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

Now we have a game. I mentioned yesterday about the issue that losing Billings causes Kent. Not only do they not have his batting ability, but by choosing the extra bowler this time, they're effectively a batter light.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Rashid did though, and Mo wasn't available for them. Fair enough, I forgot the England players will be back. But Worcs qualified well out of the northern group.

In my book, a full strength Surrey and a full strength Notts are the only sides who should be giving a full strength Yorkshire a game.

Win or lose tomorrow, I was delighted that we got you tomorrow. Because I wouldn't have given us a chance of beating you in the final.

You know it's a bad mistake in the field (the missed run out), when the umpire has his head in his hand.

st_brendy wrote:You know it's a bad mistake in the field (the missed run out), when the umpire has his head in his hand.

Probably annoyed not to get another victim!

So Kent make the final. 1-0 to the Southern group. Pushed hard by Worcs though.

I'm sure we'd all like a Northern team to join them from the other semi to give some balance to the final.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that we have now had 3 semi finals since they introduced the idea of the two top teams getting a bye to the semi, and i'm almost certain that they have all been won by the teams that had to play a QF first

We'll see if Hants buck the trend tomorrow

oh... and while I'm moaning at the stupid ECB.... which bright spark thought that playing a semi final on a Monday instead of the vacant Saturday was a good idea?

the answer is the chief TV money bean counter, of course

they really are doing their level best to kill the game they are supposed to protect

Indeed, it's down to Sky.

England ODI to show on the Saturday, so they didn't want either SF to clash with that.

We've allowed members to attend for free - and managed to get the game moved to an 11am start - in an attempt to increase the number of fans who come along on a weekday, outside of the holidays, when England have a World Cup game.

I've got a work meeting at 11, and another at 2. I should just about catch the last 20 overs after getting home afterwards. Thanks for that...

st_brendy wrote:Indeed, it's down to Sky.

it's down to the ECB preferring to take the extra buck, rather than the opportunity to fill Hampshire's ground with kids..... kids who might one day think about playing the game or becoming members of a county

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Rashid did though, and Mo wasn't available for them. Fair enough, I forgot the England players will be back. But Worcs qualified well out of the northern group.

Tomorrow, Pujara is available (thanks to Afghanistan's two day loss) and Alex Lees has been called up.

Gary Ballance
Tim Bresnan
Harry Brook
Jack Brooks
Karl Carver
Ben Coad
Matthew Fisher
Tom Kohler-Cadmore
Jack Leaning
Alex Lees
Adam Lyth
Steven Patterson ©
Cheteshwar Pujara
Jonny Tattersall (WK)
Jordan Thompson

Massive boost to get Pujara back who has scored a core amount of Yorkshire's runs in this competition, especially if The Rose Bowl is a bunsen burner. Might as well add Leesy to the squad since he is likely to play in the County Championship match on Wednesday. Although he could be an outside pick for Kohler-Cadmore who has scored just 4 runs in his last 3 games.

Durhamfootman wrote:I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that we have now had 3 semi finals since they introduced the idea of the two top teams getting a bye to the semi, and i'm almost certain that they have all been won by the teams that had to play a QF first

We'll see if Hants buck the trend tomorrow

oh... and while I'm moaning at the stupid ECB.... which bright spark thought that playing a semi final on a Monday instead of the vacant Saturday was a good idea?

the answer is the chief TV money bean counter, of course

they really are doing their level best to kill the game they are supposed to protect

ECB fixtures secretary has to somehow fit 14 rounds of County Championship cricket, 8 rounds of One Day cup matches and 14 rounds of T20 Blast (plus any bye weeks) in a 5 and a half month period. Monday is not an ideal day to televise a semi-final, but there is a lack of space in the calendar to have an ideal fixture list.

ECB central payments effectively come from TV rights, without it counties will just go up the wall so naturally the England games take precedent.

Hants have kicked off with a rush. Eighteen off two. Yorks leave out Brooks, Brook, Lees and Thompson.

I see Reece Topley is out on the field today.

21 off 3.

30-0 off 5 as I head off to work. Hope for better news later.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:30-0 off 5 as I head off to work. Hope for better news later.

4 balls later the first wicket goes down!

I'm sure I saw this game as a 2 o'clock day nighter.

I've just tuned in to see who won the toss!

budgetmeansbudget wrote:I'm sure I saw this game as a 2 o'clock day nighter.

I've just tuned in to see who won the toss!

I did exact same thing.