2014 Hampshire Thread

[st_brendy]

Hmmm, Cardiff MCCU have played against Gloucester and Glamorgan already this season and both were FC games.

I guess it being played on the Nursery Ground is what prevents it being FC.

The Echo say that it's not a FC match because not all eleven players are contracted to us. Some (West, maybe Hose too?) are only on trial.

Otherwise it would have been.

[Centuryclub]

Hmmm, Cardiff MCCU have played against Gloucester and Glamorgan already this season and both were FC games.

I guess it being played on the Nursery Ground is what prevents it being FC.

The match on the Nursery Ground last year against Loughborough Uni WAS FC!

Why not make the match more meaningful and only use players who ARE contracted to Hants. It all seems rather pointless.

Other counties have enjoyed good performances against Loughborough this season which go in the FC records;Balcombe gets a fifer & it won't count!

[st_brendy]

Just like second XI performances, I will never advocate someone getting a call up to our first team based on performances against a uni side. However if I was Benks, and McManus walked into my office next week after being left out of our Chamoionship team in favour Gatting, I'm not sure I'd have much of a valid reply.

This week may have done Gatting more harm that good. We'll see.

[SaintPowelly]

yep, get McManus in for Sundays game against Glamorgan.

I'd even argue a good performance tomorrow could see Balcs replace Coles.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Yep get McManus in instead of Gatting, the signing still mystifies me.

[Centuryclub]

Yep get McManus in instead of Gatting, the signing still mystifies me.

Can't disagree with that!

I still don't follow why the match v Cradiff has been downgraded. McManus must feel sick as the opposition is the same as played FC matches earlier this season. If it is Hants' fault then they have shot themselves in the foot by including too many triallists etc. These sorts of decisions such as the "test" match between Australia & the Rest of the World do not do cricket any favours. It's like the constant rule changes in Formula One or in football when unregistered players only result in relatively small fines for Premier League clubs but demotions/point losses for non-league clubs.

[SaintPowelly]

2 quick wickets for Balcs

feel sorry for him and McManus that it means nothing for stats.

[st_brendy]

Yep get McManus in instead of Gatting, the signing still mystifies me.

Can't disagree with that!

I still don't follow why the match v Cradiff has been downgraded. McManus must feel sick as the opposition is the same as played FC matches earlier this season. If it is Hants' fault then they have shot themselves in the foot by including too many triallists etc. These sorts of decisions such as the "test" match between Australia & the Rest of the World do not do cricket any favours. It's like the constant rule changes in Formula One or in football when unregistered players only result in relatively small fines for Premier League clubs but demotions/point losses for non-league clubs.

It's really not an issue in my book. I simply don't care. FC status or no FC status, the match means very little in reality. It's a glorified second XI or friendly match against a university.

The sooner they scrap first class status for universities, and scrap any sort of mid-season first team 'friendly' matches for that matter, the better.

[pompeymeowth]

But what about the Uni guys who have trained hard to be the best they can be, I'd imagine even they don't make county grade they must be very proud of having a first class record?

These games help counties get match play under their belt and allow them to trial players they might not get a chance to otherwise.

[SaintPowelly]

I have no problem playing a mid-season game against them, but I dont think they should have FC status.

But with them currently having FC status, I feel sorry for McManus not having 2 FC tons to his name already, Chris Dent scored a double against these at the start of the year and that will forever be on his record.

[SaintPowelly]

Maxwells doing it again, 51 off 22 balls, he had 5 off 8 at 1 point.

[SaintPowelly]

Maxwell out for 90

He has been out in the 90s 3 times and an 89 so far this tournament.

[st_brendy]

But what about the Uni guys who have trained hard to be the best they can be, I'd imagine even they don't make county grade they must be very proud of having a first class record?

These games help counties get match play under their belt and allow them to trial players they might not get a chance to otherwise.

To my mind, both of those are reasons behind the existence of second XI cricket running alongside first class cricket.

[st_brendy]

Maxwell out for 90

He has been out in the 90s 3 times and an 89 so far this tournament.

It's not long ago that Slug as our go-to man in the big hitting department. Indeed, at times he was pretty much the only proper batsman capable of doing it.

But the poor guy is at risk of being totally over-shadowed by Maxwell, Carberry and Vince this season.

[SaintPowelly]

Maxwell out for 90

He has been out in the 90s 3 times and an 89 so far this tournament.

It's not long ago that Slug as our go-to man in the big hitting department. Indeed, at times he was pretty much the only proper batsman capable of doing it.

But the poor guy is at risk of being totally over-shadowed by Maxwell, Carberry and Vince this season.

Then there is Coles and Wood who can also give it a whack.

But if we need 10-12 to win off a final over, Ervine is still the guy you want at the crease, preferably with Maxwell at the other end.