Random Cricket Thread (Domestic Cricket)

[Arthur Crabtree]

Peter Handscomb signs for Yorkshire in all three formats.

Phew.

[Alviro Patterson]

Relatively pleased with the overseas signing of Handscomb, at least until August.

Good First Class figures and a player who can fill a problematic No3 position, taking pressure off Leaning and Ballance.
List A figures not too shabby, but the best Overseas List A players are likely to be involved in IPL and/or Champions Trophy.
Twenty20 figures not as prolific, but if Peter has scored a ton and got an IPL contract in 2016 then he must have some ability.

It's when Handscombe plays in the Australia home series against Bangladesh in August/September and rejoins his State side, Yorkshire will be without an Overseas player for 4 CC matches in September. Hopefully this is where Kane Williamson comes in.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Both would be nice.

Maybe the younger batters were having their one bad season last year, and they'll get more runs next season.

[Alviro Patterson]

Leaning found himself either batting at 3 or 6 in the CC last year, quite extreme for an out of form player. Alex Lees no longer burdened with the captaincy he might be able to kick on.

A non-England call up team of Lees, Lyth, Handscombe, Ballance, Leaning, Bresnan, Hodd, Rafiq, Patterson, Brooks, Sidebottom looks pretty solid. Leaning will have a more defined role, Hodd batting at 7 will enable him to make useful contributions.

If Bairstow is omitted from the England ODI squad during the home internationals, then Yorkshire's batting is potentially as strong as the 2014 season (at least from April to late June). Could do with one more domestic top 6 batsman in case of an England call up.

[hopeforthebest]

I don't know where to post this as it applies to all cricket but an Aussie has come up with the theory that so many fast bowlers suffer stress fracture etc due to the change in the no ball rule based on the front foot rather than the previous back foot rule. You can hear him explain this theory on this World service programme. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04kw8x4

[Durhamfootman]

interesting theory. I confess to being surprised at how little modern bowlers bowl in a calendar year compared to their predecessors.

what I couldn't get to the bottom of, in my head, was why the delivery stride suddenly changed when the front foot law was introduced. I imagine that this 'jump' he talks about could easily have been overcome by altering the run up so that the back foot was landing further back than the old line of the stumps thus allowing the front foot to come through as it had always done, without crossing the new front foot line. Unless, of course, the bowlers were trying to eek out some extra advantage by trying to get as far forward as they could without crossing the line, rather than concentrate on their natural bowling rhythm. It does seem to be the instinctive inclination of sportsmen, generally, to try to exploit any new rule rather than accept the intention behind it.

The way he talks, suggests that the solution would be to re-introduce a back foot no ball rule, but that would surely see a return to the days of Truman et al with bowlers trying to get as far down the pitch as possible...... unless the back foot line was moved further back than it used to be, which seems plausible to me, given the number of cameras the standing umpire has at his disposal (indeed is it not the job of the 3rd umpire these days... I'm a bit out of touch)

food for thought, although I expect the administrators to not bother thinking about it too much.... unless Sachin likes the idea, of course

[hopeforthebest]

I ;ll never understand why all bowlers strive to get as near to the batsman as possible and risk a no ball, I just don't believe being 6" or even a foot closer makes life tougher for the batsman.

[sussexpob]

I ;ll never understand why all bowlers strive to get as near to the batsman as possible and risk a no ball, I just don't believe being 6" or even a foot closer makes life tougher for the batsman.

My guess is, they have always done it, so to release the ball further back would mean they also have to re calibrate line and length again?

[hopeforthebest]

I ;ll never understand why all bowlers strive to get as near to the batsman as possible and risk a no ball, I just don't believe being 6" or even a foot closer makes life tougher for the batsman.

My guess is, they have always done it, so to release the ball further back would mean they also have to re calibrate line and length again?

I'm sure they've always done so but it must be a psychological belief that those small distances matter when they surely don't.

