For once, most of the Championship fixtures produced a positive result, which makes for interesting movements in both divisions. The week began with the Nat West T20 Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston where Yorkshire were heavily fancied to secure the first leg of a possible Treble.
Ironic that David Willey, who joined them from Northamptonshire to boost his chance of an England career, experienced defeat to Durham in the semis then could only watch as his old side progress to the final. Three years ago, Willey practically won the climax single-handedly but in 2016, it was a good all-round bowling performance and a rumbustious 80 from Josh Cobb which took the trophy back to Wantage Road. They may have a small squad and little money but one strong point of Twenty 20 is that just about anyone can win it.
In the four-day game, it was a fantastic festival fixture at Scarborough for Yorkshire, who advanced to within five points of leaders Middlesex. They hammered nervy Nottinghamshire by 305 runs. Gary Ballance hit an unbeaten hundred before declaring, but his seamers had a field day. Thirty-somethings Tim Bresnan and Jack Brooks nabbed fifteen cheap wickets between them, with Willey unable to make the team.
Surrey also made short work of Lancashire at The Oval, and must surely be safe from relegation with two matches remaining. Sam Curran top-scored with 96 and it was nice to see Mark Footitt taking 7-62 on a rare outing for the Londoners. At Taunton Somerset had the better of Hampshire, as a terrific run-a-ball eighth wicket stand of 217 by Van Der Merwe and Craig Overton, with his debut hundred, set the visitors a tricky last afternoon target. However a second century of the game by Sean Ervine secured the draw.
At Chester-le-Street, almost two days’ play were lost, so Ian Westwood’s 127 and Jeetan Patel’s 5-32 for Warwickshire were in vain. Both counties sit in mid-table, looking anxiously over their shoulders.
Northants are struggling in Division Two but after scoring 551 in their first innings at New Road, a second victory of the season beckoned. Keogh, Crook and Chad Barrett all reached three figures, the latter becoming the county’s highest scorer for a number ten in their history! It was only the 27 year-old South African’s second first-class game, too. However, after some creative declarations setting Worcestershire 401 to win in 80-odd overs, another hundred by Daryl Mitchell and Joe Clarke’s 125 helped reach the target. It also kept them in contention for promotion.
However, Essex and Kent remain above them, each claiming innings victories this week. The leaders dented Leicestershire’s hopes at Grace Road inside three days, thanks largely to Jamie’s Porter’s eighth wickets and an assured 154 from teenager Dan Lawrence, whose first-class average now stands at a fine 47.
Kent also thumped Gloucestershire on the road at Bristol. Sam Billings and Darren Stevens plundered 258 in 49 overs while Hardus Viljoen was the pick of the Kent bowlers. The margin of victory would have been far greater had Hamish Marshall not shown admirable resistance in each innings.
It was a much closer affair at Cardiff, where Sussex just held on to edge Glamorgan by two wickets. Like Marshall, Chris Nash scored more than anyone else in each outing, but it was Ben Brown and George Garton who survived nine awkward overs to see them home. Sussex are still very much in the hunt to go up, with a game in hand. Beating Kent next week at Hove will do their chances a world of good. Lose, and they needn’t bother booking hotels around Lord’s or Headingley next summer.
Now for an honourable mention for Charlotte Edwards. Deposed as England captain, she nevertheless led the Southern Vipers to triumph in the inaugural Women’s Super League T20 tournament at Chelmsford. One in the eye for Mark Robinson!
Bank Holiday weekend sees the Royal London Cup semifinals. Somerset might be confident in their visit to Warwickshire but I fear they are too dependent on Hildreth, Trego and Jayawardene. Meanwhile, Yorkshire have another attempt at a one-day trophy, meeting Surrey in Leeds. I don’t know if they’ll have Root and Bairstow available, but it could be an away victory of Jason Roy is also released. And there’s a certain David Willey….
Team of the Week: Mitchell (Wor), Nash (Sus), Ervine (Ham), Marshall (Glo), Billings (Ken +), Stevens (Ken), Crook (Nor), Bresnan (Yor), Brooks (Yor), Porter (Ess), Footitt (Sur)
Showing posts with label Mark Footitt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Footitt. Show all posts
Saturday, 27 August 2016
Friday, 25 September 2015
Sadness for Sussex, Heaven for Hampshire
When rain swept the nation early in the week, I feared the worst: that the weather would decide the Division One relegation battle and the county season would fizzle out in a damp squib. How wrong I was; there were fireworks a-plenty, and a brilliant climax!
Not only did the battle to avoid the drop go right to the wire, but there were also great performances with bat and ball in all eight fixtures played.
Personally, my relief came a day early. At Taunton, a combination of James Hildreth’s century and spinner Jack Leach’s wickets were enough to guarantee Somerset’s safety regardless of what happened at Trent Bridge or Headingley. Jeetan Patel’s 7-34 left Warwickshire needing only 225 to win on the final day, but Leach and the unlikely figure of Tom Cooper claimed nine of the ten wickets to fall, giving Somerset victory and a sixth place finish. That’s the second successive season when we’ve pulled it out of the fire in late September!
Sussex merely needed to avoid defeat to Yorkshire to remain in Division One. However, the champions weren’t happy to sip champagne and play their reserves. Most of their England stars were on the pitch, but Jack Brooks and Tim Bresnan were the pick of the Eleven. In his last game, Michael Yardy did his best, but Sussex’s batting, Ben Brown and Luke Wright apart, has been woeful for much of the summer, restricting their bonus point tally. They lost by 100 runs.
Meanwhile, the first innings scores in Nottingham were fairly even, but then Hampshire grasped the initiative on day three, West Indian seamer Fidel Edwards completing a ten-for in the match as the Notts batting collapsed. Jimmy Adams and Michael Carberry kept their heads and Hampshire had won the one that really mattered. Sussex were relegated by just two points!
