Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

We've signed Dale Steyn.

Shoud be overwhelmed, but he isn't fit, hasn't played cricket for a serious stint in the last 3 years, will only play in June and at the end of the season. Alternating with Amla?

budgetmeansbudget wrote:We've signed Dale Steyn.

Shoud be overwhelmed, but he isn't fit, hasn't played cricket for a serious stint in the last 3 years, will only play in June and at the end of the season. Alternating with Amla?

Amla will have left by the time that Steyn plays his two games. Quite why SA need Amla earlier than Steyn, I'm not entirely sure. But after those two games, Steyn too will join up with SA.

And then after the tour vs SL is done, Amla currently has plans to play in the Carribean PL. Hence the possibility of it being Steyn, rather than Amla, who comes back to us afterwards.

Interestingly, it currently leaves us without any overseas players for most of the t20 competition. Given that we potentially have most of the four-day and one-day season covered, I wonder if we might specifically look for two t20 specialists. Not often we've had that chance in recent years. (Possibly not since Christian and Razzaq helped us to the title in 2010)

The rain came this morning after we had announced our XI. So it's interesting to see that it's Wheal who we picked as our fourth bowler. I'd wondered if we'd maybe go with Holland. Going with Wheal in this game suggests that we also intend to go with him for the opener next week.

Only Amla and Vince are missing. I'd suggest it's Weatherley and Ervine, from the XI chosen, who are keeping the places warm. But if either player scores very well (should we get sufficient play in this game), then Jimmy and/or Rilee could find themselves left out.

Abbott being made captain is also interesting, rather than Northeast or Jimmy. There's a risk that will have to be without Vince at times this summer, so maybe we've decided that Abbott will be the man to fill in.

I see that Mustard has left Gloucs. I wouldn't want him in our red-ball team, but our white-ball team could definitely do with a keeper who can find the ropes.

Hi All.... just coming out of hibernation and logging in for the new season so that I have a marker for 'Hampshire 2018 thread' .
I haven't been following what's gone on since September so reading all your comments with interest.

haggishants wrote:Hi All.... just coming out of hibernation and logging in for the new season so that I have a marker for 'Hampshire 2018 thread' .
I haven't been following what's gone on since September so reading all your comments with interest.

Nice to have you back, Haggis.

Been a relatively quiet on the Hampshire front, I'd suggest. Amla and Northeast for Bailey and Carberry. That's about it.

Topley moving to a white-ball only contract is hardly news, given that he was never fit to play four-day cricket anyway. I wonder if Wood too might move to such a contract, when he comes to renew.

st_brendy wrote:

haggishants wrote:Hi All.... just coming out of hibernation and logging in for the new season so that I have a marker for 'Hampshire 2018 thread' .
I haven't been following what's gone on since September so reading all your comments with interest.

Nice to have you back, Haggis.

Been a relatively quiet on the Hampshire front, I'd suggest. Amla and Northeast for Bailey and Carberry. That's about it.

Topley moving to a white-ball only contract is hardly news, given that he was never fit to play four-day cricket anyway. I wonder if Wood too might move to such a contract, when he comes to renew.

David Fulton - on Sky Sports tonight - tipped you guys for the title. Preducting these things is so hard but your squad looks excellent and more than capable of proving him right.

captaincolly wrote:

st_brendy wrote:

haggishants wrote:Hi All.... just coming out of hibernation and logging in for the new season so that I have a marker for 'Hampshire 2018 thread' .
I haven't been following what's gone on since September so reading all your comments with interest.

Nice to have you back, Haggis.

Been a relatively quiet on the Hampshire front, I'd suggest. Amla and Northeast for Bailey and Carberry. That's about it.

Topley moving to a white-ball only contract is hardly news, given that he was never fit to play four-day cricket anyway. I wonder if Wood too might move to such a contract, when he comes to renew.

