2014 Hampshire Thread

[st_brendy]

Any way, tomorrow is the start of four days of us being able to sit back whilst the four sides around us slug it out against each other. Essex v Kent, and Worcs vs Surrey.

The equation is currently:

Worcs 7 points ahead, 48 more points available
Surrey 32 points behind, 48 more points available
Essex 44 points behind, 72 more points available
Kent 54 points behind, 72 more points available

It should also be pointed out that Surrey can only equal our currently tally of six wins. Essex or Kent could, in theory, yet beat that and finish with seven wins. Worcs are already on seven.

Surrey therefore need to pick up a minimum of nine points over these next four days to keep alive their chances of catching us (on the basis that whilst they could still finish level with us by picking up eight points, they would no longer be able to match our six wins). That can't be done on bonus points alone, so they will need to win, or draw with at least four bonus points.

Kent meanwhile will need to pick up a minimum of six points. That potentially can be done on bonus points alone. Much more realistically though, they need to win and win big.

Essex will still be able to catch us regardless of how many points they pick up, and it is for that reason that promotion cannot be secured for us this week. It will be going down to next week - maybe even as far as down to the final week - regardless.

In terms of the title, a big Worcs win will see them have one hand on the trophy. But any sort of slip up, and we'll have the chance to blow the doors down next week (when it becomes Worcs' turn to not play). Of course the fact that Surrey need a minimum of those nine points mentioned above - but much more realistically, Surrey need to win - could well see Surrey agreeing to set something up which is massively in Worcs' favour, should the game be heading towards an obvious draw. (It would have to be massively in Worcs' favour, because otherwise there is little reason for Worcs to get involved in negotiations and risk any sort of realistic chance of keeping Surrey in with a chance of catching them).

[st_brendy]

To a small extent, I guess it also worth remembering that Kent are our opponents next week. If they go into that game with a slight sniff of promotion still in existence, then it is quite possible that they'd be willing to set something up which is massively in our favour, should a positive result not be able to achieved by natural means. And the outcome of that would most likely be that they just hand us the 16 win points.

It wouldn't make up for 2005 and them doing exactly the above to hand the points, and the title, to Notts ahead of us, but it would be something.

But if Kent are completely out of it, then they'd be little reason for the above to ever pan out. On the flip side though, you could maybe argue that some of their players might get rested or have their minds not quite 100% focused on the task at hand. Which again could lead to a comfortable, big scoring win for us.

[SaintPowelly]

Wheater was averaging around 60 for a while, then he got the duck against Surrey ( golden ? ) and hasn't scored much since.

[budgetmeansbudget]

To a small extent, I guess it also worth remembering that Kent are our opponents next week. If they go into that game with a slight sniff of promotion still in existence, then it is quite possible that they'd be willing to set something up which is massively in our favour, should a positive result not be able to achieved by natural means. And the outcome of that would most likely be that they just hand us the 16 win points.

It wouldn't make up for 2005 and them doing exactly the above to hand the points, and the title, to Notts ahead of us, but it would be something.

But if Kent are completely out of it, then they'd be little reason for the above to ever pan out. On the flip side though, you could maybe argue that some of their players might get rested or have their minds not quite 100% focused on the task at hand. Which again could lead to a comfortable, big scoring win for us.

We aren't likely to want to set anything up with two draws pretty much enough. I haven't got much interest in winning the title, its all about promotion, and we're pretty much there barring any major disaster.

[SaintPowelly]

Surrey have decided against picking KP for their final 2 games.

Thats the official story anyway, not sure I believe it myself, a win over Worcs starting tomorrow is their best/only chance of promotion.

[Centuryclub]

Surrey have decided against picking KP for their final 2 games.

Thats the official story anyway, not sure I believe it myself, a win over Worcs starting tomorrow is their best/only chance of promotion.

I assume you reckon that he probably can't be bothered to appear in a FC match & Surrey don't want to rock the boat by stating this? (Rather than he might turn up anyway!)

[SaintPowelly]

Surrey have decided against picking KP for their final 2 games.

Thats the official story anyway, not sure I believe it myself, a win over Worcs starting tomorrow is their best/only chance of promotion.

I assume you reckon that he probably can't be bothered to appear in a FC match & Surrey don't want to rock the boat by stating this? (Rather than he might turn up anyway!)

Yeah, this nonsense line about giving youngsters a chance is utter crap, given the amount they have spent on overseas lately.

[Making_Splinters]

Surrey have decided against picking KP for their final 2 games.

Thats the official story anyway, not sure I believe it myself, a win over Worcs starting tomorrow is their best/only chance of promotion.

I assume you reckon that he probably can't be bothered to appear in a FC match & Surrey don't want to rock the boat by stating this? (Rather than he might turn up anyway!)

Yeah, this nonsense line about giving youngsters a chance is utter crap, given the amount they have spent on overseas lately.

It will be interesting to see if Surrey give KP a new contract. His attempts to just play T20 clearly haven't worked, so any deal would surely have to be a full contract.

[BringBackJesty]

In cricketing terms he's clearly poor value. However, he is still massive box office, and Surrey must have made a fortune on all of their home T20s -5/6 sold out games with 20,000 crowds. Its his face on all the posters promoting the games in London.

[BringBackJesty]

To a small extent, I guess it also worth remembering that Kent are our opponents next week. If they go into that game with a slight sniff of promotion still in existence, then it is quite possible that they'd be willing to set something up which is massively in our favour, should a positive result not be able to achieved by natural means. And the outcome of that would most likely be that they just hand us the 16 win points.

It wouldn't make up for 2005 and them doing exactly the above to hand the points, and the title, to Notts ahead of us, but it would be something.

But if Kent are completely out of it, then they'd be little reason for the above to ever pan out. On the flip side though, you could maybe argue that some of their players might get rested or have their minds not quite 100% focused on the task at hand. Which again could lead to a comfortable, big scoring win for us.

We aren't likely to want to set anything up with two draws pretty much enough. I haven't got much interest in winning the title, its all about promotion, and we're pretty much there barring any major disaster.

Couldn't resist putting a few quid on us to win the title today. So blame me if we don't get another point!

[SaintPowelly]

In cricketing terms he's clearly poor value. However, he is still massive box office, and Surrey must have made a fortune on all of their home T20s -5/6 sold out games with 20,000 crowds. Its his face on all the posters promoting the games in London.

I doubt the crowds increased significantly enough to justify his wages.

[BringBackJesty]

In cricketing terms he's clearly poor value. However, he is still massive box office, and Surrey must have made a fortune on all of their home T20s -5/6 sold out games with 20,000 crowds. Its his face on all the posters promoting the games in London.

I doubt the crowds increased significantly enough to justify his wages.

At £26 a ticket they wouldn't need to sell many extra - 500?

[SaintPowelly]

In cricketing terms he's clearly poor value. However, he is still massive box office, and Surrey must have made a fortune on all of their home T20s -5/6 sold out games with 20,000 crowds. Its his face on all the posters promoting the games in London.

I doubt the crowds increased significantly enough to justify his wages.

At £26 a ticket they wouldn't need to sell many extra - 500?

Do you have a link to their attendances ? compared to previous years ?

[SaintPowelly]

Mitchell out for a duck, great news for us ( and Vince )

[SaintPowelly]

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