Worcestershire’s demise had already been set in concrete so it was a huge surprise that they gave second-placed Middlesex a trouncing by an innings and 128 runs. The two Toms, Fell and Kohler-Cadmore each struck hundreds. In the latter’s case, it was his first in the championship.
By contrast, all four Division Two matches were drawn. It was a cracker at Derby where the home side were set a target of 341 in under a day by Leicestershire skipper Mark Cosgrove, whose 156 had made his side narrow favourites. At 285-2, things looked promising as Chesney Hughes reached three figures. However, once he and Madsen were out, it also became a race against the clock. There were two run-outs and in an exciting finale, Derbyshire closed on 331-8. Mark Footitt took another ten wickets on probably his last appearance for the county. He would be badly missed.
Surrey ended the season as second tier champions, but Northants gave them a rollercoaster ride at the end. Another silky century from Kumar Sangakkara and ten wickets for the young Curran brothers left the Londoners 300 runs ahead. However, the visitors fought back with three centurions of their own and time was against even Jason Roy et al in the final session to deny them victory.
Having lost the first day to bad weather, Lancashire and Essex couldn’t conjure up a positive result either. James Anderson and Alastair Cook faced each other for a change and it was the bowler who was most definitely on top, with match figures of 8-90. The England captain aggregated a mere eight runs in two innings, lbw to, then caught by Anderson! Ravi Bopara and Jesse Ryder scored most of Essex’s runs. Ashwell Prince’s career finished with another half-century while 41 year-old Glenn Chapple could take only three more wickets. He is now cruelly 15 short of the thousand in first-class cricket. Will he be back for more next year?!
In the other game, it was a runfest at Bristol. An unbeaten 180 stand between Ingram and Cooke for Glamorgan on the final day was impressive but was completely eclipsed by Gloucester opener Chris Dent. A mediocre season was turned on its head when he spent more than eight hours at the crease compiling a career-best 268. Few have score more in the Championship al summer!
And so the 2015 summer comes to an end. England won the Ashes, domestic silverware went to Yorkshire, Lancashire and Gloucestershire, and the same old questions were being asked about the demise of four- and five-day cricket, 50-over cricket and basically all cricket other than the IPL. Pathetic! There’s room for all formats; it’s just a matter of finding compromises to fit them in the calendar. However, that’s harder than it sounds!
I’ll be reviewing the domestic season’s star performers shortly but, in the mean time, here’s my final County Team of the Week:
Dent (Glo), Duckett (Nor), Sangakkara (Sur), Fell (Wor), Madsen (Der), Bopara (Ess), Cooke (Gla, +), Edwards (Ham), Leach (Som), Anderson (Lan), Footitt (Der)
Not only did the battle to avoid the drop go right to the wire, but there were also great performances with bat and ball in all eight fixtures played.
Personally, my relief came a day early. At Taunton, a combination of James Hildreth’s century and spinner Jack Leach’s wickets were enough to guarantee Somerset’s safety regardless of what happened at Trent Bridge or Headingley. Jeetan Patel’s 7-34 left Warwickshire needing only 225 to win on the final day, but Leach and the unlikely figure of Tom Cooper claimed nine of the ten wickets to fall, giving Somerset victory and a sixth place finish. That’s the second successive season when we’ve pulled it out of the fire in late September!
Sussex merely needed to avoid defeat to Yorkshire to remain in Division One. However, the champions weren’t happy to sip champagne and play their reserves. Most of their England stars were on the pitch, but Jack Brooks and Tim Bresnan were the pick of the Eleven. In his last game, Michael Yardy did his best, but Sussex’s batting, Ben Brown and Luke Wright apart, has been woeful for much of the summer, restricting their bonus point tally. They lost by 100 runs.
Meanwhile, the first innings scores in Nottingham were fairly even, but then Hampshire grasped the initiative on day three, West Indian seamer Fidel Edwards completing a ten-for in the match as the Notts batting collapsed. Jimmy Adams and Michael Carberry kept their heads and Hampshire had won the one that really mattered. Sussex were relegated by just two points!
Worcestershire’s demise had already been set in concrete so it was a huge surprise that they gave second-placed Middlesex a trouncing by an innings and 128 runs. The two Toms, Fell and Kohler-Cadmore each struck hundreds. In the latter’s case, it was his first in the championship.
By contrast, all four Division Two matches were drawn. It was a cracker at Derby where the home side were set a target of 341 in under a day by Leicestershire skipper Mark Cosgrove, whose 156 had made his side narrow favourites. At 285-2, things looked promising as Chesney Hughes reached three figures. However, once he and Madsen were out, it also became a race against the clock. There were two run-outs and in an exciting finale, Derbyshire closed on 331-8. Mark Footitt took another ten wickets on probably his last appearance for the county. He would be badly missed.
Surrey ended the season as second tier champions, but Northants gave them a rollercoaster ride at the end. Another silky century from Kumar Sangakkara and ten wickets for the young Curran brothers left the Londoners 300 runs ahead. However, the visitors fought back with three centurions of their own and time was against even Jason Roy et al in the final session to deny them victory.
Having lost the first day to bad weather, Lancashire and Essex couldn’t conjure up a positive result either. James Anderson and Alastair Cook faced each other for a change and it was the bowler who was most definitely on top, with match figures of 8-90. The England captain aggregated a mere eight runs in two innings, lbw to, then caught by Anderson! Ravi Bopara and Jesse Ryder scored most of Essex’s runs. Ashwell Prince’s career finished with another half-century while 41 year-old Glenn Chapple could take only three more wickets. He is now cruelly 15 short of the thousand in first-class cricket. Will he be back for more next year?!
In the other game, it was a runfest at Bristol. An unbeaten 180 stand between Ingram and Cooke for Glamorgan on the final day was impressive but was completely eclipsed by Gloucester opener Chris Dent. A mediocre season was turned on its head when he spent more than eight hours at the crease compiling a career-best 268. Few have score more in the Championship al summer!
