2015 - Division 1 Discussion Thread

by **LondonTiger** Thu Mar 26, 2015 12:15 pm

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.

by **LondonTiger** Sun Jul 19, 2015 3:02 pm

Yet another stunning century from JonnyB rescued, along with support from skipper Gale, us from a tricky position.

by Corporalhumblebucket Sun Jul 19, 2015 4:19 pm

Highly likely that Yorks will get full batting points and continue their march towards the title.

by JDizzle Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:34 pm

Decent time for Jimmy T to find some form with Ballance/Bell struggling. 163* overnight.

by **LondonTiger** Mon Jul 20, 2015 4:37 am

JDizzle wrote:Decent time for Jimmy T to find some form with Ballance/Bell struggling. 163* overnight.

Indeed. Notches up his first hundred of the season - but would he bat first wicket down?

by king_carlos Mon Jul 20, 2015 9:41 am

LondonTiger wrote:
JDizzle wrote:Decent time for Jimmy T to find some form with Ballance/Bell struggling. 163* overnight.

Indeed. Notches up his first hundred of the season - but would he bat first wicket down?

He's moved onto 280* now as well. Not bad timing from the little guy.

He bats 4 for Notts at the moment. I thought that was due to Notts having 3 openers in their first choice XI with Brendan Taylor, Hales and Lumb usually making up their top 3. With Lumb not playing in their current game against Sussex I would have expected Taylor to move up to 3 but Mullaney batted there instead. I'm not sure if that was due to Notts wanting to keep Taylor where he was to find form, or because they don't feel he is a guy to come in at first drop.

He has played 3 in the past however and if we want a guy who doesn't need a while to get his feet moving like Ballance does then he could be our man. His footwork tends to be sound and he has the ability to dig in or play his shots. As a little fella at 5'6'' he is also equally adept on the front and back foot unlike many of our players. Due to his stature he moves into position for each more quickly, naturally and nimbly as well which could aid him against the Aussie quicks.

It would be a VERY harsh call if changes are rung and Taylor got the call rather than Bairstow. However if the management wanted a new player at first drop to try to hopefully nullify the new ball a bit more and halt the collapses then he could be a reasonable bet.

After one innings that shows CC form, albeit an excellent one, it does feel like clutching at straws however.

by **LondonTiger** Mon Jul 20, 2015 11:54 am

Start of the season (ie before his wasted trip to IPL) Hales batted at 3 behind Brendon Taylor and Mullaney. Since getting back into the team after the ODIs Hales has scored few runs, but has opened in the last two games. James Taylor has not batted above 4 all season I believe. It would be tough on the lad to be called up and asked to bat at 3.

by LivinginItaly Mon Jul 20, 2015 12:03 pm

Am i correct in thinking that in general when Taylor has batted for the lions he has played at 3?

by JDizzle Mon Jul 20, 2015 1:22 pm

Taylor certainly has opened for the Lions in the past. Made 70 odd vs SL there in 2011 (?) I think. There definitely seemed to be a school of thought in the England set-up that he was better at the top of the order than lower down. And, as we have seen with Ballance and Root when he first came in, your county batting position doesn't really effect where they pick and bat you.

Having said that, I doubt he will get called up. Looks like Bairstow is the next man up. And he definitely hasn't batted top 3 in his career, so would require a reshuffle.

by jimbohammers Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:07 pm

Rushworth takes 6-39 in 22 overs. WheneveriI see Durham's results he always seems to take wickets, how come he's never been mentioned for England?

by NickisBHAFC Tue Jul 21, 2015 1:35 pm

Words fail me how bad Sussex did today.

Division 2 soon.

by **LondonTiger** Tue Jul 21, 2015 1:45 pm

jimbohammers wrote:Rushworth takes 6-39 in 22 overs. WheneveriI see Durham's results he always seems to take wickets, how come he's never been mentioned for England?

His numbers look good, though seeing him live against us he looked average. Batting in D1 is shockingly bad so far this season and pitches have been really seam friendly. Rushworth bowls line and length at just under 80mph, nibbling it both ways. That has seemed to be too much for many D1 batters.

by JDizzle Tue Jul 21, 2015 4:45 pm

I think Rushworth is in a similar boat to Masters/Magoffin and a few others... The perfect county bowler, but lacking that something extra to be an England international. Durham's gain though!

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue Jul 21, 2015 4:55 pm

Saw an article on cricinfo where bayliss was criticising/pointing out the differences between wickets prepared for the county championship and international games, and how the county championship ones are so different to international ones.

