Kent are currently 79-3. Muyeye (10) opened with Compton (15) and Denly didn't trouble the scorers. Interesting that, once again, Compton opened and that Cox didn't despite the fact that DBD was dropped down to 7.
I mentioned yesterday that O'Riordan took a catch and he wasn't even in the 14 and also that Stevens hadn't bowled again. O'Riordan is down to bat at 8 and Stevens isn't in the line up which suggests that the latter isn't even playing. Presumably the injury that has prevented Stevens from bowling is also stopping him from batting and fielding. Hopefully he is saving himself for the season proper!
Love the way the real Leaning takes his jumper off once the imposter gets out - does he think that the scorer can't differentiate between a left and right hander?
Do we reckon both linde and bird will be here for the first game ? Will be interesting to see how we shape the side up with both of them in it.
Wonder if Linde might be having visa issues ? I have no insider information to base that on.
Can’t quite see why Cox wouldn’t open in 4 day cricket - always looks safer than DBD to me .
Both Linde and Bird have been playing in the last week domestic cricket in South Africa and Australia respectively. Not sure when either fly in but assume that both will be available for our first game.
I get the impression that the reason that we signed Compton was, as well as him being left handed, to open the batting from the start of the season. I've said before how Cox's average drops to mid 20s once you take out that massive partnership with Leaning and I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a feeling that Cox is a bit too loose to open. In fact, I would go on to say that I think Robinson is a better opener both from a technical and temperament perspective. However, as he has the gloves, that won't happen. DBD dropped down the order after seasons of not kicking on as a red ball opener but might still be the reserve opener if and when Crawley isn't available. And I also think that DBD might get the number 5 spot ahead of Cox for that reason.
Assuming that Linde and Bird arrive, that Crawley is available and that Stevens is fit, I could see this now being our starting XI for the first game:
For the last couple of seasons, our 2s has been mostly made up of triallists and academy players with the odd first teamer due to us having a small squad, injuries and international call ups.
We will still have injuries and call ups but we are in a very good position so far as squad size is concerned (these teams are red ball):
We do seem rather overstocked with red ball spinners now, if Linde is available all season. Hard to see Logan getting many games, never mind Qadri
Let alone O'Riordan. All three of the English bowlers are still under contract to at least the end of the season and it's not like football where there are numerous clubs might come in for them. Linde was signed because he is better than them with the ball and can bat too. Should there be a bunsen burner at any time then one would have thought that Qadri or O'Riordan would come in as they are right arm off break bowlers whereas Logan is left arm orthodox like Linde. Which begs the question as to whether Logan, despite being our best spinner last season, will be surplus to requirements for this season at least. I also don't know why Logan didn't play in either of the warm up games to date.
We do seem rather overstocked with red ball spinners now, if Linde is available all season. Hard to see Logan getting many games, never mind Qadri
Let alone O'Riordan. All three of the English bowlers are still under contract to at least the end of the season and it's not like football where there are numerous clubs might come in for them. Linde was signed because he is better than them with the ball and can bat too. Should there be a bunsen burner at any time then one would have thought that Qadri or O'Riordan would come in as they are right arm off break bowlers whereas Logan is left arm orthodox like Linde. Which begs the question as to whether Logan, despite being our best spinner last season, will be surplus to requirements for this season at least. I also don't know why Logan didn't play in either of the warm up games to date.
And there's still Denly as a back up spinner to Linde anyway
We do seem rather overstocked with red ball spinners now, if Linde is available all season. Hard to see Logan getting many games, never mind Qadri
Let alone O'Riordan. All three of the English bowlers are still under contract to at least the end of the season and it's not like football where there are numerous clubs might come in for them. Linde was signed because he is better than them with the ball and can bat too. Should there be a bunsen burner at any time then one would have thought that Qadri or O'Riordan would come in as they are right arm off break bowlers whereas Logan is left arm orthodox like Linde. Which begs the question as to whether Logan, despite being our best spinner last season, will be surplus to requirements for this season at least. I also don't know why Logan didn't play in either of the warm up games to date.
And there's still Denly as a back up spinner to Linde anyway
Just been told we are signing Ryan Patel from Surrey. Don’t know much about him but young which fits the mould Kent area going for
Medium paced allrounder. Not immediately sure why we need him, unless it's because we're targeting the Royal London!
