One of those games where individual performances matter more than the result...
From that perspective, in our previous 11 CC matches, the most number of 50s scored by our top three in a game was two. In this one, all four of those that batted in the top three have achieved that (namely Compton, Jaydn, Dawkins and Ekansh) with all bar one of those still teenagers. Equally, only Wells, to date has done that for Lancashire.
Runs from the youngsters is great for the future, while on the bowling front Quinn (4-34, 42 runs and 2-10) is winning the "contest" with Cohen (no wickets so far). Rizvi will be desperate for a bowl in the second innings, as he also is wicketless in this game.
Impressive stuff from Stanley their bowler, 5-80 and 6-100.
It's pissing it down in west malling. unfortunately gonna be a draw. Shame as we actually had a decent score for them to chase and we only have 4 days.
Personally think they should of declared with a 240+ lead.
Hollioake in his post match interview stated Compton has broken his wrist (not sure why he batted today if that was the case) and Quinn unlikely to play again for Kent (this season)
Olly Curtiss has signed terms that will make him available for the final two CC matches. With so many players out injured now, we could have five teenagers in the side.
Hollioake in his post match interview stated Compton has broken his wrist (not sure why he batted today if that was the case) and Quinn unlikely to play again for Kent (this season)
That's the issue with Quinn. You can't keep re-signing someone who can barely play 3 matches a season.
Olly Curtiss has signed terms that will make him available for the final two CC matches. With so many players out injured now, we could have five teenagers in the side.
I had a call to play this week but I can’t get out of work.
A bit more of a positive thing to report. I mentioned previously that Seb has been involved in coaching, cost-free to the parents as it is funded by the MCC, a group of young cricketers that are not in a county age group squad or attend a fee paying school. This is a nationwide MCC initiative, with the idea being to level the playing field between State children and their private school counterparts who enjoy their own high quality facilities and in-house coaching and also to have a closer look at those players that are might be missed as they are not part of the more traditional pathway.
The training lasted 10 weeks from January and since the start of the season, the three Kent hubs have been participating in a nationwide competition with the U14s from Seb's hub initially knocked out, in the group stage, the two other Kent hubs. As a result they qualified for the national stages where they progressed, following four further wins, to today's semi-final against a hub from Somerset which they duly won by 88 runs (181-8 v 93-9).
The reward? A final at the home of cricket - Lord's - against the winner of the other semi, a team from either Newcastle or Nottingham. Unfortunately, Seb is absolutely gutted as he will be missing the final on Saturday 13th September as he booked three months ago a golfing holiday to coincide with what he thought would be following the end of his own playing season. That is akin to those that booked a holiday not thinking that Charlton would make the Play-off final. Still a fantastic achievement and here's hoping the Kent lads duly bring the trophy home.
The Kent side did, indeed, beat the team from Nottingham today - by a comfortable 46 runs to win the inaugural U14 trophy at Lord's. The winning side included the younger brother of one of our former players (currently plying his trade as far north as is possible in the professional game).
I see Sean Dickson, fresh from being a major part of Somerset's winning Vitality Blast winning side (his 71 off 26 balls singlehandedly won them the QF) is off to Glamorgan to replace the vacancy left by Sam Northeast coming back to us. For someone who was known as a red ball player when with us, he really has changed. He has struggled in the Championship, averaging 20.41, but his T20 record for Somerset this season is an average of 45.66 at a strike rate of 159.92.
He's carved a decent career for himself but confessed that he wanted to prove a point in the Blast to Somerset who were not, at the age of 34, prepared to offer him a new contract. Somehow I think he'll always receive a warm reception whenever he returns to Taunton.
I see Sean Dickson, fresh from being a major part of Somerset's winning Vitality Blast winning side (his 71 off 26 balls singlehandedly won them the QF) is off to Glamorgan to replace the vacancy left by Sam Northeast coming back to us. For someone who was known as a red ball player when with us, he really has changed. He has struggled in the Championship, averaging 20.41, but his T20 record for Somerset this season is an average of 45.66 at a strike rate of 159.92.
