For the love of god please Just get us relegated already, some of the dismissal today have been as village as they get. This pitch has done Nothing whatsoever but yet we are struggling on it
How many does finch average this year? Him not having any competition whatsoever feels like a truly woeful decision
24.91 this season and 39.00 last year which is more than Billings' average in the previous four seasons which were, season by season, 9.20 (2023), 23.81 (2022), 29.80 (2021) and 20.00 (2020).
The lack of a back up is, I suspect, us trying to use any money in other areas (don't ask me where but think how many overseas we've contracted this season) plus if we do sign someone of worth they have to be able to bat in all forms of the game and offer them at least a two year contract. We lost two more than capable first choices due to the reluctance of Billings to come to the obvious decision of concentrating on white ball earlier. One of those might have left anyway but the other would stayed thus making Finch the back up rather than the automatic first choice.
The really sad thing is that one in particular would have stayed had he kept the gloves and played in T20s too and might have returned the season after next if the circumstances were right for him to do so. Any such returning ship will be sailing in the other direction should we find ourselves in Div 2 at that time.
How many does finch average this year? Him not having any competition whatsoever feels like a truly woeful decision
24.91 this season and 39.00 last year which is more than Billings' average in the previous four seasons which were, season by season, 9.20 (2023), 23.81 (2022), 29.80 (2021) and 20.00 (2020).
The lack of a back up is, I suspect, us trying to use any money in other areas (don't ask me where but think how many overseas we've contracted this season) plus if we do sign someone of worth they have to be able to bat in all forms of the game and offer them at least a two year contract. We lost two more than capable first choices due to the reluctance of Billings to come to the obvious decision of concentrating on white ball earlier. One of those might have left anyway but the other would have meant that Finch was the back up rather than the automatic first choice.
The really sad thing is that one in particular would have stayed had he kept the gloves and played in T20s too and might have returned the season after next if the circumstances were right for him to do so. Any such returning ship will be sailing in the other direction should we find ourselves in Div 2 at that time.***
*** Currently 146 not out off 164 balls and has now scored 688 runs in Div 1 this season at an average of 98.28 and strike rate of 85.14. No keeper in the country can match that.
O'Riordan opening and Finch in the top 6 is painful, crazy that we end up picking a side with 4 seam bowlers plus Evison plus DBD, despite having several bowlers out injured.
I thought both our overseas bowlers acquitted themselves well today.
O'Riordan opening and Finch in the top 6 is painful, crazy that we end up picking a side with 4 seam bowlers plus Evison plus DBD, despite having several bowlers out injured.
I thought both our overseas bowlers acquitted themselves well today.
The only three of our contracted squad available and not playing are Jaydn Denly, Bhuiyan and Qadri. At least six of the ones missing would, ordinarily, be playing in the current match:
Crawley Joe Denly Leaning Quinn Agar Cohen Klaassen Bartlett Gilchrist Stewart
How many does finch average this year? Him not having any competition whatsoever feels like a truly woeful decision
24.91 this season and 39.00 last year which is more than Billings' average in the previous four seasons which were, season by season, 9.20 (2023), 23.81 (2022), 29.80 (2021) and 20.00 (2020).
The lack of a back up is, I suspect, us trying to use any money in other areas (don't ask me where but think how many overseas we've contracted this season) plus if we do sign someone of worth they have to be able to bat in all forms of the game and offer them at least a two year contract. We lost two more than capable first choices due to the reluctance of Billings to come to the obvious decision of concentrating on white ball earlier. One of those might have left anyway but the other would stayed thus making Finch the back up rather than the automatic first choice.
The really sad thing is that one in particular would have stayed had he kept the gloves and played in T20s too and might have returned the season after next if the circumstances were right for him to do so. Any such returning ship will be sailing in the other direction should we find ourselves in Div 2 at that time.
The top three runs scorers in Division 1 are currently:
David Bedingham - 860 runs @ average of 74.00 and strike rate of 74.78 Ollie Robinson - 740 runs @ average of 92.50 and strike rate of 86.75 Jordan Cox - 731 runs @ average of 73.10 and strike rate of 66.51
A few years ago a well known Kent age group coach said to me that they always knew that Zach Crawley (322 runs @ 32.20 and strike rate of 85.63 this season) was going to make it but had doubts as to whether Ollie ever was. Perhaps therein lies the problem and maybe if he went to a big private school then he would have had a few more people influential people promoting him. It took Kent too long to recognise what they had. It happens in work places where someone isn't rated that highly until they are forced to seek employment elsewhere only for the former employer to, eventually, regret that decision. To be fair, Kent did at the end of his time with us appreciate that Ollie was that good but the damage was done and with the two blockers of Billings and Cox in front of him, he knew that he was going to be second choice with the gloves in the CC and third choice in The Blast.
Jas Singh, a genuine No 11 with the bat, and the 5th seamer used in this innings, bowling just 4 overs.
Billings has said he would play in an emergency, but that he didn't want to get in the way of other players. In this game, he could have played as a specialist batsman surely, as he's in good nick and we don't need 5 seamers.
Jas Singh, a genuine No 11 with the bat, and the 5th seamer used in this innings, bowling just 4 overs.
Billings has said he would play in an emergency, but that he didn't want to get in the way of other players. In this game, he could have played as a specialist batsman surely, as he's in good nick and we don't need 5 seamers.
I think Billings was referring to situations where Finch was injured and so no keeper available.
