Glamorgan and Warwickshire Still Unbeaten

 In the week when former Surrey and England batsman Graham Thorpe died, Surrey’s woes in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup continued. The County Championship is already all but won but, with their biggest stars involved in The Hundred, the second string has struggled. I suspect that Thorpe would have excelled in the 50-over tournament, just as his successor Dominic Sibley seems to be doing. He has racked up more than 300 runs in the last three matches, including 105 in their first victory of the season, against Leicestershire at Kibworth. 

Only Sussex are below them In Group B, losing all six so far. They made a commendable attempt to overhaul Leicester’s mammoth 363-7, thanks to a brisk 129 from Tom Haines. At the top end of the table, Glamorgan and Warwickshire were enjoying unbeaten runs, leading up to a showdown at Edgbaston. What a shame, therefore, that rain wrecked any chance of a result. At least they both remain unbeaten going into the final fixtures. 

In Group A, nobody seems able to take control. Derbyshire looked good, and achieved a significant one-wicket triumph over rivals Somerset at Taunton. They had a blistering cameo from Harry Moore to thank for that one, but the county’s challenge seemed to falter, suffering a thumping by Hampshire, for whom teenager Dominic Kelly took 5-19, including a hat-trick. 

Both Jack Leach and Kasey Aldridge claimed six-wicket hauls for Somerset against Durham and Lancashire, respectively, keeping them in pole position on net run rate. However, Hampshire and Worcestershire have a game in hand, meeting each other on Sunday afternoon. Pears opener Garth Roderick and skipper Jake Libby were in the runs. 

Across the week, Ben Slater struck the highest individual score, 164 against Surrey’s depleted attack, while Yorkshire seamer Ben Coad was the model of consistency, harvesting eleven wickets at a miserly average. Sol Budinger of Leicestershire was another heavy scorer and heads the run-making table with just a few group fixtures remaining. 

As for the quarter-finals, Somerset should sail through Group A by beating Worcestershire and Middlesex but you can’t take anything for granted. Group B looks less open. With Hammond and Bancroft forming a fruitful opening partnership and Ajeet Singh Dale leading the attack, watch out for Gloucestershire sneaking up in the outside lane. A gold medal could yet be theirs. 

Team of the Week:- Roderick (Wor +), Sibley (Sur), Budinger (Lei), Barnard (War), Libby (Wor), Ingram (Gla), Saif Zaib (Nor), Kelly (Ham), Snater (Ess), Coad (Yor), Leach (Som)

England's youth selection pays off

It’s a touch over four years since Ben Stokes struck his record-breaking 258 at Newlands. 

Incredibly England almost contrived to lose that Test match, with AB De Villiers and another double-centurion Hashim Amla in fine form. But four years is a long time in international cricket. Stokes has hit the lows and highs and has transformed himself into a national treasure, while both Amla and AB have quit the Test arena.

England are one-day world champions and South Africa are a team in transition. Both are blooding youth, but it’s the tourists who have enjoyed crunching victories in the past few weeks, romping home by an innings at Port Elizabeth. Quinton de Kock and Vernon Phliander were instrumental in guiding the Proteas to an opening triumph straight after Christmas but the tide has turned dramatically.

At Cape Town the older brigade, led by Jimmy Anderson (7-63), Stokes and Denly who performed strongly, although Dom Sibley’s maiden century was crucial. This week, it was Ollie Pope who cemented his place in the side with his own inaugural hundred and the Player of the Match award. Yet none of England’s five under-25s have disgraced themselves. Sam Curran bowled well at times, Zak Crawley played himself in as Burns’ replacement and Dom Bess registered his first five-fer in international cricket. 

It’s kinda strange to think that Pope is only Surrey’s second-best wicketkeeper-batsman (behind Foakes) and last summer Bess struggled to hold down a first XI place at Somerset. Sometimes opportunities creep up on you and are there to be grasped and taking a 2-1 lead in South Africa is a mighty good line on a young player’s CV. With Wood and Stokes steaming in at 90mph, Jofra Archer and Anderson weren’t badly missed and a rare overseas Test series success looks highly probable.

