County Cricket: No Thain, No Gain

After week 1 of the One Day Cup, Middlesex were looking the strongest outfit in Group B, but a trip to Worcester upset their 100% start. Josh de Caires achieved another career-best, this time a maiden century of 130, but the experienced Jake Libby led the successful run chase with an unbeaten 109. A few days later, he repeated the score against Essex but this time in vain.

It was a strange week for Essex. In their three fixtures, they racked up more than a thousand runs, passing three hundred on each occasion, yet emerged with only four points. Young Noah Thain was in sparkling form, striking successive tons against Sussex and Hampshire, and team-mates Tom Westley and Matt Critchley also filled their boots, each reaching three figures in the week’s highest total of 376-5. 

Middlesex, Yorkshire and Durham all have four wins to their names, and they had to play each other. Halifax-born Benjamin Cliff’s medium pace scuppered Durham’s innings at York before Wharton and Whiteman saw the home side home by seven wickets. However, Yorkshire’s bid to top the table was undone by Middlesex at Lord’s. Cliff, again, took 4-39 but, despite a modest target of 247, their batting wilted against Zafar Gohar’s spin and Noah Cornwell’s pace and they succumbed to a 35-run defeat. 

Durham had earlier beaten Glamorgan in a high-scoring thriller thanks to Will Rhodes’ 148 not out and two wickets and finished the week with a resounding walloping of Hampshire by nine wickets. Emilio Gay (remember him?) rediscovered that early-season form by notching an unbeaten 104. 

Leicestershire Foxes lead Group A. Recovering from last Tuesday’s poor showing against Nottinghamshire, they proceeded to humble Northants by eight wickets and Somerset by a hefty 164 runs. The Outlaws remain second although they suffered losses to Lancashire and Kent. The latter clash went to the final over but Chris Benjamin’s rapid half-century proved decisive. Daniel Bell-Drummond must be one of the finest batsmen in recent years not to have been capped by England but he accumulated two hundred runs this week to keep Kent in the hunt. 

Other notable performances include Ed Barnard’s dominant 140 in Warwickshire’s victory over Surrey and Jack Morley’s 5-28 for Derbyshire in the 188-run demolition of Sussex. 

The next week’s games include Leicestershire v Kent at Beckenham and Derbyshire’s opportunity to disrupt both Group B leaders, Yorkshire and Middlesex. Durham also host Middlesex at Gosforth. 

Team of the Week: Thain (Ess), Bell-Drummond (Ken), De Caires (Mid), Barnard (War), Libby (Wor), Verreynne (Not +), Rhodes (Dur), Critchley (Ess), Potts (Der), Morley (Der), Cliff (Yor)

County Cricket: Somerset are Abell but Surrey seem the more willing

Just over ten years ago my blog celebrated the 501-run partnership involving Alviro Petersen and Ashwell Prince in Lancashire’s Championship fixture at Colwyn Bay. There was nothing quite as massive this week, but one of Ian Botham’s records was eclipsed when James Rew and Tom Abell put on a new Somerset fourth-wicket record of 313 at Trent Bridge. All the more remarkable was the fact it followed a devastating opening spell by Muhammad Abbas, and the second-best stand was just 41. It counted for little, because Haseeb Hameed’s 208 anchored a superior Nottinghamshire reply which pretty much guaranteed the draw. 

The stalemate also played into Surrey’s hands. The leaders extended the gap over their nearest rivals to nine points courtesy of a five-wicket defeat of Durham at Chester-le-Street, where runs proved harder to come by. There were no centuries although Emilio Gay was dismissed one short. Ben Raine and Sai Kishore went home with five-fors, but the champs took the sixteen points for the win. 

Yorkshire stole the seaside show at Scarborough, thumping Sussex by an innings and leaping out of the relegation spots. Tons from Lyth and, for the second game in succession, Matt Revis, elevated the home side’s total to an unassailable 545-9 declared. Sussex were always struggling to save the game and, despite dogged late resistance by Hudson-Prentice and Carson, the experienced seamer Matt Milnes sealed the triumph with figures of 5-31. 

Warwickshire are only a point behind Somerset despite a run-heavy draw against Essex at Chelmsford. The hosts dominated the first few days, as Tom Westley, Charlie Allison and Michael Pepper all reached three figures. The Midlanders made a decent fist of their response, led by Ed Barnard and Ethan Bamber’s maiden hundred in his 72^nd first-class match. 

Not for the first time this season, Worcestershire were frustrated on the final afternoon when in sight of a much-needed success. Hampshire set them a challenging target of 358 on the final afternoon and, to skipper D’Oliveira’s credit, they accepted the gauntlet with no little enterprise. Jake Libby carried his bat for a round 100 in the first innings and reached 106 in the second before being bowled by Fuller. The run rate continued at more than six an over, but wickets fell regularly and, at 303-8, time was called with neither side quite doing enough. 

In Division Two, the combination of inclement weather and dominant batsmen prevented a result in three of the four fixtures. The exception occurred at Old Trafford, where Glamorgan cemented their second place by beating Lancashire by 154 runs. Chris Green (6-83) had limited the Welsh county to 261 on day one, but Mason Crane’s six-wicket blitz left Lancashire 124 adrift. Centuries by Kiran Carlson and Sam Northeast consolidated the lead and, despite Luke Wells’ 102, the Red Roses fell way short of the 473 target. 

