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.

[guildfordbat]

179-8 Fidel on fire!

... and Yorks starting to get on top against Sussex.

Don't want to jinx it for you, Jimbo, so won't say any more other than ...

... encouraging ....

[LondonTiger]

Main problem for Hants may be the Leeds weather.

Assuming they can rattle off the 200 they need to beat Notts.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Notts all out 185!  

Yorks 6 down against Sussex with a lead of 224.

Anything could happen!

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Hants 28 - 0 needing a further 172 to win.

Yorks 238 - 6 leading Sussex by 241.  Rashid and Bresnan at the crease - one of the better county 7th wicket partnerships I imagine.

Weather forecast good for tomorrow!

[jimbohammers]

[guildfordbat]

Hants 28 - 0 needing a further 172 to win.

Yorks 238 - 6 leading Sussex by 241.  Rashid and Bresnan at the crease - one of the better county 7th wicket partnerships I imagine.

Weather forecast good for tomorrow!

Jimbo - a good forecast from Surrey weather expert the Corporal is better than you being able to play with 12 men!

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Typical innings from Bresnan (currently 49*) has extended Yorkshire's lead to a more healthy looking 299 - still with 2 wickets in hand.

Meanwhile Hants have made a very strong start to their chase and are 89 - 0 at stumps, needing "only" another 111 to win. As Chichester has said, on another thread, the pressure overnight really will be on Sussex.

[NickisBHAFC]

Already nervous day at work tomorrow has become even more nerve wrecking, constantly checking the Sussex score.

[chichestersurreyfan]

Already nervous day at work tomorrow has become even more nerve wrecking, constantly checking the Sussex score.

Every sympathy ...it really will be a nerve wracking day for you...I wouldn't really like to predict this one at all....other than to say that if Sussex can bat all day, they will most assuredly deserve to stay up! In many ways I hope they do bat the day out as it will be good to resume the Sussex v Surrey good natured rivalry again in the County Championship .

[jimbohammers]

I do hope that's the case, Guildford. Corp's a hammer so I'll trust his weather prediction

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Yorks all out, leaving Sussex 309 to win.  Or Sussex can bat out the day for a draw. Could be a risk that Sussex get caught between two objectives....?

Hants 95 - 0, needing 105 to win.

[jimbohammers]

Jordan opening the batting again...

[LondonTiger]

Hants half way.

Joyce out.

Machan slogging again.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Sussex wobbling, on 49 - 3.  One of the wickets is Jordan, but even so they really wont want to lose any more before lunch.

Hants had their own wobble, losing two wicket in two balls (golden duck for Vince), but they "only" now need another 61.  Carberry is still there.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Sussx sliding, at 65 - 5.    Meanwhile, Hants are now pretty much easing to victory, with only 38 needed.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Hants win by 8 wickets.  They just now have to wait to see if Yorks can take the last 5 Sussex wickets.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Sussex down to their last two wickets.  They need to last out another 40 or so overs, or score another 119 to win.  (So far Hatchett and Ashar Zaidi have put on 36.)

No doubt both Jimbo and Nick are relaxing, taking a phlegmatic view about the eventual outcome.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Last wicket partnership now.  Looks like we'll be waving to Nick on the way by as Surrey and Sussex swop divisions.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

And so Hants complete a remarkable escape to stay in Div 1   while Sussex head for the nether regions of Div 2. where there is much gnashing of teeth and wailing. 

[LondonTiger]

Yorkshire set a new record of wins in a two division championship, and return the favour shown by Hants declaration last game out.

Shame for Michael Yardy to finish his career in this manner.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

And so ends Div 1 cricket for this season.  Appropriate really that Yorks finish with yet another win, demonstrating again their credentials as thoroughly worthy champions. 

[chichestersurreyfan]

Yes, feel sorry for Sussex....to end up in the relegation zone for the first time this season on the very last day must be very hard to take...they have some really good players and I am sure they will make a speedy return....congrats to Michael Yardy...what an excellent cricketer! Also very impressed with his willingness to talk openly about his struggles with depression.... congratulations to Hampshire... What an amazing escape!

[NickisBHAFC]

Yep I've hit the gin early.

[jimbohammers]

Let me get that one for you Nick....

'Great Escape' from Hampshire. I really thought we were doomed. Brilliant effort to avoid relegation in the end. Also well done to Yorkshire for still taking the game seriously. (I know they were going for the record points but still....)

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