These days, the announcement of the England winter touring party is normally a damp squib. Back in the '80s, there were usually half a dozen certainties, a few possibles and then in came a few players who performed brilliantly in the Gillette Cup/Nat West Trophy final the day before. In 2013, Andy Flower et al possess the luxury of a settled and successful side so it's only cover for injuries or the rare turning wicket that allows the opportunity for selectors to spring a surprise.
Cook, Trott, Root, KP, Bell, Prior, Broad, Swann and Anderson pick themselves, so the rest are fighting for only two places. Bresnan is presumably out of the equation through injury so the main contest is for the two vacant seamer positions, along with the number six batsman/all-rounder spot. Maybe this season is not so different from yesteryear in that limited-over form seems to be the dominant factor in choosig players for the Ashes Test squad. Not from the YB40 but recent ODIs.
A few years ago, Michael Carberry was a free-scoring opener for Hampshire. This year he has been brilliant in short formats but mediocre in the Championship. So in he comes! Jonny Bairstow, I can understand, if only because he has become so adept at carrying drinks that there are no others with the same waiting credentials. Tut-tut. In my day, 12th men had to carry drinks on a tray without spilling anything. Any idiot can carry a cool box!
Genuine all-rounders are, surprisingly in this era of T20 bits and pieces players, very thin on the ground. Chris Woakes advanced his case today with a century for Warwickshire, but all too late. Ben Stokes has made the squad as a brisk strokemaker and nippy bowler who can give as good as he gets. His batting catches the eye, but he has captured 41 wickets at 25 for Durham which is pretty useful. I've no problem with Gary Ballance joining the team. Forget his duck against Ireland; he's had an excellent season with Yorkshire in first-class cricket and deserves his chance of a Test debut.
On the bowling side, Boyd Rankin has been impressive in the 50-over games, and Steve Finn always gives the impression that he is the best man to bang 'em in short and bother those pesky Aussie short-arses. How well he can actually deliver against top-class batsmen like Clarke is more debatable. Nevertheless, if I were Jimmy Anderson I'd be a bit worried. It would seem that the selectors are unashamed heightists. Seamers have clearly been included on the bass of being at least 6 foot 5 tall. Why else would Chris Tremlett be there instead of Graham Onions? The latter has been the best Championship bowler in each of the past two seasons delivering under pressure in the top flight and leading the attack for the number one county. Tremlett has managed a mere 32 wickets at 33 from 11 games for a relegated county. Go figure. Perhaps Onions would have tipped the balance too far in favour of players from northern counties? Seems ludicrous to me.
As support spinner, England have turned to Monty Panesar. So awful both on and off the pitch, past glories have swung the decision his way, helped by James Tredwell being right-handed and Sean Kerrigan having frozen at The Oval. Perhaps the Essex loanee will put his disastrous summer behind him and take a few wickets in his single Ashes Test. Actually, I hope he does, but please don't let him go for a night out with Ben Stokes....
I don't know whether members of the England performance programme squad can be called up as replacements, but if I were Chris Jordan - who had a good day against Durham today - and Moeen Ali, possibly the star of the domestic season, I'd keep an eye on signs of broken fingers or twisted ankles on Root, Carberry, Stokes or Trott.
Showing posts with label Graham Onions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Graham Onions. Show all posts
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Thursday, 20 September 2012
Team of the Summer
While the Olympian Team GB will win most awards come the end of 2012, there have also been some great cricketing performances across the domestic season in England. Here is my Team of 2012, encompassing all forms of cricket, from Tests to T20.
Joe Root is the name on everyone’s lips, with his Young Cricketer of the Year award and England call-up for the India tour. However, he won’t be opening for my team of the summer. Instead, I’ve plumped for Varun Chopra and Chris Nash. The Warwickshire batsman notched up another 1000+ first-class runs, including some big hundreds, and also averaged more than 50 in the CB40. He also represented the England Lions. The Sussex opener has also acquired more responsibility in recent years, providing runs in all competitions, long with his useful spinners in the one-day and T20 competitions. Only three men outscored him in the Friends Life tournament and he was the only batsman in the PCA’s Most Valuable Player top 10 for the County Championship.