How many does finch average this year? Him not having any competition whatsoever feels like a truly woeful decision
24.91 this season and 39.00 last year which is more than Billings' average in the previous four seasons which were, season by season, 9.20 (2023), 23.81 (2022), 29.80 (2021) and 20.00 (2020).
The lack of a back up is, I suspect, us trying to use any money in other areas (don't ask me where but think how many overseas we've contracted this season) plus if we do sign someone of worth they have to be able to bat in all forms of the game and offer them at least a two year contract. We lost two more than capable first choices due to the reluctance of Billings to come to the obvious decision of concentrating on white ball earlier. One of those might have left anyway but the other would stayed thus making Finch the back up rather than the automatic first choice.
The really sad thing is that one in particular would have stayed had he kept the gloves and played in T20s too and might have returned the season after next if the circumstances were right for him to do so. Any such returning ship will be sailing in the other direction should we find ourselves in Div 2 at that time.
The top three runs scorers in Division 1 are currently:
David Bedingham - 860 runs @ average of 74.00 and strike rate of 74.78 Ollie Robinson - 740 runs @ average of 92.50 and strike rate of 86.75 Jordan Cox - 731 runs @ average of 73.10 and strike rate of 66.51
A few years ago a well known Kent age group coach said to me that they always knew that Zach Crawley (322 runs @ 32.20 and strike rate of 85.63 this season) was going to make it but had doubts as to whether Ollie ever was. Perhaps therein lies the problem and maybe if he went to a big private school then he would have had a few more people influential people promoting him. It took Kent too long to recognise what they had. It happens in work places where someone isn't rated that highly until they are forced to seek employment elsewhere only for the former employer to, eventually, regret that decision. To be fair, Kent did at the end of his time with us appreciate that Ollie was that good but the damage was done and with the two blockers of Billings and Cox in front of him, he knew that he was going to be second choice with the gloves in the CC and third choice in The Blast.
I've long been a promoter of the notion that Foakes should be in the test side. However, after a really average winter and a pretty turgid summer I am starting to think that Foakes isnt the player he was a couple of years ago - his keeping is still top notch but his batting is getting worse and worse (welcomed 50 yesterday). Ollie doing what he has in Div 1 (and not in a side that are particularly fancied or a strong line-up on paper batting wise) at a much more Bazball sort of pace I think the case for Foakes in the test side is getting weaker by the match. Ollie should be in that squad without a doubt.
Jas Singh, a genuine No 11 with the bat, and the 5th seamer used in this innings, bowling just 4 overs.
Billings has said he would play in an emergency, but that he didn't want to get in the way of other players. In this game, he could have played as a specialist batsman surely, as he's in good nick and we don't need 5 seamers.
In ordinary circumstances I would agree and certainly that we don't need 5 seamers but then the only other alternative, apart from Qadri and Bhuiyan, was Jaydn.
Billings has always done what Billings wants. We should remember that he has usually put his white ball ventures in front of Kent apart from last season when he said he wasn't going to the IPL - but then he knew that he wasn't going to be picked up in the auction. He also insisted on taking the gloves when he came back from those and took time off to go to things like Coldplay concerts with Jos Buttler rather than turn out for us last season. His point about "not getting in the way" is a valid one, not necessarily in this game but what happens if he does get runs? Some of the membership would be screaming blue murder if and when Joe Denly and/or Leaning are fit for the next one and Billings isn't selected. So that would mean dropping Muyeye and/or Finch. Both will remember what happened and when it comes to contract renewals especially in the case of the former and another county comes knocking? We lose another promising youngster in the shape of Muyeye to add to Robinson and Cox. With nothing, as we've found, nothing coming in to replace them. History repeating itself.
The bottom line is this. Will Billings win us enough games to keep us up. Highly doubtful especially as his red ball exploits for the last four seasons have been woeful. Is it worth upsetting the dressing room (again) by including him for one or two? The management have to make that call and might think that it isn't.
Jas Singh, a genuine No 11 with the bat, and the 5th seamer used in this innings, bowling just 4 overs.
Billings has said he would play in an emergency, but that he didn't want to get in the way of other players. In this game, he could have played as a specialist batsman surely, as he's in good nick and we don't need 5 seamers.
I think Billings was referring to situations where Finch was injured and so no keeper available.
That was the case originally but he's made himself available just to bat in the last few days:
“I would never say no to help out. Right now, as my form has shown in this format of the game, I’m playing as well as I ever have done in a Kent shirt for a long time, enjoying my cricket regardless of results.
“It was always a decision based on my own family life and personal life. I will never say no but I think there are other guys who are champing at the bit to take that opportunity and they deserve it.”
He could have chosen to keep that he was available to himself in the same way as he's previously kept the fact and reasons why he was unavailable to himself.
Jas Singh, a genuine No 11 with the bat, and the 5th seamer used in this innings, bowling just 4 overs.
Billings has said he would play in an emergency, but that he didn't want to get in the way of other players. In this game, he could have played as a specialist batsman surely, as he's in good nick and we don't need 5 seamers.
In ordinary circumstances I would agree and certainly that we don't need 5 seamers but then the only other alternative, apart from Qadri and Bhuiyan, was Jaydn.