They of course have every right to be, but someone like Rishworth will more often than not play on wickets that have a lot of nibble about them, which you don't see so often in the international game.

Think that'dbe quite a big factor in his omission

by **LondonTiger** Wed Jul 22, 2015 7:26 am

There is also talk that there is a batch of duke balls in the county game at the moment that swing a lot more than last years did. could explain some of the early season batting woes.

by Corporalhumblebucket Wed Jul 22, 2015 10:21 am

Yorks duly beat Worcs and are pretty much out of sight from the chasing pack at the top of the table. 34 points ahead of Warks with a game in hand. Durham may well win against lowly Hants, and resume their position as the main challengers.

by jimbohammers Wed Jul 22, 2015 10:55 am

Corporalhumblebucket wrote: Durham may well win against lowly Hants, and resume their position as the main challengers.

Durham ~~~~may~~ well~~ will win against lowly Hants, and resume their position as the main challengers.

Fixed for you Corp Crying or Very sad

by Corporalhumblebucket Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:58 am

Looks like rain may just save Hants on this occasion.

by Corporalhumblebucket Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:09 pm

Hants last wicket pair cling on for the draw clap

- though they really need a few wins to have any chance of escaping relegation.

by guildfordbat Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:11 pm

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Looks like rain may just save Hants on this occasion.

With 9 down, McManus and rookie Crane batted out the last few overs to escape with a draw. Good debut for Crane with 5 match wickets.

by Corporalhumblebucket Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:17 pm

Mason Crane - sounds as though he's come straight from a building site! Wink

by jimbohammers Wed Jul 22, 2015 4:23 pm

Superb from the youngsters, McManus and Crane. Senior players need to step up these next few games though.

As Guildford says, good debut for Crane. High hopes for him at the club, he's highly thought of

by liverbnz Fri Aug 07, 2015 1:36 pm

Yorkshire ready to start their 2nd innings on Day 1 6 runs ahead of Durham. Is there any point in batsman any more?

by Corporalhumblebucket Sat Aug 08, 2015 7:37 am

Wickets continue to fall at Scarborough. Yorks 73 - 4. At this rate the match will be over on Day 2.

Meanwhile in the battle to avoid relegation Worcs have fought back against Notts - that match could easily go either way, Sussex looking likely to take a good first innings lead against Middlesex. While Hants v Warks hasn't really taken much shape yet.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat Aug 08, 2015 4:37 pm

A Maxwell/Rashid double hundred partnership.

My word the people of Scarborough have been treated to crickets version of porn today

by Corporalhumblebucket Sat Aug 08, 2015 6:50 pm

Yorks' remarkable recovery in this match showing why they will be worthy champions of Div 1.

Hants, stranded at foot of the table, had a rare good day against Warks.

by jimbohammers Sat Aug 08, 2015 8:56 pm

5-fer for 18 year old Mason Crane!

Top day for Hampshire, need to win some games...

by alfie Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:10 am

This young chap , Crane , has had some pretty good performances at the start of his career !
Only 18 , and a leggie , I understand ?

Fast track to the Lions team ?

by Corporalhumblebucket Sun Aug 09, 2015 2:49 pm

jimbohammers wrote:5-fer for 18 year old Mason Crane!

Top day for Hampshire, need to win some games...

There was presumably only one possible sports headline for the Eastleigh Echo or the Fareham Foghorn; "Crane lifts Hampshire"

In other news - todays football result, Jimbob 0 Jimbo 2 Very Happy

by jimbohammers Mon Aug 10, 2015 6:39 am

alfie wrote:This young chap , Crane , has had some pretty good performances at the start of his career !
Only 18 , and a leggie , I understand ?

Fast track to the Lions team ?

Yep, leggie and spins it a long way... Has a really good temperament too.
One to keep an eye on for sure

by jimbohammers Mon Aug 10, 2015 6:39 am

Corp

come on you irons....

by alfie Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:00 am

jimbohammers wrote:
alfie wrote:This young chap , Crane , has had some pretty good performances at the start of his career !
Only 18 , and a leggie , I understand ?

Fast track to the Lions team ?

