Hope so, him and the Currans could be a real force. Don't rate Dernbach much. Looking forward to the Lancashire game in August, hotel booked, annual pilgrimage with my parents.
Agreed. Jade hasn't done it in the championship for a while but is consistently one of the top county bowlers on limited overs cricket.
Bored on the way home from work so thought I'd do my usual pre season forward look. I know it's early but I can't wait for the cricket season to start to distract me from the football. At least one of the teams I support does well! (Must be tough for you Kent fans!)
So the main news over the summer is the signing of 29 year old, left arm quick Mark Footit. He was the joint highest wicket taker in Div 2 with our own Tom Curran. He took 76 wickets at a shade over 23. This is backing up his 82 the previous year. Footit topped off his summer by being called up to the England squad for the test series against South Africa that has just finished, he can be considered unlucky not to play the final match of the series. I think it's clear to say this will be one quality signing and he adds some much needed experience to our bowling attack after the retirements of Tremlett and Linley.
In other news much of the current squad have signed contract extensions including, the Skipper - Batty, Wilson, Foakes, Dunn, Ansari, Curran, Curran and Roy. There may be others but these are the ones I could find with a quick search.
Other signings: well I expect we will sign an overseas player for the T20 slogfest.
I expect Azhar will be back for the shorter formats for the umpteenth year running! He was actually playing in very first Surrey match I was taken to by my dad as a 4 year old!) What a legend!
Sanga is going to be back for the entire season as he no longer has Sri Lanka commitments.. is class on and off the field.
I would also like to see a few signings from other teams second 11s similar to Burke was last year as I feel we don't have enough depth for a sustained campaign and as Charlton fans know well there are only so many youth players you can throw into the first team.
So the outs
As well as the retirements of the Viscount - Linley (who has in my mind been poorly treated, but we won't go there) and Tremlett. Solanki also announced his retirement. Whilst these players weren't featuring much in the side towards the second half of the season it dies leave us short of back up and experienced players around the squad.
Don't expect to see much if any of Pietersen, I'm sure he will be spending too much time off earning money to play for us even in the T20 Blast!
Quicks T. Curran, Dunn, Footit, Meaker, Dernbach, Balcombe
In my eyes a good squad but lacking depth! (Oh no, the CAFC problem) particularly as we may lose a number of players for periods of the year on internationals etc. I reckon the following:
Burns, if we keep getting through openers as we are, it can't be long now before he is considered for England. Especially if he has a good start to the season.
Ansari, already had two England call ups. And with a subcontinent winter next year I think they'd like to get him around the squad in the summer.
Roy, will play the shorter formats for England. May well go off and play IPL or another one of those...
Wilson, will miss some games to play for Ireland.
Sam Curran will be away with Eng U19s
Tom Curran must be somewhere on England's radar.
Footit, likely to make a test squad or two.
My 11 for championship would be
Burns Harinath Sanga Roy Davies Ansari Wilson S. Curran T.Curran Footit Dunn
With Batty in for S.Curran on spinning wickets, Wilson to captain in his absence. We will need to rotate our quicks so Burke, Meaker and Dernbach will feature.
It's a big year for Burns, score big runs and he will be in England reckoning. Harinath deserves his chance at the top of the order. Have promoted Roy to 4. If he has any test ambition, which he says he has, then he will need to prove himself at 4 in Div 1. Not saying I would have him in the test team but he says he wants to. Wilson as keeper as he is the man in possession and is a senior player. Foakes may well oust him as the season goes on. Ansari to move down the order as he has increasingly become our premier spinner and so will have to managed his workload. Think he will benefit from it. Four man pace attack for the first part of the season and Batts to come in when it's a bunsen.
My 11 for the shorter formats would be
Roy Davies Sanga Burns Wilson Ansari Azhar S.Curran T.Curran Batty Dernbach
The formula that worked well in the cup last year. Maybe a bit bowler heavy. Wouldn't mind a batsman/batting allrounder in as an overseas.