Leicestershire are still comfortably clear of the rest following a tame draw at Canterbury. Rehan Ahmed scored another century and Tom Scriven’s unlikely 99 advanced the total to 471. However, day three was almost totally washed out, so Kent’s Ben Compton batted virtually to the end, amassing 221. Ahmed was the most successful of the ten bowlers used by ‘keeper-captain Handscomb, who kept his gloves on throughout! 

Northamptonshire had Derbyshire on the back foot for the final few days, courtesy of a 208-run seventh-wicket stand shared by Justin Broad and Rob Keogh. On the fourth day, only rain and Luis Reece’s defiance saved Derby’s bacon. The Cheltenham crowd had little to relish either, especially thse who turned up on Thursday with hope and well-used umbrellas. At least there were excellent innings from the bats of Middlesex’s Kane Williamson (153) and Gloucestershire’s 21-year-old Joe Phillips (136). 

Now comes the interminable hiatus for The Hundred and the neutered Metro One-Day Cup. As ever, I’ll be focussing on the latter, which opens the door for the less-lauded white-ballers to show what they’re made of in fifty-over competition. Glamorgan handed Somerset their traditional runners-up medals last season and must be in with a decent shout this summer, too. 

Team of the Week:- Hameed (Not), Libby (Wor), B Compton (Ken), Westley (Ess), Abell (Som), Carlson (Gla), Rew (Som +), Revis (Yor), Crane (Gla), Milnes (Yor), T Taylor (Wor)

County Cricket: Notts hit the heights, Lancashire rock bottom

The record dry and sunny Spring continued to lend cricket grounds a real summery atmosphere. Trent Bridge was also the scene for Nottinghamshire dealing Hampshire a hefty 366-run blow and consolidating their position at the top of Division One. Young Freddie McCann returned to their middle-order with a century, then the second innings was dominated by a 238-run partnership between Jack Haynes and Liam Patterson-White. Mohammad Abbas took 5-31 against his old mates but in the end it was Lyndon James (5-21) and Brett Hutton who instigated Hampshire’s second-innings crumble. 

On the South Coast, Worcestershire lost again, making little headway against the bowling of Sussex’s Finn Hudson-Prentice and Ollie Robinson. John Simpson took eight catches behind the stumps and off-spinner Jack Carson struck his maiden hundred but the bowling of Tom Taylor kept Worcestershire in the game. While Jake Libby was at the crease, they were even threatening to win it but when he was eighth out for 167, the remaining target pf 75 was just too stiff for the tail. 

Sussex advanced to third, but Warwickshire remain above them after a tame draw against Surrey. Only fifteen wickets fell on a placid Edgbaston featherbed, enabling Tom Latham (184 in his first game of the season), Ed Barnard (177 not out) and Surrey ‘keeper Ben Foakes (a career-best 174 not out) to fill their boots. 

Contrast that with the tense finish at Chelmsford where Yorkshire had Essex on the rack throughout. The bowling of George Hill and Ben Coad, followed by Adam Lyth’s 185 and a typical Bairstow blast, left Essex facing four sessions and a massive victory target of 510. At 45-4, the home team looked dead and buried but a slow but solid partnership between Critchley and Pepper, plus dogged defence by the tail (the last wicket survived for 14 overs) saved the draw. 

In the second tier, only two fixtures were played but the results were significant. At Canterbury, Kent’s hopes of bouncing back into the promotion places were dashed ruthlessly by bottom-side Glamorgan. Last week, spinner Ben Kellaway hit his record score of 74. This week, he extended that to a whopping 181 as the Welsh side racked up a total of 549-9 declared. They endeavoured to back this up by bowling out Kent twice inside two days. The wickets were shred out generously but Timm van der Gugten was the pick of the attack. 

The result elevated Glamorgan to sixth, but Lancashire’s 70-run defeat by Northamptonshire consigned them to the basement. Keaton Jennings promptly quit the captaincy but the primary problem seems to be the batting, with the notable exception of his successor, Marcus Harris. The Aussie’s prolific start was maintained with another 164 runs, but the Northants seamers and leggie Calvin Harrison (4-32) were too strong overall, earning then their opening victory account for 2025. 

Next up, they play Glamorgan and leaders Leicestershire travel to Middlesex. In the next rung up, all counties are in action, including Notts at Durham and Warwickshire at home to Hampshire. Worcestershire’s ambitions of taking at least one batting bonus point lie in the hands of Essex’s useful attack. 

Team of the Week:- Lyth (Yor), Libby (Wor), Latham (War), Harris (Lan), Foakes (Sur +), Barnard (War), Kellaway (Gla), Hill (Yor), James (Not), Van der Gugten (Gla), Hudson-Prentice (Sus)

One Day Cup: It's Somerset v Glamorgan!

At the end of a week which featured the last group fixtures, two so-called quarter-finals and two semis, next month’s Metro Bank Cup Final will involve Somerset and Glamorgan. Amidst much to-ing and fro-ing, the top three in each group were unchanged.