Nick Compton made the headlines early on when rain prevented him from reaching the rare milestone of 1000 runs by the end of May. The Somerset number three then missed most of the summer with injury, returning to strike another unbeaten century in the final victory over Worcestershire. Nobody outscored him in first-class cricket, including some runs for the England Lions but he’s not in my XI for his dashing strike rate! Most of my team is selected for their county performances as there have been few consistent players on the international scene, especially England. Bell and Pietersen came close but I could hardly leave out Hashim Amla. He seems to be South Africa’s top scorer in every innings he plays, regardless of format, and that record-breaking 311 not out was the innings of the summer. Overseas stars Chris Rogers and Ramnesh Sarwan caught the eye for Middlesex and struggling Leicestershire, respectively, but my middle-order is completed by Jonny Bairstow. He may not have accumulated as many runs as he did in 2011 but fame didn’t seem to have affected his form for Yorkshire, and he held his own in an inconsistent England squad in Tests, ODIs and T20.
Veteran all-rounder Darren Stevens is such a reliable man for Kent, striking quick runs and taking medium-pace wickets. 2012 was no exception and nobody took more wickets than he did in CB40. However, the outstanding county performer was Somerset’s Peter Trego. Ahead of other sportsmen in the over-tattooed stakes, the Taunton favourite had to shoulder extra bowling duties due to a chronic injury list as well as bolster batting often deprived of Trescothick and Compton. Lesser men may have wilted but Trego simply had easily his best season ever, taking particular pleasure in reaching the 50-wicket milestone in the Championship. A true hero, but despite his globe-trotting T20 exploits, is unlikely to appear on England’s radar. Good, because he’s invaluable to Somerset!
Chris Read is another superb all-rounder. He may not bat until six or seven but he scored more than 1000 first-class runs for Nottinghamshire, many more than Hales, Taylor, Lumb and co. He remains an excellent wicketkeeper and an astute county captain to boot. Matt Prior and Hampshire’s Michael Bates came close, but it’s Prior’s England predecessor who gets the nod as gloveman.
With so much rain around, it was the groundstaff who deserve a special award! However, the pitches and conditions favoured the seamers in 2012. Reliable county pros like Murtagh, Richardson, Adams and Masters again took more than 50 Championship wickets each, as did Sussex’s much-travelled Aussie Stuart Magoffin. However, I could have selected almost any Warwickshire bowler. For me, Chris Wright narrowly shades Keith Barker for his all-format record but the two were often brilliant together, disguising the absence of Woakes and Rankin and playing a major role in the county’s success. Toby Roland-Jones was not on my horizon until mid-summer but the Middlesex seamer finished very strongly, taking 64 first-class wickets all season at under 20 apiece. Nevertheless, Graeme Onions takes the final place. The tall Durham paceman snared more first-class victims than anyone all summer, including a 9-64 against Notts, and impressed in the Third Test against the West Indies, too. He took 68 wickets for his county at a ridiculously good 14.30!
So no spinners! Well, as some small compensation, young Azeem Rafiq will have to settle for 12th man duty. He was particularly effective in T20 and his all-round performance against Essex in the last Championship match did more than anything to secure Yorkshire’s promotion. Warwickshire’s Jeetan Patel and Monty Panesar just miss out.
The XI in summary: Chopra (Warks), Nash (Sussex), Compton (Somerset), Amla (S. Africa), Bairstow (Yorks/England), Read (Notts, capt and w/k), Trego (Somerset), Onions (Durham/England), Roland-Jones (Middlesex), Wright (Warks), Azeem Rafiq (Yorks, 12th man)
Joe Root is the name on everyone’s lips, with his Young Cricketer of the Year award and England call-up for the India tour. However, he won’t be opening for my team of the summer. Instead, I’ve plumped for Varun Chopra and Chris Nash. The Warwickshire batsman notched up another 1000+ first-class runs, including some big hundreds, and also averaged more than 50 in the CB40. He also represented the England Lions. The Sussex opener has also acquired more responsibility in recent years, providing runs in all competitions, long with his useful spinners in the one-day and T20 competitions. Only three men outscored him in the Friends Life tournament and he was the only batsman in the PCA’s Most Valuable Player top 10 for the County Championship.
Nick Compton made the headlines early on when rain prevented him from reaching the rare milestone of 1000 runs by the end of May. The Somerset number three then missed most of the summer with injury, returning to strike another unbeaten century in the final victory over Worcestershire. Nobody outscored him in first-class cricket, including some runs for the England Lions but he’s not in my XI for his dashing strike rate! Most of my team is selected for their county performances as there have been few consistent players on the international scene, especially England. Bell and Pietersen came close but I could hardly leave out Hashim Amla. He seems to be South Africa’s top scorer in every innings he plays, regardless of format, and that record-breaking 311 not out was the innings of the summer. Overseas stars Chris Rogers and Ramnesh Sarwan caught the eye for Middlesex and struggling Leicestershire, respectively, but my middle-order is completed by Jonny Bairstow. He may not have accumulated as many runs as he did in 2011 but fame didn’t seem to have affected his form for Yorkshire, and he held his own in an inconsistent England squad in Tests, ODIs and T20.
