It has been a day for the batters as the pre-season friendlies get under way, despite four of the five toss-winning captains choosing to field. Five 3-day, university matches have begun today and here is a quick run down of the scores and stats.
Cambridge MCCU v Essex
Essex won the toss and decided to bat.
Ess - 506-6d
Cam - 26-1
After a slow start that left the score on 14-0 after ten overs and 78-2 after 30 overs, Essex improved slightly but soon found themselves on 141-5. Then the game changed completely as first Smith (160), then Foster (114*) and Napier (100*) all passed the triple figure mark. Captain Foster then declared to give his bowlers a chance before the close, including the aging Willoughby on his first run out since joining from Somerset.
Middlesex v Durham MCCU
Durham MCCU won the toss and decided to field.
Mid - 368-9d
Dur - 25-2
Australian born Sam Robson was the star of the day, scoring 117, when several other top order batsmen failed. Simpson also opted to give his bowlers a run out and immediately got a reward when first Murtagh and then Roland-Jones picked up a wickets.
Oxford MCCU v Glamorgan
Oxford MCCU won the toss and decided to field.
Gla - 346-7d
Oxf - 6-0
Glamorgan found themselves in trouble at 132-5 but were rescued by a great captain's innings from Mark Wallace of 122 not out. He too chose to declare but failed to make a break through as Oxford inched their way to 6 off eight overs.
Somerset v Cardiff MCCU
Somerset won the toss and decided to field.
Car - 308-5
Somerset were the only county side not to bat today after they chose to field, but, after a good start, Cardiff enjoyed the best of the day. So far captain Zachary Elkin has carried his bat for 127, although at a steady pace having taken 292 balls. Somerset have used eight bowlers but only three have picked up wickets and it looks as though they may again be relying on their batsmen to get them points this season.
Surrey v Leeds/Bradford MCCU
Leeds/Bradford MCCU won the toss and decided to field.
Sur - 385-8d
L/B - 20-1
Following the pattern of the day Surrey's top order struggled but Rory Burns, hoping to play his first full season of county cricket, revived them with 101* batting at seven. He was backed by a strong 91 from Maynard who wasn't quite able to reach the three figures. On declaring Surrey took one wicket in the five overs before the close.
Saturday 31 March 2012
Friday 30 March 2012
County signings
As there were no games today I thought I would run a piece on the signings that the teams have made during the close season.
Derbyshire
Signed - 1 (D. Wainwright (from Yorkshire))
Released/Retired - 3
Durham
Signed - 1 (M. Wood (Youth))
Rel/Ret - 3
Essex
Signed - 3 (most notable - C. Willoughby (f. Somerset))
Rel/Ret - 2
Glamorgan
Signed - 2 (most notable - S. Jones (f. Hampshire))
Rel/Ret - 3
Gloucestershire
Signed - 1 (D. Housego (f. Middlesex))
Rel/Ret - 3
Hampshire
Signed - 0
Rel/Ret - 9
Kent
Signed - 8 (most notable - C. Shrek (f. Nottinghamshire))
Rel/Ret - 4
Lancashire
Signed - 2 (most notable - N. Tahir (f. Warwickshire))
Rel/Ret - 2
Leicestershire
Signed - 2 (most notable - R. Joseph (f. Kent))
Rel/Ret - 4
Middlesex
Signed - 4 (most notable - J. Denly (f. Kent))
Rel/ Ret - 4
Northamptonshire
Signed - 3 (most notable - K. Coetzer (f. Durham))
Rel/Ret - 4
Nottinghamshire
Signed - 7 (most notable - J. Taylor (f. Leicestershire))
Rel/Ret - 4
Somerset
Signed - 0
Rel/Ret - 2
Surrey
Signed - 5 (most notable - M. Kartik (f. Somerset) and J. Rudolph (f. Yorkshire))
Rel/Ret - 3
Sussex
Signed - 1 (M. Machan (Youth))
Rel/Ret - 2
Warwickshire
Signed - 2 (most notable - C. Wright (f. Essex))
Rel/Ret - 3
Worcestershire
Signed - 2 (most notable - B. Scott (f. Middlesex)
Rel/Ret - 3
Yorkshire
Signed - 5 (all Youth, plus P. Jaques, now as a UK citizen instead of an overseas player)
Rel/Ret - 4
All that amounts to 49 players signed against 62 released or retired. This cannot be a surprise in the tough economic times. It is also worth noting that, of the 48 signed, 22 are youth players (who haven't had a full contract before).