In Group A, Somerset took the direct route to the last four by defeating Middlesex and, crucially, Worcestershire. The latter lost again, in a nailbiting finale against Lancashire but, along with the equally inconsistent Hampshire, edged out Derbyshire only on net run rate. 

In Group B, Glamorgan had been in pole position to top the group. In a vital clash at Leicester, they lost by only seven runs in a game which featured a second competition century from Peter Handscomb and a Tim van der Gugten five-for. However, was to be the Welsh side’s only loss so far. Warwickshire faltered in the final furlong but just did enough to resist a late challenge by Nottinghamshire. 

With New Road on Hundred hosting duty, Worcestershire had to pop across to Edgbaston for a local derby quarter-final. Skipper Jake Libby continued his run of form with 112, but teenage Kai Smith’s unbeaten 130 saw Warwickshire progress with an over to spare. It was an even tighter affair at Grace Road. In a repeat of the 2023 final, a Nick Gubbins ton took Hampshire to a promising 290-8 but Leicestershire sneaked through from the penultimate delivery. 

So to Sunday’s semis. Sod’s law, I thought, that the two best counties would slip up but it wasn’t to be. At Taunton, Somerset piled on a mighty 334-4, led by Lewis Goldsworthy’s 115 not out and a third successive rapid half-century by James Rew. The latter hasn’t kicked on from last year’s red-ball successes, but the 50-over stuff has rescued his summer nicely. The target was too much for Leicestershire, even with Handscpmb producing a third hundred of the competition. 

Across the Bristol Channel in Cardiff, Glamorgan welcomed Warwickshire to Sophia Gardens. Their Group B encounter had been rained off so at least he fans had something to enjoy. Runs were relatively hard to come by, and it was only some late hitting by Dan Douthwaite which boosted the home county’s total to 247-9. Ed Barnard (4-34) was the pick of Warwickshire’s attack but he and his top order were soon struggling in reply. They sank to 66-6 as Douthweite, McIlroy, Gorvin and the masterly, miserly Timm van der Gugten (2-22) suced the energy out of the innings. Michael Burgess (85) was the only Bear to show his claws but they just weren’t sharp enough to win single-handedly. 

In theory, Somerset could conceivably achieve a treble this season but that would require Surrey to suffer a Championship meltdown and the Cidermen to enjoy considerable luck in the T20 knockouts. On paper, the One-Day Cup climax with Glamorgan at Trent Bridge should favour Somerset but anything can happen and, of course, we are serial runners-up! 

Team of the Week:- Hammond (Glo), Gubbins (Ham), Libby (Wor), Goldsworthy (Som), Rew (Som +), Handscomb (Lei), K Smith (War), van der Gugten (Gla), Douthwaite (Gla), Hill (Yor), Chahal (Nor)

Surrey March On

While Australia were warming up for the Ashes with a comprehensive defeat of India to clinch the World Test Championship, Surrey were sweeping all before them in both the Blast and County Championship. Hot sun blazed upon most pitches last week and the champions’ batsmen responded with some fiery strokeplay. In T20, they racked up 258-6 against Sussex and 236-2 in Glamorgan, with Laurie Evans scoring a total of 211. He doesn’t play the four-day stuff much these days but Surrey nonetheless boast a formidable line-up. At Canterbury, an upset looked on the cards as Kent set them 501 to win. Such is Surrey’s form, it was never really in doubt. Dom Sibley (140 not out) anchored, Jamie Smith (114 in 77 balls) smashed and Ben Foakes steered their serene course to victory and a 31-point lead in Division One. 

It was a mixed week for Somerset. Hampshire handed them a first defeat in the Blast after throwing away a winning position in the final overs before taking it out on Gloucestershire. Sadly, in red-ball cricket it was the same old story. Essex dominated at Chelmsford, where Alastair Cook and all-rounder Matt Critchley provided the runs, Porter and Harmer most of the wickets. 

At Trent Bridge, Warwickshire enforced the follow-on, emboldened by a 416-run lead, only for Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clarke to remember how to build an innings. His first Championship century was a double. At Southport, Lancashire also established a solid first-innings advantage over Hampshire, despite Felix Organ’s 6-67. A Gubbins-Vince rally made the home team bat again, only for Dane Vilas to guide them to the sixteen points. 

In the second tier, Yorkshire finally opened their account by defeating Derbyshire by three wickets at Chesterfield. On the first morning, the home county were mauled by Fisher and Coad, slipping to 15-4 and only just reaching three figures by the end of the innings. Second time around, a slaughter looked certain as they plunged to 17-4. This time, the rest of the side didn’t go down s easily. Captain Leus du Plooy and Haider Ali shared a stand of 277 and Yorkshire’s victory charge looked decidedly ropey. In the end it was Yorkshire’s own captain Shan Masood who grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck with an unbeaten 95. 

Leicestershire came away from Gloucestershire with a valuable 5-wicket triumph. Colin Ackermann and Rehan Ahmed had to step on the gas to reach the 215 target before time ran out. There were runs galore at Chester-le-Street where Durham and Glamorgan traded centuries en route for a draw. Kiran Carlson stroked 162 for the Welsh, then Bedingham (151) and Robinson (102) helped Durham to a mighty 630, leaving Chris Cooke (134 not out) and Van Gugten (55 not out) to see the side to stumps. 