Choosing to stick with the squad which kept us up. Which is 100% the right thing to do. However we shouldn't expect too much from the youngest members of the squad, whilst they performed unbelievably last season they are still young and so inconsistency should be expected. We need the more senior members of the squad to step up and show the young un's how it's done. Namely Batty, Sanga, Wilson, Roy, Davies, Dernbach, Footit. And to a lesser extend players like Burns and Ansari.
Predictions.
Well I think if we show the form that we showed last year we could compete at the top of the table. However I am expecting some inconsistency and if we lose players to other competitions/internationals then we may run out of steam. So I would take a mid table /staying up finish with some good performances along the way. That way the youngsters are a year older and experienced in the first division and we are ready to mount a charge the following year! Come on the Rey! One for the Kent fans (who we all know spend more time on this thread than their own coz it's clearly better!) 13 out of a squad of 21 are academy products. Say what you like about us but you can't say we don't bring players through or blood youngsters. ..
May just be me but when I go to see Surrey/ any cricket, I go to see young English players who will develop and one day play for England. It's nice to have the odd big name thrown in. But I have soo much enjoyed the likes of Roy, Burns, Ansari and the Curran's develop.
Money and the Surrey network talks with the likes of Curran(S), Curran(T). Dernbach, Roy, Meaker, Pillans & McKerr all plucked from their South African roots.
As some of you know my son has played for Kent the previous two seasons and will hopefully be in the U13s too this year. He had the privilege of playing at the Oval last year (and to change in the same place as the greats of the game such as Lara & Tendulkar as evidenced by their autographs on the wall) against Surrey and hit his first ever six there.
The nearest, however, he will ever get to being South African or playing for Surrey for that matter will be when he plays for Grahame Clinton's academy on tour to Cape Town next February. I will, of course, be going with him purely to protect him from any vultures or should I say "poachers" ;-)
Bored on the way home from work so thought I'd do my usual pre season forward look. I know it's early but I can't wait for the cricket season to start to distract me from the football. At least one of the teams I support does well! (Must be tough for you Kent fans!)
So the main news over the summer is the signing of 29 year old, left arm quick Mark Footit. He was the joint highest wicket taker in Div 2 with our own Tom Curran. He took 76 wickets at a shade over 23. This is backing up his 82 the previous year. Footit topped off his summer by being called up to the England squad for the test series against South Africa that has just finished, he can be considered unlucky not to play the final match of the series. I think it's clear to say this will be one quality signing and he adds some much needed experience to our bowling attack after the retirements of Tremlett and Linley.
In other news much of the current squad have signed contract extensions including, the Skipper - Batty, Wilson, Foakes, Dunn, Ansari, Curran, Curran and Roy. There may be others but these are the ones I could find with a quick search.
Other signings: well I expect we will sign an overseas player for the T20 slogfest.
I expect Azhar will be back for the shorter formats for the umpteenth year running! He was actually playing in very first Surrey match I was taken to by my dad as a 4 year old!) What a legend!
Sanga is going to be back for the entire season as he no longer has Sri Lanka commitments.. is class on and off the field.
I would also like to see a few signings from other teams second 11s similar to Burke was last year as I feel we don't have enough depth for a sustained campaign and as Charlton fans know well there are only so many youth players you can throw into the first team.
So the outs
As well as the retirements of the Viscount - Linley (who has in my mind been poorly treated, but we won't go there) and Tremlett. Solanki also announced his retirement. Whilst these players weren't featuring much in the side towards the second half of the season it dies leave us short of back up and experienced players around the squad.
Don't expect to see much if any of Pietersen, I'm sure he will be spending too much time off earning money to play for us even in the T20 Blast!
Quicks T. Curran, Dunn, Footit, Meaker, Dernbach, Balcombe
In my eyes a good squad but lacking depth! (Oh no, the CAFC problem) particularly as we may lose a number of players for periods of the year on internationals etc. I reckon the following:
Burns, if we keep getting through openers as we are, it can't be long now before he is considered for England. Especially if he has a good start to the season.
