2015 - Division 1 Discussion Thread

[LondonTiger]

First topic message reminder :

As pretty much every poster that follows County Cricket seems to be a Surrey fan I am sure the Division 2 discussions will be livelier.

Hopefully there are some followers of other counties to write a little bit about their team, but as a Yorkshire member it is them I shall concentrate on.

The start of the season will be an interesting one for us. Andrew Gale will miss the first fixture at Worcester as he completes his ban. Meanwhile the first 3 CC fixtures coincide with Englands tour of the WI meaning some unfamiliar faces will be featuring against Worcester, Notts and  the first home fixture against Warwickshire. With the County unlikely to see a great deal of Root and Ballance it is nor surprise that ewe have chosen to go down the batsman route as our overseas player - Aaron Finch returns as the main player, with Younus Khan deputising at the start of the season and Kane Williamson at the end. Glenn Maxwell makes up a quality group of players, joining for the T20s.


Squad:

Batsmen: Lyth, Lees, Gale (cpt), Finch (see above), Leaning, Root, Ballance
Keepers: Bairstow, Hodd
All Rounders: Rashid, Bresnan, Rhodes, Pyrah
Seamers: Plunkett, Brooks, Sidebottom, Patterson, Ashraf, Coad, Fisher
Spinners: Carver


Likely team for first match, away to Worcestershire:

Hodd, Lees, Leaning, Younus, Rhodes, Bresnan, Pyrah, Patterson, Sidebottom, Brooks, Carver.

Compared to the side likely to finish the season against Susses (injuries permitting):

Lyth, Lees, Williamson, Root, Ballance, Bairstow, Rashid, Bresnan, Plunkett, Sidebottom, Brooks.

[NickisBHAFC]

4 games. 2 wins, 2 defeats. As predicted the batting is letting us down, can't see us title challenging. Survival should be the aim.

[LondonTiger]

Yorkshire in control vs us. Bairstow impressing in the match.
Another fight for a draw for Hants.

Not sure the day could have gone much better for us. Cleaned up the tail pretty quickly, scored fast enough to give us a decent amount of overs before the close. Four wickets is more than we could have expected, but Hampshire will have to do well and get help from the weather to hold on for the draw.

[jimbohammers]

5 down now. Just a matter of time. Fully understand we're playing the champions but we've been totally outclassed. Missing Jimmy Adams and Adam Wheater this week.
Also find it v frustrating that Berg and Adams get in ahead of Wood and Briggs. 2 old 'average' cricketers or 2 bright young bowlers who have come through the academy. Seems like we're 'playing it safe'.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

So far Yorks have played this match really well, like a side that knows how to win in the cc.  It will be remarkable if Hants escape with a draw.

[jimbohammers]

Corp, you're right there! Smith and McManus battling well, but will only take 1 wicket and the rest will follow...

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Corp, you're right there! Smith and McManus battling well, but will only take 1 wicket and the rest will follow...

And the tail is indeed quickly blown away.

[guildfordbat]

5 down now. Just a matter of time. Fully understand we're playing the champions but we've been totally outclassed. Missing Jimmy Adams and Adam Wheater this week.
Also find it v frustrating that Berg and Adams get in ahead of Wood and Briggs. 2 old 'average' cricketers or 2 bright young bowlers who have come through the academy. Seems like we're 'playing it safe'.

Hi Jimbo - well you have a bit of a mystery man playing for you this time out. According to cricinfo, Wheal's full name is ''B Wheal'' with his date of birth being ''unknown''.

[jimbohammers]

Hi Guildford, yes that is 'Brad Wheal'. He's an 18 year old South African who was spotted by Dale Benkenstein. He impressed in pre-season and has done well for the seconds, but don't think anyone was expecting him to be in the first team already. More of a sign of our weak bowling 'attack' if im honest

[jimbohammers]

Good start for Hampshire after being put in to bat vs Middlesex. 137-1 with Jimmy Adams currently 50*

Somerset rebuilding against Notts. Good partnership between Trego and Allenby. 181-5

Warwickshire were 18-2 now 138-3. Trott with 42.

[jimbohammers]

Hants make 413. Middlesex 102-3 in reply.
93 for Will Smith. Neil Dexter with 5 wickets.

Somerset well on top against Notts. Notts 195-8 in reply to Somerset's 312.

Warwickshire make 450. Keith Barker with a century! Durham 50-3

[guildfordbat]

I like Keith 'Ronnie' Barker. Probably too agricultural in style to attract international interest but jolly effective with bat and ball on his day - a leftie with both as well. Flirted as a pro footballer with Blackburn, a striker made for route one!

[jimbohammers]

Hampshire now fighting for a draw vs Middlesex despite leading by 100 runs
Pretty poor attitude really, why not come out, hit a quick 150 and try and bowl middlesex out?

Somerset have smashed Notts.

Warwickshire well on top vs Durham. Just need 3 more wickets.

Meanwhile in Div 2. Essex go from 201-4 to 221 all out....

[guildfordbat]

Warks have now beaten Durham by 8 wickets. Great all round performance from Barker - an unbeaten century followed by 9 match wickets.

In Div 2, Leics about to snatch a defeat from the jaws of a draw as they crumble to 41/8 against Lancs.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Great performance by Barker leading to a very convincing Warks win.

Poor old Leics, their confidence must be so fragile. In the last match almost got a draw against Surrey before wilting in face of the dramatic run chase, and now in this one throwing away the chance of what looked to be a fairly easy draw.