Billings has always done what Billings wants. We should remember that he has usually put his white ball ventures in front of Kent apart from last season when he said he wasn't going to the IPL - but then he knew that he wasn't going to be picked up in the auction. He also insisted on taking the gloves when he came back from those and took time off to go to things like Coldplay concerts with Jos Buttler rather than turn out for us last season. His point about "not getting in the way" is a valid one, not necessarily in this game but what happens if he does get runs? Some of the membership would be screaming blue murder if and when Joe Denly and/or Leaning are fit for the next one and Billings isn't selected. So that would mean dropping Muyeye and/or Finch. Both will remember what happened and when it comes to contract renewals especially in the case of the former and another county comes knocking? We lose another promising youngster in the shape of Muyeye to add to Robinson and Cox. With nothing, as we've found, nothing coming in to replace them. History repeating itself.
The bottom line is this. Will Billings win us enough games to keep us up. Highly doubtful especially as his red ball exploits for the last four seasons have been woeful. Is it worth upsetting the dressing room (again) by including him for one or two? The management have to make that call and might think that it isn't.
A batting lineup with O'Riordan opening, Finch in the top 6 and bowlers coming in at 7 is an emergency situation to me! Billings coming in at 6 or 7 would have freedom to play his normal attacking white ball game.
There are only 2 red ball games in between the Blast games, so chances are that we won't have Joe AND Leaning back for Hampshire next week, and O'Riordan would surely be more at risk than Finch or Muyeye anyway.
Jas Singh, a genuine No 11 with the bat, and the 5th seamer used in this innings, bowling just 4 overs.
Billings has said he would play in an emergency, but that he didn't want to get in the way of other players. In this game, he could have played as a specialist batsman surely, as he's in good nick and we don't need 5 seamers.
In ordinary circumstances I would agree and certainly that we don't need 5 seamers but then the only other alternative, apart from Qadri and Bhuiyan, was Jaydn.
Billings has always done what Billings wants. We should remember that he has usually put his white ball ventures in front of Kent apart from last season when he said he wasn't going to the IPL - but then he knew that he wasn't going to be picked up in the auction. He also insisted on taking the gloves when he came back from those and took time off to go to things like Coldplay concerts with Jos Buttler rather than turn out for us last season. His point about "not getting in the way" is a valid one, not necessarily in this game but what happens if he does get runs? Some of the membership would be screaming blue murder if and when Joe Denly and/or Leaning are fit for the next one and Billings isn't selected. So that would mean dropping Muyeye and/or Finch. Both will remember what happened and when it comes to contract renewals especially in the case of the former and another county comes knocking? We lose another promising youngster in the shape of Muyeye to add to Robinson and Cox. With nothing, as we've found, nothing coming in to replace them. History repeating itself.
The bottom line is this. Will Billings win us enough games to keep us up. Highly doubtful especially as his red ball exploits for the last four seasons have been woeful. Is it worth upsetting the dressing room (again) by including him for one or two? The management have to make that call and might think that it isn't.
A batting lineup with O'Riordan opening, Finch in the top 6 and bowlers coming in at 7 is an emergency situation to me! Billings coming in at 6 or 7 would have freedom to play his normal attacking white ball game.
There are only 2 red ball games in between the Blast games, so chances are that we won't have Joe AND Leaning back for Hampshire next week, and O'Riordan would surely be more at risk than Finch or Muyeye anyway.
O'Riordan is being used as the offie and second spinner - if Denly is available he wouldn't offer that as not only has he only bowled 12 overs this season and turns the ball the same way as Parkinson does. The other question would be "who opens"? It's clear that O'Riordan is opening because DBD refuses to do so. We've moved Evison up but do we want to sacrifice him in the knowledge that he is likely to get more runs not doing so. Muyeye is a busted flush against the new ball and has at last got meaningful runs in the position he always should have been batting in at red ball.
Equally, it might only be for two games but what happens if Billings does get runs come September? Has he then become part of the first team squad and how do you explain the bigger picture to those who, in the same way, refused to do so with Robinson (because they genuinely did)?
I've been in and seen too many clubs fall apart because the management think that it's best to bring in one or two people from the outside. In the short and even more so long term it can ruin the spirit. And then people will say, as in the case of Robinson and Cox, that they never saw that happening. Because they weren't the victims of that. Remember what Robinson said about being the one that always seemed to be sacrificed. And then what happens is that the one or two that came in have moved on to a bigger bidder.
Jas Singh, a genuine No 11 with the bat, and the 5th seamer used in this innings, bowling just 4 overs.
Billings has said he would play in an emergency, but that he didn't want to get in the way of other players. In this game, he could have played as a specialist batsman surely, as he's in good nick and we don't need 5 seamers.
In ordinary circumstances I would agree and certainly that we don't need 5 seamers but then the only other alternative, apart from Qadri and Bhuiyan, was Jaydn.
Billings has always done what Billings wants. We should remember that he has usually put his white ball ventures in front of Kent apart from last season when he said he wasn't going to the IPL - but then he knew that he wasn't going to be picked up in the auction. He also insisted on taking the gloves when he came back from those and took time off to go to things like Coldplay concerts with Jos Buttler rather than turn out for us last season. His point about "not getting in the way" is a valid one, not necessarily in this game but what happens if he does get runs? Some of the membership would be screaming blue murder if and when Joe Denly and/or Leaning are fit for the next one and Billings isn't selected. So that would mean dropping Muyeye and/or Finch. Both will remember what happened and when it comes to contract renewals especially in the case of the former and another county comes knocking? We lose another promising youngster in the shape of Muyeye to add to Robinson and Cox. With nothing, as we've found, nothing coming in to replace them. History repeating itself.
