2014 Hampshire Thread

[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.

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.

Everyone, including Solent, mentions Coles' name when it comes to whacking a few late in the innings. But I just don't see how he gets into the team. Not unless Jimmy chooses to make way.

Carberry, Vince, Maxwell (once he is back from the IPL), Ervine, Dawson, Wheater, Wood (once he is back from injury), Abbott, Briggs are nine guys nailed on. Six of whom give us bowling options (and that's not counting Vince and Carberry, not that you'd expect to see Carberry bowling in t20).

Jimmy and Smith are my other two names, in part because Coles is so dam expensive with the ball (and so if he's being selected purely to potentially slog a few in the final over, well I'd rather pick an actual batsman thanks).

Only if Maxwell or Wood are unavailable for the opening game (and Maxwell could miss up to our first four games), or if Jimmy makes way like I say, can I see Coles starting one week tomorrow.

[pompeymeowth]

It's quite interesting where cricket is at isn't it, at one point here we are discussing the merits of what constitutes a 1st class match, yet T20 which isn't even list A, let alone 1st class is really now the dominant version of the game. Surely we should use T20 to try and lure the new fans into watching 1st class cricket, yet what seems to have happened is, more CC fans seem interested in how their county fares in limited overs cricket.

[SaintPowelly]

Coles was mentioned just in general really, I think he'll play the 50 over games

There is a fair chance Abbott will play for SA in July, I'm not sure how many fixtures it will affect us for, but could be interesting to have Maxwell in some FC games.

[SaintPowelly]

It's quite interesting where cricket is at isn't it, at one point here we are discussing the merits of what constitutes a 1st class match, yet T20 which isn't even list A, let alone 1st class is really now the dominant version of the game. Surely we should use T20 to try and lure the new fans into watching 1st class cricket, yet what seems to have happened is, more CC fans seem interested in how their county fares in limited overs cricket.

Can only speak for myself, but the LVCC games are easily my favorite.

I suppose the lure of T20 and List A games is they are rarely dull, whereas you get some really boring draws in the Championship.

[st_brendy]

It's quite interesting where cricket is at isn't it, at one point here we are discussing the merits of what constitutes a 1st class match, yet T20 which isn't even list A, let alone 1st class is really now the dominant version of the game. Surely we should use T20 to try and lure the new fans into watching 1st class cricket, yet what seems to have happened is, more CC fans seem interested in how their county fares in limited overs cricket.

Can only speak for myself, but the LVCC games are easily my favorite.

I suppose the lure of T20 and List A games is they are rarely dull, whereas you get some really boring draws in the Championship.

Can me a cynic, but prepare yourself for a few more duller List A games this season, now that we're back to 50 overs.

[SaintPowelly]

I didn't mean dull as in 10 overs or so with the rate ticking along, I meant sometimes in the Championships a team is out of contention after day 1.

[SaintPowelly]

Dirk Nannes just said on ITV that Maxwell never played innings of todays quality whilst playing in England.

He did it TWICE for us, if I remember rightly he was not out in both games against Kent and Essex when he fired too.

[st_brendy]

Just checked out Punjab's fixture list. Their last group game is Friday 23 May. So we can definitely rule Maxwell out of Glamorgan at home and Sussex away. And quite probably Middlesex away too, on Sunday 25.

If they finish in the top four (which they presumably will), they will play again on either of Tues 27 or Weds 28. And then quite possibly on Fri 30 and/or the final on Sun 1 June. Which would mean him missing Essex at home on Friday 30.

He will surely be with us prior to Kent at home on Thurs 5 June, regardless of what Punjab do.

I always knew he would miss up to four games, I just wasn't sure before now exactly how it was 'broken down'.

[st_brendy]

Just checked out Punjab's fixture list. Their last group game is Friday 23 May. So we can definitely rule Maxwell out of Glamorgan at home and Sussex away. And quite probably Middlesex away too, on Sunday 25.

If they finish in the top four (which they presumably will), they will play again on either of Tues 27 or Weds 28. And then quite possibly on Fri 30 and/or the final on Sun 1 June. Which would mean him missing Essex at home on Friday 30.

He will surely be with us prior to Kent at home on Thurs 5 June, regardless of what Punjab do.

I always knew he would miss up to four games, I just wasn't sure before now exactly how it was 'broken down'.

Actually, I stand corrected. Their final group match is actually Sun 25. So he'll definitely miss the Middlesex game too.

So three games without Maxwell, probably four. 14 group matches for us to play in total.

[SaintPowelly]

South Africa have a tour of Sri Lanka at the start of July, 1st game is the 3rd, which then leads into a tour against Zimbabwe, which leads into a tri-series between Zimbabwe, SA and Aus which ends at the start of September, so we could possibly lose Abbott for the season at the end of June.

[st_brendy]

South Africa have a tour of Sri Lanka at the start of July, 1st game is the 3rd, which then leads into a tour against Zimbabwe, which leads into a tri-series between Zimbabwe, SA and Aus which ends at the start of September, so we could possibly lose Abbott for the season at the end of June.

As I've said before, a month of Maxwell playing one day cricket for us (ie August) is quite an exciting prospect.

But unless we prepare a few slow wickets to aid him, Briggs and Dawson, we would have to hope that Wood is on form. No Dimi and no Abbott, he'd have to carry that attack. And based on his career to date, he isn't consistent enough to do that.

(Well either hope that Wood is on form, or that Maxwell, Carbs et al just out score every other side going. We are in the vastly easier 50 over group, on paper, of the two)

[Centuryclub]

Two probably unanswerable questions:

(1) Why did Hants bat on yesterday morning? Even if it was not FC it showed disrespect for the opposition, any spectators and the match itself.The other Uni match had a definite conclusion but Hants' game petered out into a draw.

(2) Is it true that McManus would have created an all-time FC record with 2 (two) tons on his first class debut? The opposition was the same that played FC matches earlier this season but as his team-mates were weak it was not a FC match! You couldn't make it up!

[SaintPowelly]

13 man squad : No McManus.

same XI + Balcombe and Briggs

[Centuryclub]

13 man squad : No McManus.

same XI + Balcombe and Briggs

Makes the last "match" even more meaningless. Despite the relative weakness of the opposition two centuries in a match is not a common feat - many great batsmen never managed it. Last season in the English FC season (which included a large number of Uni matches) it was only achieved 4 (four) times.
Interestingly the fastest 100 (against genuine bowling) was against Cambridge Uni - by Rossington (Middlesex) off 55 balls &
most sixes in an innings (against genuine bowling) was by Patel (Notts) who hit 12!
Those feats will be forever in the record books but McManus will not even get a footnote!

[SaintPowelly]

We win the toss and bowl, unchanged XI.