No, the problems stand mainly with SA batting. Six innings completed, no scores of 300. So far the first-innings 284 at Centurion is their peak and De Kock’s 95 that day is the highest individual score. Maharaj’s world record-equalling 28 off Joe Root may have been a thrash in desperation but it speaks volumes that it has been arguably the most compelling piece of batsmanship South Africa have managed in the past month. With Faf du Plessis talking of stepping down, they need to improve. And fast.

My County Cricket Team of 2019

For many, the summer of 2019 will long be remembered for England’s World Cup success and a tight Ashes series. The prolific Steve Smith and Ben Stokes getting the runs when they mattered were the notable personalities of the international season. But what about the domestic county scene?

Somerset and Essex shared the limited-overs trophies before their rain-hit head-to-head finale in the Championship left Essex ahead on points. Their dominance was built on bowling. Batting bonus points were very thin on the ground, and Somerset’s highest first-innings total was a meagre 408. Only Yorkshire and winless Nottnghamshire – for all their new signings (Duckett and Clarke) garnered fewer batting points, and Essex were barely better. In Division Two, won easily by the undefeated Lancashire, there was a more even balance. Apart from top and bottom, it was a remarkably fluid competition, in which eight counties occupied the promotion places at some point during the season. But who were the individuals who shone on the county circuit, and who makes my 2019 County Team of the Year?

Openers:

In recent years, Surrey have dominated this position but their nightmare season allowed others to challenge. Leicestershire’s red-ball specialist Hassan Azad was the top scorer in the second tier, Adam Lyth and Daniel Bell-Drummond added useful T20 bowling contributions to their respective batting CVs and Zak Crawley caught the eye for Kent. However, two unsung openers were straightforward choices. At 30, Billy Godleman has found himself swimming in the Division Two backwaters for Derbyshire but 2019 saw him maturing into a Big Fish. Four-day cricket is his major strength and yet he anchored many a 50-over and T20 innings while others blazed away. His overall run aggregate of 1,982 was the highest in all county cricket. 

In the top flight, Dominic Sibley was a revelation. Released by Surrey two years ago, he enjoyed a sizzling summer of first-class cricket for Warwickshire. The leading Championship run-scorer, he struck five centuries – two of them ‘doubles’ - averaged just shy of 70, and at Trent Bridge a fortnight ago scored 215 not out and 109. England are watching him closely.

Middle-order:

Last season’s county star Joe Denly was largely absent from Kent on international duty, with James Vince also missing early games for Hampshire. Ian Bell was injured, James Hildreth improved his One-Day Cup totals at the expense of his four-day form, which proved costly for Somerset. However, his team-mate, 20 year-old Tom Banton, appeared out of nowhere to power his side to the RLOC crown. He was less useful in the Championship but in the short stuff he showed no fear. Glamorgan had a superb first-half of the Division Two season, buoyed by runs from Billy Root and Marnus Labuschagne. The latter contributed 1114 runs in only 10 matches before carrying forward his form into the Australian side. 

Sams Northeast and Hain were consistent across all competitions for Hampshire and Warwickshire/Birmingham, Tom Kohler-Cadmore struck some beefy innings in the Yorkshire cause, and Tom Westley, with Alastair Cook, made sure the Essex attack had something to bowl at. However, my number five must be Dawid Malan. Middlesex had a bumpy ride in 2019 but he made over 1,000 Championshp runs and almost 500 in the Blast.