The most exciting conclusion was witnessed at Hove, where Sussex and Worcestershire slugged it out to the bitter end. Worcester opener Jake Libby was in imperious form, hitting 198 and 97, but Sussex’s Carson, Haines and Alsop set their opponents a formidable target of 386 in 79 overs. At 317-3, it looked gettable and, even after Azhar Ali fell for a well-paced ton, Worcester required only eight off Nathan McAndrew’s final over. Remarkably, he conceded just three, Leach swinging and missing for the six needed off the final delivery. The draw meant it was Sussex who sit in second place behind Durham. 

Back to the Blast for the next few weeks…. 

Team of the Week:- Libby (Wor), Evans (Sur), Clarke (Not), Bedingham (Dur), Carlson (Glam), Du Plooy (Der), Foakes (Sur +), Critchley (Ess), Fisher (Yor), Porter (Ess), Cook (Ess)

Potts boiling for Durham

While mourners queued to mourn the late Queen and the counties lined up to attack Andrew Strauss’s plan to systematically destroy county cricket to preserve the precious Hundred, the Championship served up more intrigue as the season approaches its finale. 

In Division One, Surrey’s bid to put daylight between them and Hampshire was thwarted by Northamptonshire. Centuries by Emilio Gay and the reliable Rob Keogh kept them in the game before tons from Hashim Amla and Tom Curran gave the visitors a first-innings advantage. Saif Zaib, restored to the side after a few decent scores for the Second XI, proceeded to strike a vital 129 as Northants batted on to ensure the draw which almost certainly keeps them in the top tier next season. 

Lancashire didn’t play this week but their task of catching the leading pair was made harder thanks to a six-point penalty imposed because of persistent indiscipline. Essex moved to within four points of them after a nail-biting conclusion to their match at Headingley. Needing only 162 to win on the third day, Ben Coad and Steven Patterson looked to have delivered Yorkshire a much-needed victory only for bowler Shane Snater to fight fire with fire and take a one-wicket win with an unbeaten 65. 

Warwickshire and Somerset met in a must-not-lose encounter at Edgbaston. In that respect, both can consider themselves content because it ended in a draw, although Somerset needed to take only four more wickets. Tom Abell (87) and George Bartlett (111) put them in command but Warwickshire’s Sibley, Davies and Hain each passed 50 to save the game. 

Next week, Warwickshire will expect to leap out of the relegation positions by beating winless Gloucestershire while Somerset face a tricky home clash with Northants. Kent travel to Hampshire so I reckon the summer-ending Kent v Somerset fixture will decide who goes down with Gloucestershire. I can’t take the stress…. 

In Division Two, Nottinghamshire are well clear of the rest, but Middlesex overtook Glamorgan in second spot after thrashing them at Lord’s by ten wickets. Opener Mark Stoneman top-scored with a first-innings 128 while Toby Roland-Jones and new recruit Ryan Higgins also chipped in with useful wickets. 

Durham claimed only their second first-class success of the season at Leicester, wrapping it up by seven wickets early on the last morning. Michael Jones was the pick of the batsmen but the undoubted star was Matthew Potts. After his early form and sensational England debut, he has been very quiet since, but this week he destroyed Leicester with a career-best match return of 13-101, those 13 wickets greater than his aggregate tally achieved since June. Meanwhile, at Hove, Leach and Gibbon reduced Sussex to 23-5 on the first morning before they recovered to reach 220. Worcestershire’s first pair almost beat that on their own and Jake Libby proceeded to an unprecedented 215. Second time around, the home county showed more batting gumption and Tom Alsop’s 132 not out saw them too safety. 

Notts next travel to Worcester, Middlesex head up the M1 to a dispirited Leicestershire while Glamorgan are at home to Derbyshire, who have an outside chance of promotion. However, it’s looking like Lord’s and Trent Bridge hosting Division One cricket in 2023, which will please the ECB no end. Will they pull up the drawbridge after them? 

Team of the Week: Gay (Nor), Libby (Wor), Amla (Sur), Hain (War), Keogh (Nor), Simpson (Mid +), Leach (Wor), Snater (Ess), Coad (Yor), Brooks (Som), Potts (Dur).

County Cricket Stars of 2021

First of all, I have to say it was great to see a full cricket season again, even if the ongoing pandemic entailed crowd restrictions early on. It was probably too full, thanks to the ECB’s insistence in launching their pointless, ego-boosting city franchise format The Hundred to create a chaotic summer of four domestic competitions, plus England’s various international commitments. 

The Hundred was considered a huge success – by those financially or politically involved in it, probably because the BBC was allowed to broadcast some matches live, automatically boosting TV ratings which would have languished in the mere tens of thousands on the usual Sky channels surrounded by Extreme Tiddlywinks and World Husky Racing. Who won The Hundred? I don’t care. I believe the Pom Bears won the Men’s version and KP Nuts the women. My only regret about ignoring the new summer holiday tourney is that I neglected the women’s cricket at a time when it enjoyed the rare privilege of taking equal billing, and money, which is huge progress. 