[wisden]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/may/21/sussex-tymal-mills-retire-cricket

devastated for the lad..another young promising fast bowler, who will appear to have his career ruined by a serious back condition

[guildfordbat]

Mills has been over hyped from the start but still very concerning. I wish him well.

[guildfordbat]

Meanwhile, Warks 100/6 against Sussex. Oliver Robinson has taken the lot! He's the lad who got chucked out by Yorks for disciplinary reasons and smashed a ton on his Sussex debut. [SPOILER: Nick has already tipped him for England so we can expect Nick's post later on.]

[jimbohammers]

Cracking game between Sussex and Warwickshire.

Sussex needing 189 to win are currently 35-3. Chris Wright with all 3 wickets

[NickisBHAFC]

Sussex batting collapse is coming.

[guildfordbat]

Nick's boys are now 80/5 and still need a further 110. I wouldn't expect the Sharks to get off the hook from here ....

Meanwhile, good game going on at Worcs where Durham need 318 for victory. Currently they're 66/2 ....

[guildfordbat]

Sharks are biting back. 145/6, need another 45 now. Nick's men Brown and Sir Chris going well ....

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Guildford beats me to it with his post!   Touch and go with Warks/Sussex.  Good chance for Sir Chris Jordan to remind the selectors that he can bat.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

15 to win for Sussex with Sir Chris and the last man in. Maybe three straight sixes?

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Sir Chris wins the game with a six

[guildfordbat]

Brilliant stuff from Sir Chris! I am sure Nick will enjoy it!!

[Hoggy_Bear]

Bl00dy Chris Jordan

[guildfordbat]

Yeah, thought you wouldn't exactly be chuffed, Hoggy! Anyway, I'm sure Nick will accept victory with the same good grace that he would have accepted defeat and will wish your team well.

[NickisBHAFC]

I LOVE CHRIS JORDAN!!!!!

Get him back in that test side. 

What a win for Sussex. Friday night t20 at hove. Happy days

[jimbohammers]

Our bowling 'attack' is dreadful

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Our bowling 'attack' is dreadful

If "Ice" Berg is their best bowler then Hants indeed have problems.

Meanwhile, Notts have fought back well against Sussex.

[jimbohammers]

Corp, we've actually got worse since promotion. Letting Coles leave and not replacing Abbott properly. Going into each game knowing you can't win isn't a great feeling tbh.

[NickisBHAFC]

Reasonable day at Trent Bridge, hopefully a good showing with the bat tomorrow.

[JDizzle]

Two wickets and a strong economy for Barnard on FC debut. Hoping to see him and Clarke, also on debut, chip in with the bat tomorrow. Very good performance so far from Worcs though, Leach is developing into a very handy all round cricketer.

[Mat]

Yeah Leach is doing fantastically well this year, both with bat and ball. Shame it's in place of, rather than alongside, Gareth Andrew.

Good to see Clarke in the side, been in some serious nick this year for the seconds.

[NickisBHAFC]

I'll be amazed if we escape defeat at Trent Bridge. Need to get Nottinghamshire all out before lunch if we're to stand any chance.

[JDizzle]

Another good day for the Pears. Top knock from Mitchell, and good contributions from most especially Ben Cox. Will take a big effort to force a win tomorrow though, with Hamps still with all 10 wickets in hand and 180 behind.

[packofwolves]

Delighted with Ben Cox's form so far this summer. His development over the last two seasons first with the gloves and then with the bat has really shown the benefit of looking after young cricketers well (thinking back to when he was protected from a chastening time in the first team by the temporary signing of Ben Scott a few seasons back). He has 438 FC runs at a shade under 49 so far this year.

With the emergence of Joe Leach (currently averaging 65 with the bat and sub 20 with the ball) into a 1st XI regular alongside Charlie Morris and Tom Fell (remember his name - international honours will come for this lad) Worcester has a pleasant home grown feel at present, regardless of results. Long may it continue!

[jimbohammers]

Worcestershire all over us in this game. A player I've always rated, Mitchell, getting a 100. Benkenstein says this is the worst cricket we've played since he took over. Strong words... Perhaps he should have signed a bowler

[NickisBHAFC]

As expected beaten by Nottingham. Our batsmen need to get a grip.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Very disappointing performance by Sussex, especially considering they had Notts 7 down for about 100 in first innings.

Hants hold out for a draw against Worcs.

[Fernando]

Craig Kieswetter retires due to eye injury.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

A great shame that - just as he was entering his prime

[LondonTiger]

Craig Kieswetter retires due to eye injury.

not unexpected - but very sad.

[guildfordbat]

Craig Kieswetter retires due to eye injury.

not unexpected - but very sad.

Exactly as Tiger says.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Durham collapsing on day 1 against Somerset - 120 - 7 after winning the toss and batting.

[NickisBHAFC]

Another sunny day at hove with wickets falling left, right and Center! 

Hampshire in control at the moment and I can't see James Vince going anywhere soon.

[LondonTiger]

By all accounts (well my retired parents) it was a perfect day for batting at Headingley yesterday. So what we got was a shedload of wickets.

[jimbohammers]

A superb partnership between Wheater and Berg has put Hampshire in control vs Sussex.

Wheater just bringing p his 100 off 82 balls

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Berg is a more than handy no 9 for Hants.  Hants the first side to score 300+ in this round of cc matches, which is producing a raft of low scores.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Berg run out 99.

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