All-Rounders:

My old favourite Darren Stevens seemed to be coasting into retirement for Kent when, in the penultimate fixture at Headingley, he crashed 237 at more than a run a ball then took 5-20. Too little, too late for my Team of the Year, but Kent are surely rethinking their decision to release the man who claimed 51 first-class scalps at under 18 apiece, aged 43 or not.. By contrast, Somerset’s Lewis Gregory was cruising to a place in my 2019 XI until injury intervened just as the Blast was beginning. He missed the whole of August, dammit. Liam Dawson, Wayne Parnell (in one-dayers) and Toby Roland-Jones were reliable but I’ve picked two Division Two all-rounders.

David Wiese was a fine late-order hitter for Sussex, who was explosive with bat in hand against the white ball and very useful bowling with the red one. However this was Ryan Higgins’ year. Primarily a Championship performer, he made no fewer than seven Teams of the Week, claiming almost 1,000 runs and 50 wickets to help Gloucestershire gain an unexpected promotion from Division Two. The Zimbabwe-born product of Berkshire and Middlesex is still only 24, and it will be interesting to see how he fares against superior opposition in 2020.

Wicket-keeper:

20 year-old Ollie Robinson took the Kent gloves with great aplomb in the Championship, Ben Brown had a good start with the bat for Sussex and John Simpson and Ben Cox were consistent across the summer. However, for the second successive year, my wicketkeeper of the year has to be Lancashire’s Dane Vilas. Not only did he claim more victims behind the stumps than anyone else but he also scored more runs in all competitions than anyone bar Godleman. The Red Roses must be grateful for his efforts in getting them promoted at the first time of asking.

Bowlers:-

Until injury struck, Jimmy Anderson also featured prominently in Lancashire’s early fixtures, taking him to within touching distance of 1000 career first-class wickets. Robinson (Sussex), Rushworth (Durham) and Craig Overton (Somerset) enjoyed another solid summer but late developer Ben Sanderson pips them all for the wickets which took Northamptonshire back into the top flight. Yet even he is eclipsed by Hampshire’s South African import Kyle Abbott. He was amongst the leading wicket-takers in all three formats, capping off an already great season with phenomenal match figures of 17-86 last month which destroyed Somerset’s title bid.

Prolific spinners were few and far between. Jeetan Patel picked up another 64 wickets for Warwickshire under the radar, Nathan Sowter took plenty for Middlesex in the 50-over tournament and Moeen Ali put his England woes behind him with some tasty cameos in the Blast but Kolpak-er Simon Harmer takes the biscuit. He was at his best in the crucial clashes at the end of the season, with superb spells on the T20 Finals Day and five-fors in each of his last three Championship matches, including a 7-58 against Surrey. His wickets ultimately proved decisive in Essex’s double trophy success.

To conclude, based on stats and my Teams of the Week, my County Eleven of 2019 is:-

Sibley (War), Godleman (Der), Banton (Som), Labuschagne (Gla), Malan (Mid), Vilas (Lan +), Wiese (Sus), Higgins (Glo), Abbott (Ham), Harmer (Ess), Sanderson (Nor);
12^th Man: Hain (War)

Stevens breaks records, Abbott breaks Somerset

Because of an impending holiday in Portugal, I am taking the unusual step of writing this week’s county blog before the full set of fixtures are over. However, with most of the results already confirmed, it’s not completely crazy.

Somerset’s hopes of that elusive Championship title rest entirely on beating Essex at Taunton next week after being flattened by Hampshire at the Rose Bowl inside three days. They have become accustomed to bowling sides out twice, thanks to the Overtons, Gregory, Leach or Davey but this week they came up against Kyle Abbott, who claimed the best bowling figures ever for the county and the best by anybody since Jim Laker since the Fifties.

First up he took 9-40 then, once Somerset’s openers had established a solid 86, he produced another devastating spell of 8-46. And yet Somerset may have triumphed had Hampshire not had to rely on centuries by Liam Dawson in the first innings and James Vince in the second.