The bottom line is this. Will Billings win us enough games to keep us up. Highly doubtful especially as his red ball exploits for the last four seasons have been woeful. Is it worth upsetting the dressing room (again) by including him for one or two? The management have to make that call and might think that it isn't.
A batting lineup with O'Riordan opening, Finch in the top 6 and bowlers coming in at 7 is an emergency situation to me! Billings coming in at 6 or 7 would have freedom to play his normal attacking white ball game.
There are only 2 red ball games in between the Blast games, so chances are that we won't have Joe AND Leaning back for Hampshire next week, and O'Riordan would surely be more at risk than Finch or Muyeye anyway.
O'Riordan is being used as the offie and second spinner - if Denly is available he wouldn't offer that as not only has he only bowled 12 overs this season and turns the ball the same way as Parkinson does. The other question would be "who opens"? It's clear that O'Riordan is opening because DBD refuses to do so. We've moved Evison up but do we want to sacrifice him in the knowledge that he is likely to get more runs not doing so. Muyeye is a busted flush against the new ball and has at last got meaningful runs in the position he always should have been batting in at red ball.
Equally, it might only be for two games but what happens if Billings does get runs come September? Has he then become part of the first team squad and how do you explain the bigger picture to those who, in the same way, refused to do so with Robinson (because they genuinely did)?
I've been in and seen too many clubs fall apart because the management think that it's best to bring in one or two people from the outside. In the short and even more so long term it can ruin the spirit. And then people will say, as in the case of Robinson and Cox, that they never saw that happening. Because they weren't the victims of that. Remember what Robinson said about being the one that always seemed to be sacrificed. And then what happens is that the one or two that came in have moved on to a bigger bidder.
Come September, we should have Joe and Leaning back anyway. Or can loan a batsman. And why don't we have another opener for when Zak is away? If the Kent management seriously thought Muyeye could be an opener, then that's another failing of squad management. We have a vast number of bowlers and bits and pieces players like O'Riordan, who is a very innocuous spinner.
Billings isn't from outside, they've been playing under him in the Blast, and will do again in 2 weeks time. If we asked him to play these 2 county games only, then that to me would help team spirit. This isn't a Robinson situation where somebody is constantly being left out despite delivering, we have a team racked by injuries that is being stuffed at the moment.
Jas Singh, a genuine No 11 with the bat, and the 5th seamer used in this innings, bowling just 4 overs.
Billings has said he would play in an emergency, but that he didn't want to get in the way of other players. In this game, he could have played as a specialist batsman surely, as he's in good nick and we don't need 5 seamers.
In ordinary circumstances I would agree and certainly that we don't need 5 seamers but then the only other alternative, apart from Qadri and Bhuiyan, was Jaydn.
Billings has always done what Billings wants. We should remember that he has usually put his white ball ventures in front of Kent apart from last season when he said he wasn't going to the IPL - but then he knew that he wasn't going to be picked up in the auction. He also insisted on taking the gloves when he came back from those and took time off to go to things like Coldplay concerts with Jos Buttler rather than turn out for us last season. His point about "not getting in the way" is a valid one, not necessarily in this game but what happens if he does get runs? Some of the membership would be screaming blue murder if and when Joe Denly and/or Leaning are fit for the next one and Billings isn't selected. So that would mean dropping Muyeye and/or Finch. Both will remember what happened and when it comes to contract renewals especially in the case of the former and another county comes knocking? We lose another promising youngster in the shape of Muyeye to add to Robinson and Cox. With nothing, as we've found, nothing coming in to replace them. History repeating itself.
The bottom line is this. Will Billings win us enough games to keep us up. Highly doubtful especially as his red ball exploits for the last four seasons have been woeful. Is it worth upsetting the dressing room (again) by including him for one or two? The management have to make that call and might think that it isn't.
A batting lineup with O'Riordan opening, Finch in the top 6 and bowlers coming in at 7 is an emergency situation to me! Billings coming in at 6 or 7 would have freedom to play his normal attacking white ball game.
There are only 2 red ball games in between the Blast games, so chances are that we won't have Joe AND Leaning back for Hampshire next week, and O'Riordan would surely be more at risk than Finch or Muyeye anyway.
O'Riordan is being used as the offie and second spinner - if Denly is available he wouldn't offer that as not only has he only bowled 12 overs this season and turns the ball the same way as Parkinson does. The other question would be "who opens"? It's clear that O'Riordan is opening because DBD refuses to do so. We've moved Evison up but do we want to sacrifice him in the knowledge that he is likely to get more runs not doing so. Muyeye is a busted flush against the new ball and has at last got meaningful runs in the position he always should have been batting in at red ball.
Equally, it might only be for two games but what happens if Billings does get runs come September? Has he then become part of the first team squad and how do you explain the bigger picture to those who, in the same way, refused to do so with Robinson (because they genuinely did)?
I've been in and seen too many clubs fall apart because the management think that it's best to bring in one or two people from the outside. In the short and even more so long term it can ruin the spirit. And then people will say, as in the case of Robinson and Cox, that they never saw that happening. Because they weren't the victims of that. Remember what Robinson said about being the one that always seemed to be sacrificed. And then what happens is that the one or two that came in have moved on to a bigger bidder.
Come September, we should have Joe and Leaning back anyway. Or can loan a batsman. And why don't we have another opener for when Zak is away? If the Kent management seriously thought Muyeye could be an opener, then that's another failing of squad management. We have a vast number of bowlers and bits and pieces players like O'Riordan, who is a very innocuous spinner.
