2014 Hampshire Thread

[st_brendy]

Just think, in the past two years (since Cork's retirement and Dimi's injuries/age) we've generally had the tail starting at eight. Sometimes even seven (with Bates).

Now we've got a wicketkeeper-batsman on the cusp of a 100 coming in at eight.

Early days of course, very early days, but maybe it's finally our turn to be one of those teams that still manage to pile the runs in, even after you've got them five wickets down.

[Hampshire]

Just curious, in the event of no more injuries in the season what do people thing our OD and T20 lineups will look like?

For OD I'd assume Briggs would come in for Tomlinson and Wood (if fit) would replace Gatting to give us 4 clear bowling options and a wide variety of bowlers including Dawson,Ervine,Smith and Vince to make up the final 10.

For T20 it could get a bit more complex with Maxwell coming into the equation and it could really depend on form I guess. Not really followed Maxwells bowling in recent years (and can't really remember how he did for us 2 years ago), is he good enough to get in as one your 4 bowlers (and therefore could potentially could come in for Coles looking at his T20 record) or is he more of a bit here and there kind of guy?

[Hampshire]

Also, Bates hit 121 at a run a ball against Dorset 1st XI for the 2nd XI in an OD match (and he didn't keep, Mcmanus did).

[st_brendy]

Just curious, in the event of no more injuries in the season what do people thing our OD and T20 lineups will look like?

For OD I'd assume Briggs would come in for Tomlinson and Wood (if fit) would replace Gatting to give us 4 clear bowling options and a wide variety of bowlers including Dawson,Ervine,Smith and Vince to make up the final 10.

For T20 it could get a bit more complex with Maxwell coming into the equation and it could really depend on form I guess. Not really followed Maxwells bowling in recent years (and can't really remember how he did for us 2 years ago), is he good enough to get in as one your 4 bowlers (and therefore could potentially could come in for Coles looking at his T20 record) or is he more of a bit here and there kind of guy?

I'd expect Abbott, Wood, Briggs, Dawson, Maxwell and Ervine to be sufficient bowling options in t20. Due to Coles being so expensive in limited overs cricket, I can only see him featuring if either two of those six are seriously leaking runs themselves, or Coles shows some very good form with the bat in Championship cricket (and could therefore justify batting at 8, with Smith missing out).

OD: Carberry, Vince, Adams, Smith, Dawson, Ervine, Wheater, Coles/Gatting, Wood, Abbott, Briggs (Probably Coles rather than Gatting. Giving Ervine 10 overs is probably a bit too much, although Smith could take a handful of them. And then there's Vince too, so we could get by without that extra bowler maybe. But if Gatting isn't actually going to score any runs, then the answer is most certainly Coles)

t20: Carberry, Vince, Adams, Ervine, Dawson, Smith, Maxwell, Wheater, Wood, Abbott, Briggs (So scope to include Coles ahead of Smith, with Wheater way down at no.8 in that side. But little point if we're happy with our six bowling options. Or indeed scope to play Bates instead of Smith or Wheater)

[Hampshire]

I'd like to see Maxwell in earlier in T20 seeing what he did for Australia in that match in the WT20 personally.

[sussexpob]

In the opinion of you Hampshire lads, does James Vince have international chances this year, and is he good enough?

[Hampshire]

I personally think with the way the England set up works that he has a chance of getting in the T20 (and perhaps ODI) side this summer if he does well in those forms but seriously doubt he has any chance in terms of tests with the amount of people ahead of him already unless he does something incredible.

[sussexpob]

I personally think with the way the England set up works that he has a chance of getting in the T20 (and perhaps ODI) side this summer if he does well in those forms but seriously doubt he has any chance in terms of tests with the amount of people ahead of him already unless he does something incredible.

He did score 5 or 6 100's last year though, didn't he? That is doing something incredible in my eyes, and banging a 144 already this summer must have him somewhere on the list.

I guess I have seen him bat mostly in the quicker formats, so just wanted to know what he was about really? Any key strengths/weaknesses ?

[Hampshire]

2013 season
Fc - 16 matches, 1215 runs @ 63.94 with 5 100's and 6 50's.
LA - 14 matches, 430 runs @ 33.07 with 1 100 and 2 50's.
T20 - 12 matches, 269 runs @ 24.45 with 2 50's.

Didn't quite realise his FC average was that high last season! I personally think he's good enough to be in the England setup but with the way it works they seem to like to trial people in the ODI and T20 teams first before putting them into the test team. Last season was his first sort of kick on season with us (his first with a FC average above 40 I believe). I think he was likened to Michael Vaughan in his stroke play by Duncan Fletcher a couple of years back. Was also just appointed our T20 captain which must show something about him.

[Making_Splinters]

I personally think with the way the England set up works that he has a chance of getting in the T20 (and perhaps ODI) side this summer if he does well in those forms but seriously doubt he has any chance in terms of tests with the amount of people ahead of him already unless he does something incredible.

He did score 5 or 6 100's last year though, didn't he? That is doing something incredible in my eyes, and banging a 144 already this summer must have him somewhere on the list.

I guess I have seen him bat mostly in the quicker formats, so just wanted to know what he was about really? Any key strengths/weaknesses ?

Vince has had chances in the Lions, and not done much with them if memory serves. He's a fine talent but isn't anywhere near the international sides at the minute. That said, I wrote the same about Stokes at the start of last summer and if there is time when big shake ups might happen it's when a new coach and MD are starting to put their marks on the team.

With so many runs being made yesterday across the counties, I think we can safely ignore those which were not simply giving the final tick next to an already written down name.

[SaintPowelly]

I really don't think he has a test chance, the selectors seemed to prefer going to the tried and failed ( how many chances did Bopara get ? ) and pull the ladder from under anyone else ( James Taylor )

Is he good enough for international cricket ? test matches maybe not, probably needs another full season, ODIs, I have no doubts about that he could do a solid job, aslong as he has a decent opening partner and not someone who will score at 60-65 like Bell or Cook and put pressure on him, which is why him and Carbs work for us, because the scoreboard constantly ticks and neither get bogged down.

[SaintPowelly]

Also, his attitude appears to be fantastic, part of the reason for being made vice-captain and T20 captain.

So theres little chance of him getting annoyed at not being called up and losing focus, if anything it'll drive him to score more.

[sussexpob]

Yeah he did fail in SL in the winter, but if we used that as a benchmark no player would ever have a career after an Asian tour.

[SaintPowelly]

so, 19 runs needed and couldn't ask for a better partner than Tommo to block out 1 end, come on Wheater.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Out But a good lead.