Veteran all-rounder Darren Stevens is such a reliable man for Kent, striking quick runs and taking medium-pace wickets. 2012 was no exception and nobody took more wickets than he did in CB40. However, the outstanding county performer was Somerset’s Peter Trego. Ahead of other sportsmen in the over-tattooed stakes, the Taunton favourite had to shoulder extra bowling duties due to a chronic injury list as well as bolster batting often deprived of Trescothick and Compton. Lesser men may have wilted but Trego simply had easily his best season ever, taking particular pleasure in reaching the 50-wicket milestone in the Championship. A true hero, but despite his globe-trotting T20 exploits, is unlikely to appear on England’s radar. Good, because he’s invaluable to Somerset!
Chris Read is another superb all-rounder. He may not bat until six or seven but he scored more than 1000 first-class runs for Nottinghamshire, many more than Hales, Taylor, Lumb and co. He remains an excellent wicketkeeper and an astute county captain to boot. Matt Prior and Hampshire’s Michael Bates came close, but it’s Prior’s England predecessor who gets the nod as gloveman.
With so much rain around, it was the groundstaff who deserve a special award! However, the pitches and conditions favoured the seamers in 2012. Reliable county pros like Murtagh, Richardson, Adams and Masters again took more than 50 Championship wickets each, as did Sussex’s much-travelled Aussie Stuart Magoffin. However, I could have selected almost any Warwickshire bowler. For me, Chris Wright narrowly shades Keith Barker for his all-format record but the two were often brilliant together, disguising the absence of Woakes and Rankin and playing a major role in the county’s success. Toby Roland-Jones was not on my horizon until mid-summer but the Middlesex seamer finished very strongly, taking 64 first-class wickets all season at under 20 apiece. Nevertheless, Graeme Onions takes the final place. The tall Durham paceman snared more first-class victims than anyone all summer, including a 9-64 against Notts, and impressed in the Third Test against the West Indies, too. He took 68 wickets for his county at a ridiculously good 14.30!
So no spinners! Well, as some small compensation, young Azeem Rafiq will have to settle for 12th man duty. He was particularly effective in T20 and his all-round performance against Essex in the last Championship match did more than anything to secure Yorkshire’s promotion. Warwickshire’s Jeetan Patel and Monty Panesar just miss out.
The XI in summary: Chopra (Warks), Nash (Sussex), Compton (Somerset), Amla (S. Africa), Bairstow (Yorks/England), Read (Notts, capt and w/k), Trego (Somerset), Onions (Durham/England), Roland-Jones (Middlesex), Wright (Warks), Azeem Rafiq (Yorks, 12th man)
Saturday, 18 August 2012
Onions on fire and Notts fall further behind
Warwickshire may not have played his week, but they had the greatest reason for celebrating. They now stand eleven points clear at the top of the Championship with a game in hand on their two nearest challengers. Nottinghamshire needed to beat Durham to maintain a serious challenge and came desperately close to doing so. Having been the victims of an extraordinary performance by Graham Onions - dismissing all ten batsmen bowling and throwing - they did well to stay in the contest. Needing 366 to win on the final day, openers Wessels and Hales put on 168 but once the latter was fourth out for 101, wickets fell steadily and, despite Steven Mullaney's gallant efforts, Mark Wood captured the last two in one over and Durham registered their third win of the campaign. As a result, they remain second behind Sussex. They now meet Somerset next week at Taunton.
It was an even closer finish at The Oval, where a late order rally by Middlesex almost produced a great victory. However, Surrey spinners Murali Kartik and Gareth Batty had the edge and the home team eased their relegation worries. In a week when the East baked and the West drowned, there was little play at Worcester, so Worcestershire and Lancashire could only draw and continue to occupy the bottom places in Division One.
Hampshire improved their prospects of replacing one of them by overcoming Northants at Southampton. Set a tough target of 326 in 70-odd overs, Jimmy Adams led his troops with an excellent 149 and Hants now stand in second place, just eight behind Derbyshire. The leaders could take only three points from a rain-affected fixture against third-placed Yorkshire despite an impressive all-round performance by Wes Durston (5-34 and 123 runs) and Usman Khawaja's unbeaten 110 not out in the follow-on.