So what else happened? There was Devon Conway’s 200 on debut for New Zealand, Joe Root’s prolific scoring against India, for whom they sported a rare world-class seam attack, and then that dreadfully disappointing cancellation/postponement of the Test series decider in case it interfered with IPL commitments – sorry, I meant to write ‘because of a few positive Covid cases in the visitors’ squad’. 

On the domestic scene, Somerset were utterly dominant in the first phase of the County Championship, then completely useless for the September climax. Warwickshire nicked it on the very last day. Kent won the T20 Blast, leaving Somerset with a customary runner-up badge, while Glamorgan somehow fielded a balanced side capable of capturing the One-Day Cup. It was missing many established stars raking in the Hundred cash but did introduce me to a raft of new names, including Tim David (Surrey), Feroze Khushi (Essex), Joe Cooke (Glamorgan’s top wicket-taker) and Lancashire’s Jack Morley, who could well break into the big time next season. 

So who makes my end-of-season County Team of the Year? As ever it spans all three county formats so probably wouldn’t be a world-beater in any one of them. Apart from one or two shoo-ins, I found it harder than usual. However, based on the stats and appearances in my weekly XIs, here are my selections. 

Openers:

Sussex’s Tom Haines was the top scorer with the red ball, while Warwickshire’s Rob Yates finished the season strongly. Mark Stoneman struggled with Surrey but, after crossing the Thames to Middlesex and making a ‘pair’ on his debut, he rediscovered some first-class form. Alex Lees and Graham Clark were prolific together in the Royal London Cup and Haseeb Hameed showed enough in a couple of Nottinghamshire games to earn an unexpected England recall. However, I’ve plumped for Worcestershire’s Jake Libby, also my choice in 2020, who aggregated more runs (1,629) than anybody, and Northamptonshire’s Ricardo Vasconselos who showed commendable consistency with red and white balls and can also keep wicket if required. 

Middle-order:

Like Stoneman, Hashim Amla suffered a few ducks but when he reached three figures he tended to go big. Another Surrey player, Ollie Pope also seemed to relish batting at The Oval, striking two double-hundreds. His 274 against Glamorgan in the season finale was the highest Championship innings of 2021 but even I might have hung around (for 0) on that batsman’s paradise! Ben Brown of Sussex batted well without the responsibility of keeping wicket, while Lancashire’s Josh Bohannon averaged over 50 and both Essex skipper Tom Westley and the ever-dependable Sam Hain also came into the equation. David Bedingham was a new name to me but the 27 year-old South African made a huge impact for Durham. As well as passing 1000 Championship runs at more than 60, his 50-over strike rate was a massive 140. Lewis Hill had what must have been his best season yet for Leicestershire and young Cardiffian Kiran Carlson showed his more senior colleagues how to make runs on sometimes difficult wickets. 

All-Rounders:

Aged 25, Worcestershire’s Ed Barnard has already taken more than 200 first-class wickets but in 2021 he seemed to transform into a batting, not bowling all-rounder, averaging 50 and 42, respectively. It wouldn’t be an annual review without mentioning Darren Stevens. Even at 45, he snared 39 Championship wickets at only 18.58 while two explosive innings for Kent made the headlines. His semi-final blitz was instrumental in the Spitfires going on to win the T20 Blast and in May he smashed 15 sixes and 15 fours out of 190 in a rain-hit game against Glamorgan. This was very nearly more than anyone else managed in the same match – combined! Nevertheless I have plumped for Derbyshire’s Matt Critchley. As a leg-spinner he ought to be a valuable T20 performer but 2021 was his breakthrough season with a bat. He passed fifty nine times and was one of only five players to reach the 1,000-run milestone in the Championship. 

Wicket-keeper:

Lots of candidates for this one, and it was too close to call. Ollie Robinson, Harry Swindells, James Bracey (now an improbable England international), John Simpson, the very inconsistent Glamorgan batsman and skipper Chris Cooke and Notts gloveman Tom Moores all pushed hard but Michael Burgess  of champions Warwickshire edged it for his ability in all three formats. 

Bowlers:- 

Before England came a-calling, Craig Overton and Ollie Robinson were in fine fettle. Redoubtable fellow seamers Chris Rushworth and 40 year-olds Tim Murtagh and Michael Hogan continued to serve their counties with distinction. Even in the RL Cup, the latter conceded fewer than three an over, strangling the opposition on Glamorgan’s march towards success. Tom Bailey carried much of the Lancashire attack while South African Dane Paterson also claimed more than 50 first-class wickets at under 20 apiece. Sam Cook finished very strongly for Essex, his 10-41 aggregate against Northants leaving his season average below 15. Jimmy Anderson took 7-19 in a rare outing for Lancashire and Liam Norwell took his opportunities well as Warwickshire closed in on the title but it was Nottinghamshire’s giant Luke Fletcher who easily topped the Championship wicket table with 66. He was on fire in May.

The Parkinson spin twins enjoyed solid summers, Leicestershire’s Callum beating Matt in the wicket department, but yet again it was Essex’s Simon Harmer who was the domestic game’s outstanding versatile bowler. He was amongst the most prolific in all three competitions, totalling 90. His career tally is now pushing 900 and who would bet against him passing the 1000 mark by the close of 2022? 

