All Pretty Vacant, Down by the Riverside

[Durhamfootman]

or Cameron Bancroft

for the whole season, across all 3 formats, seemingly

Thank goodness we haven't spent the last few years with overseas openers who can't get past 10 in any innings of the first 5 matches of the season.

Thank goodness we haven't spent the last few years being utterly destroyed by big snarling fast bowlers like James Pattinson, Matt Henry and Jofra Archer in the first 5 matches of the season

Thank goodness the last few of our CC campaigns haven't been derailed in the first 5 matches of the season, resigning us to bottom of the table dog fights

and thank goodness there are no lessons to be learned from any of this

[Durhamfootman]

still... Cam Bancroft is available for the whole season and presumably he was very reasonably priced

and he has a point to prove

has he any captaincy experience?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Is he any good? Test average of 31 with no hundreds, fca of 38 with little experience. List A SR of 78. Has done poorly in UK before in CC2 playing for Gloucs.

Not obviously in Cook or Latham's class.

[captaincolly]

I suppose the World Cup has reduced the number of available players. If Bancroft does well he'll probably get an Ashes recall - although as DFM says , openers have had a shocking time early season at the Riverside!
I think it's a pretty good signing given the likely options.

[Durhamfootman]

Is he any good?

jury's out

[Durhamfootman]

I suppose availability depends upon which part of the season is the world cup in. If it's early season (May time or thereabouts) then I imagine availability will be poor and the signing makes some sense. If it's later in the season (June onwards) then I'd have thought availability of high class bowlers who want to get used to some English pitches and conditions would be very good, which would lessen the signing of Bancroft somewhat.

[Durhamfootman]

1st match is on 30th May..... 5 CC matches and some 50 over games into the season.

I'd have tried to sign him from the start of the 50 over comp. I reckon loads of top class bowlers will be on offer, at least those not at the IPL (which I presume will not be allowed to be overshadowed by the WC). It must make sense to get these bowlers bowling ahead of the tournament starting..... surely?

ah well........ bird in the hand, I suppose

[Durhamfootman]

Is he any good? Test average of 31 with no hundreds, fca of 38 with little experience. List A SR of 78. Has done poorly in UK before in CC2 playing for Gloucs.

Not obviously in Cook or Latham's class.

averaged just over 40 for Gloucs.... good enough to interest Somerset for whom he would have been playing this season had it not been for... well... you know.

[Durhamfootman]

Borthdick has broken his wrist in training, which I imagine will almost certainly rule him out for the rest of the season

[captaincolly]

Borthdick has broken his wrist in training, which I imagine will almost certainly rule him out for the rest of the season

Most unfortunate!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Is he any good? Test average of 31 with no hundreds, fca of 38 with little experience. List A SR of 78. Has done poorly in UK before in CC2 playing for Gloucs.

Not obviously in Cook or Latham's class.

averaged just over 40 for Gloucs.... good enough to interest Somerset for whom he would have been playing this season had it not been for... well... you know.

He made a double ton against Kent (says cricinfo on player page) but did poorly otherwise. But... he did make the 200.

[westoelad]

Is he any good? Test average of 31 with no hundreds, fca of 38 with little experience. List A SR of 78. Has done poorly in UK before in CC2 playing for Gloucs.

Not obviously in Cook or Latham's class.

averaged just over 40 for Gloucs.... good enough to interest Somerset for whom he would have been playing this season had it not been for... well... you know.

He made a double ton against Kent (says cricinfo on player page) but did poorly otherwise. But... he did make the 200.

His 1st 4 games for Gloucs: 2,0,32,5,13,37,2. So he ended up doing pretty well to average 40. But that wasn't at early season Riverside.

[andy]

Decent signing of Bancroft, good player, will do a job

[westoelad]

Borthdick has broken his wrist in training, which I imagine will almost certainly rule him out for the rest of the season

Is it his non-spinning wrist?

[Durhamfootman]

I don't know.... both of his wrists are non-spinning ones, so it could be either