And so the 2015 summer comes to an end. England won the Ashes, domestic silverware went to Yorkshire, Lancashire and Gloucestershire, and the same old questions were being asked about the demise of four- and five-day cricket, 50-over cricket and basically all cricket other than the IPL. Pathetic! There’s room for all formats; it’s just a matter of finding compromises to fit them in the calendar. However, that’s harder than it sounds!
I’ll be reviewing the domestic season’s star performers shortly but, in the mean time, here’s my final County Team of the Week:
Dent (Glo), Duckett (Nor), Sangakkara (Sur), Fell (Wor), Madsen (Der), Bopara (Ess), Cooke (Gla, +), Edwards (Ham), Leach (Som), Anderson (Lan), Footitt (Der)
Thursday, 23 July 2015
AP x 2 = 501 for Lancashire
This really was a week for batsmen. Four scored double-centuries, two of them sharing a 500 partnership, yet one (Steve Smith) couldn’t even squeeze into my Team of the Week!
The White and Red Roses were again in full bloom, as Yorkshire and Lancashire cemented their positions atop Divisions One and Two. The chasing packs must be getting cricked necks gazing up at the distant summits.
Andrew Gale led his side from the front at Scarborough, piling up 164 but it was Jonny Bairstow’s scintillating form making all the headlines. A brisk 139 pushed him into the England squad at Gary Ballance’s expense, then he struck the winning runs in the second innings, too. Worcestershire did at least take the game into a fourth day.
Durham did their best to hold on to second place but Hampshire’s defiance and some final afternoon rain scuppered their hopes. Gordon Muchall’s 145 and nine more wickets for Chris Rushworth were all in vain after 20 year-old ‘keeper Lewis McManus defied the Durham attack for almost three hours. Meanwhile Warwickshire found themselves in the runners-up spot after despatching Somerset by seven wickets. Sam Hain composed another unbeaten century and Jeetan Patel claimed nine victims, although the losers’ Craig Overton took 6-74 and kept his name in the England frame in case the selectors need fresh blood.
Following a disappointing first half of the season, James Taylor rediscovered his appetite for runs, falling just nine short of a triple-century in Nottinghamshire’s innings defeat of Sussex. Chris Read’s 121 and seven catches were also noteworthy, while Harry Gurney’s left arm seam and swing also did a lot of damage to the South Coast side for whom Matt Machan top-scored with 108.
The Colwyn Bay sea air worked wonders for the South African duo of Ashwell Prince and Alviro Petersen. Both passed 250 as they smashed the Lancashire partnership record and accumulated the 13th highest stand for any wicket in first-class cricket history! Facing an overall target of almost 700, Glamorgan unsurprisingly fell short, although a robust first innings tail did its best to frustrate the visitors. Number eleven Michael Hogan even had time to score a career best 57! Nevertheless, Sean Kerrigan and Arron Lilley polished off Welsh resistance in the end.
Kent took the Thames estuary bragging rights, thumping Essex by an innings and 207. Ben Harmison and Sam Billings each reached three figures while Callum Haggett and the evergreen Darren Stevens picked up twelve wickets between them.
Derbyshire beat Northamptonshire in the other Division Two fixture. Mark Footitt collected another five-for, and young all-rounder Alex Hughes achieved his debut hundred. For the visitors, opener Ben Duckett had mixed fortunes. A duck was followed by 154 but the Chesterfield fans enjoyed a seven-wicket triumph.
While the runs piled up in the Championship and Lord’s Test, there weren’t many big scores in last weekend’s T20 Blast. Nevertheless, Jason Roy’s blistering 122 consigned Somerset to another heavy defeat. The County Championship now takes a two-week break as the T20 Group stage ends and the Royal London Cup begins.
Some excellent performances couldn’t get into my Team of the Week: Rogers (Aus), Duckett (Nor), Petersen (Lan), Prince (Lan), Taylor (Not), A Hughes (Der), Read (Not, * +), Patel (Not), C Overton (Som), Gurney (Not), Rushworth (Dur)
The White and Red Roses were again in full bloom, as Yorkshire and Lancashire cemented their positions atop Divisions One and Two. The chasing packs must be getting cricked necks gazing up at the distant summits.
Andrew Gale led his side from the front at Scarborough, piling up 164 but it was Jonny Bairstow’s scintillating form making all the headlines. A brisk 139 pushed him into the England squad at Gary Ballance’s expense, then he struck the winning runs in the second innings, too. Worcestershire did at least take the game into a fourth day.
Durham did their best to hold on to second place but Hampshire’s defiance and some final afternoon rain scuppered their hopes. Gordon Muchall’s 145 and nine more wickets for Chris Rushworth were all in vain after 20 year-old ‘keeper Lewis McManus defied the Durham attack for almost three hours. Meanwhile Warwickshire found themselves in the runners-up spot after despatching Somerset by seven wickets. Sam Hain composed another unbeaten century and Jeetan Patel claimed nine victims, although the losers’ Craig Overton took 6-74 and kept his name in the England frame in case the selectors need fresh blood.
Following a disappointing first half of the season, James Taylor rediscovered his appetite for runs, falling just nine short of a triple-century in Nottinghamshire’s innings defeat of Sussex. Chris Read’s 121 and seven catches were also noteworthy, while Harry Gurney’s left arm seam and swing also did a lot of damage to the South Coast side for whom Matt Machan top-scored with 108.
The Colwyn Bay sea air worked wonders for the South African duo of Ashwell Prince and Alviro Petersen. Both passed 250 as they smashed the Lancashire partnership record and accumulated the 13th highest stand for any wicket in first-class cricket history! Facing an overall target of almost 700, Glamorgan unsurprisingly fell short, although a robust first innings tail did its best to frustrate the visitors. Number eleven Michael Hogan even had time to score a career best 57! Nevertheless, Sean Kerrigan and Arron Lilley polished off Welsh resistance in the end.