Billings isn't from outside, they've been playing under him in the Blast, and will do again in 2 weeks time. If we asked him to play these 2 county games only, then that to me would help team spirit. This isn't a Robinson situation where somebody is constantly being left out despite delivering, we have a team racked by injuries that is being stuffed at the moment.
It's also the perception from outside though. You mention about loaning a player in but think about the calibre that we've been getting in recently. Who is the last successful loaned in player we had because I'm struggling to remember one. They've been the players that have either been released at the end of last season or ones that are still playing 2s cricket and may never make the grade. Last season it was Geddes, McKerr, Albert and Niijar. The year before it was
A coach of another county said last year of us "well anyone can play for Kent". That's not, unfortunately. to say that anyone wants to play for Kent. We are a second class county in every respect. When Charlton sends players out on loan, one would hope that we do due diligence to ensure that the player is going into the right environment. A player's agent will have plenty of contacts within the game and know whether they should go
We have no money. We cannot attract the very best overseas players (why is Labuschagne, for example, playing for Glamorgan, Lyon for Lancashire, Henry for Somerset?). We don't have a conveyor belt of the best youngsters because of our status and a lack of infrastructure compared to the likes of Surrey. Those that we do have mainly leave. Our Women's team have been downgraded to the benefit of the big counties so we are are now losing promising girls too.
The injuries are one thing. But how many of those have really been preforming? Even our England opener, apart from one innings from 17, has done absolutely nothing of note. Why isn't he playing in this game? Pope is so if the argument is valid for Billings playing surely it is for our best opener. We can't insist on him doing so but it seems that England or even Crawley himself has chosen to come out of the firing line. Billings has been part of that malaise for years now as his averages testify - 9.20 (2023), 23.81 (2022), 29.80 (2021) and 20.00 (2020). One man with that record is not going to change anything especially as he says that he wished he'd given up red ball a couple of years ago. It would have benefitted us if he had.
I know that you, like me, go back a long way. Below is the team I used to watch as a kid. There isn't a single one of our current team that would get into it. But there's also not a single one that would pick and choose when they wanted to play for us. Come rain or shine, whether they'd just played for England or not. That, sadly, is a reflection of how the game has changed but even more so for us. Because in those days we were on a level playing field with the other counties and senior players did not have the power or feel the need to say when they are prepared to play as they have now.
Brian Luckhurst (England) Mike Denness (England) Colin Cowdrey (England) Asif Iqbal (Pakistan) Alan Ealham John Shepherd (West Indies) Bob Woolmer (England) Alan Knott (England) Bernard Julien (West Indies) Derek Underwood (England) Norman Graham
Jas Singh, a genuine No 11 with the bat, and the 5th seamer used in this innings, bowling just 4 overs.
Billings has said he would play in an emergency, but that he didn't want to get in the way of other players. In this game, he could have played as a specialist batsman surely, as he's in good nick and we don't need 5 seamers.
In ordinary circumstances I would agree and certainly that we don't need 5 seamers but then the only other alternative, apart from Qadri and Bhuiyan, was Jaydn.
Billings has always done what Billings wants. We should remember that he has usually put his white ball ventures in front of Kent apart from last season when he said he wasn't going to the IPL - but then he knew that he wasn't going to be picked up in the auction. He also insisted on taking the gloves when he came back from those and took time off to go to things like Coldplay concerts with Jos Buttler rather than turn out for us last season. His point about "not getting in the way" is a valid one, not necessarily in this game but what happens if he does get runs? Some of the membership would be screaming blue murder if and when Joe Denly and/or Leaning are fit for the next one and Billings isn't selected. So that would mean dropping Muyeye and/or Finch. Both will remember what happened and when it comes to contract renewals especially in the case of the former and another county comes knocking? We lose another promising youngster in the shape of Muyeye to add to Robinson and Cox. With nothing, as we've found, nothing coming in to replace them. History repeating itself.
The bottom line is this. Will Billings win us enough games to keep us up. Highly doubtful especially as his red ball exploits for the last four seasons have been woeful. Is it worth upsetting the dressing room (again) by including him for one or two? The management have to make that call and might think that it isn't.
A batting lineup with O'Riordan opening, Finch in the top 6 and bowlers coming in at 7 is an emergency situation to me! Billings coming in at 6 or 7 would have freedom to play his normal attacking white ball game.
There are only 2 red ball games in between the Blast games, so chances are that we won't have Joe AND Leaning back for Hampshire next week, and O'Riordan would surely be more at risk than Finch or Muyeye anyway.
O'Riordan is being used as the offie and second spinner - if Denly is available he wouldn't offer that as not only has he only bowled 12 overs this season and turns the ball the same way as Parkinson does. The other question would be "who opens"? It's clear that O'Riordan is opening because DBD refuses to do so. We've moved Evison up but do we want to sacrifice him in the knowledge that he is likely to get more runs not doing so. Muyeye is a busted flush against the new ball and has at last got meaningful runs in the position he always should have been batting in at red ball.
Equally, it might only be for two games but what happens if Billings does get runs come September? Has he then become part of the first team squad and how do you explain the bigger picture to those who, in the same way, refused to do so with Robinson (because they genuinely did)?