I'm with you re the Royal London. We will lose Crawley, Billings, Denly, Cox, DBD, Blake and possibly Leaning too to The Hundred which would only leave us with Compton, Muyeye and Robinson as front line batsmen. Sometimes these signings are punts and Patel might have been told that he will have limited opportunities at Surrey so it would suit him too. Do we know that it's not a loan?
I have a feeling it will probably be a loan, currently playing for Surrey in a friendly, so can’t imagine the move is permanent if he was playing today. Have asked the question though!
I have a feeling it will probably be a loan, currently playing for Surrey in a friendly, so can’t imagine the move is permanent if he was playing today. Have asked the question though!
Cover for Stevens? Stevo didn't bowl last week in the warm up games
I have a feeling it will probably be a loan, currently playing for Surrey in a friendly, so can’t imagine the move is permanent if he was playing today. Have asked the question though!
I have a feeling it will probably be a loan, currently playing for Surrey in a friendly, so can’t imagine the move is permanent if he was playing today. Have asked the question though!
Always happy to help out our Kentish cousins.
Thanks for your assistance but, with total respect, your mob need to start helping themselves because, unlike Kent, Surrey won nothing last year!
19-2 Milnes yorks Villas and now has figures of 5-2-14-2. Competition for those potential two fast bowling spots between Milnes, Podmore, Quinn and Gilchrist is going to be immense.
Stevens just bowled three overs and went for just a single. Hope that this short spell was pre-planned and that Stevens wasn't feeling anything.
Comments
Leaning 22* (55)
Cox 19* (33)
106-4
Leaning 28* (92)
Robinson 6* (8)
Leaning 45* (128)
Robinson 19* (54)
I mentioned yesterday that O'Riordan took a catch and he wasn't even in the 14 and also that Stevens hadn't bowled again. O'Riordan is down to bat at 8 and Stevens isn't in the line up which suggests that the latter isn't even playing. Presumably the injury that has prevented Stevens from bowling is also stopping him from batting and fielding. Hopefully he is saving himself for the season proper!
Leaning 70* (170)
Robinson 49* (90)
Edit: both batsmen retired on those scores
Milnes out for 10
https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/fixture/middlesex-vs-kent-2/?fbclid=IwAR09-YJZ3oN6l85IJzYuXHb-e2JG_Cv5mqKt9uQ16qcf7IY8o6mkJ0wEK5o#$$2_013_06
Love the way the real Leaning takes his jumper off once the imposter gets out - does he think that the scorer can't differentiate between a left and right hander?
Stewart 42 and Muyeye 41 (two innings today) were there at the end. DBD didn't bat either.
Two games and two good work outs.
I get the impression that the reason that we signed Compton was, as well as him being left handed, to open the batting from the start of the season. I've said before how Cox's average drops to mid 20s once you take out that massive partnership with Leaning and I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a feeling that Cox is a bit too loose to open. In fact, I would go on to say that I think Robinson is a better opener both from a technical and temperament perspective. However, as he has the gloves, that won't happen. DBD dropped down the order after seasons of not kicking on as a red ball opener but might still be the reserve opener if and when Crawley isn't available. And I also think that DBD might get the number 5 spot ahead of Cox for that reason.
Assuming that Linde and Bird arrive, that Crawley is available and that Stevens is fit, I could see this now being our starting XI for the first game:
Crawley
Compton
Denly
Leaning (C)
DBD
Robinson (WK)
Linde
Stevens
Milnes
Podmore/Gilchrist/Quinn
Bird
We will still have injuries and call ups but we are in a very good position so far as squad size is concerned (these teams are red ball):
1st XI
Crawley
Compton
Denly
Leaning
Billings
Robinson
Linde
Stevens
Milnes
Podmore
Bird/Henry
2nd XI
DBD
Muyeye
Cox
O'Riordan
Stewart
Gilchrist
Quinn
Klaassen
Logan
Qadri
Singh
The 2nd XI is rather heavy on bowling - only Cox doesn't bowl
https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/fixture/kent-vs-lancashire-4/
Stevens just bowled three overs and went for just a single. Hope that this short spell was pre-planned and that Stevens wasn't feeling anything.
Bohannon out LBW to Stewart