Kent took the Thames estuary bragging rights, thumping Essex by an innings and 207. Ben Harmison and Sam Billings each reached three figures while Callum Haggett and the evergreen Darren Stevens picked up twelve wickets between them.
Derbyshire beat Northamptonshire in the other Division Two fixture. Mark Footitt collected another five-for, and young all-rounder Alex Hughes achieved his debut hundred. For the visitors, opener Ben Duckett had mixed fortunes. A duck was followed by 154 but the Chesterfield fans enjoyed a seven-wicket triumph.
While the runs piled up in the Championship and Lord’s Test, there weren’t many big scores in last weekend’s T20 Blast. Nevertheless, Jason Roy’s blistering 122 consigned Somerset to another heavy defeat. The County Championship now takes a two-week break as the T20 Group stage ends and the Royal London Cup begins.
Some excellent performances couldn’t get into my Team of the Week: Rogers (Aus), Duckett (Nor), Petersen (Lan), Prince (Lan), Taylor (Not), A Hughes (Der), Read (Not, * +), Patel (Not), C Overton (Som), Gurney (Not), Rushworth (Dur)
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Lawrence and Robinson steal the county headlines
This week was quite unusual in that the runs were concentrated in the hands of a few heavy scorers. Some are household names but two youngsters stole the show. At Chester-le-Street, Sussex lost their 100% record to Durham. However, not only did they remain Division One leaders but their tenth wicket partnership record was broken by Oliver Robinson (aged 21) and Matthew Hobden (22). More remarkable was the fact that the former was making his first-class debut.
At Taunton, Middlesex produced a magnificent fourth day batting display to add to Somerset's woes. Amazingly, more than 700 runs were contributed by just three players! Marcus Trescothick (140 and 76) and James Hildreth (187 and 86) totally dominated the home team's innings but in the end it was Adam Voges and James Franklin, whose centuries secured a six-wicket success. At least it wasn't Nick Compton rubbing his old county's noses in the brown stuff!
An intriguingly poised contest between Nottinghamshire and Hampshire was spoilt by fourth day rain. Alex Hales added another 235 runs to his 2015 Championship tally and the two Taylors Brendon and James helped set the home team a hefty target of nearly 400. However, the weather ensured neither side achieved a result. The other top tier fixture also ended in a draw. Warwickshire were in the driving seat for three days, Ian Westwood top-scoring both times and featuring a career-best 196. However, the champions lost only four wickets on the final day to save the situation. New recruit James Middlebrook proved he can still spin it at the top level by taking eight Warwickshire wickets.
In Division Two, Lancashire made it two wins from two, beating Kent by nine wickets after enforcing the follow-on. 20 year-old Lancashire 'keeper Alex Davies just missed out on his maiden hundred, but Ashwell Prince did reach three figures and Paul Horton scored a couple of 50s. Kyle Jarvis was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-50 and 4-67.
Nevertheless, the most noteworthy performance of the week came from Essex number three Daniel Lawrence. Aged just 17, and in the side only because Ravi Bopara was at the IPL, the local boy stroked an excellent 161 to become the third youngest centurion in County Championship history! Even the opposition's greying Kevin Pietersen deigned to shake the hand of the young man, half his age and presumably earning sub-muppet wages. Sadly a final day washout allowed Surrey to escape a likely innings defeat.
Northants failed to win a single match in Division One last year and they gave lowly Leicestershire a rare first innings lead at Grace Road. However, the home county experienced their usual defeat in a game which offered all bowlers some help. All-rounder and prospective one-day England international David Willey top-scored with 88.
At Bristol, Derbyshire made Gloucestershire pay on the second day, with Martin Guptill registering the only double-century of the week. Geraint Jones' outfit made a decent fist of their second innings but the damage had been done. Mark Footitt also captured nine wickets.
Next week's highlights look like being Durham's trip to Lord's and Lancashire's trip to Northampton. I just hope that Somerset find enough form to overcome fellow strugglers Worcestershire, but the weather forecast ain't good.
Team of the Week: Trescothick (Som, *), Westwood (War), Hales (Not), Guptill |Der), Lawrence(Ess), Hildreth (Som), Davies (Lan, +), Willey (Nth), Jarvis (Lan), Footitt (Der), Rankin (War)
At Taunton, Middlesex produced a magnificent fourth day batting display to add to Somerset's woes. Amazingly, more than 700 runs were contributed by just three players! Marcus Trescothick (140 and 76) and James Hildreth (187 and 86) totally dominated the home team's innings but in the end it was Adam Voges and James Franklin, whose centuries secured a six-wicket success. At least it wasn't Nick Compton rubbing his old county's noses in the brown stuff!
An intriguingly poised contest between Nottinghamshire and Hampshire was spoilt by fourth day rain. Alex Hales added another 235 runs to his 2015 Championship tally and the two Taylors Brendon and James helped set the home team a hefty target of nearly 400. However, the weather ensured neither side achieved a result. The other top tier fixture also ended in a draw. Warwickshire were in the driving seat for three days, Ian Westwood top-scoring both times and featuring a career-best 196. However, the champions lost only four wickets on the final day to save the situation. New recruit James Middlebrook proved he can still spin it at the top level by taking eight Warwickshire wickets.
In Division Two, Lancashire made it two wins from two, beating Kent by nine wickets after enforcing the follow-on. 20 year-old Lancashire 'keeper Alex Davies just missed out on his maiden hundred, but Ashwell Prince did reach three figures and Paul Horton scored a couple of 50s. Kyle Jarvis was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-50 and 4-67.
Nevertheless, the most noteworthy performance of the week came from Essex number three Daniel Lawrence. Aged just 17, and in the side only because Ravi Bopara was at the IPL, the local boy stroked an excellent 161 to become the third youngest centurion in County Championship history! Even the opposition's greying Kevin Pietersen deigned to shake the hand of the young man, half his age and presumably earning sub-muppet wages. Sadly a final day washout allowed Surrey to escape a likely innings defeat.