Rain washed out almost three days' play in Kent's contest with Gloucestershire but it was the batting wicket at Colchester which prevented a result in Glamorgan's visit to Essex. Stewart Walters struck a rare century on day one, then Westley, Mickelburgh and Shah took the home team's score to 370-1 before veteran Robert Croft twirled his way to a 'five-for'. Ben Wright and Jim Allenby led the second innings riposte with a fifth-wicket partnership of 180 and the match was drawn.
Bottom side Leicestershire can leapfrog both the Welsh and Gloucestershire next week but beating Hampshire looks a tall order. In addition to the fixtures already mentioned, more eyes may be trained on Chester-le-Street, where Onions will hope to add Worcestershire batsmen to his wicket tally, and Edgbaston, where a win for Warwickshire over Middlesex could put them almost out of sight and the pressure on Notts and dark horses Sussex. If Warwicks and Notts draw their two encounters, the South Coast county could yet nick the title.
It was an even closer finish at The Oval, where a late order rally by Middlesex almost produced a great victory. However, Surrey spinners Murali Kartik and Gareth Batty had the edge and the home team eased their relegation worries. In a week when the East baked and the West drowned, there was little play at Worcester, so Worcestershire and Lancashire could only draw and continue to occupy the bottom places in Division One.
Hampshire improved their prospects of replacing one of them by overcoming Northants at Southampton. Set a tough target of 326 in 70-odd overs, Jimmy Adams led his troops with an excellent 149 and Hants now stand in second place, just eight behind Derbyshire. The leaders could take only three points from a rain-affected fixture against third-placed Yorkshire despite an impressive all-round performance by Wes Durston (5-34 and 123 runs) and Usman Khawaja's unbeaten 110 not out in the follow-on.
Rain washed out almost three days' play in Kent's contest with Gloucestershire but it was the batting wicket at Colchester which prevented a result in Glamorgan's visit to Essex. Stewart Walters struck a rare century on day one, then Westley, Mickelburgh and Shah took the home team's score to 370-1 before veteran Robert Croft twirled his way to a 'five-for'. Ben Wright and Jim Allenby led the second innings riposte with a fifth-wicket partnership of 180 and the match was drawn.
Bottom side Leicestershire can leapfrog both the Welsh and Gloucestershire next week but beating Hampshire looks a tall order. In addition to the fixtures already mentioned, more eyes may be trained on Chester-le-Street, where Onions will hope to add Worcestershire batsmen to his wicket tally, and Edgbaston, where a win for Warwickshire over Middlesex could put them almost out of sight and the pressure on Notts and dark horses Sussex. If Warwicks and Notts draw their two encounters, the South Coast county could yet nick the title.
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Onions on fire but Durham burnt out
It was a battle between two counties yet to win a Championship match this season, and Durham vs Lancashire proved to be a very close-run thing. The home side were skittled for 102 thanks to Luke Procter's 5-17, then Graham Onions led the response with renewed vigour. Only Kyle Hogg's late-order resistance and Paul Horton carrying his bat for 49 ensured a first innings lead for the Red Roses. An excellent Ben Stokes century meant that Lancashire needed 200 to win. This time Horton lasted only one ball but, despite another six wickets from Onions, the champions sneaked home by just two wickets. It was misery upon misery for Durham, as their fine for a slow over rate meant they actually achieved MINUS one point and are rooted to bottiom place. At least Onions has bowled hmself into contention for a Test recall this week.
The top two counties weren't playing this week, but weather and Worcestershire's top order prevented Somerset from taking full advantage. All eyes were on Nick Compton's attempt to become the first man since Graeme Hick to hit 1000 first-class runs before the end of May. The traditional landmark now seems rather ridiculous because the domestic season starts so much earlier but Compton has been in excellent form. Sadly, rain washed out his innings on the 31st, before he proceeded to another century the next day. Hey-ho! The final day petered out into a draw with such inevitability that Somerset even bowled Craig Kieswetter. Weirdly the wicketkeeper ended with two wickets for three runs and will probably end the season at the top of the bowling averages!
In the other Division One match, Middlesex advanced closer to Somerset by beating Sussex at Lord's. Tim Murtagh claimed 5-55 before five Middlesex batsmen struck half-centuries on the way to a first innings lead of 208. The visitors only just did enough to make Robson and Rogers bat again, but they only needed ten miniutes to wrap up victory and secure 23 points.