David Fulton - on Sky Sports tonight - tipped you guys for the title. Preducting these things is so hard but your squad looks excellent and more than capable of proving him right.

If Rilee scores well, and Wheal steps it up, then we have a chance. But I think Fulton is being a little bit generous.

Rilee scoring big runs would effectively be like us signing three new batsmen (along with Amla and Northeast). And that could really be a game-changer. Our batting has been too poor, for too long. Dawson continues to fail to live up his potential, but his bowling is generally too important to ever be dropped.

But obviously to win matches, you need to take 20 wickets. Fidel will be Fidel. Sometimes he'll take 5-40. Other times he'll take 0-95, off about 15 overs. It leaves Abbott and Berg needing to do to much between themselves, so someone like Wheal will need to support well.

If we're in with a chance come September, then adding Crane (who misses the entire first section of the Championship season, with injury) and Steyn to our attack for that entire month could be the difference.

In reality though, other than Worcs I would suggest that anyone in the division could win the title. Even Somerset (whose squad I really don't rate), due to their result wickets.

st_brendy wrote:

captaincolly wrote:

st_brendy wrote:

haggishants wrote:Hi All.... just coming out of hibernation and logging in for the new season so that I have a marker for 'Hampshire 2018 thread' .
I haven't been following what's gone on since September so reading all your comments with interest.

Nice to have you back, Haggis.

Been a relatively quiet on the Hampshire front, I'd suggest. Amla and Northeast for Bailey and Carberry. That's about it.

Topley moving to a white-ball only contract is hardly news, given that he was never fit to play four-day cricket anyway. I wonder if Wood too might move to such a contract, when he comes to renew.

David Fulton - on Sky Sports tonight - tipped you guys for the title. Preducting these things is so hard but your squad looks excellent and more than capable of proving him right.

If Rilee scores well, and Wheal steps it up, then we have a chance. But I think Fulton is being a little bit generous.

Rilee scoring big runs would effectively be like us signing three new batsmen (along with Amla and Northeast). And that could really be a game-changer. Our batting has been too poor, for too long. Dawson continues to fail to live up his potential, but his bowling is generally too important to ever be dropped.

But obviously to win matches, you need to take 20 wickets. Fidel will be Fidel. Sometimes he'll take 5-40. Other times he'll take 0-95, off about 15 overs. It leaves Abbott and Berg needing to do to much between themselves, so someone like Wheal will need to support well.

If we're in with a chance come September, then adding Crane (who misses the entire first section of the Championship season, with injury) and Steyn to our attack for that entire month could be the difference.

In reality though, other than Worcs I would suggest that anyone in the division could win the title. Even Somerset (whose squad I really don't rate), due to their result wickets.

Yeah, it looks harder to predict than ever. I think one reason Fulton tipped Hampshire is because he mentioned being close to Sam Northeast and said he was a very special player. Other one he specifically referred to was Amla.

Worcester might not be such dead ducks if Moeen spends a large part of the season playing for them.... although that feels unlikely

good luck for the new season, btw

Durhamfootman wrote:Worcester might not be such dead ducks if Moeen spends a large part of the season playing for them.... although that feels unlikely

Especially because he misses the start, due to IPL.

Durhamfootman wrote:good luck for the new season, btw

Thanks

Slug's unbeaten knock in the Uni match hasn't been sufficient to keep him in the side. In fact, he's not even in the squad. Somewhat strangely (in my view), Weatherley is the extra batter named in the 13 man squad.

With Crane and Holland injured, Wood is also named. Must be the first time in quite a long time. If the lad could stay fit, he could yet prove very useful to us. With Topley also injury-prone, we've lacked any left-arm option since Tommo. And of course Wood can bat too (Wood, Abbott, Berg is some tail!). But sadly, the lad just hasn't been able to get through four days in recent years. So I'll believe it only if I ever see it.

Planning on going down tomorrow, but really undecided as I keep hearing mixed weather forecasts