Billings appears to have riled the Middlesex players and Murtagh in particular - he tried to ensure that no more overs were bowled before lunch by taking his time to remove his short sleeve sweater and hand it to the Umpire. The very next ball he was out LBW to Murtagh and had the embarrassment of having to trudge off in front of the Middlesex players for lunch before the end of the over.
So our two keeper/batsmen have made the grand total of 145 runs from 12 innings this season at an average of 12.08
That Durham keeper/batsman has made 303 runs from 6 innings at an average of 50.50
Great move for Robinson , could become a Northern legend !
Yep. Really pleased for him as he was left with no option but to leave - Billings and Cox were always put in front of him even when he was the one in form. He will be in a much better place at Durham and it will also increase his chances of being number two (with Smith of Surrey his main rival) to Foakes for England
Nice and sunny now, should be good batting conditions
Schhhhhhh
I do wonder how much it is in the head though. Yes, undoubtedly, the ball does a lot more when atmospheric conditions are an influence but as Compton has demonstrated, time and time again, whilst a solid technique is the order of the day the right mindset and application can get a batsman through those difficult times. And I am not talking about the unplayable balls either, as ones that have your name on it, invariably, you can do nothing about.
As I say technique and application whatever the conditions
Disgraceful. Honestly believe Walker should’ve gone, winning that 50 over tournament saved him from what has been overall woeful and inept performances
Disgraceful. Honestly believe Walker should’ve gone, winning that 50 over tournament saved him from what has been overall woeful and inept performances
I don't disagree that the Blast the previous season and the subsequent Royal win didn't keep Walker his job - in fact he was at The Hundred for most of the Royal - but this is all about our batsmen not applying themselves. The guy that digs in, week in week out, is the very one who has had to fight to be a pro, It's a bit like Vardy in football. It's over my dead body stuff and too many are taking comfort in looking around the dressing room and being comforted by their own failings in seeing others doing exactly the same thing.
It will be very interesting to see who actually plays in the 2s game this week against Hants. Whereas the 1s and 2s matches have clashed in the last three weeks, the 1s do not have a game now 'til 11th May so there is absolutely no excuse for the likes of DBD, Denly, Cox and Billings not to take the opportunity to get some runs in the middle.
It will be very interesting to see who actually plays in the 2s game this week against Hants. Whereas the 1s and 2s matches have clashed in the last three weeks, the 1s do not have a game now 'til 11th May so there is absolutely no excuse for the likes of DBD, Denly, Cox and Billings not to take the opportunity to get some runs in the middle.
Joe Denly is the only one of those four playing in this game (with his nephew too) which I do find somewhat surprising. It is really difficult to argue that players are "undercooked" due to a lack of a pre season (even though they have now batted six or seven times) and/or are out of form if they are not taking every opportunity for time in the middle. And a 4 day 2s game would give them just that.
Team - MK O'Riordan*, HZ Finch†, TS Muyeye, JL Denly, JK Denly, Hamidullah Qadri, E Singh, GS Ealham, JEG Logan, NN Gilchrist, J Singh, AH Bhuiyan
In addition to Jaydn Denly, Ekansh Singh is one to watch. He is a very stylish and technically correct 17 year old batsman.
It will be very interesting to see who actually plays in the 2s game this week against Hants. Whereas the 1s and 2s matches have clashed in the last three weeks, the 1s do not have a game now 'til 11th May so there is absolutely no excuse for the likes of DBD, Denly, Cox and Billings not to take the opportunity to get some runs in the middle.
Joe Denly is the only one of those four playing in this game (with his nephew too) which I do find somewhat surprising. It is really difficult to argue that players are "undercooked" due to a lack of a pre season (even though they have now batted six or seven times) and/or are out of form if they are not taking every opportunity for time in the middle. And a 4 day 2s game would give them just that.
Team - MK O'Riordan*, HZ Finch†, TS Muyeye, JL Denly, JK Denly, Hamidullah Qadri, E Singh, GS Ealham, JEG Logan, NN Gilchrist, J Singh, AH Bhuiyan
In addition to Jaydn Denly, Ekansh Singh is one to watch. He is a very stylish and technically correct 17 year old batsman.
It will be very interesting to see who actually plays in the 2s game this week against Hants. Whereas the 1s and 2s matches have clashed in the last three weeks, the 1s do not have a game now 'til 11th May so there is absolutely no excuse for the likes of DBD, Denly, Cox and Billings not to take the opportunity to get some runs in the middle.
Joe Denly is the only one of those four playing in this game (with his nephew too) which I do find somewhat surprising. It is really difficult to argue that players are "undercooked" due to a lack of a pre season (even though they have now batted six or seven times) and/or are out of form if they are not taking every opportunity for time in the middle. And a 4 day 2s game would give them just that.
Team - MK O'Riordan*, HZ Finch†, TS Muyeye, JL Denly, JK Denly, Hamidullah Qadri, E Singh, GS Ealham, JEG Logan, NN Gilchrist, J Singh, AH Bhuiyan
In addition to Jaydn Denly, Ekansh Singh is one to watch. He is a very stylish and technically correct 17 year old batsman.
