signed to replace Chris Rogers as captain- has been selected in the Australia squads for the tours to West Indies and England. Seems early to be selecting the Ashes squad (?) but the cricinfo Twitter feed has the news so it must be genuine:

@ESPNcricinfo: Clarke, Smith, Ahmed, Haddin, Hazlewood, Harris, Johnson, Lyon, S Marsh, M Marsh, Nevill, Rogers, Siddle, Starc, Voges, Warner, Watson

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wasn't Siddle at Lancs?

[captaincolly]

Wasn't Siddle at Lancs?

Yes. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/31747310
I'd forgotten he had signed for them!

[Making_Splinters]

Wasn't Siddle at Lancs?

Yes. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/31747310
I'd forgotten he had signed for them!

Quite a blow to us, hopefully there is still enough time to sign a replacement.

[westoelad]

Aussie tour of the W.Indies starts 5th June and most Counties will have played nearly half their CC fixtures by then. Depends whether cricket Australia will allow their players to play over here prior to such a hectic schedule.