Pretty tough to explain that this is the same sport to somebody new to the game in terms of the circumstances, fields and batting styles if you flick between the streams of the Kent and Surrey matches!
Picking Jaydn does look like quite a negative pick, adding an extra batsman, hoping to bat out a draw I imagine. I guess if we draw this game, it'll be considered the right call.
Well done Jaydn, what a test you've come through. Also I thought Gilchrist played very responsibly. He looked calm and determined not to give it away, whereas Agar looked like someone after a quick cameo.
Deadly would be pleased we rescued a draw, and would have enjoyed seeing spinners dominating the bowling and the batsmen surrounded by fielders.
So 17 out of 18 matches so far this season have ended in draws. Who knew that the ECB powers that be were so forward thinking to return to 8 points for a draw. I mean who needs 4 day cricket in the height of summer when you can be recompensed so well for bad weather.
They tried to mess it all up today but so far I feel the batting has been relatively solid through the first two games compared to pre-season expectations?
Would have taken a draw with Essex before the game started, and even more when they had us at 19-2, and variously as the wickets tumbled in true Kentish fashion. Anyway, we come away with a hard fought draw, particularly hard fought be the middle order, so I'm going to be happy about that.
But I'd be seething now if we'd failed to bat out two sessions to save a draw.
I imagine bowlers will be relieved that the Dukes ball is back for the next round of games.
Some very "soft" daddy hundreds, especially in Division 2 where the bowling isn't that great to start with. Ryan Higgins for example got a double century at No 5 for Middlesex in their first game, but never even got to bat in this game, as Middlesex ended up on 553-2!
They tried to mess it all up today but so far I feel the batting has been relatively solid through the first two games compared to pre-season expectations?
These 2 games have been a batting paradise across the country, thanks to the Kookaburra ball. Things will be MUCH harder against the Dukes ball.
Kent 2s have just started their 3-day game against Notts at Beckenham. Notts won the toss and elected to bat.
One of the aspects of 2nd XI cricket is the massive variance in terms of strength of opposition. Last week, for example, because of the injury to Sam Cook, Essex pulled from their team, mid game, both Aaron Beard and Ben Allison. They didn't have a particularly strong side, especially on the bowling front, as it was but doing that meant that their bowling attack possessed just one FC game between them. In today's Notts side they have Olly Stone, Steven Mullaney and Toby Pettman (who played a couple of games for us on loan a few seasons ago.
As for us, from the team that played last week, Grant Stewart has been added as has Savin Perrera, a former England U19 cricketer who is soon to be 25 who has never actually played a pro game but is another who has been turning out for a Minor County as well as any number of 2nd XIs. Savin opened the batting for England in the 2018 World Cup and played alongside the likes of Tom Banton and Harry Brook. And there, in a nutshell, is the contrast that you can get between those selected for the U19s - one, who at the age of 25, is still trying to breakthrough, one whose career has stalled somewhat following a meteoric rise and a third who is in demand all around the world for his services in both red and white ball.
This was only the third occasion in the history of the CC when all nine matches in one round of fixtures were drawn. The previous occasions were:
16-19 September 1994 23-26 September 2019
Just 11 of the 14 CC games this season are being played in April, May and September.
A bad combination of playing in April, hence the rain delays, plus the Kookaburra ball giving bowlers none of the usual early season movement, while not compensating with the extra bounce of sun baked Aussie pitches.
Stevo will be glad he's retired, whereas Alastair Cook will be wishing he continued a bit longer
Tom Davis, who came through our academy, is one homegrown fast bowler who many at the county thought had the potential to make it. Injuries played a big part in stalling his career. He's 23 now but clearly not given up (trialed at our pre-season open day too) and is currently playing for Warwickshire 2s where he has actually looked quite sharp in returning figures of 11-1-43-3.
Well done Tom - a fine player for Canterbury and (briefly) Lordswood. He is one of if not the sharpest KCL bowler, plus a decent bat and excellent fielder too.
I originally stated that the 2s game is at Trent Bridge. It isn't. It's at Beckenham, the same as last week's 2s win 2s by 9 wickets. Which partially explains Notts current score of 180-1 off 36 overs.
Comments
If nothing else, the ball will surely get very wet which won't help Essex.
Well done Jaydn for scoring 41 but more so for surviving 128 balls. Gilchrist finishes on 19 off 55.
That one was for Deadly.
Bless their cotton socks !
Deadly would be pleased we rescued a draw, and would have enjoyed seeing spinners dominating the bowling and the batsmen surrounded by fielders.
But I'd be seething now if we'd failed to bat out two sessions to save a draw.
Some very "soft" daddy hundreds, especially in Division 2 where the bowling isn't that great to start with. Ryan Higgins for example got a double century at No 5 for Middlesex in their first game, but never even got to bat in this game, as Middlesex ended up on 553-2!
Never in doubt.
16-19 September 1994
23-26 September 2019
Just 11 of the 14 CC games this season are being played in April, May and September.
One of the aspects of 2nd XI cricket is the massive variance in terms of strength of opposition. Last week, for example, because of the injury to Sam Cook, Essex pulled from their team, mid game, both Aaron Beard and Ben Allison. They didn't have a particularly strong side, especially on the bowling front, as it was but doing that meant that their bowling attack possessed just one FC game between them. In today's Notts side they have Olly Stone, Steven Mullaney and Toby Pettman (who played a couple of games for us on loan a few seasons ago.
As for us, from the team that played last week, Grant Stewart has been added as has Savin Perrera, a former England U19 cricketer who is soon to be 25 who has never actually played a pro game but is another who has been turning out for a Minor County as well as any number of 2nd XIs. Savin opened the batting for England in the 2018 World Cup and played alongside the likes of Tom Banton and Harry Brook. And there, in a nutshell, is the contrast that you can get between those selected for the U19s - one, who at the age of 25, is still trying to breakthrough, one whose career has stalled somewhat following a meteoric rise and a third who is in demand all around the world for his services in both red and white ball.
Stevo will be glad he's retired, whereas Alastair Cook will be wishing he continued a bit longer