To summarise, my County Eleven of 2021 is as follows:- 

Libby (Wor), Vasconselos (Nor), Bedingham (Dur), Hill (Lei), Carlson (Gla), Critchley (Der), Burgess (War), Harmer (Ess), Fletcher (Not), S Cook (Ess), Rushworth. 12^th man: Stevens (Ken)

Notts take charge of Championship

After all August’s white ball shenanigans and Joe Root’s heroics for England, it was good to see the County Championship back up and running. For the first time we have a second phase league system so only the six members of Division One have a chance of winning the 2021 title. 

Somerset’s initial advantage was immediately wiped out by Nottinghamshire, who left Taunton with maximum points and Somerset with a whole chicken coop-ful of egg on their faces. The home team badly missed Craig Overton, on international duty at Headingley, as Steven Mullaney’s side racked up 448. All-rounder Liam Patterson-White top-scored with 101 before the seam trio of Luke Fletcher, Brett Hutton and Dane Paterson ensured a massive first-innings lead. It was slightly harder on day three but Somerset were again bowled out for under 200 and the humiliation was complete. 

At Southampton, Yorkshire were all over Hampshire for most of the match. Gary Ballance’s ton and Jordan Thompson’s seven wickets were instrumental in the Rose Bowl county needing to bat out the entire fourth day merely to avoid defeat. That they succeeded ultimately depended on an incredible rearguard action by the final pair. Kyle Abbott and Brad Wheal defended the last 46 balls without scoring but, more importantly, without losing a wicket. 

It was also quite slow scoring at Old Trafford but at least runs were put on the board. Warwickshire’s Chris Benjamin and Sam Hain shared a stand of 237, then Lancashire batsman Josh Bohannon (170) kept a rampant Liam Norwell (6-57) at bay. Day four was a rather dull round of batting practice en route for a draw. 

In Division Two, Essex were off to a flier, beating Glamorgan by a innings. Welsh bowler Lukas Carey was the only Glammie batsman to reach double figures twice, making Nick Browne’s century look even more remarkable. Shane Snater and Sam Cook starred for Essex with the ball. A positive Covid test in the Surrey camp caused their clash with Durham to be postponed but Gloucestershire enjoyed a six-wicket home triumph over Northants. At halfway, they were in deep trouble but a Ryan Higgins five-fer and half-centuries by Hammnd, Lace and van Buuren turned things around. 

Meanwhile, ex-England opener Mark Stoneman made his debut for his third county of the summer. Maybe he was confused but, lining up for Middlesex, his two efforts lasted a combined four balls for zero runs. Oh dear. Luckily for him, his colleagues made up for his deficiencies. Robert White reached three figures while Bamber, Murtagh and Toby Roland-Jones, back after a lengthy injury lay-off, snared seventeen Derbyshire wickets between them to claim a 112-run victory. The redoubtable Darren Stevens slogged a 70-ball unbeaten 107 to keep Kent in the game against Leicestershire but it was Matt Milnes (6-53) which ensured a healthy winning margin. Worcestershire also enjoyed a triumphant start, with Jake Libby’s second-innings hundred leading the way. 

Team of the Week: Browne (Ess), Libby (Wor), Bohannon (Lan), Benjamin (War), Ballance (Yor), Moores (Not +), D Stevens (Ken), Snater (Ess), Thompson (Yor), Fletcher (Not), Milnes (Ken)

A Mixed Week for Ollie Robinsons

In the final round of Championship fixtures before the return of the T20 Blast, it was a good week for wicketkeeper-batsmen up and down the country, and also for cricketers called Ollie Robinson. Admittedly, the bowling version blotted his copybook as new England star by being outed as a former teenage racist, earning a deserved one-match suspension, but his Kent batsman namesake combined a run-a-ball century with seven catches in the Group 3 draw with Northamptonshire. 

Top scorer of the week was Yorkshire’s Dawid Malan, who was bowled by young Irish off-spinner Jack Carson one short of a double-hundred. That huge score meant that Sussex needed 245 in their second innings to make the White Roses bat again. They didn’t get close, as David Willey and Dom Bess helped reduce the stubborn South Coasters to 215 all out with fourth day stumps looming. Leaders Lancashire suffered their first reverse of the summer, going down unexpectedly to Glamorgan in Cardiff inside three days. Bowlers were in charge for the first two before Marnus Labuschagne produced the game’s first half-century, steering the Welsh to a six-wicket victory. Michael Neser was the pick of their attack.

The Group 2 leaders also came a cropper at struggling Leicestershire. Gloucestershire were thrashed by an innings before tea on the third afternoon. Left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson produced two five-wicket hauls, weakening Gloucester’s efforts to qualify for the top group in the second phase of the competition. That they remain top owes a great deal to the wet weather on the final day, when Somerset were looking to bowl out third-placed Hampshire. Skipper Tom Abell struck 98 then delayed his declaration until George Bartlett finally crawled to three figures but his comradely procrastination didn’t affect the result as much as the rain. 