Derbyshire
Signed - 1 (D. Wainwright (from Yorkshire))
Released/Retired - 3
Durham
Signed - 1 (M. Wood (Youth))
Rel/Ret - 3
Essex
Signed - 3 (most notable - C. Willoughby (f. Somerset))
Rel/Ret - 2
Glamorgan
Signed - 2 (most notable - S. Jones (f. Hampshire))
Rel/Ret - 3
Gloucestershire
Signed - 1 (D. Housego (f. Middlesex))
Rel/Ret - 3
Hampshire
Signed - 0
Rel/Ret - 9
Kent
Signed - 8 (most notable - C. Shrek (f. Nottinghamshire))
Rel/Ret - 4
Lancashire
Signed - 2 (most notable - N. Tahir (f. Warwickshire))
Rel/Ret - 2
Leicestershire
Signed - 2 (most notable - R. Joseph (f. Kent))
Rel/Ret - 4
Middlesex
Signed - 4 (most notable - J. Denly (f. Kent))
Rel/ Ret - 4
Northamptonshire
Signed - 3 (most notable - K. Coetzer (f. Durham))
Rel/Ret - 4
Nottinghamshire
Signed - 7 (most notable - J. Taylor (f. Leicestershire))
Rel/Ret - 4
Somerset
Signed - 0
Rel/Ret - 2
Surrey
Signed - 5 (most notable - M. Kartik (f. Somerset) and J. Rudolph (f. Yorkshire))
Rel/Ret - 3
Sussex
Signed - 1 (M. Machan (Youth))
Rel/Ret - 2
Warwickshire
Signed - 2 (most notable - C. Wright (f. Essex))
Rel/Ret - 3
Worcestershire
Signed - 2 (most notable - B. Scott (f. Middlesex)
Rel/Ret - 3
Yorkshire
Signed - 5 (all Youth, plus P. Jaques, now as a UK citizen instead of an overseas player)
Rel/Ret - 4
All that amounts to 49 players signed against 62 released or retired. This cannot be a surprise in the tough economic times. It is also worth noting that, of the 48 signed, 22 are youth players (who haven't had a full contract before).
Thursday 29 March 2012
Over in three days - MCC v Lancs
MCC v Lancashire -
MCC - 266 & 84
Lancs - 199 & 152-4
Lancs win by 6 wickets
As it turned out MCC weren't able to recover from the carnage that made up the evening session on day two. It took Lancashire just two balls this morning to take the ninth wicket and three overs later the innings was all over. For the second time in the match Kerrigan was the stand out bowler, collecting four wickets to add to his identical tally in the first innings.
Lancashire's target was a miserly 152 with almost all of two days to get them. For a brief moment it looked like the game could be a close one when wickets fell in both the eighth and ninth overs to leave Lancashire on 11-2, but a third wicket partnership of 98, between Horton (58) and Procter (47), put the game beyond any doubt. As it happened both of them were out before the close but Croft and Smith saw them home.
Despite the result the overall player of the macth has to be Blackwell who was the only man to pass 100 and picked up two wickets in each innings. He will clearly still be a player to be reckoned with this season.
It may also be worth noting that only one innings of this match passed 200 and that plans for day-night test cricket haven't really benefitted from this match. It might be interesting to play a trial game in England where conditions would be slightly different.
So the traditional curtain raiser finishes a day early and our eyes can turn to the friendlies this weekend ahead of the Championship first round beginning next week.
Here is a list of the matches this weekend.
Middlesex v Durham MCCU, Merchant Taylors School, 11:00
Oxford MCCU v Glamorgan, The Parks, 11:00
Somerset v Cardiff MCCU, Taunton Vale CC, 11:00
Surrey v Leeds/Bradford MCCU, The Kia Oval, 11:00
MCC - 266 & 84
Lancs - 199 & 152-4
Lancs win by 6 wickets
As it turned out MCC weren't able to recover from the carnage that made up the evening session on day two. It took Lancashire just two balls this morning to take the ninth wicket and three overs later the innings was all over. For the second time in the match Kerrigan was the stand out bowler, collecting four wickets to add to his identical tally in the first innings.
