A bizarre glut of white ball cricket this week, highlighting the shambles of the current calendar, which will at least be slightly improved next season when the Blast knockout games will be played straight after the group matches.
The Hundred semi and final on Saturday and Sunday The One Day Cup semis on Sunday The T20 Blast QFs on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday England vs S Africa ODIs on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
So never mind the One Day Cup being without the best players, many counties will also be without their best white ball players for the T20 QF due to England white ball call ups.
A bizarre glut of white ball cricket this week, highlighting the shambles of the current calendar, which will at least be slightly improved next season when the Blast knockout games will be played straight after the group matches.
The Hundred semi and final on Saturday and Sunday The One Day Cup semis on Sunday The T20 Blast QFs on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday England vs S Africa ODIs on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
So never mind the One Day Cup being without the best players, many counties will also be without their best white ball players for the T20 QF due to England white ball call ups.
And will miss finals day too the following Saturday due to T20s against South Africa
Prompted by a ballot email from The Oval, I've been looking at next summer's international schedule.
Two 3 match Test series, NZ in June, Pakistan in August/September. White ball series in July (India) and September (Sri Lanka).
Curiously NZ play 2 tests in a row in London, the first at Lord's, the second at The Oval. It feels odd to have the Oval Test in mid June. Maybe as consolation, it gets the final ODI of the summer instead.
Lord's of course gets 2 tests, plus a women's test against India, the first ever at Lord's.
Meanwhile Sonny Baker makes a debut in tomorrow's ODI against South Africa
Jamie Smith (Surrey) Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire) Joe Root (Yorkshire) Harry Brook (Yorkshire) Jos Buttler (Lancashire) Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire) Will Jacks (Surrey) Brydon Carse (Durham) Jofra Archer (Sussex) Adil Rashid (Yorkshire) Sonny Baker (Hampshire)
Good article by George Dobell on Overton's break from red ball cricket. He lays bare the financial benefits of doing so given that it frees him up for the Big Bash etc. Overton isn't centrally contracted and so has less security and reward. Dobell also highlights the potential for injury with long spells and days in the field for England and Overton suffered from his last test appearance. As he says much as we'd like him to be putting his country first that's all well and good but it won't pay his mortgage! If we want to secure these players then they'll need better financial reward. It's a shame but that's the reality of the situation I guess.
I'm in the Upper Compton, which I've never been in before. I'd forgotten it was a restricted view seat, and from the seat preview, it doesn't look brilliant.
Good article by George Dobell on Overton's break from red ball cricket. He lays bare the financial benefits of doing so given that it frees him up for the Big Bash etc. Overton isn't centrally contracted and so has less security and reward. Dobell also highlights the potential for injury with long spells and days in the field for England and Overton suffered from his last test appearance. As he says much as we'd like him to be putting his country first that's all well and good but it won't pay his mortgage! If we want to secure these players then they'll need better financial reward. It's a shame but that's the reality of the situation I guess.
And that is the folly of central contracts now. There has to be a compromise between certainty and not rewarding those that you want to play, from left field, sufficiently. Bairstow hasn't played a game for England for 16 months but has still been paid his full central contract in that time. How much of that could have been re-directed? Smaller retainer and more to be part of the squad/play would bridge that gap.
I'm in the Upper Compton, which I've never been in before. I'd forgotten it was a restricted view seat, and from the seat preview, it doesn't look brilliant.
A good Stand for September but I wouldn't last more than 20 mins in the direct sun in July. I know, because we've sat there often and I can't hack it.
Why do they keep selecting Bethell? He's clearly not ready. Maybe pick him against Ireland if they want to develop him
He's been selected as captain for the T20s. He's only had 26 List A innings in his career and 40 First Class innings. The ECB have prevented him all summer from playing either code but then wonder why he doesn't go out there and look the part with him having played nothing but 100/120 ball cricket. Talk about "mismanaged".
Comments
The Hundred semi and final on Saturday and Sunday
The One Day Cup semis on Sunday
The T20 Blast QFs on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
England vs S Africa ODIs on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
So never mind the One Day Cup being without the best players, many counties will also be without their best white ball players for the T20 QF due to England white ball call ups.
It seemed an odd decision to pick him this summer, and his red ball retirement makes it look even stranger
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Sonny Baker (Hampshire)
If only we had a glorious & hot August we could have played them in 🤷♂️🙄🤔.
As he says much as we'd like him to be putting his country first that's all well and good but it won't pay his mortgage!
If we want to secure these players then they'll need better financial reward. It's a shame but that's the reality of the situation I guess.
And that is the folly of central contracts now. There has to be a compromise between certainty and not rewarding those that you want to play, from left field, sufficiently. Bairstow hasn't played a game for England for 16 months but has still been paid his full central contract in that time. How much of that could have been re-directed? Smaller retainer and more to be part of the squad/play would bridge that gap.
Burger Bowled Onions Caught Mustard.
When they say its 50 overs, did they mean thats the total number that will be bowled over both innings 🙄.
Hat trick ball upcoming
I know, because we've sat there often and I can't hack it.
meanwhile Rehan Ahmed has had a transformative summer as he’s just been allowed to play.
All they see is £££££ that the Hundred generates.
I hate that poxy competition with a passion for what it's doing for proper cricket.