Ansari, already had two England call ups. And with a subcontinent winter next year I think they'd like to get him around the squad in the summer.
Roy, will play the shorter formats for England. May well go off and play IPL or another one of those...
Wilson, will miss some games to play for Ireland.
Sam Curran will be away with Eng U19s
Tom Curran must be somewhere on England's radar.
Footit, likely to make a test squad or two.
My 11 for championship would be
Burns Harinath Sanga Roy Davies Ansari Wilson S. Curran T.Curran Footit Dunn
With Batty in for S.Curran on spinning wickets, Wilson to captain in his absence. We will need to rotate our quicks so Burke, Meaker and Dernbach will feature.
It's a big year for Burns, score big runs and he will be in England reckoning. Harinath deserves his chance at the top of the order. Have promoted Roy to 4. If he has any test ambition, which he says he has, then he will need to prove himself at 4 in Div 1. Not saying I would have him in the test team but he says he wants to. Wilson as keeper as he is the man in possession and is a senior player. Foakes may well oust him as the season goes on. Ansari to move down the order as he has increasingly become our premier spinner and so will have to managed his workload. Think he will benefit from it. Four man pace attack for the first part of the season and Batts to come in when it's a bunsen.
My 11 for the shorter formats would be
Roy Davies Sanga Burns Wilson Ansari Azhar S.Curran T.Curran Batty Dernbach
The formula that worked well in the cup last year. Maybe a bit bowler heavy. Wouldn't mind a batsman/batting allrounder in as an overseas.
Choosing to stick with the squad which kept us up. Which is 100% the right thing to do. However we shouldn't expect too much from the youngest members of the squad, whilst they performed unbelievably last season they are still young and so inconsistency should be expected. We need the more senior members of the squad to step up and show the young un's how it's done. Namely Batty, Sanga, Wilson, Roy, Davies, Dernbach, Footit. And to a lesser extend players like Burns and Ansari.
Predictions.
Well I think if we show the form that we showed last year we could compete at the top of the table. However I am expecting some inconsistency and if we lose players to other competitions/internationals then we may run out of steam. So I would take a mid table /staying up finish with some good performances along the way. That way the youngsters are a year older and experienced in the first division and we are ready to mount a charge the following year! Come on the Rey! One for the Kent fans (who we all know spend more time on this thread than their own coz it's clearly better!) 13 out of a squad of 21 are academy products. Say what you like about us but you can't say we don't bring players through or blood youngsters. ..
May just be me but when I go to see Surrey/ any cricket, I go to see young English players who will develop and one day play for England. It's nice to have the odd big name thrown in. But I have soo much enjoyed the likes of Roy, Burns, Ansari and the Curran's develop.
Money and the Surrey network talks with the likes of Curran(S), Curran(T). Dernbach, Roy, Meaker, Pillans & McKerr all plucked from their South African roots.
As some of you know my son has played for Kent the previous two seasons and will hopefully be in the U13s too this year. He had the privilege of playing at the Oval last year (and to change in the same place as the greats of the game such as Lara & Tendulkar as evidenced by their autographs on the wall) against Surrey and hit his first ever six there.
The nearest, however, he will ever get to being South African or playing for Surrey for that matter will be when he plays for Grahame Clinton's academy on tour to Cape Town next February. I will, of course, be going with him purely to protect him from any vultures or should I say "poachers" ;-)
Agree with you on the whole.. although Roy meaker and Dernbach are all genuine academy products. (Or so I am led to believe)
I have been following the progress of your son (seb?) On the Kent thread. He is living what most of us could only dream of and I am very jealous. I really hope he makes it, would be nice to have another Charlton fan on the county circuit. If he does make it he could do a lot worse than playing for Surrey! (Kent for one!) I'm sure his ability to keep wicket will attract Surrey.