What happens if the seconds score loads of runs in this match? Will they drop a few of the first team regulars in favour of likes of Finch and Muyeye, or just blindly keep on picking the same team?
It will be very interesting to see who actually plays in the 2s game this week against Hants. Whereas the 1s and 2s matches have clashed in the last three weeks, the 1s do not have a game now 'til 11th May so there is absolutely no excuse for the likes of DBD, Denly, Cox and Billings not to take the opportunity to get some runs in the middle.
Joe Denly is the only one of those four playing in this game (with his nephew too) which I do find somewhat surprising. It is really difficult to argue that players are "undercooked" due to a lack of a pre season (even though they have now batted six or seven times) and/or are out of form if they are not taking every opportunity for time in the middle. And a 4 day 2s game would give them just that.
Team - MK O'Riordan*, HZ Finch†, TS Muyeye, JL Denly, JK Denly, Hamidullah Qadri, E Singh, GS Ealham, JEG Logan, NN Gilchrist, J Singh, AH Bhuiyan
In addition to Jaydn Denly, Ekansh Singh is one to watch. He is a very stylish and technically correct 17 year old batsman.
Question for anyone who watches 2nd 11 cricket, is ealham any good?
George Ealham was at Kent, went to Surrey, came back to Kent and played almost every game for the 2s last season without too much success with bat or ball - the sum total a couple of 50s late on in the season. Not many players get those sort of opportunities but it certainly doesn't do any individual any harm if both your father and grandfather played for the County.
There are plenty that have been discarded much sooner and only given a token game to prove themselves. One that was given a fair chance but rejected was Ben Compton - in 2019 he scored 848 runs in all forms of cricket for our 2s, including T20 which really isn't his strength as we know and scored 848 runs at an average of 65.23 and that included four tons. It took us three years to sign him. I would suggest that Ealham won't have to wait three years for that to happen IF he does that this season.
It will be very interesting to see who actually plays in the 2s game this week against Hants. Whereas the 1s and 2s matches have clashed in the last three weeks, the 1s do not have a game now 'til 11th May so there is absolutely no excuse for the likes of DBD, Denly, Cox and Billings not to take the opportunity to get some runs in the middle.
Joe Denly is the only one of those four playing in this game (with his nephew too) which I do find somewhat surprising. It is really difficult to argue that players are "undercooked" due to a lack of a pre season (even though they have now batted six or seven times) and/or are out of form if they are not taking every opportunity for time in the middle. And a 4 day 2s game would give them just that.
Team - MK O'Riordan*, HZ Finch†, TS Muyeye, JL Denly, JK Denly, Hamidullah Qadri, E Singh, GS Ealham, JEG Logan, NN Gilchrist, J Singh, AH Bhuiyan
In addition to Jaydn Denly, Ekansh Singh is one to watch. He is a very stylish and technically correct 17 year old batsman.
What happens if the seconds score loads of runs in this match? Will they drop a few of the first team regulars in favour of likes of Finch and Muyeye, or just blindly keep on picking the same team?
Now that's the thing. I reckon that they will pick the same team but that Denly has been told/is taking the opportunity to score runs in the 2s and if he does then either DBD or Cox will be dropped for him. That is the only reason I can think that DBD, Cox and Billings aren't playing in the 2s because there isn't another game for nine days.
Comments
98-4 and 55 ahead
99-5 at lunch
That Durham keeper/batsman has made 303 runs from 6 innings at an average of 50.50
Yep. Really pleased for him as he was left with no option but to leave - Billings and Cox were always put in front of him even when he was the one in form. He will be in a much better place at Durham and it will also increase his chances of being number two (with Smith of Surrey his main rival) to Foakes for England
104-6 so, effectively, 61-6
109-8 so 66-8
Murtagh's 6th wicket and his 1,000th in all forms of cricket for Middlesex since joining from Surrey in 2007. Incredible achievement.
Compton - 38
The other 7 batsmen out - 14
33-10-82-10
A wicket to Quinn
Team - MK O'Riordan*, HZ Finch†, TS Muyeye, JL Denly, JK Denly, Hamidullah Qadri, E Singh, GS Ealham, JEG Logan, NN Gilchrist, J Singh, AH Bhuiyan
In addition to Jaydn Denly, Ekansh Singh is one to watch. He is a very stylish and technically correct 17 year old batsman.
Hants won the toss and will bat:
https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m518f6866-4cc7-43bf-98b2-3b7d41ba122b_~scorecard
There are plenty that have been discarded much sooner and only given a token game to prove themselves. One that was given a fair chance but rejected was Ben Compton - in 2019 he scored 848 runs in all forms of cricket for our 2s, including T20 which really isn't his strength as we know and scored 848 runs at an average of 65.23 and that included four tons. It took us three years to sign him. I would suggest that Ealham won't have to wait three years for that to happen IF he does that this season.