Lancashire's target was a miserly 152 with almost all of two days to get them. For a brief moment it looked like the game could be a close one when wickets fell in both the eighth and ninth overs to leave Lancashire on 11-2, but a third wicket partnership of 98, between Horton (58) and Procter (47), put the game beyond any doubt. As it happened both of them were out before the close but Croft and Smith saw them home.
Despite the result the overall player of the macth has to be Blackwell who was the only man to pass 100 and picked up two wickets in each innings. He will clearly still be a player to be reckoned with this season.
It may also be worth noting that only one innings of this match passed 200 and that plans for day-night test cricket haven't really benefitted from this match. It might be interesting to play a trial game in England where conditions would be slightly different.
So the traditional curtain raiser finishes a day early and our eyes can turn to the friendlies this weekend ahead of the Championship first round beginning next week.
Here is a list of the matches this weekend.
Saturday, 31st March
Cambridge MCCU v Essex, Fenner's, 11:00Middlesex v Durham MCCU, Merchant Taylors School, 11:00
Oxford MCCU v Glamorgan, The Parks, 11:00
Somerset v Cardiff MCCU, Taunton Vale CC, 11:00
Surrey v Leeds/Bradford MCCU, The Kia Oval, 11:00
Sunday, 1st ` April
Nottinghamshire v Loughborough MCCU, Trent Bridge, 11:00
Wednesday 28 March 2012
Wickets tumble under lights - MCC v Lancashire
A crazy final session has left no doubt of a result in the match between the MCC and Lancashire. The MCC enjoyed the early part of the day, at one point having Lancashire on 106-7, but Captain Chapple brought the total up to 199 with a steady innings of 42. With a lead of 67 the MCC should have been looking to capatalise and move the game beyond doubt but having reached 52 for the loss of only their openers the game turned on its head.
Firstly Marshall, who'd played well to reach the highest score of the innings so far (31) was LBW to Chapple, whose day was getting better. Then Ali was bowled having scored just 2 from 24 balls. Two runs later Lancashire took the big wicket of Blackwell, (who scored 102* in the first innings) this time for 0. For the MCC the end could not come soon enough but there were still more than 10 overs left of play. Under the lights, with the dew settling and the pressure on, batting became a nightmare and Kerrigan was the bowler to capitalise. He took 3 wickets in 6 balls (across two overs) as the final 10 overs of play went for just 12 runs, leaving the MCC on 81 for 8 overnight, a lead of just 148.
As this test of the longer form of the game under day-night conditions goes on the same trend seems to be starting to appear, when darkness falls batting gets increasingly harder. But then don't we know that already? On winning the toss in a one-day day-nighter a captain almost always chooses to bat first, because of that very issue. And while the longer game allows players the time to bat slowly and take less risks it doesn't seem to change the result.
There are many good points about day-night test cricket, but in a time where very few matches last 5 days, raising the chance of quick wickets doesn't seem sensible.
Firstly Marshall, who'd played well to reach the highest score of the innings so far (31) was LBW to Chapple, whose day was getting better. Then Ali was bowled having scored just 2 from 24 balls. Two runs later Lancashire took the big wicket of Blackwell, (who scored 102* in the first innings) this time for 0. For the MCC the end could not come soon enough but there were still more than 10 overs left of play. Under the lights, with the dew settling and the pressure on, batting became a nightmare and Kerrigan was the bowler to capitalise. He took 3 wickets in 6 balls (across two overs) as the final 10 overs of play went for just 12 runs, leaving the MCC on 81 for 8 overnight, a lead of just 148.
As this test of the longer form of the game under day-night conditions goes on the same trend seems to be starting to appear, when darkness falls batting gets increasingly harder. But then don't we know that already? On winning the toss in a one-day day-nighter a captain almost always chooses to bat first, because of that very issue. And while the longer game allows players the time to bat slowly and take less risks it doesn't seem to change the result.
There are many good points about day-night test cricket, but in a time where very few matches last 5 days, raising the chance of quick wickets doesn't seem sensible.
Tuesday 27 March 2012
Day 1 - MCC vs Lancashire
The curtain rises on the English County Cricket season, as always with the MCC taking on last year's winners, in this case, Lancashire.