I've been in and seen too many clubs fall apart because the management think that it's best to bring in one or two people from the outside. In the short and even more so long term it can ruin the spirit. And then people will say, as in the case of Robinson and Cox, that they never saw that happening. Because they weren't the victims of that. Remember what Robinson said about being the one that always seemed to be sacrificed. And then what happens is that the one or two that came in have moved on to a bigger bidder.
Come September, we should have Joe and Leaning back anyway. Or can loan a batsman. And why don't we have another opener for when Zak is away? If the Kent management seriously thought Muyeye could be an opener, then that's another failing of squad management. We have a vast number of bowlers and bits and pieces players like O'Riordan, who is a very innocuous spinner.
Billings isn't from outside, they've been playing under him in the Blast, and will do again in 2 weeks time. If we asked him to play these 2 county games only, then that to me would help team spirit. This isn't a Robinson situation where somebody is constantly being left out despite delivering, we have a team racked by injuries that is being stuffed at the moment.
It's also the perception from outside though. You mention about loaning a player in but think about the calibre that we've been getting in recently. Who is the last successful loaned in player we had because I'm struggling to remember one. They've been the players that have either been released at the end of last season or ones that are still playing 2s cricket and may never make the grade. Last season it was Geddes, McKerr, Albert and Niijar. The year before it was
A coach of another county said last year of us "well anyone can play for Kent". That's not, unfortunately. to say that anyone wants to play for Kent. We are a second class county in every respect. When Charlton sends players out on loan, one would hope that we do due diligence to ensure that the player is going into the right environment. A player's agent will have plenty of contacts within the game and know whether they should go
We have no money. We cannot attract the very best overseas players (why is Labuschagne, for example, playing for Glamorgan, Lyon for Lancashire, Henry for Somerset?). We don't have a conveyor belt of the best youngsters because of our status and a lack of infrastructure compared to the likes of Surrey. Those that we do have mainly leave. Our Women's team have been downgraded to the benefit of the big counties so we are are now losing promising girls too.
The injuries are one thing. But how many of those have really been preforming? Even our England opener, apart from one innings from 17, has done absolutely nothing of note. Why isn't he playing in this game? Pope is so if the argument is valid for Billings playing surely it is for our best opener. We can't insist on him doing so but it seems that England or even Crawley himself has chosen to come out of the firing line. Billings has been part of that malaise for years now as his averages testify - 9.20 (2023), 23.81 (2022), 29.80 (2021) and 20.00 (2020). One man with that record is not going to change anything especially as he says that he wished he'd given up red ball a couple of years ago. It would have benefitted us if he had.
I know that you, like me, go back a long way. Below is the team I used to watch as a kid. There isn't a single one of our current team that would get into it. But there's also not a single one that would pick and choose when they wanted to play for us. Come rain or shine, whether they'd just played for England or not. That, sadly, is a reflection of how the game has changed but even more so for us. Because in those days we were on a level playing field with the other counties and senior players did not have the power or feel the need to say when they are prepared to play as they have now.
Brian Luckhurst (England) Mike Denness (England) Colin Cowdrey (England) Asif Iqbal (Pakistan) Alan Ealham John Shepherd (West Indies) Bob Woolmer (England) Alan Knott (England) Bernard Julien (West Indies) Derek Underwood (England) Norman Graham
I suppose the million dollar question ( excuse the pun ) is how do we get the money to compete ?
Jas Singh, a genuine No 11 with the bat, and the 5th seamer used in this innings, bowling just 4 overs.
Billings has said he would play in an emergency, but that he didn't want to get in the way of other players. In this game, he could have played as a specialist batsman surely, as he's in good nick and we don't need 5 seamers.
In ordinary circumstances I would agree and certainly that we don't need 5 seamers but then the only other alternative, apart from Qadri and Bhuiyan, was Jaydn.
Billings has always done what Billings wants. We should remember that he has usually put his white ball ventures in front of Kent apart from last season when he said he wasn't going to the IPL - but then he knew that he wasn't going to be picked up in the auction. He also insisted on taking the gloves when he came back from those and took time off to go to things like Coldplay concerts with Jos Buttler rather than turn out for us last season. His point about "not getting in the way" is a valid one, not necessarily in this game but what happens if he does get runs? Some of the membership would be screaming blue murder if and when Joe Denly and/or Leaning are fit for the next one and Billings isn't selected. So that would mean dropping Muyeye and/or Finch. Both will remember what happened and when it comes to contract renewals especially in the case of the former and another county comes knocking? We lose another promising youngster in the shape of Muyeye to add to Robinson and Cox. With nothing, as we've found, nothing coming in to replace them. History repeating itself.
The bottom line is this. Will Billings win us enough games to keep us up. Highly doubtful especially as his red ball exploits for the last four seasons have been woeful. Is it worth upsetting the dressing room (again) by including him for one or two? The management have to make that call and might think that it isn't.
A batting lineup with O'Riordan opening, Finch in the top 6 and bowlers coming in at 7 is an emergency situation to me! Billings coming in at 6 or 7 would have freedom to play his normal attacking white ball game.
There are only 2 red ball games in between the Blast games, so chances are that we won't have Joe AND Leaning back for Hampshire next week, and O'Riordan would surely be more at risk than Finch or Muyeye anyway.
O'Riordan is being used as the offie and second spinner - if Denly is available he wouldn't offer that as not only has he only bowled 12 overs this season and turns the ball the same way as Parkinson does. The other question would be "who opens"? It's clear that O'Riordan is opening because DBD refuses to do so. We've moved Evison up but do we want to sacrifice him in the knowledge that he is likely to get more runs not doing so. Muyeye is a busted flush against the new ball and has at last got meaningful runs in the position he always should have been batting in at red ball.