Bored on the way home from work so thought I'd do my usual pre season forward look. I know it's early but I can't wait for the cricket season to start to distract me from the football. At least one of the teams I support does well! (Must be tough for you Kent fans!)
So the main news over the summer is the signing of 29 year old, left arm quick Mark Footit. He was the joint highest wicket taker in Div 2 with our own Tom Curran. He took 76 wickets at a shade over 23. This is backing up his 82 the previous year. Footit topped off his summer by being called up to the England squad for the test series against South Africa that has just finished, he can be considered unlucky not to play the final match of the series. I think it's clear to say this will be one quality signing and he adds some much needed experience to our bowling attack after the retirements of Tremlett and Linley.
In other news much of the current squad have signed contract extensions including, the Skipper - Batty, Wilson, Foakes, Dunn, Ansari, Curran, Curran and Roy. There may be others but these are the ones I could find with a quick search.
Other signings: well I expect we will sign an overseas player for the T20 slogfest.
I expect Azhar will be back for the shorter formats for the umpteenth year running! He was actually playing in very first Surrey match I was taken to by my dad as a 4 year old!) What a legend!
Sanga is going to be back for the entire season as he no longer has Sri Lanka commitments.. is class on and off the field.
I would also like to see a few signings from other teams second 11s similar to Burke was last year as I feel we don't have enough depth for a sustained campaign and as Charlton fans know well there are only so many youth players you can throw into the first team.
So the outs
As well as the retirements of the Viscount - Linley (who has in my mind been poorly treated, but we won't go there) and Tremlett. Solanki also announced his retirement. Whilst these players weren't featuring much in the side towards the second half of the season it dies leave us short of back up and experienced players around the squad.
Don't expect to see much if any of Pietersen, I'm sure he will be spending too much time off earning money to play for us even in the T20 Blast!
Quicks T. Curran, Dunn, Footit, Meaker, Dernbach, Balcombe
In my eyes a good squad but lacking depth! (Oh no, the CAFC problem) particularly as we may lose a number of players for periods of the year on internationals etc. I reckon the following:
Burns, if we keep getting through openers as we are, it can't be long now before he is considered for England. Especially if he has a good start to the season.
Ansari, already had two England call ups. And with a subcontinent winter next year I think they'd like to get him around the squad in the summer.
Roy, will play the shorter formats for England. May well go off and play IPL or another one of those...
Wilson, will miss some games to play for Ireland.
Sam Curran will be away with Eng U19s
Tom Curran must be somewhere on England's radar.
Footit, likely to make a test squad or two.
My 11 for championship would be
Burns Harinath Sanga Roy Davies Ansari Wilson S. Curran T.Curran Footit Dunn
With Batty in for S.Curran on spinning wickets, Wilson to captain in his absence. We will need to rotate our quicks so Burke, Meaker and Dernbach will feature.
It's a big year for Burns, score big runs and he will be in England reckoning. Harinath deserves his chance at the top of the order. Have promoted Roy to 4. If he has any test ambition, which he says he has, then he will need to prove himself at 4 in Div 1. Not saying I would have him in the test team but he says he wants to. Wilson as keeper as he is the man in possession and is a senior player. Foakes may well oust him as the season goes on. Ansari to move down the order as he has increasingly become our premier spinner and so will have to managed his workload. Think he will benefit from it. Four man pace attack for the first part of the season and Batts to come in when it's a bunsen.
My 11 for the shorter formats would be
Roy Davies Sanga Burns Wilson Ansari Azhar S.Curran T.Curran Batty Dernbach
The formula that worked well in the cup last year. Maybe a bit bowler heavy. Wouldn't mind a batsman/batting allrounder in as an overseas.
Choosing to stick with the squad which kept us up. Which is 100% the right thing to do. However we shouldn't expect too much from the youngest members of the squad, whilst they performed unbelievably last season they are still young and so inconsistency should be expected. We need the more senior members of the squad to step up and show the young un's how it's done. Namely Batty, Sanga, Wilson, Roy, Davies, Dernbach, Footit. And to a lesser extend players like Burns and Ansari.