Yep, leggie and spins it a long way... Has a really good temperament too.
One to keep an eye on for sure

Good news then. Hope he is managed properly : would be great to see one of these young prodigies come through to the top...always a tricky business knowing just how quickly you bring them on ( still remember what happened to Schofield !)
Which is why I particularly note your comments on his temperament

by Corporalhumblebucket Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:57 am

Jimbo - what is more surprising, a Hants win in the cc or Hammers winning away at Arsenal? Bubbly

by Corporalhumblebucket Mon Aug 10, 2015 1:09 pm

The Div 1 table now looks a whole lot better for Hants. Both Worcs and Sussex managed to lose what had been reasonably even/well contested games. So with four games to go for the bottom three sides it's now looking like this:

112 Worcs
110 Sussex
107 Hants

by jimbohammers Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:03 am

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Jimbo - what is more surprising, a Hants win in the cc or Hammers winning away at Arsenal?

Ohh that's a tough one Shocked

by **LondonTiger** Fri Aug 21, 2015 6:29 am

Early wicket for Olly Robinson, Paul Farbrace's stepson, against the side that sacked him for disciplinary reasons last season.

by **LondonTiger** Fri Aug 21, 2015 6:49 am

And Sussex gain their second wicket through Chris Jordan. Looks like Yorkshire will again bee needing runs from the all-rounders

by Corporalhumblebucket Fri Aug 21, 2015 7:13 am

I am taking it as pretty much read that Yorks will find their way out of a sticky position in a cc match. They always seem to manage it somehow.

Middlesex aren't having much joy against Durham. Already 3 wickets down.

by **LondonTiger** Fri Aug 21, 2015 7:40 am

50 100 up for Alex Hales as he seeks to put a marker down for the UAE series.

by Corporalhumblebucket Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:11 am

Relegation watch. Sussex have Yorks at 125 - 3 (2 wickets for Sir Chris Jordan). Worcs have got Somerset at 129 - 2. Unbeaten half century from Trescothick. Hants not playing.

by Corporalhumblebucket Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:56 am

Hales 118* and has just hit Trott for three 4s in a row.

by Corporalhumblebucket Fri Aug 21, 2015 11:05 am

Notts 311 - 1 at tea. Warks will probably wish they hadn't put them into bat after winning the toss. So far Hales and Mullaney have put on 250, at almost 5 runs an over.

Yorks 227 - 5 at tea. Ballance on 49. Still fair amount of batting to come.

by Corporalhumblebucket Fri Aug 21, 2015 11:49 am

Sir Chris Jordan just needed four attempts to bowl the first ball of his over - wide, wide, 3 no balls. That's more like the form we Surrey posters fondly remember from his days at Surrey. Wink

PS He then follows up with another no ball later in same over, but then immediately dismisses Rashid.... Yorks 252 - 6.

by **LondonTiger** Fri Aug 21, 2015 12:21 pm

Hales out for 189.

Ballance pushing on towards what would be his first ton since WI.

by Corporalhumblebucket Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:20 pm

Yorks 346 - 6. Typical performance, with unbroken 7th wicket partnership of 94 recovering Yorks from a rather modest start and taking them towards a position of considerable strength. Meanwhile, on rain affected day 2nd place Middlesex could only reach 141 - 5 against Durham. All looking good for Yorks.

by Corporalhumblebucket Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:57 am

Yorks just fail to get a 5th batting point - 393 -6 after 110 overs. I doubt they will worry too much as they continue to build, and presumably aim to bat only once. In the relegation stakes Sussex manage two bowling points against Yorks, while Worcs manage just one, against Somerset.

by **LondonTiger** Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:59 am

yeah, 400 came up in the 111th over

Ballance pushing on for a daddy hundred, TimTom past 50 and looking for his 3rd CC ton of the season

by Gregers Sun Aug 23, 2015 2:10 pm

What a batting performance, where has that been for the rest of the season?

by Corporalhumblebucket Mon Aug 24, 2015 12:08 pm

Middlesex give themselves a sniff of a chance of catching Yorks as they beat Durham while Yorks draw with Sussex. However, it's still very much a long shot:

Yorks 219 points 4 matches to play
Middlesex 189 points 3 matches to play.

Meanwhile, with both Worcs and Sussex drawing, Hants could leapfrog both and out of the relegation zone - IF they win their game in hand.

by **LondonTiger** Tue Aug 25, 2015 4:54 am

Poor bowling from Yorkshire seamers, and very poor slip catching. However all credit to Sussex batsmen - 3 tons in one innings is pretty impressive.

In the end rain was the winner.

by **LondonTiger** Tue Sep 01, 2015 6:11 am

Wickets galore in D1. Having put Somerset in Yorkshire have them 3 4 down, while Durham and Worcester are both 2 down having chosen to bat.

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