Northants failed to win a single match in Division One last year and they gave lowly Leicestershire a rare first innings lead at Grace Road. However, the home county experienced their usual defeat in a game which offered all bowlers some help. All-rounder and prospective one-day England international David Willey top-scored with 88.
At Bristol, Derbyshire made Gloucestershire pay on the second day, with Martin Guptill registering the only double-century of the week. Geraint Jones' outfit made a decent fist of their second innings but the damage had been done. Mark Footitt also captured nine wickets.
Next week's highlights look like being Durham's trip to Lord's and Lancashire's trip to Northampton. I just hope that Somerset find enough form to overcome fellow strugglers Worcestershire, but the weather forecast ain't good.
Team of the Week: Trescothick (Som, *), Westwood (War), Hales (Not), Guptill |Der), Lawrence(Ess), Hildreth (Som), Davies (Lan, +), Willey (Nth), Jarvis (Lan), Footitt (Der), Rankin (War)
Sunday, 5 October 2014
County Team of the Year 2014 - The Bowlers
Last week I selected my top four batsmen and wicketkeeper of the English domestic season, and now it's the turn of the all-rounders and bowlers. Samit Patel, Ben Stokes, Jesse Ryder, Tom Smith and Peter Trego were definitely in the running, but the Notts player was let down by his first-class bowling record (22 wickets at 45), Stokes by hs self-inflicted injury and terrible run of scores and the Somerset favourite only by his limited-overs bowling. Trego averaged more than 30 in all three formats and missed reaching the 50-wicket target in the Championship by a whisker. Smith was one of the few bright spots in Lancashire's season, but almost exclusively in the four-dayers. The former Black Cap Ryder was, perversely, a far more effective performer tthe ball than the bat, and he and Graham Napier bowled superbly for Essex. Jesse's lack of runs took him out of the running, though. Instead, the ever-dependable Kent man Darren Stevens and Glamorgan's Jim Allenby grab my five and six berths.
Had he been found guilty last winter of failing to report a corrupt approach Stevens could easily have missed the whole season and, at the age of 38, may have seen his career destroyed. Instead he continued to score runs and take wickets at regular intervals, especially in the Championship and T20 Blast. Glamorgan experienced another disappointing season. They have some fine players but didn't seem to win the games their squad deserves. There are none finer than Jim Allenby. Now 32, the Aussie is a mainstay at Sophia Gardens. He contributed nearly 1,700 runs and was one of the highest scorers in the NatWest T20 tournament, whilest taking 54 wickets at barely 20 apiece. Irreplaceable!
My two main pace bowlers both come from Division Two. Derbyshire's Mark Footitt's Championship tally of 84 wickets was by far the highest in the competition. At 28, the left-arm seamer has endured a stuttering career but 2014 has been his best year by a mile. He did OK in the 50-over competition, too, and amassed 106 victims in total for his county. Special mentions must go to Steve Magoffin (Sussex), Chris Rushworth (Durham, the only man to take fifteen wickets in a DAY) and Jack Brooks (Yorkshire). However, for consistent success in all three formats, another honorary Welshman from Down Under edges my decision. Michael Hogan makes my county Team of the Year for the second consecutive year. Despite missing the early matches, Hogan racked up 98 victims in all, averaging under 20 in four- and one-day cricket. Like Allenby he is always hard to score off and his long-striding run-up and high action make him a formidable attack leader.
Two spinners complete my Eleven. It wasn't a vintage summer for the slow bowlers - outside the T20 - but three stood out. Adil Rashid enjoyed one of his better seasons for Yorkshire but his batting slipped a bit. Saeed Ajmal may be facing an uncertain future with his unusual action but he was extraordinarily effective for Worcestershire in the first half of the Championship. In only nine fixtures, the Pakistani took 63 wickets at 16.47, including two ten-wicket games and a career-best analysis of 7-19 against Essex back in May. The county weren't quite the same without him but limped over the finishing line in second place.
My final selection was also officially the Most Valuable Player of the county season: Jeetan Patel. The 34 year-old Kiwi has been a revelation for Warwickshire in recent years and in 2014 took more wickets across all formats (107) than anyone else. He was particularly prolific in The Blast, taking 25 at 12.56, with a miserly economy rate of 6.11. With a swift first-class century against Middlesex, too, Patel's late-order runs also came in extremely handy. A most valuable player indeed!
In summary, my County Team of 2014 is: Hales (Notts), Lyth (Yorks), Joyce (Sussex), Vince (Hants), Allenby (Glam), Stevens (Kent), Foster (Essex + *), Patel (Warwicks), Saeed Ajmal (Worcs), Footitt (Derbys), Hogan (Glam).
Sad to see only three young Englishmen amidst the veterans and foreign contingent, and it will be interesting to see whether Hales, Lyth and Vince are rewarded with more international caps, thus making them less likely to shine for their counties in 2015. Could Jonathan Trott feature? What about the bunch of youthful Sams, Jacks and Bens who caught the eye? I can't wait for winter to pass and a promising summer of cricket to grab my interest once again.
Had he been found guilty last winter of failing to report a corrupt approach Stevens could easily have missed the whole season and, at the age of 38, may have seen his career destroyed. Instead he continued to score runs and take wickets at regular intervals, especially in the Championship and T20 Blast. Glamorgan experienced another disappointing season. They have some fine players but didn't seem to win the games their squad deserves. There are none finer than Jim Allenby. Now 32, the Aussie is a mainstay at Sophia Gardens. He contributed nearly 1,700 runs and was one of the highest scorers in the NatWest T20 tournament, whilest taking 54 wickets at barely 20 apiece. Irreplaceable!