[Alviro Patterson]

Those small distances can easily be the difference between a perfect delivery and getting punished, especially at the top level.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Leaning found himself either batting at 3 or 6 in the CC last year, quite extreme for an out of form player. Alex Lees no longer burdened with the captaincy he might be able to kick on.

A non-England call up team of Lees, Lyth, Handscombe, Ballance, Leaning, Bresnan, Hodd, Rafiq, Patterson, Brooks, Sidebottom looks pretty solid. Leaning will have a more defined role, Hodd batting at 7 will enable him to make useful contributions.

If Bairstow is omitted from the England ODI squad during the home internationals, then Yorkshire's batting is potentially as strong as the 2014 season (at least from April to late June). Could do with one more domestic top 6 batsman in case of an England call up.

Might as well forget about JB. He was free to play last game of the season. Rashid should be available though. Can't see him getting the Tests.

[sussexpob]

I'm sure they've always done so but it must be a psychological belief that those small distances matter when they surely don't.

Even if it is merely physiological, I doubt many players want to risk effecting their game by making such extreme changes to the way they play. I guess its one of those things that you can attempt to coach out of kids in the future, but have to accept those coming through now will never be able to change the way they play.

[sussexpob]

Leaning found himself either batting at 3 or 6 in the CC last year, quite extreme for an out of form player

There is always a strength in numbers thing for low middle orders players in strong teams that can make poor or average players look good, and Leaning scored runs in years that Yorkshire's top 6 did most of the work, but when asked to be a main contributor in a team more prone to being less competitive, he fluffed his lines pretty much as badly as he could.

Did he even register a 50 last year in the 4 day game? Played a majority of games too.... call it what you will, but to average under 20 for a season and not put one marker down says to me the issue was more than form.

Is he even going to play without international call ups?

Its a shame, I seen him a few years back and made a point of keeping an eye on him, but it seems last year was an unmitigated disaster for him.

[Alviro Patterson]

Leaning found himself either batting at 3 or 6 in the CC last year, quite extreme for an out of form player

There is always a strength in numbers thing for low middle orders players in strong teams that can make poor or average players look good, and Leaning scored runs in years that Yorkshire's top 6 did most of the work, but when asked to be a main contributor in a team more prone to being less competitive, he fluffed his lines pretty much as badly as he could.

Did he even register a 50 last year in the 4 day game? Played a majority of games too.... call it what you will, but to average under 20 for a season and not put one marker down says to me the issue was more than form.

Is he even going to play without international call ups?

Its a shame, I seen him a few years back and made a point of keeping an eye on him, but it seems last year was an unmitigated disaster for him.

Leaning wasn't the only batsman to perform badly for Yorkshire in red ball cricket last year. Gale and Hodd were woeful, Ballance not much better and the openers inconsistent. Yorkshire lost the title last year for not getting off to a good start, registering double digit runs for 3/4/5 down was a common theme and the frailities were exposed once Bairstow went back to England.

Leaning played some brilliant innings in 2015
a handy 116 at no5 against Notts when they posted 428 in the 1st innings, was out with the score at 427-8
82 against Hampshire when Yorkshire were 114-4 and was out with the score at 354-9
Batted no3 against Somerset when Pujara went back to India, scored 123 and was out with the score at 344-7, plus 52 in the 2nd innings.
Scored 110 against with Yorkshire at 50-3, puts on 255 partnership with Gale and was out at the score 325-5.
Made a crucial 43 in a low scoring rain affected match against Warwickshire, putting on a 2nd wicket stand of 95 with Will Rhodes.

Unfortunately for Leaning, his form tailed off from Mid-July and was dropped once Yorkshire had other batting options.

To say Leaning scored runs when other players did the hard work is nonsense, he was at the front of it all when Yorkshire were at their most depleted.

[hopeforthebest]

Those small distances can easily be the difference between a perfect delivery and getting punished, especially at the top level.

A bowler regularly bowling six inches further away from the batsman will in no time make the adjustment just as he did with his current run up. It's just our perception that the closer you are the better, I bet if you asked darts players if it would be easier to score if they were 2 inches nearer they would say yes as well.