Predictions.
Well I think if we show the form that we showed last year we could compete at the top of the table. However I am expecting some inconsistency and if we lose players to other competitions/internationals then we may run out of steam. So I would take a mid table /staying up finish with some good performances along the way. That way the youngsters are a year older and experienced in the first division and we are ready to mount a charge the following year! Come on the Rey! One for the Kent fans (who we all know spend more time on this thread than their own coz it's clearly better!) 13 out of a squad of 21 are academy products. Say what you like about us but you can't say we don't bring players through or blood youngsters. ..
May just be me but when I go to see Surrey/ any cricket, I go to see young English players who will develop and one day play for England. It's nice to have the odd big name thrown in. But I have soo much enjoyed the likes of Roy, Burns, Ansari and the Curran's develop.
Money and the Surrey network talks with the likes of Curran(S), Curran(T). Dernbach, Roy, Meaker, Pillans & McKerr all plucked from their South African roots.
As some of you know my son has played for Kent the previous two seasons and will hopefully be in the U13s too this year. He had the privilege of playing at the Oval last year (and to change in the same place as the greats of the game such as Lara & Tendulkar as evidenced by their autographs on the wall) against Surrey and hit his first ever six there.
The nearest, however, he will ever get to being South African or playing for Surrey for that matter will be when he plays for Grahame Clinton's academy on tour to Cape Town next February. I will, of course, be going with him purely to protect him from any vultures or should I say "poachers" ;-)
Agree with you on the whole.. although Roy meaker and Dernbach are all genuine academy products. (Or so I am led to believe)
I have been following the progress of your son (seb?) On the Kent thread. He is living what most of us could only dream of and I am very jealous. I really hope he makes it, would be nice to have another Charlton fan on the county circuit. If he does make it he could do a lot worse than playing for Surrey! (Kent for one!) I'm sure his ability to keep wicket will attract Surrey.
Thanks Canters for your kind words (apart from the obligatory dig at Kent of course!). One of his coaches at Bexley is Adam Riley - and I don't think there are many bigger Charlton fans.
Bored on the way home from work so thought I'd do my usual pre season forward look. I know it's early but I can't wait for the cricket season to start to distract me from the football. At least one of the teams I support does well! (Must be tough for you Kent fans!)
So the main news over the summer is the signing of 29 year old, left arm quick Mark Footit. He was the joint highest wicket taker in Div 2 with our own Tom Curran. He took 76 wickets at a shade over 23. This is backing up his 82 the previous year. Footit topped off his summer by being called up to the England squad for the test series against South Africa that has just finished, he can be considered unlucky not to play the final match of the series. I think it's clear to say this will be one quality signing and he adds some much needed experience to our bowling attack after the retirements of Tremlett and Linley.
In other news much of the current squad have signed contract extensions including, the Skipper - Batty, Wilson, Foakes, Dunn, Ansari, Curran, Curran and Roy. There may be others but these are the ones I could find with a quick search.
Other signings: well I expect we will sign an overseas player for the T20 slogfest.
I expect Azhar will be back for the shorter formats for the umpteenth year running! He was actually playing in very first Surrey match I was taken to by my dad as a 4 year old!) What a legend!
Sanga is going to be back for the entire season as he no longer has Sri Lanka commitments.. is class on and off the field.
I would also like to see a few signings from other teams second 11s similar to Burke was last year as I feel we don't have enough depth for a sustained campaign and as Charlton fans know well there are only so many youth players you can throw into the first team.
So the outs
As well as the retirements of the Viscount - Linley (who has in my mind been poorly treated, but we won't go there) and Tremlett. Solanki also announced his retirement. Whilst these players weren't featuring much in the side towards the second half of the season it dies leave us short of back up and experienced players around the squad.
Don't expect to see much if any of Pietersen, I'm sure he will be spending too much time off earning money to play for us even in the T20 Blast!
