County Championship 2022

(07-04-2022 14:35 )hornball Wrote:  I will just add that player skills improve more when conditions are against them, so a balance between early and mid summer is what is needed surely?? The argument seems to be - however - make life easier (relative) for batsmen at the expense of bowlers. That balance would be better found , if there wasn't a need to play T20 and the Hundred guff in the 'benign' conditions of mid - summer - where is the room to be found in the calendar??. Who is prepared to advocate less of these to facilitate more CC. Well me for one!!!!

I would happily see the 100 dropped, it does nothing for men's cricket, I can see the argument for it in the woman's game,
You could spread the t20 out so it's only played at the weekend, and have a round of CC in July and August, now that would prove the ECB cared about the game I'm not just a pound

^^ What worked well last year, due to covid was the decision to stage the women's games before the men's at the same venue, which allowed them to play in front of bigger crowds, I believe that the women are to play more stand alone matches this year.
A clear case of trying to fix something that they got right. What they i never get right is to attract the top T20 International stars, something they promised would happen. That idea was doomed from the start, as India don't allow their players to take part in any other domestic comp, only the IPL, unless they sign away their right to ever play International Cricket for their country. Unsurprisingly, this year, many overseas stars are choosing the guaranteed sunshine in the Caribean Premier League, over our dodgy weather. On top of this is the Asia Cup & numerous bi-lateral series, so The Hundred will feature some overseas players that are unknown by even the keenest of cricket followers.
The Hundred will never be scrapped, more likely that the far superior Blast will get axed, condensed or downgraded like the 50 over comp.

(08-04-2022 08:25 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ^^ What worked well last year, due to covid was the decision to stage the women's games before the men's at the same venue, which allowed them to play in front of bigger crowds, I believe that the women are to play more stand alone matches this year.
A clear case of trying to fix something that they got right. What they i never get right is to attract the top T20 International stars, something they promised would happen. That idea was doomed from the start, as India don't allow their players to take part in any other domestic comp, only the IPL, unless they sign away their right to ever play International Cricket for their country. Unsurprisingly, this year, many overseas stars are choosing the guaranteed sunshine in the Caribean Premier League, over our dodgy weather. On top of this is the Asia Cup & numerous bi-lateral series, so The Hundred will feature some overseas players that are unknown by even the keenest of cricket followers.
The Hundred will never be scrapped, more likely that the far superior Blast will get axed, condensed or downgraded like the 50 over comp.

...........and that was/is a scandal!!

(07-04-2022 10:26 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Round 1 April 7-10
Div 1
Essex v Kent - Chelmsford
Kent elected to field
Essex 514 & 68-1 dec
Kent 581
Match Drawn

Hampshire v Somerset - Southampton
Somerset elected to bat
Somerset 180 & 135
Hampshire 428
Hampshire won by an innings & 113 runs

Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire - Northampton
Northampnshire elected to field
Gloucestershire 223 & 363
Northamptonshire 288 & 272-8 (target 299
Match Drawn

Warwickshire v Surrey - Birmingham
Surrey elected to bat
Surrey 428-8 dec &43-0
Warwickshire 531
Match Drawn

Div 2
Glamorgan v Durham - Cardiff
Durham elected to field
Glamorgan 234 & 220-5
Durham 383
Match Drawn

Leicestershire v Worcestershire - Leicester
Worcesrshire elected to field
Leicestershire 348 & 234-5 dec
Worcestershire 213 & 219-9 (target 370)
Match Drawn

Middlesex v Derbyshire - Lords
Derbyshire elected to field
Middlesex 401 & 258-5 dec
Derbyshire 304 & 255-5 (target 356)
Match Drawn

Sussex v Nottinghamshire - Hove
Notts elected to field
Sussex 375 & 172
Nottinghamshire 534-9 dec & 14-0
Nottinghamshire won by 10 wickets

Round 1
Centuries - 19 (Div 1 - 12)
Mullaney 192
Lees 182 no
Burgess 178
Weatherley 168
Higgins 139
Foakes 132 no
Critchley 132
B Compton 129
J Cox 129
Bracey 117
Keogh 113
Pollock 112
Evison 109
D' Oliveira 118 no
Browne 107
M Lamb 106
Azad 104 no
A Cook 100
T Clark 100

Round 1
5 Wickets
Sanderson 5-66
Patterson-White 5-88
Salter 7-45

Round 1 Review
Surprisingly for early season, generally bat dominated ball, with only 2 positive result, & little time lost due to rain or bad light. There were 4 scores in excess of 500, 3 of 400, & 5 that exceeded 300. A total of 19 centuries, 5 of which came in the Essex v Kent match, with only 3 five wicket hauls, is not what you would expect.
Hampshire secured an easy win over a depleted Somerset, but Notts had to work a little harder, as Sussex made a commendable 375 first up, but were put under pressure as Notts batted beyond them & they succumbed in their second innings.
Leicestershire hung on 9 down as opener Azad scored an unbeaten century, & Northamptonshire came agonizingly close to chasing 299 in a closely fought match against Gloucestershire. At 233-4 first innings century maker Keogh was going well again on 74, his wicket signaled at collapse, as 4 fell for 32 runs, which put an end to the chase.