Meanwhile, Essex did all that could be asked of them by routing Surrey at Chelmsford. Porter and Cook each claimed five-fors in the first innings then the spin of Simon Harmer polished off the calamitous ex-champions on Thursday afternoon. Dan Lawrence and the reliable Ryan Ten Doeschate each struck tons. As a result, a draw will be enough in the final fixture at Taunton. I think all us Somerset fans know exactly how it will play out….

Kent look set to beat Yorkshire and that man Darren Stevens has done it again. After a mediocre summer, Kent decided not to renew his contract but they may be reconsidering because he thumped a career-best 237 as part of a Kent record sixth-wicket partnership of 347. At 43, he is also the oldest double-centurion for the county for seventy years. And he’s not finished in this match because at stumps on day three he has 4-12 with the ball. What a legend! It’s rare for a man making three figures twice to be outshone, but that’s what has happened to his skipper Sam Billings.

Nottinghamshire have a chance of a first victory of the season, thanks largely to Steve Mullaney and Joe Clarke, who is seeking to emulate Billings by heading towards a second hundred of the match. Dom Sibley’s unbeaten 215 for Warwickshire may have done enough to ensure a draw.

In Division Two, Gloucestershire defeated Worcestershire despite Ed Barnard’s 6-42, and must surely be home and dry for a promotion they can’t honestly have predicted. Northamptonshire are set to join them and Lancashire in the top tier next season, barring a late-order miracle comeback by Durham. ‘Keeper Adam Rossington’s batting counter-attack and Ben Sanderson’s wickets look to have done the trick.

Sussex’s slender hopes were skittled by Derbyshire, for whom Luis Reece crafted a second innings 184 and took 5-63. White ball specialist Reece Topley enjoyed a reasonable but long-delayed first-class debut for Sussex, albeit in a losing cause. Leicestershire will definitely finish bottom of Division Two as Glamorgan are on the verge of victory against them in Cardiff. Kraigg Brathwaite earned his crust by grinding out 103.

Unless we decide to stay on the Algarve for another six years to retain EU residency, I’ll be back to report on the conclusion of proceedings next week.

Team of the Week: Mullaney (Not), Sibley (War), Clarke (Not), Billings (Ken), Dawson (Ham), Rossington (Nor +), Stevens (Ken), Simpson (Mid), Abbott (Ham), Harmer (Ess), Sanderson (Nor)

Marvellous Marnus keeps on scoring

After coming a cropper at Chelmsford last week, Somerset needed to rediscover the winning habit straightaway, and the visit of Hampshire was not an easy prospect. However, it turned out to be as one-sided as their One-Day Cup final in May, Tom Abell’s team victorious by 313 runs. Hildreth and Northeast exchanged centuries before the twin spin of Jack Leach and Dom Bess broke the back of Hampshire’s second innings.

Meanwhile Essex maintained their challenge by flattening Nottinghamshire by an innings and 123. Nick Browne and Ravi Bopara each scored their first Championship hundreds of the season and the bowlers shared the spoils. Notts did at least knuckle down in the second innings, making Essex work for their win. Simon Harmer bowled an incredible 24 maidens out of 40 overs, during which he claimed 4-35.

At Scarborough, Yorkshire left it literally to the last minute to defeat Surrey before Olivier had last man Gareth Batty caught by Lyth. The Londoners had enjoyed a slight first-innings advantage but in the second, after the openers had been removed, the rest capitulated far too easily. The White Roses’ star man was probably Will Fraine. After impressing with the Seconds, this son of Huddersfield struck his maiden ton in a week when opening batsmen seemed to prosper.

Only 14 wickets fell at Canterbury while Kent and Warwickshire shared almost 1,200 runs. Daniel Bell-Drummond’s 166 was his first century in the Championship for three years but Dominic Sibley’s 244 merely maintained his recent run of decent scores. He and Will Rhodes also put on 221 for the first wicket to ensure a bore draw was almost inevitable.

Next week, it’s Somerset’s turn to face relegation-battling Nottinghamshire while Yorkshire head south to face Essex who sit 21 points ahead of them in second place.