My two main pace bowlers both come from Division Two. Derbyshire's Mark Footitt's Championship tally of 84 wickets was by far the highest in the competition. At 28, the left-arm seamer has endured a stuttering career but 2014 has been his best year by a mile. He did OK in the 50-over competition, too, and amassed 106 victims in total for his county. Special mentions must go to Steve Magoffin (Sussex), Chris Rushworth (Durham, the only man to take fifteen wickets in a DAY) and Jack Brooks (Yorkshire). However, for consistent success in all three formats, another honorary Welshman from Down Under edges my decision. Michael Hogan makes my county Team of the Year for the second consecutive year. Despite missing the early matches, Hogan racked up 98 victims in all, averaging under 20 in four- and one-day cricket. Like Allenby he is always hard to score off and his long-striding run-up and high action make him a formidable attack leader.
Two spinners complete my Eleven. It wasn't a vintage summer for the slow bowlers - outside the T20 - but three stood out. Adil Rashid enjoyed one of his better seasons for Yorkshire but his batting slipped a bit. Saeed Ajmal may be facing an uncertain future with his unusual action but he was extraordinarily effective for Worcestershire in the first half of the Championship. In only nine fixtures, the Pakistani took 63 wickets at 16.47, including two ten-wicket games and a career-best analysis of 7-19 against Essex back in May. The county weren't quite the same without him but limped over the finishing line in second place.
My final selection was also officially the Most Valuable Player of the county season: Jeetan Patel. The 34 year-old Kiwi has been a revelation for Warwickshire in recent years and in 2014 took more wickets across all formats (107) than anyone else. He was particularly prolific in The Blast, taking 25 at 12.56, with a miserly economy rate of 6.11. With a swift first-class century against Middlesex, too, Patel's late-order runs also came in extremely handy. A most valuable player indeed!
In summary, my County Team of 2014 is: Hales (Notts), Lyth (Yorks), Joyce (Sussex), Vince (Hants), Allenby (Glam), Stevens (Kent), Foster (Essex + *), Patel (Warwicks), Saeed Ajmal (Worcs), Footitt (Derbys), Hogan (Glam).
Sad to see only three young Englishmen amidst the veterans and foreign contingent, and it will be interesting to see whether Hales, Lyth and Vince are rewarded with more international caps, thus making them less likely to shine for their counties in 2015. Could Jonathan Trott feature? What about the bunch of youthful Sams, Jacks and Bens who caught the eye? I can't wait for winter to pass and a promising summer of cricket to grab my interest once again.
Saturday, 20 September 2014
Team of the week: Will Smith is the fresh prince of Hampshire
Often it's hard to find two outstanding performances by openi batsmen but this time there was an embarrassment of riches from which to pick. Thus I had to omit Chris Rogers (Middlesex, 203 not out), Jake Libby (Notts, 108 in only his third first-class match), Daniel Bell-Drummond (Kent, 153) and Kane Williamson (two fine T20 innings for Northern Districts). In their place come Sussex's Chris Nash and Hampshire's Will Smith. Nash aggregated 263 runs in the victory over Nottinghamshire, including his first century of the summer. Smith's contributions were 11 and 142 not out, but that second innings score was the difference between draw and a defeat which would have left the county even more vulnerable to Essex in the promotion chase. In the context of Hampshire's whole season, that was superb.
Ed Joyce has enjoyed a great summer and in the penultimate round of Championship games, his second knock of 149, at almost a run a ball, set up what at the halfway stage had seemed an unlikely victory. James Hildreth has been a disappointment for Somerset in 2014 but he crafted a valuable 182 at Taunton against Middlesex. In the Test against Bangladesh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul boosted his career average even further with unbeaten scores of 84 and 101, but you can't accuse him of Boycott-esque greed this time; it was all in the cause of a routine win.
Ben Stokes contributed no weight of runs or clutch of wickets but he did OK in Durham's win against Northants and his 2-25 and 38 saw his side home to success in the Royal London Cup Final. My other all-rounder is the considerably less well-known Ben Raine. No, me neither! However, in the final of the Second Eleven competition at Chelmsford, the 23 year-old representing Leicestershire scored 208 and took 3-37 on the way to victory. The way the first XI have played this season and with their best players lured away by the big boys, watch out for him in the first-class arena in 2015.
In a week of excellent performances, Harvey Hosein's must be up there with the best, not only this week but the whole summer. At The Oval, the 18 year-old wicketkeeper claimed no fewer than eleven catches for Derbyshire - on his debut! Nobody has ever come near that, and only Bob Taylor has ever taken as much as seven in an innings for the county in their history. And he played for them for more than twenty years!
Derbyshire's Mark Footitt was the beneficiary of five of those dismissals, and he added nine wickets to his already impressive haul, more than anyone else in the Championship. However, my two remaining bowlers stand out; each took fifteen wickets in a single match. Chris Rushworth has plugged away all summer for Durham but nobody was expecting his 9-52 and 6-43 in the trouncing of Northants. He also contributed a useful 2-24 in today's cup final. Saqlain Sajib is another unsung hero, whose spin claimed 9-82 and 6-50 for Bangladesh versus Zimbabwe in an A international.
Congratulations, one and all:- Nash (Sus), Smith (Ham), Joyce (Sus, *), Hildreth (Som), Chanderpaul (WI), Stokes (Dur), Raine (Lei 2nds), Hosein (Der, +), Sajib (Ban A), Rushworth (Dur), Footitt (Der).
Ed Joyce has enjoyed a great summer and in the penultimate round of Championship games, his second knock of 149, at almost a run a ball, set up what at the halfway stage had seemed an unlikely victory. James Hildreth has been a disappointment for Somerset in 2014 but he crafted a valuable 182 at Taunton against Middlesex. In the Test against Bangladesh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul boosted his career average even further with unbeaten scores of 84 and 101, but you can't accuse him of Boycott-esque greed this time; it was all in the cause of a routine win.
