And talking about "inspired signings" they don't get much better than Compton who reaches his 5th ton in just 26 innings for us to go with his six 50s in that time.
Ben Compton, as he did last season, played First Class cricket in Zimbabwe before coming to us. His recent scores, including in this last CC match, have been:
114* 25 105 131 17 217 45 154 37
I watched him, at close quarters, score another ton in a club game. His game is so simple - keep out the good balls, hit the bad balls. It's what an opener in the longer form of the game should be doing. Very rarely would he hit the ball in front of square preferring to use the pace of the ball in playing in a very tight and methodical manner.
The question is this. What does Compton have to do to get to the next level? His county opening partner, Crawley, is in situ based on potential rather than actual achievement. Crawley's First Class average is 30.21 at a strike rate of 57.71 and his Test average is 27.60 at a S/R of 58.04. Compton's First Class average is 58.28 at a S/R of 46.96. If, to be fair, we accept that the Zimbabwe matches are not of a comparable standard to the English game, then his average for Kent is 57.91 at a S/R of 40.21 (1332 runs from 27 innings with five 100s and six 50s).
So Compton averages virtually double the runs of Crawley but scores at a rate of 40 runs per 100 balls as opposed to Crawley's 58 per 100 balls. But Crawley isn't actually in for 100 balls that often - he has seven lifetime tons from 166 innings. Apart from the SR the issue is that Compton isn't proven over a matter of seasons (but that didn't stop Crawley from being selected).
Undoubtedly, the reason that Compton did not secure himself a permanent opening slot elsewhere is because he wasn't deemed "sexy" enough in the sense that he is unlikely to ever be a success in T20. It just so happened that we were looking for someone to be the cement and as we didn't possess a left hander in the squad he ticked both boxes. Let's not forget that he played 2nd XI cricket for us several seasons before we signed him and he was very successful at that level. Being Kent though and our finances as they are, we are not prone to taking too many chances hence the lapse in time before offering him a contract.
Don't get me wrong, as a Kent supporter, I really wouldn't be gutted if he opened for the next decade for us doing what he does. But I have to ask that question. If an opening batsman who averages 58 opening at the top level of County Cricket can't get a look in at a time when the English game is so void of such players, should the door be closed on him because he doesn't just go out there and smack the ball? We have players who can up the run rate at a drop of the hat but would our England side not favour a batsman who provides the glue? I suspect that the upcoming Ashes series might just answer that question.
There is a 2nd XI game starting today against Sussex. We have put out a very strong side including the likes of Gilchrist, Klaassen, Muyeye, Denly, Finch, O'Riordan, Qadri and Blake. We also have on trial Alex Evans, a 22 year old seamer who was at one time at Leicestershire but who played for Bedfordshire last season.
Link to the scorecard (can't see that there is a stream)
Fairly strong Sussex side with Hudson-Prentice,Ward,Rawlins,Lenham,Currie and Ibrahim all featuring.
Hudson-Prentice as well as Ali Orr, Sean Hunt and the Aussie Nathan McAndrew from the team that beat Durham all played in the South Australia Premier League during the winter with varying degrees of success.
Confusing to see Evans? bowling in a shirt with Billings on his back!
Does Denly playing in this match mean he's been left out of the next county match?
I would presume he would just leave this game Wednesday and be replaced by someone else, one would assume the same will happen with klassenn and Gilchrist
Confusing to see Evans? bowling in a shirt with Billings on his back!
Does Denly playing in this match mean he's been left out of the next county match?
I would presume he would just leave this game Wednesday and be replaced by someone else, one would assume the same will happen with klassenn and Gilchrist
As Sussex are batting today, will he even get time to bat before heading up to Birmingham?
Confusing to see Evans? bowling in a shirt with Billings on his back!
Does Denly playing in this match mean he's been left out of the next county match?
Not necessarily. This is a friendly and players will come in and out. I suspect that he's playing to try and find some runs because he only has 5 runs to his name from 3 innings. We might well keep the same side (especially as Denly offers us a spin option) and just bring in Gilchrist, assuming he's fit, for Stewart (if he's injured) or Hogan if he isn't.
You can tell the time of year it is when the 2nd XI are forced to play three front line spinners and six in total in the side just to get them some overs
Comments
213-3 and just 14 required
Compton 114* (197)
Leaning 67* (122)
Undefeated partnership between the two of 167
Well done lads !
Just one wicket for Milnes today though.
114*
25
105
131
17
217
45
154
37
I watched him, at close quarters, score another ton in a club game. His game is so simple - keep out the good balls, hit the bad balls. It's what an opener in the longer form of the game should be doing. Very rarely would he hit the ball in front of square preferring to use the pace of the ball in playing in a very tight and methodical manner.
The question is this. What does Compton have to do to get to the next level? His county opening partner, Crawley, is in situ based on potential rather than actual achievement. Crawley's First Class average is 30.21 at a strike rate of 57.71 and his Test average is 27.60 at a S/R of 58.04. Compton's First Class average is 58.28 at a S/R of 46.96. If, to be fair, we accept that the Zimbabwe matches are not of a comparable standard to the English game, then his average for Kent is 57.91 at a S/R of 40.21 (1332 runs from 27 innings with five 100s and six 50s).
So Compton averages virtually double the runs of Crawley but scores at a rate of 40 runs per 100 balls as opposed to Crawley's 58 per 100 balls. But Crawley isn't actually in for 100 balls that often - he has seven lifetime tons from 166 innings. Apart from the SR the issue is that Compton isn't proven over a matter of seasons (but that didn't stop Crawley from being selected).
Undoubtedly, the reason that Compton did not secure himself a permanent opening slot elsewhere is because he wasn't deemed "sexy" enough in the sense that he is unlikely to ever be a success in T20. It just so happened that we were looking for someone to be the cement and as we didn't possess a left hander in the squad he ticked both boxes. Let's not forget that he played 2nd XI cricket for us several seasons before we signed him and he was very successful at that level. Being Kent though and our finances as they are, we are not prone to taking too many chances hence the lapse in time before offering him a contract.
Don't get me wrong, as a Kent supporter, I really wouldn't be gutted if he opened for the next decade for us doing what he does. But I have to ask that question. If an opening batsman who averages 58 opening at the top level of County Cricket can't get a look in at a time when the English game is so void of such players, should the door be closed on him because he doesn't just go out there and smack the ball? We have players who can up the run rate at a drop of the hat but would our England side not favour a batsman who provides the glue? I suspect that the upcoming Ashes series might just answer that question.
Link to the scorecard (can't see that there is a stream)
https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#c9d74e6e7-d220-46d5-b109-e58c1a3c5433_md44e28ed-eef4-4d7e-b723-bd8a95ad6a1b_~summary
Stream link for the 2XI game
Fairly strong Sussex side with Hudson-Prentice,Ward,Rawlins,Lenham,Currie and Ibrahim all featuring.
Does Denly playing in this match mean he's been left out of the next county match?
I would presume he would just leave this game Wednesday and be replaced by someone else, one would assume the same will happen with klassenn and Gilchrist
The bowling might not have been that great but the pitch looks like an absolute road
Hove over the past 2 seasons has become more and more of a road unfortunately.