Equally, it might only be for two games but what happens if Billings does get runs come September? Has he then become part of the first team squad and how do you explain the bigger picture to those who, in the same way, refused to do so with Robinson (because they genuinely did)?
I've been in and seen too many clubs fall apart because the management think that it's best to bring in one or two people from the outside. In the short and even more so long term it can ruin the spirit. And then people will say, as in the case of Robinson and Cox, that they never saw that happening. Because they weren't the victims of that. Remember what Robinson said about being the one that always seemed to be sacrificed. And then what happens is that the one or two that came in have moved on to a bigger bidder.
Come September, we should have Joe and Leaning back anyway. Or can loan a batsman. And why don't we have another opener for when Zak is away? If the Kent management seriously thought Muyeye could be an opener, then that's another failing of squad management. We have a vast number of bowlers and bits and pieces players like O'Riordan, who is a very innocuous spinner.
Billings isn't from outside, they've been playing under him in the Blast, and will do again in 2 weeks time. If we asked him to play these 2 county games only, then that to me would help team spirit. This isn't a Robinson situation where somebody is constantly being left out despite delivering, we have a team racked by injuries that is being stuffed at the moment.
It's also the perception from outside though. You mention about loaning a player in but think about the calibre that we've been getting in recently. Who is the last successful loaned in player we had because I'm struggling to remember one. They've been the players that have either been released at the end of last season or ones that are still playing 2s cricket and may never make the grade. Last season it was Geddes, McKerr, Albert and Niijar. The year before it was
A coach of another county said last year of us "well anyone can play for Kent". That's not, unfortunately. to say that anyone wants to play for Kent. We are a second class county in every respect. When Charlton sends players out on loan, one would hope that we do due diligence to ensure that the player is going into the right environment. A player's agent will have plenty of contacts within the game and know whether they should go
We have no money. We cannot attract the very best overseas players (why is Labuschagne, for example, playing for Glamorgan, Lyon for Lancashire, Henry for Somerset?). We don't have a conveyor belt of the best youngsters because of our status and a lack of infrastructure compared to the likes of Surrey. Those that we do have mainly leave. Our Women's team have been downgraded to the benefit of the big counties so we are are now losing promising girls too.
The injuries are one thing. But how many of those have really been preforming? Even our England opener, apart from one innings from 17, has done absolutely nothing of note. Why isn't he playing in this game? Pope is so if the argument is valid for Billings playing surely it is for our best opener. We can't insist on him doing so but it seems that England or even Crawley himself has chosen to come out of the firing line. Billings has been part of that malaise for years now as his averages testify - 9.20 (2023), 23.81 (2022), 29.80 (2021) and 20.00 (2020). One man with that record is not going to change anything especially as he says that he wished he'd given up red ball a couple of years ago. It would have benefitted us if he had.
I know that you, like me, go back a long way. Below is the team I used to watch as a kid. There isn't a single one of our current team that would get into it. But there's also not a single one that would pick and choose when they wanted to play for us. Come rain or shine, whether they'd just played for England or not. That, sadly, is a reflection of how the game has changed but even more so for us. Because in those days we were on a level playing field with the other counties and senior players did not have the power or feel the need to say when they are prepared to play as they have now.
Brian Luckhurst (England) Mike Denness (England) Colin Cowdrey (England) Asif Iqbal (Pakistan) Alan Ealham John Shepherd (West Indies) Bob Woolmer (England) Alan Knott (England) Bernard Julien (West Indies) Derek Underwood (England) Norman Graham
I suppose the million dollar question ( excuse the pun ) is how do we get the money to compete ?
All those Test/Hundred hosting counties have massive incomes and bigger grounds as a result of that. Which is what the ECB want which is why they denied us the Women's upgrade to Tier 1 status despite the fact that we had produced through our pathway nine of the 80 Women selected in The Hundred. We will receive a cash injection as a result of The Hundred sell off but the real acid test will be whether we and Beckenham specifically is given the right to host one of the new franchises. That won't make us on a par with the big guns but will help to bridge the gap. If we don't then we will become a feeder club.
Comments
The lack of a back up is, I suspect, us trying to use any money in other areas (don't ask me where but think how many overseas we've contracted this season) plus if we do sign someone of worth they have to be able to bat in all forms of the game and offer them at least a two year contract. We lost two more than capable first choices due to the reluctance of Billings to come to the obvious decision of concentrating on white ball earlier. One of those might have left anyway but the other would stayed thus making Finch the back up rather than the automatic first choice.
The really sad thing is that one in particular would have stayed had he kept the gloves and played in T20s too and might have returned the season after next if the circumstances were right for him to do so. Any such returning ship will be sailing in the other direction should we find ourselves in Div 2 at that time.
O'Riordan opening and Finch in the top 6 is painful, crazy that we end up picking a side with 4 seam bowlers plus Evison plus DBD, despite having several bowlers out injured.
I thought both our overseas bowlers acquitted themselves well today.