Warwickshire advanced to the Group 1 summit by means of a 191-run success at Derby. Sam Hain and wicket-keeper Michael Burgess impressed, but it was the seam trio of Hannon-Dalby, Miles and Norwell who did most of the damage. Derbyshire’s pair of 22 year-old seamers Michael Cohen and Sam Conners were unlucky to be on the losing side, but their batting support failed them. Elsewhere the unseasonal Home Counties rain restricted the leading counties to a mere two days’ play, ensuring neither Essex nor Nottinghamshire could stay ahead of Warwickshire. Finally Durham outclassed Worcestershire by ten wickets by the Severn. A Jake Libby century in the second innings merely delayed the inevitable after David Bedingham’s miserable run ended with 121. Matty Potts ended the match with aggregate figures of 8-98. 

The women’s 50-over competition, the Rachel Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, is proceeding nicely, too. Amongst several outstanding performances, a special mention goes to England international and Central Sparks batter Amy Jones, who produced consecutive knocks of three figures, including a remarkable 163 not out against Western Storm. It should be no surprise this week that of course she is a wicketkeeper, one of three included in my Team of the Week…. 

Team of the Week: Libby (Wor), Robinson (Ken +), Malan (Yor), Harris (Lei), Amy Jones (Cen), Brown (Sus), Gregory (Som), Potts (Dur), Conners (Der), C Parkinson (Lei), Miles (War)

Glut of Hundreds greet new County Season

It’s not yet mid-April and we’ve had the first results of the 2021 County Championship. How did that happen?! At least we didn’t have to wait until August as we did last year. Of course the Covid pandemic hasn’t gone away and spectators aren’t yet dribbling into the cricket grounds. Today they were probably all greeting the easing of restrictions by queuing for Primark, but over the preceding four days they would have missed some real run fests. I could have included a dozen batsmen deserving of a place in my Team of the Week. Three scores of 150+ simply weren’t good enough. Must try harder, lads! 

By summer I’ll probably begin to work out what formats the 2021 season will embrace, but for now I’ll just take the County Championship as it comes, week by week. It’s a three-group first phase which seemed quite popular in last year’s severely truncated competition and, despite the cold air – and even a little snow at Headngley – the pitches definitely favoured batting. 

In Group 1, champions Essex were held at home by Worcestershire. Tom Westley’s first double-century in six years seemed to have set up another victory, only for Jake Libby and Ed Barnard to frustrate the home side. Libby’s unbeaten 180 was, at 681 minutes, the second longest county innings on record. At Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire’s Liam Norwell claimed the best bowling of the week, a first-innings 5-32, but in their second outing, Durham’s South African David Bedingham (180) and Ned Eckersley (113 not out) turned 22-3 into a match-saving and potentially even match-winning 332-4 declared. However, a draw was agreed on the final afternoon. 

In contrast each of the three Group 2 fixtures produced results. Hampshire looked the most impressive in thrashing Leicestershire by an innings. The home team’s bowling was rather ragged as James Vince’s 231 and Liam Dawson’s rapid 152 not out helped Hampshire to a formidable 612-5 declared. 2020 absentee Kyle Abbott was the pick of the bowlers. Somerset began with an eight-point deduction for preparing a poor pitch in the 2019 finale so desperately needed a victory over Middlesex at Lord’s. Sam Robson’s 165 and fine bowling by Murtagh and Bamber on the first few days showed that was looking unlikely. However, Somerset’s useful attack dismissed Middlesex for just 143 and Tom Abell, George Bartlett and Lewis Gregory did the rest. Phew! 

At The Oval, Surrey’s Ben Foakes’ 133 appeared to have made amends for a first-innings deficit only for Chris Dent and a rampant Graeme van Buuren to nick an eight-wicket triumph for Gloucestershire. 

Group 3 yielded three draws, with little to choose between them. Glamorgan’s trip to Yorkshire pitched the Root brothers against each other, and young Billy resoundingly came out on top, starring with 153 runs to Joe’s aggregate of just 29. Billy shared a stand of 212 with captain Chris Cooke to declare and leave Yorkshire to take a cautious approach on the final day. They were never going to achieve 377 to win so Adam Lyth settled for a patient 115 not out and a draw. 

At Old Trafford, Lancashire skipper Dane Vilas and young Sussex opener Tom Haines exchanged big hundreds but the Manchester weather prevented much action at the weekend. The contest at Northampton also petered out after two innings of 400+. Northants batsmen Vasconcelos and Keogh struck tons in response to 116 by that man Darren Stevens. Now in his 25^th county season, he became the oldest centurion in the Championship for 34 years. It is becoming increasingly likely that Dazza will go on for ever. 

This week he’ll have another go against Lancashire and the pick of the round two ties could be the West Country derby between early winners Somerset and Gloucestershire. 

Team of the Week: Haines (Sus), Libby (Wor), Westley (Ess), Vince (Ham), Bedingham (Dur), Vilas (Sus), Foakes (Sur +), Critchley (Der), Gregory (Som), Abbott (Ham), Norwell (War)

2020 County Cricket Team of the Year

What a weird summer it’s been. Covid has left thousands dead, many more struggling to get over the disease and its impact on society. Sporting arenas remain empty, and rightly so, given the importance of social distancing to keeping us all safe. I must admit I feared for domestic cricket but credit to the ECB, clubs and broadcasters for squeezing in so many meaningful matches in only a few months. 