Ben Stokes contributed no weight of runs or clutch of wickets but he did OK in Durham's win against Northants and his 2-25 and 38 saw his side home to success in the Royal London Cup Final. My other all-rounder is the considerably less well-known Ben Raine. No, me neither! However, in the final of the Second Eleven competition at Chelmsford, the 23 year-old representing Leicestershire scored 208 and took 3-37 on the way to victory. The way the first XI have played this season and with their best players lured away by the big boys, watch out for him in the first-class arena in 2015.
In a week of excellent performances, Harvey Hosein's must be up there with the best, not only this week but the whole summer. At The Oval, the 18 year-old wicketkeeper claimed no fewer than eleven catches for Derbyshire - on his debut! Nobody has ever come near that, and only Bob Taylor has ever taken as much as seven in an innings for the county in their history. And he played for them for more than twenty years!
Derbyshire's Mark Footitt was the beneficiary of five of those dismissals, and he added nine wickets to his already impressive haul, more than anyone else in the Championship. However, my two remaining bowlers stand out; each took fifteen wickets in a single match. Chris Rushworth has plugged away all summer for Durham but nobody was expecting his 9-52 and 6-43 in the trouncing of Northants. He also contributed a useful 2-24 in today's cup final. Saqlain Sajib is another unsung hero, whose spin claimed 9-82 and 6-50 for Bangladesh versus Zimbabwe in an A international.
Congratulations, one and all:- Nash (Sus), Smith (Ham), Joyce (Sus, *), Hildreth (Som), Chanderpaul (WI), Stokes (Dur), Raine (Lei 2nds), Hosein (Der, +), Sajib (Ban A), Rushworth (Dur), Footitt (Der).
Friday, 19 September 2014
Sussex Re-Joyce and Durham in a Rush-worth
In the penultimate round of Championship fixtures, neither of the top two played, but Nottinghamshire failed to make an impression in their last match. They were roundly beaten by Sussex who bounded up to fourth place with a superb final two days. Chris Nash produced his first century of the summer, but a maiden hundred from Jake Libby and an eighteenth by James Taylor gave Notts a slender first innings lead. Sussex then went for broke, passing 400 at almost a run a ball, with skipper Ed Joyce leading by example, before Steve Magoffin claimed 4-51 to ensure a dismal conclusion for the home team.
Durham simply steamrollered sorry Northants at Chester-le-Street. Borthwick and Collingwood each outscored the opposition on their own - twice! - while Chris Rushworth snatched 15 wickets for 95. James Middlebrook led the side but they looked demoralised from the start, and Northants' two innings combined lasted barely 40 overs! At Taunton, Somerset racked up 523-9 thanks largely to James Hildreth's 182 and Peter Trego's 91. Great to see Craig Kieswetter back after his horrific facial injury earlier in the year. He scored a useful 69, too. That Middlesex recovered from 64-7 to 223 owed much to a century stand by Morgan and Roland-Jones. A fine unbeaten 203 by Chris Rogers staved off defeat and means his team should avoid relegatin provided they avoid a heavy defeat by Lancashire next week.
In Division Two, Essex turned the screw on Hampshire by notching a fourth consecutive victory, this time against a Leicestershire side who capitulated inside two days! James Foster made 132, while David Masters and Jesse Ryder claimed thirteen wickets between them Josh Cobb's men now face the ignominy of failing to record a single win in two full Championship seasons. I don't think that has happened since WW2, although they used to play more games in those days.
Hampshire were forced by Kent to follow on at the Rose Bowl, with only Sean Ervine's 121 preventing an even greater first innings deficit. Will Smith then almost single-handedly rescued the home team by carrying his bat for 142. Tomlinson's 26-ball 2 not out at the other end kept Riley and Tredwell at bay before time was called. Those extra points for a draw could prove critical as they lead Essex by ten going into the final week. A win at Glamorgan will be enough.
In the other game, Derbyshire were surprisingly good value against lacklustre Surrey. Apart from Billy Godleman's partnership with Pujara in the fourth day run chase, it was a game for the bowlers, notably Mark Footitt, who extended his wicket tally for the season beyond 70, including a 6-60. Nevertheless, the star of the show was an 18 year-old debutant Harvey Hosein. The lad from Chesterfield's haul of eleven catches was a record for a 'keeper on his first-class debut. Meanwhile, Surrey could slip to sixth if Kent and Derbyshire win their fairly easy fixtures. I'll try not to laugh too loudly.....
Durham simply steamrollered sorry Northants at Chester-le-Street. Borthwick and Collingwood each outscored the opposition on their own - twice! - while Chris Rushworth snatched 15 wickets for 95. James Middlebrook led the side but they looked demoralised from the start, and Northants' two innings combined lasted barely 40 overs! At Taunton, Somerset racked up 523-9 thanks largely to James Hildreth's 182 and Peter Trego's 91. Great to see Craig Kieswetter back after his horrific facial injury earlier in the year. He scored a useful 69, too. That Middlesex recovered from 64-7 to 223 owed much to a century stand by Morgan and Roland-Jones. A fine unbeaten 203 by Chris Rogers staved off defeat and means his team should avoid relegatin provided they avoid a heavy defeat by Lancashire next week.
In Division Two, Essex turned the screw on Hampshire by notching a fourth consecutive victory, this time against a Leicestershire side who capitulated inside two days! James Foster made 132, while David Masters and Jesse Ryder claimed thirteen wickets between them Josh Cobb's men now face the ignominy of failing to record a single win in two full Championship seasons. I don't think that has happened since WW2, although they used to play more games in those days.
Hampshire were forced by Kent to follow on at the Rose Bowl, with only Sean Ervine's 121 preventing an even greater first innings deficit. Will Smith then almost single-handedly rescued the home team by carrying his bat for 142. Tomlinson's 26-ball 2 not out at the other end kept Riley and Tredwell at bay before time was called. Those extra points for a draw could prove critical as they lead Essex by ten going into the final week. A win at Glamorgan will be enough.