MCC won the toss and, as they did last year, elected to bat first. In both of the previous games at Abu Dhabi the team batting first has gone on to win and I'm sure this will have been part of Ramprakash's thinking. However they only managed to survive 75 overs and a ball as Lancashire bowled them out for 265. Slightly surprisingly this is the second highest score in any innings amassed by an MCC side in Abu Dhabi. Before the close they also managed to pick up two wickets to leave the game in a fine balance, with Lancashire on 38.
Ian Blackwell was clearly the stand out player of they day. Batting at 6 for the MCC he was not out for 103, while no-one else made it past 33. He then picked up one of the two Lancashire wickets and ended the day with impressive figures of 1 for 4, from 3 overs.
For Lancashire Simon Kerrigan was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 wickets at 3.6 runs an over.
Brown and Keedy will pick up play in the morning (UK time) and try to lift Lancashire into a position from which they can surpass the MCC's score.
Looking ahead to the weekend, six teams are taking on University sides in 1-day friendlies, however I wonder if the lack of 3-day friendlies will affect the opening round of County Championship games next week. We'll see!
MCC won the toss and, as they did last year, elected to bat first. In both of the previous games at Abu Dhabi the team batting first has gone on to win and I'm sure this will have been part of Ramprakash's thinking. However they only managed to survive 75 overs and a ball as Lancashire bowled them out for 265. Slightly surprisingly this is the second highest score in any innings amassed by an MCC side in Abu Dhabi. Before the close they also managed to pick up two wickets to leave the game in a fine balance, with Lancashire on 38.
Ian Blackwell was clearly the stand out player of they day. Batting at 6 for the MCC he was not out for 103, while no-one else made it past 33. He then picked up one of the two Lancashire wickets and ended the day with impressive figures of 1 for 4, from 3 overs.
For Lancashire Simon Kerrigan was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 wickets at 3.6 runs an over.
Brown and Keedy will pick up play in the morning (UK time) and try to lift Lancashire into a position from which they can surpass the MCC's score.
Looking ahead to the weekend, six teams are taking on University sides in 1-day friendlies, however I wonder if the lack of 3-day friendlies will affect the opening round of County Championship games next week. We'll see!
Monday 26 March 2012
Get ready
It's hard to believe I know, but tomorrow sees the first day of the county season's opening encounter, as always between previous year's First Division winners (this time, Lancashire) and the MCC. For the third year now the match will take place in Abu Dhabi, with a pink ball and (partly) under lights - as part of the MCC's continuing trial of day-night test match cricket.
The previous two matches have been against Durham (in 2010) and Nottinghamshire (in 2011) and MCC have won one and lost one. This year Mark Ramprakash is to captain their team.
The highest team score in either match was 459-9 by Durham, which also included the highest individual score of 172 by Coetzer. However that is one of only three centuries in the fixtures, the others made by Di Venuto (also in that Durham innings) and Rahul Dravid (for the MCC).
There has also only been one 5-wicket haul, which was taken last year by Kirby who finished the innings with brilliant figures of 12-6-29-5.
Meanwhile the other teams will be wrapping up their pre-season training, with several returning from overseas. Friendly matches will ensue and before we know it the 5th of April will be upon us (that's a Thursday) and with it the first round of County Championship matches.
Following this will be several more rounds of the 4-day format before the 1-day games finally begin on the bank holiday weekend of the 4-7th of May. This is either excellent scheduling or awful scheduling and I guess we won't know which until the middle of May.
But for now enjoy the sun, pray that it's here to stay and get ready for another great summer of cricket.
The previous two matches have been against Durham (in 2010) and Nottinghamshire (in 2011) and MCC have won one and lost one. This year Mark Ramprakash is to captain their team.
The highest team score in either match was 459-9 by Durham, which also included the highest individual score of 172 by Coetzer. However that is one of only three centuries in the fixtures, the others made by Di Venuto (also in that Durham innings) and Rahul Dravid (for the MCC).
There has also only been one 5-wicket haul, which was taken last year by Kirby who finished the innings with brilliant figures of 12-6-29-5.
Meanwhile the other teams will be wrapping up their pre-season training, with several returning from overseas. Friendly matches will ensue and before we know it the 5th of April will be upon us (that's a Thursday) and with it the first round of County Championship matches.
Following this will be several more rounds of the 4-day format before the 1-day games finally begin on the bank holiday weekend of the 4-7th of May. This is either excellent scheduling or awful scheduling and I guess we won't know which until the middle of May.
But for now enjoy the sun, pray that it's here to stay and get ready for another great summer of cricket.
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