Of course, England played their part, along with their opposition who had to sacrifice so much in order to get the show on the road in the safe bubbles of Southampton and Manchester. Buttler, Broad, Stokes and Woakes did their thang, but this is about the county game. 

A full Championship was out of the question but the makeshift Bob Willis Trophy, complete with a five-day final, turned out to be a success with clubs and online fans alike. As last year, Essex and Somerset were a class apart but the experience of the former ultimately held sway at Lord’s, but it was close. The abbreviated T20 Blast was harder to call but it was the superior all-round quality of Surrey and Nottinghamshire which produced the finalists last week, and the insanely enthusiastic skipper Dan Christian carried the Outlaws to victory. So who makes my county team of the year?

Openers:

The previous years’ stars Burns and Sibley seemed to establish themselves at international level, allowing others to shine for their counties. Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond was the T20 top scorer and another ex-England player Adam Lyth scored consistently in both formats. Sir Alastair Cook proved that class is permanent by scoring the century which clinched another red-ball title for Essex but another of Somerset’s recent rash of talented Toms, Tom Lammonby, announced himself with almost 600 runs in total. 

However, it’s another pair of ‘L’s who make my XI. Alex Lees didn’t quite fulfil his potential at Yorkshire but he enjoyed a very successful 2020 at Durham, accumulating more than 350 runs in each competition for a struggling team. Then there’s another 27 year-old, Jake Libby, who scored runs for fun in August for Worcestershire. Nobody scored more than the Devonian across the whole season. 

Middle-order:

A number of young players seized their opportunities created by the absence of overseas recruits, especially in the Blast. Zak Crawley’s season will be remembered for his mighty Test 267 for England against Pakistan but he proved a highly effective weapon in T20 for Kent, too. Joe Root was apparently a bit miffed at being omitted from England’s T20 squad but he responded in style, reinventing himself in Yorkshire towards the end of the season as a solid off-spinning all-rounder. However, I’ve picked Leicestershire’s one-man middle-order, Colin Ackermann for my team of the year. Once more he has combined first-class batting with white-ball bowling to keep his county’s had above the water. 

My other two are the Nottinghamshire pair, Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke. The former appeared in a record four Teams of the Week this year, producing big innings when it mattered, including the Blast Final against Surrey. Clarke was quick off the blocks when cricket got the go-ahead in August, the highlight being a 44-ball ton against Durham in T20. 

All-Rounders:

2020 wasn’t a vintage year for genuine all-rounders in the county game. Ed Barnard (Worcestershire), Graeme van Buuren (Gloucestershire) and Jamie Overton (Somerset/Surrey) were in the mix but my first choice was also in my 2019 Eleven, Ryan Higgins. The Gloucester man doesn’t rip up any trees with either bat or ball but is a huge asset in all formats, playing a major role in his county’s march to Finals Day. Amidst all Surrey’s international stars, Will Jacks could easily be missed but his hard-hitting and economic T20 bowling were probably more influential than Amla, Roy, Pope, Foakes, Plunkett et al. Given a good run in next year’s Championship the homegrown 21 year-old could join the county’s list of England caps. 

Wicket-keeper:

Worcestershire’s Ben Cox claimed more dismissals than anyone else in the Bob Willis Trophy while Middlesex’s John Simpson and Nottinghamshire’s Tom Moores also combined runs with decent performances behind the stumps. Had Alex Davies been a regular ‘keeper for Lancashire he may have taken a slot but instead I’ve plumped for Glamorgan’s Chris Cooke. The Johannesburg-born 34 year-old rarely reaches three figures but in a side frequently short at the top of the order the skipper has shorn up the innings, made vital catches and as captain brought on some of the county’s young prospects. 

Bowlers:- 

Let’s get the no-brainer out of the way. Simon Harmer goes straight into the side for a third successive year. He took 38 red-ball wickets at under 16, along with ten in the Blast, pushing Essex towards another title. Team-mate Jamie Porter was also in the wickets, as were fellow seamers, David Payne (Gloucestershire), George Garton (Sussex), Jake Ball (Notts) and the incredible 44 year-old Darren Stevens (Kent). However, I have opted for another veteran paceman, Tim Murtagh of Middlesex, whose 25 four-day wickets came at just 12.72 and seven Blast victims at an economy rate of 6.61. When Jamie Overton switched mid-season to Surrey, Josh Davey stepped up admirably but it’s the other twin, Craig Overton who was even more instrumental in blowing away the opposition in August. It was only in the final that Somerset conceded a single batting bonus point and Craig was the man who led that formidable seam attack. One to watch is definitely Surrey’s 21 year-old left-arm spinner, Dan Moriarty. If he works on his batting, he could well be a future star. 

And so, based on stats and my Teams of the Week, my County Eleven of 2020 is as follows:-

Libby (Wor), Lees Dur), Duckett (Not), Clarke (Not), Ackermann (Lei), Jacks (Sur), Cooke (Gla +), Higgins (Glo), C Overton (Sur), Harmer (Ess), Murtagh (Mid). 12^th man: Lyth (Yor)