The Division Two leaders Derbyshire were surprisingly well beaten by Gloucestershire at Bristol. Maybe it was the news of the successful attempt to redevelop the county ground that spurred them on. Not for the first time they relied heavily on the Gidman brothers; Alex's runs and Will's wickets produced a seven-wicket triumph. Derbyshire remain top, but Yorkshire narrowed the margin after drawing against Northamptonshire. Rain destoyed any chance of a result, but Joe Root's 125 helped divert attention from Adil Rashid's controversial dropping from the Tykes's first team. Actually, Adil only has himself to blame, and Azeem Rafiq performed OK in his place.
The basement battle between Glamorgan and Leicestershire seemed to be going the way of the Welsh side when James Allenby and Dean Cosker reduced Leicester to 271, then Marcus North and Mark Wallace each reached three figures. Glamorgan piled up 558-9 declared, also assisted by some dreadful bowling from Robbie Joseph, who contributed 13 no-balls to the Glamorgan cause! Fortunately, Michael Thornly (131) and Ned Eckersley (137 not out) saw their side to safety on day four, leaving them fourteen points ahead.
This week sees the last Championship fixtures before the T20 slogfest intervenes. Warwickshire must be confident of regaining top spot as they visit Durham who may be without Onions. However, Notts, who currently stand proud by a solitary point, have a slightly tougher game against Lancashire. Middlesex and Somerset meet to fight for third place, while Surrey and Sussex will crave a victory to pull themselves away from the relegation berths. In Division Two, only Gloucestershire sit it out, while Derbyshire hope to recover by beating Leicestershire, and Yorkshire travel to Colwyn Bay to rub Welsh noses into the sea water. At least Derby know they will go into the break guaranteed of first place. Kent and Northants also meet, with a chance of overtaking the White Roses.
The top two counties weren't playing this week, but weather and Worcestershire's top order prevented Somerset from taking full advantage. All eyes were on Nick Compton's attempt to become the first man since Graeme Hick to hit 1000 first-class runs before the end of May. The traditional landmark now seems rather ridiculous because the domestic season starts so much earlier but Compton has been in excellent form. Sadly, rain washed out his innings on the 31st, before he proceeded to another century the next day. Hey-ho! The final day petered out into a draw with such inevitability that Somerset even bowled Craig Kieswetter. Weirdly the wicketkeeper ended with two wickets for three runs and will probably end the season at the top of the bowling averages!
In the other Division One match, Middlesex advanced closer to Somerset by beating Sussex at Lord's. Tim Murtagh claimed 5-55 before five Middlesex batsmen struck half-centuries on the way to a first innings lead of 208. The visitors only just did enough to make Robson and Rogers bat again, but they only needed ten miniutes to wrap up victory and secure 23 points.
The Division Two leaders Derbyshire were surprisingly well beaten by Gloucestershire at Bristol. Maybe it was the news of the successful attempt to redevelop the county ground that spurred them on. Not for the first time they relied heavily on the Gidman brothers; Alex's runs and Will's wickets produced a seven-wicket triumph. Derbyshire remain top, but Yorkshire narrowed the margin after drawing against Northamptonshire. Rain destoyed any chance of a result, but Joe Root's 125 helped divert attention from Adil Rashid's controversial dropping from the Tykes's first team. Actually, Adil only has himself to blame, and Azeem Rafiq performed OK in his place.
The basement battle between Glamorgan and Leicestershire seemed to be going the way of the Welsh side when James Allenby and Dean Cosker reduced Leicester to 271, then Marcus North and Mark Wallace each reached three figures. Glamorgan piled up 558-9 declared, also assisted by some dreadful bowling from Robbie Joseph, who contributed 13 no-balls to the Glamorgan cause! Fortunately, Michael Thornly (131) and Ned Eckersley (137 not out) saw their side to safety on day four, leaving them fourteen points ahead.
This week sees the last Championship fixtures before the T20 slogfest intervenes. Warwickshire must be confident of regaining top spot as they visit Durham who may be without Onions. However, Notts, who currently stand proud by a solitary point, have a slightly tougher game against Lancashire. Middlesex and Somerset meet to fight for third place, while Surrey and Sussex will crave a victory to pull themselves away from the relegation berths. In Division Two, only Gloucestershire sit it out, while Derbyshire hope to recover by beating Leicestershire, and Yorkshire travel to Colwyn Bay to rub Welsh noses into the sea water. At least Derby know they will go into the break guaranteed of first place. Kent and Northants also meet, with a chance of overtaking the White Roses.
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