Crawley
Joe Denly
Leaning
Quinn
Agar
Cohen
Klaassen
Bartlett
Gilchrist
Stewart
David Bedingham - 860 runs @ average of 74.00 and strike rate of 74.78
Ollie Robinson - 740 runs @ average of 92.50 and strike rate of 86.75
Jordan Cox - 731 runs @ average of 73.10 and strike rate of 66.51
A few years ago a well known Kent age group coach said to me that they always knew that Zach Crawley (322 runs @ 32.20 and strike rate of 85.63 this season) was going to make it but had doubts as to whether Ollie ever was. Perhaps therein lies the problem and maybe if he went to a big private school then he would have had a few more people influential people promoting him. It took Kent too long to recognise what they had. It happens in work places where someone isn't rated that highly until they are forced to seek employment elsewhere only for the former employer to, eventually, regret that decision. To be fair, Kent did at the end of his time with us appreciate that Ollie was that good but the damage was done and with the two blockers of Billings and Cox in front of him, he knew that he was going to be second choice with the gloves in the CC and third choice in The Blast.
Billings has said he would play in an emergency, but that he didn't want to get in the way of other players. In this game, he could have played as a specialist batsman surely, as he's in good nick and we don't need 5 seamers.
In ordinary circumstances I would agree and certainly that we don't need 5 seamers but then the only other alternative, apart from Qadri and Bhuiyan, was Jaydn.
Billings has always done what Billings wants. We should remember that he has usually put his white ball ventures in front of Kent apart from last season when he said he wasn't going to the IPL - but then he knew that he wasn't going to be picked up in the auction. He also insisted on taking the gloves when he came back from those and took time off to go to things like Coldplay concerts with Jos Buttler rather than turn out for us last season. His point about "not getting in the way" is a valid one, not necessarily in this game but what happens if he does get runs? Some of the membership would be screaming blue murder if and when Joe Denly and/or Leaning are fit for the next one and Billings isn't selected. So that would mean dropping Muyeye and/or Finch. Both will remember what happened and when it comes to contract renewals especially in the case of the former and another county comes knocking? We lose another promising youngster in the shape of Muyeye to add to Robinson and Cox. With nothing, as we've found, nothing coming in to replace them. History repeating itself.
The bottom line is this. Will Billings win us enough games to keep us up. Highly doubtful especially as his red ball exploits for the last four seasons have been woeful. Is it worth upsetting the dressing room (again) by including him for one or two? The management have to make that call and might think that it isn't.
“I would never say no to help out. Right now, as my form has shown in this format of the game, I’m playing as well as I ever have done in a Kent shirt for a long time, enjoying my cricket regardless of results.
“It was always a decision based on my own family life and personal life. I will never say no but I think there are other guys who are champing at the bit to take that opportunity and they deserve it.”
He could have chosen to keep that he was available to himself in the same way as he's previously kept the fact and reasons why he was unavailable to himself.
Equally, it might only be for two games but what happens if Billings does get runs come September? Has he then become part of the first team squad and how do you explain the bigger picture to those who, in the same way, refused to do so with Robinson (because they genuinely did)?
I've been in and seen too many clubs fall apart because the management think that it's best to bring in one or two people from the outside. In the short and even more so long term it can ruin the spirit. And then people will say, as in the case of Robinson and Cox, that they never saw that happening. Because they weren't the victims of that. Remember what Robinson said about being the one that always seemed to be sacrificed. And then what happens is that the one or two that came in have moved on to a bigger bidder.
Billings isn't from outside, they've been playing under him in the Blast, and will do again in 2 weeks time. If we asked him to play these 2 county games only, then that to me would help team spirit. This isn't a Robinson situation where somebody is constantly being left out despite delivering, we have a team racked by injuries that is being stuffed at the moment.
A coach of another county said last year of us "well anyone can play for Kent". That's not, unfortunately. to say that anyone wants to play for Kent. We are a second class county in every respect. When Charlton sends players out on loan, one would hope that we do due diligence to ensure that the player is going into the right environment. A player's agent will have plenty of contacts within the game and know whether they should go
We have no money. We cannot attract the very best overseas players (why is Labuschagne, for example, playing for Glamorgan, Lyon for Lancashire, Henry for Somerset?). We don't have a conveyor belt of the best youngsters because of our status and a lack of infrastructure compared to the likes of Surrey. Those that we do have mainly leave. Our Women's team have been downgraded to the benefit of the big counties so we are are now losing promising girls too.
The injuries are one thing. But how many of those have really been preforming? Even our England opener, apart from one innings from 17, has done absolutely nothing of note. Why isn't he playing in this game? Pope is so if the argument is valid for Billings playing surely it is for our best opener. We can't insist on him doing so but it seems that England or even Crawley himself has chosen to come out of the firing line. Billings has been part of that malaise for years now as his averages testify - 9.20 (2023), 23.81 (2022), 29.80 (2021) and 20.00 (2020). One man with that record is not going to change anything especially as he says that he wished he'd given up red ball a couple of years ago. It would have benefitted us if he had.
I know that you, like me, go back a long way. Below is the team I used to watch as a kid. There isn't a single one of our current team that would get into it. But there's also not a single one that would pick and choose when they wanted to play for us. Come rain or shine, whether they'd just played for England or not. That, sadly, is a reflection of how the game has changed but even more so for us. Because in those days we were on a level playing field with the other counties and senior players did not have the power or feel the need to say when they are prepared to play as they have now.
Brian Luckhurst (England)
Mike Denness (England)
Colin Cowdrey (England)
Asif Iqbal (Pakistan)
Alan Ealham
John Shepherd (West Indies)
Bob Woolmer (England)
Alan Knott (England)
Bernard Julien (West Indies)
Derek Underwood (England)
Norman Graham