In the other game, Derbyshire were surprisingly good value against lacklustre Surrey. Apart from Billy Godleman's partnership with Pujara in the fourth day run chase, it was a game for the bowlers, notably Mark Footitt, who extended his wicket tally for the season beyond 70, including a 6-60. Nevertheless, the star of the show was an 18 year-old debutant Harvey Hosein. The lad from Chesterfield's haul of eleven catches was a record for a 'keeper on his first-class debut. Meanwhile, Surrey could slip to sixth if Kent and Derbyshire win their fairly easy fixtures. I'll try not to laugh too loudly.....
Thursday, 24 July 2014
Yorkshire and Worcestershire sitting pretty
As the Championship takes a mid-season break in favour of the one-day stuff, the storms abated and hot sun shone across most of Britain, even here in Cardiff. All bar one of the week's fixtures took place at the much-loved cricketing outposts, taking their bows in the spotlight. In Division One, Yorkshire enjoyed the annual trip to the seaside and regained the top spot thanks to an easy win against Middlesex at Scarborough. At first, Rogers, Gubbins and Morgan batted as if they'd brought spades instead of a willow but wicketkeeper John Simpson allowed his team-mates extra time on the North Bay Beach by top-scoring in both innings. Nevertheless, the home county dominated, with centuries from Adam Lyth and Andrew Gale, assisted by a stirring 7-47 from a creaking Ryan Sidebottom and a decisive 4-27 from Adil Rashid on the final afternoon.
At Horsham, it was a closer affair until Warwickshire collapsed to defeat against Sussex, denting their Championship credentials as a result. The visitors did at least welcome Jonathan Trott's first hundred in four-day cricket this summer, producing a typical hundred in the first innings. However, he succumbed like most of his colleagues in the second as Chris Jordan blew away the top order and James Tredwell despatched the tail with three in four balls.
Sussex's fears of swapping places with Worcestershire were eased, while the latter showed that they aren't mourning the loss of Saeed Ajmal's wickets for the rest of the season. They now stand 43 points clear in Division Two after overcoming Gloucestershire by eight wickets on the college ground of Cheltenham. Daryl Mitchell carried his bat for 167 while the opposition crumbled twice in two days. It would have been over even quicker had tailenders Craig Miles and Liam Norwell not broken Gloucester's tenth wicket record with 137 defiant runs. The answer to the question of who could replace Ajmal is....all of them! New signing Mitchell McClenaghan, Jack Shantry, Morris, Leach and Chowdry each helped themselves to a wicket or several. Saeed who?
Surrey remain second despite losing by 89 runs at Guildford. It was even-stevens for three days but then Darren Stevens claimed 5-68 as Kent to thwart Dilshan and the other chasers to win by 89. There were plenty of runs in total but no centurions, while Stevens and Surrey's Stuart Meaker grabbed twenty wickets between them. Non-playing Hampshire, in third place, will be more pleased than most by this result.
Bowlers were on top in Derby where the home side defeated Glamorgan by six wickets. Derbyshire's victory lifted them above the Welsh opposition and Gloucestershire in the bottom half of Division Two. Wes Durston's 50 was the top score in the whole match and Mark Footitt's 6-48 the pick of the bowling performances. Only Saeed Ajmal has taken more Championship wickets so far in 2014 than the Derby seamer's 52.
This weekend the Twenty20 quarter-final line-up should be settled. Somerset look likely to miss out for the first time in living memory (OK, so I exaggerate, but it seems like forever) so my interest in the competition is waning fast - unless we defeat Middlesex tomorrow and the Glammies lose to Gloucester, in which case I might just start dreaming of that traditional Finals Day disappointment yet again...
At Horsham, it was a closer affair until Warwickshire collapsed to defeat against Sussex, denting their Championship credentials as a result. The visitors did at least welcome Jonathan Trott's first hundred in four-day cricket this summer, producing a typical hundred in the first innings. However, he succumbed like most of his colleagues in the second as Chris Jordan blew away the top order and James Tredwell despatched the tail with three in four balls.
Sussex's fears of swapping places with Worcestershire were eased, while the latter showed that they aren't mourning the loss of Saeed Ajmal's wickets for the rest of the season. They now stand 43 points clear in Division Two after overcoming Gloucestershire by eight wickets on the college ground of Cheltenham. Daryl Mitchell carried his bat for 167 while the opposition crumbled twice in two days. It would have been over even quicker had tailenders Craig Miles and Liam Norwell not broken Gloucester's tenth wicket record with 137 defiant runs. The answer to the question of who could replace Ajmal is....all of them! New signing Mitchell McClenaghan, Jack Shantry, Morris, Leach and Chowdry each helped themselves to a wicket or several. Saeed who?
Surrey remain second despite losing by 89 runs at Guildford. It was even-stevens for three days but then Darren Stevens claimed 5-68 as Kent to thwart Dilshan and the other chasers to win by 89. There were plenty of runs in total but no centurions, while Stevens and Surrey's Stuart Meaker grabbed twenty wickets between them. Non-playing Hampshire, in third place, will be more pleased than most by this result.
Bowlers were on top in Derby where the home side defeated Glamorgan by six wickets. Derbyshire's victory lifted them above the Welsh opposition and Gloucestershire in the bottom half of Division Two. Wes Durston's 50 was the top score in the whole match and Mark Footitt's 6-48 the pick of the bowling performances. Only Saeed Ajmal has taken more Championship wickets so far in 2014 than the Derby seamer's 52.
This weekend the Twenty20 quarter-final line-up should be settled. Somerset look likely to miss out for the first time in living memory (OK, so I exaggerate, but it seems like forever) so my interest in the competition is waning fast - unless we defeat Middlesex tomorrow and the Glammies lose to Gloucester, in which case I might just start dreaming of that traditional Finals Day disappointment yet again...
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