Quicks T. Curran, Dunn, Footit, Meaker, Dernbach, Balcombe
In my eyes a good squad but lacking depth! (Oh no, the CAFC problem) particularly as we may lose a number of players for periods of the year on internationals etc. I reckon the following:
Burns, if we keep getting through openers as we are, it can't be long now before he is considered for England. Especially if he has a good start to the season.
Ansari, already had two England call ups. And with a subcontinent winter next year I think they'd like to get him around the squad in the summer.
Roy, will play the shorter formats for England. May well go off and play IPL or another one of those...
May just be me but when I go to see Surrey/ any cricket, I go to see young English players who will develop and one day play for England. It's nice to have the odd big name thrown in. But I have soo much enjoyed the likes of Roy, Burns, Ansari and the Curran's develop.
Money and the Surrey network talks with the likes of Curran(S), Curran(T). Dernbach, Roy, Meaker, Pillans & McKerr all plucked from their South African roots.
As some of you know my son has played for Kent the previous two seasons and will hopefully be in the U13s too this year. He had the privilege of playing at the Oval last year (and to change in the same place as the greats of the game such as Lara & Tendulkar as evidenced by their autographs on the wall) against Surrey and hit his first ever six there.
The nearest, however, he will ever get to being South African or playing for Surrey for that matter will be when he plays for Grahame Clinton's academy on tour to Cape Town next February. I will, of course, be going with him purely to protect him from any vultures or should I say "poachers" ;-)
Agree with you on the whole.. although Roy meaker and Dernbach are all genuine academy products. (Or so I am led to believe)
I have been following the progress of your son (seb?) On the Kent thread. He is living what most of us could only dream of and I am very jealous. I really hope he makes it, would be nice to have another Charlton fan on the county circuit. If he does make it he could do a lot worse than playing for Surrey! (Kent for one!) I'm sure his ability to keep wicket will attract Surrey.
Thanks Canters for your kind words (apart from the obligatory dig at Kent of course!). One of his coaches at Bexley is Adam Riley - and I don't think there are many bigger Charlton fans.
Apologies for the Kent bashing. As a Kentish lad but forced onto Surrey by my father, I had to learn to give as good as I got on the cricket front. An experience most Charlton fans are familiar with.
Glad to hear he is in good hands.
I came through the Bexley youth system a few years ago.. good to know they are still pushing out top class cricketers!!
Meaker managed to injure himself in the nets.. edged a one from Matt Dunn into his 'Groin area' when he wasn't wearing a box. Suffered a lacerated testicle, I warn you don't Google that. Has had an operation could be out for up to a month.
Dernbach is still suffering with an injured back. Should be back in time for the T20s which is all I want him for anyways.
Ansari has a second operation on his thumb after suffering an open dislocation at the end of last season. ( don't Google that either) he should be back for the second championship game.
Rory Burns has been named Vive captain. Batty has called it succession planning. Possibly a bit harsh on Wilson who held the role last year. But I am not sure he will be first choice in any format this season.
Davies has started keeping again and want to become first choice keeper to try and gain a test spot! (Lol) he certainly has tough competition for the gloves at Surrey.
A thirteen man squad has been named for the match at Trent bridge that starts tomorrow.
My team would be,
Burns Harinath Sanga Davies Roy Foakes (w) S. Curran T. Curran Batty Dunn Footit
Wilson and Rampaul miss out. Sam Curran is available for this match due to school holidays but won't be available again until after exams. I assume Ansari/Burke will come in for him depending on the track and Zaf's fitness.
I'll be interested to see how Footitt gets on. I saw him play at Chesterfield last season where we bowled a mixture of very good and very bad balls. The standard is much higher in the top division so it will be interesting to see if he really is close to England standard or whether he bowls too many loose ones.
Alec Stewart has just said words to the effect of "I will give you two names should the selectors consider replacing Bairstow in the Test side - and it's not Buttler who is going to the IPL and not playing for Lancs in the Championship - but Steve Davies who will be keeping again and in two years time I guarantee that Foakes will be the England keeper".