Glamorgan remain in pole position to replace them despite only drawing with Worcestershire at Sophia Gardens. The prolific Marnus Labuschagne sailed serenely past 1000 runs for the season, adding two further centuries to his tally. Having taken 7-92 across the first two days, Brett D’Oliveira reminded us of his all-rounder credentials by scoring 103 to keep his side in the match.

Closest rivals Lancashire also failed to win, held to a draw by Durham at Sedbergh School across the border in Cumbria. Dane Vilas contributed a couple of half-centuries but elsewhere it was a tale of two 36 year-olds. Veteran Queenslander Nathan Rimmington made 53 runs and picked up eight wickets but Lancs and England were concerned by a mid-match injury suffered by Jimmy Anderson.

Sussex are in third position despite enduring an alarming collective slump in form. Northamptonshire hammered them by 393 runs, prompting an understandable chorus of boos from the presumably paltry Hove crowd. While the batsmen laboured, Ollie Robinson could be proud of his ten wickets, but Northants seamer Ben Sanderson was the game’s outstanding performer, with 6-37 and 4-18.

The remaining fixture between Derbyshire and Middlesex was a more even contest in which the batsmen dominated. No fewer than five of Derby’s top six passed 90, but only Godleman and South African Leus du Plooy reached three figures. Pity poor Fynn Hudson-Prentice. On his Derbyshire first-class debut he was caught on 99. Ouch! Middlesex’s Dawid Malan also missed out on a milestone by one run, caught and bowled by Critchley on 199. More worrying is that his side still prop up the Division Two table, one point adrift of Leicestershire who meet Durham next week. Lancashire should overtake non-playing ‘Glambuschagne’ even if they lose at Northampton. 

Like the World Cup, things are getting interesting…..

Team of the Week: Browne (Ess), Sibley (War), Du Plooy (Der), Labuschagne (Gla), Malan (Mid), Vilas (Lan +), D’Oliviera (Wor), Rimmington (Dur), J. Overton (Som), Sanderson (Nor), Robinson (Sus)

Somerset Safe, Derby Drop, Sibley Celebrates

After months of nervous glances at CricInfo scorecards, I can finally relax. There is another day to go but Derbyshire's abject submission to Chris Woakes and Keith Barker has ensured they join Surrey in the trapdoor and Somerset can breathe again and regroup for 2014. Their match against fellow strugglers Notts will now probably peter out into a draw, although James Hildreth's welcome century and a Nick Compton 87 at least prevented a third day embarrassment.

Surrey found their batting feet far too late today. Their superstars have failed them in the Championship this season but today the county's innings was all about a cricketing master and a novice. Against a good Yorkshire attack, Hashim Amla crunched 151 at almost a run a ball but even he was upstaged by Dominic Sibley. Who? Exactly. After scores of 10, 12 and 0, the 18 year-old from Epsom produced from his locker something special and became the youngest player ever to compile a Championship double-century. He's still there on 220 and, with a result unlikely and nothing to play for as a team, I'm sure Stephen Davies will let him bat on and maybe turn the double into a triple!

In Division Two, Essex following on against Hampshire meant that Northants had already secured promotion to Division One for the first time in ten years. They promptly collapsed against Worcestershire, for whom Moeen Ali demonstrated once more while he is a genuine contender for an England all-rounder slot by adding to his weight of 2013 runs final match impressive bowling figures of 9-107. Northants have had a fabulouos year in all formats but their nearest rivals Essex also capitulated at the death to Hampshire by an innings for whom recent signing from Kent, Matt Coles, ended the season with a ten-for. Better than the way he began it for the Lions with an early plane ticket home with fellow bad boy Ben Stokes.

So, well done to Somerset, Notts, Northants and Sibley, while I hope Derbyshire don't fall apart in the face of relegation. One summer in the big time should be a reminder that they can rise again. After their own annus horribilis, Leicestershire should also take notice of what Derby did last year and Northants this.