On England watch, Lees made an unbeaten 182, & will surely play in the Tests against New Zealand. Foakes score a confidence building undefeated century, as he will look to establish his place as England's first choice keeper.

Round 2 April 14-17
Div 1
Kent v Lanc - Canterbury
Lancs elected to bat
Lancs 506 & 36-0 (T34)
Kent 260 & F/O 279
Lancashire beat Kent by 10 wickets

Som v Essex - Taunton
Essex elected to field
Som 109 & 154
Essex 180 & 84-9 (T84)
Essex beat Somerset by 1 wicket

Glouc v Yorkshire - Bristol
Yorkshire elected to field
Glouc 227 & 359
Yorkshire 376 & 213-4 (T211)
Yorkshire beat Gloucestershire by 6 wickets

Surrey v Hampshire - The Oval
Hampshire elected to field
Surrey 467
Hampshire 223 & F/O 227
Surrey beat Hampshire by an innings & 17 runs

Div 2

Notts v Glam - Trent Bridge
Glamorgan elected to field
Notts 302 & 242
Glam 379 & 166-3 (T166)
Glamorgan beat Nottingham by 7 wickets

Durham v Leicestershire - Chester-le-Street
Leicestershire elected to field
Dur 428 & 239-2 dec
Leic 273 & 183-2 (T395)
Match drawn

Derbyshire v Sussex - Derby
Derbyshire elected to bat
Derbyshire 505-8 dec
Sussex 174 & F/O 513-3
Match drawn

(18-04-2022 15:30 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Round 2 April 14-17
Div 1
Kent v Lanc - Canterbury
Lancs elected to bat
Lancs 506 & 36-0 (T34)
Kent 260 & F/O 279
Lancashire beat Kent by 10 wickets

Som v Essex - Taunton
Essex elected to field
Som 109 & 154
Essex 180 & 84-9 (T84)
Essex beat Somerset by 1 wicket

Glouc v Yorkshire - Bristol
Yorkshire elected to field
Glouc 227 & 359
Yorkshire 376 & 213-4 (T211)
Yorkshire beat Gloucestershire by 6 wickets

Surrey v Hampshire - The Oval
Hampshire elected to field
Surrey 467
Hampshire 223 & F/O 227
Surrey beat Hampshire by an innings & 17 runs

Div 2

Notts v Glam - Trent Bridge
Glamorgan elected to field
Notts 302 & 242
Glam 379 & 166-3 (T166)
Glamorgan beat Nottingham by 7 wickets

Durham v Leicestershire - Chester-le-Street
Leicestershire elected to field
Dur 428 & 239-2 dec
Leic 273 & 183-2 (T395)
Match drawn

Derbyshire v Sussex - Derby
Derbyshire elected to bat
Derbyshire 505-8 dec
Sussex 174 & F/O 513-3
Match drawn

What a match this was, and further proof (if it were needed) of the value of the County Championship in its own right regardless of 'other priorities'. Maybe some evidence of the early season issues that are a problem for some, with the ball doing all sorts (if the skills were right). Equally though, innings could be built if the batting skill levels were up to it! Bar the absence of the out and out quicks perhaps, plenty of variety in the attacks too I thought! Looking forward to more of the same next round.

Envious of those that live next door to these matches (living here in NI where the county game has a level of following/popularity more widespread than you might think) so slightly disappointed that a bank holiday weekend didn't see sustained numbers attending.

Round 2
Centuries 16 (8 Div 1)
S Masood 239
T Haines 243
C Pujara 201 no
D Bedingham 191
J Bracey 177
S Croft 155
M Harris 136
O Pope 127
D Vilas 124
B Duckett 122
S Dickson 120
B Compton 115 & 104 no
W Madsen 111
M Jones 108
H Brook 102

5 Wickets
C Overton 7-57 7 6-30
S Snater 6-36
M Potts 6-58
H Qadri 60
J Overton 5-54