I've always liked Davies but am surprised that he is taking the gloves again firstly because I thought Wilson had that job but also because Foakes hasn't come to Surrey to play in the 2nd X1 for the next couple of seasons.
Few things to say on that.
1) I rated Stewie the player highly.. even though I was very young when he retired it's clear to say he was class. However Stewie the Director of Cricket/ coach I don't rate so highly.. part of me thinks he's there on reputation rather than ability and also because he's a freemason so friends in the right places. So never fully believe everything he says..
2) Davies has stated he has no intention of returning to keeping. Although he is pretty useless in the field and was looking a little fat last season.
3) Davies the batsman is very good at County level. But he is a former player. As demonstrated last season he has an unbelievable start to the season and scored two double tons I believe but then tailed off awfully and had a very poor finish to the season. He always seems a little streaky in the longer format, too many shots loop up in the air. And I feel his technique would be found out at test level. He could possibly do a job in the one day team but he is a way down the pecking order
So Davies the batsman is not up to it at test level so hos only way into the side is as a keeper. But I feel that ship has sailed both in terms of him wanting the gloves and the selectors considering him.
As for Foakes, whilst I see a lot of potential there he never cemented his place in any format last year. His glovework is superior to that of Wilson. But his batting let him down at times.. and Wilson is a senior player and vice captain so not likely to be dropped.. This is a big year for him we will see who ends up first choice at the end of the season.
Alec Stewart has just said words to the effect of "I will give you two names should the selectors consider replacing Bairstow in the Test side - and it's not Buttler who is going to the IPL and not playing for Lancs in the Championship - but Steve Davies who will be keeping again and in two years time I guarantee that Foakes will be the England keeper".
I've always liked Davies but am surprised that he is taking the gloves again firstly because I thought Wilson had that job but also because Foakes hasn't come to Surrey to play in the 2nd X1 for the next couple of seasons.
Few things to say on that.
1) I rated Stewie the player highly.. even though I was very young when he retired it's clear to say he was class. However Stewie the Director of Cricket/ coach I don't rate so highly.. part of me thinks he's there on reputation rather than ability and also because he's a freemason so friends in the right places. So never fully believe everything he says..
2) Davies has stated he has no intention of returning to keeping. Although he is pretty useless in the field and was looking a little fat last season.
3) Davies the batsman is very good at County level. But he is a former player. As demonstrated last season he has an unbelievable start to the season and scored two double tons I believe but then tailed off awfully and had a very poor finish to the season. He always seems a little streaky in the longer format, too many shots loop up in the air. And I feel his technique would be found out at test level. He could possibly do a job in the one day team but he is a way down the pecking order
So Davies the batsman is not up to it at test level so hos only way into the side is as a keeper. But I feel that ship has sailed both in terms of him wanting the gloves and the selectors considering him.
As for Foakes, whilst I see a lot of potential there he never cemented his place in any format last year. His glovework is superior to that of Wilson. But his batting let him down at times.. and Wilson is a senior player and vice captain so not likely to be dropped.. This is a big year for him we will see who ends up first choice at the end of the season.
And to think that the messenger got shot ;-)
He has changed his tune between the end of last season and the beginning of that. But yes I do apologise for shooting said messenger.
Meaker managed to injure himself in the nets.. edged a one from Matt Dunn into his 'Groin area' when he wasn't wearing a box. Suffered a lacerated testicle, I warn you don't Google that. Has had an operation could be out for up to a month.
Dernbach is still suffering with an injured back. Should be back in time for the T20s which is all I want him for anyways.
Ansari has a second operation on his thumb after suffering an open dislocation at the end of last season. ( don't Google that either) he should be back for the second championship game.
Rory Burns has been named Vive captain. Batty has called it succession planning. Possibly a bit harsh on Wilson who held the role last year. But I am not sure he will be first choice in any format this season.
Davies has started keeping again and want to become first choice keeper to try and gain a test spot! (Lol) he certainly has tough competition for the gloves at Surrey.
A thirteen man squad has been named for the match at Trent bridge that starts tomorrow.
My team would be,
Burns Harinath Sanga Davies Roy Foakes (w) S. Curran T. Curran Batty Dunn Footit
Wilson and Rampaul miss out. Sam Curran is available for this match due to school holidays but won't be available again until after exams. I assume Ansari/Burke will come in for him depending on the track and Zaf's fitness.
Team is as above but Rampaul in for Dunn.. its been a bit crazy at Trent Bridge. They have been scoring at over 5 an over... score 328-5
Mullaney c Foakes b Rampaul 113 Smith c Sangakkara b T Curran 9 Lumb lbw b Footitt 24 B Taylor c Sangakkara b T Curran 20 Wessels c Foakes b Rampaul 81 Patel not out 70 Read not out 32
Need to break this partnership. Also 25 extras is pretty poor.
Not going well this.. Patel looking comfortable against the new ball bowling of Curran and Footit. A lot resting on the shoulders of these two this year so need a good start!
Comments
As some of you know my son has played for Kent the previous two seasons and will hopefully be in the U13s too this year. He had the privilege of playing at the Oval last year (and to change in the same place as the greats of the game such as Lara & Tendulkar as evidenced by their autographs on the wall) against Surrey and hit his first ever six there.
The nearest, however, he will ever get to being South African or playing for Surrey for that matter will be when he plays for Grahame Clinton's academy on tour to Cape Town next February. I will, of course, be going with him purely to protect him from any vultures or should I say "poachers" ;-)
I have been following the progress of your son (seb?) On the Kent thread. He is living what most of us could only dream of and I am very jealous. I really hope he makes it, would be nice to have another Charlton fan on the county circuit. If he does make it he could do a lot worse than playing for Surrey! (Kent for one!) I'm sure his ability to keep wicket will attract Surrey.
Glad to hear he is in good hands.
I came through the Bexley youth system a few years ago.. good to know they are still pushing out top class cricketers!!
Meaker managed to injure himself in the nets.. edged a one from Matt Dunn into his 'Groin area' when he wasn't wearing a box. Suffered a lacerated testicle, I warn you don't Google that. Has had an operation could be out for up to a month.
Dernbach is still suffering with an injured back. Should be back in time for the T20s which is all I want him for anyways.
Ansari has a second operation on his thumb after suffering an open dislocation at the end of last season. ( don't Google that either) he should be back for the second championship game.
Rory Burns has been named Vive captain. Batty has called it succession planning. Possibly a bit harsh on Wilson who held the role last year. But I am not sure he will be first choice in any format this season.
Davies has started keeping again and want to become first choice keeper to try and gain a test spot! (Lol) he certainly has tough competition for the gloves at Surrey.
A thirteen man squad has been named for the match at Trent bridge that starts tomorrow.
My team would be,
Burns
Harinath
Sanga
Davies
Roy
Foakes (w)
S. Curran
T. Curran
Batty
Dunn
Footit
Wilson and Rampaul miss out. Sam Curran is available for this match due to school holidays but won't be available again until after exams. I assume Ansari/Burke will come in for him depending on the track and Zaf's fitness.
All your runs were offside !
Bowler Overs Runs Wickets Econ
T Curran 17.0 78 2 4.59
Footitt 15.0 72 1 4.80
S Curran 16.0 79 0 4.94
Rampaul 15.0 84 2 5.60
Batty 9.4 37 0 3.83
Harinath 3.0 11 0 3.67
Smith c Sangakkara b T Curran 9
Lumb lbw b Footitt 24
B Taylor c Sangakkara b T Curran 20
Wessels c Foakes b Rampaul 81
Patel not out 70
Read not out 32
Need to break this partnership. Also 25 extras is pretty poor.
5-43 for Rampaul.
446 all out.