He's carved a decent career for himself but confessed that he wanted to prove a point in the Blast to Somerset who were not, at the age of 34, prepared to offer him a new contract. Somehow I think he'll always receive a warm reception whenever he returns to Taunton.
Yeah that's a bit of a weird move , I know Somerset obviously have some very good young talents coming through their academy but I would have thought they would have kept the experience of Dickson (and Ben Green who's off to Leicestershire) around. Good move for Glammy I think!
DBD, Muyeye, Quinn, Compton, Benjamin, Jas and Dudgeon all injured. Agar and Kashif Ali have returned home. Gilchrist is on loan at Warwickshire. Crawley has not been "released" by England. Billings and Klaassen are white ball only. Leaning, O'Riordan and Garrett have not been selected. That's 16 players not picked for one reason or another.
Which leaves us with this 12 for the game starting tomorrow with the additions of Stewart, Flintoff and Curtiss from those that played in the last match:
DBD, Muyeye, Quinn, Compton, Benjamin, Jas and Dudgeon all injured. Agar and Kashif Ali have returned home. Gilchrist is on loan at Warwickshire. Crawley has not been "released" by England. Billings and Klaassen are white ball only. Leaning, O'Riordan and Garrett have not been selected. That's 16 players not picked for one reason or another.
Which leaves us with this 12 for the game starting tomorrow with the additions of Stewart, Flintoff and Curtiss from those that played in the last match:
Leaning must be off . Pity how’s it’s ended for him
Yes it doesn't matter for the rest of this awful season, but it seems odd that Gilchrist hasn't played for us since his departure was announced, whereas Milnes and Northeast are still playing for their current counties.
I'm, equally, not sure, even if he were to leave by mutual agreement early, who would take Leaning. Now this is no criticism of Matt Walker whatsoever who I know personally from the days Seb and Charlie (who is now at college in the US playing football in goal) played Kent age group cricket together. He really is a lovely guy. However, perhaps that is the very reason why there were times when he was a little too loyal to certain senior players even when they were out of form.
Hollioake is a different character, a tough Aussie who is, perhaps, not so close to the players that he isn't able to make those tough decisions - Leaning was dropped and has done nothing in the 2s to warrant coming back into the CC side. One suspects that Hollioake is looking at the bigger picture and knows that this is the opportunity to give vital games to the youngsters that will make them competitive next season when it comes to selection. One also suspects that pre-season matches will have far more relevance than they have had for years and that no one player can automatically assume that they will be in the side come the first CC game. That can only be good because it is far too easy for players, as a group, to become a bit too comfortable in their mutually mediocre performances.
Yes it doesn't matter for the rest of this awful season, but it seems odd that Gilchrist hasn't played for us since his departure was announced, whereas Milnes and Northeast are still playing for their current counties.
I think that comes down to Hollioake not wanting Gilchrist being a blocker to seeing who out of Cohen, Garrett, Quinn etc he wants to keep next season. For the reasons I've set out about him being a tough Aussie, he would almost certainly say, unless the situation warrants playing someone who is leaving (as in playing Gilchrist in the Blast QF), "you're moving on and so must we".
Yorkshire are in relegation trouble and need to play the best team they can but despite taking 7-93 against Sussex at the end of July hasn't played in the CC since. Northeast is Glamorgan's club captain and they are in second place in Div 2 hence why he is still being selected.
Hollioake knows that but what he hasn't had, because of their respective injuries, an opportunity to assess whether Quinn and Cohen are worth offering a new contract to. Unless he plays them he can't make that decision. In the great scheme of things, they will be cheap options anyway and probably only back ups to probably two overseas seamers, Stewart, Evison, Milnes and probably one other prominent signing. It's the same with Rivzi. Hollioake needs to see him in action.
As for the batting, we are fortunate that we've had the likes of Jaydn, Dawkins and Ekansh coming through because we would have been in the same situation as the seamers in that respect.
Hollioake knows that but what he hasn't had, because of their respective injuries, an opportunity to assess whether Quinn and Cohen are worth offering a new contract to. Unless he plays them he can't make that decision. In the great scheme of things, they will be cheap options anyway and probably only back ups to probably two overseas seamers, Stewart, Evison, Milnes and probably one other prominent signing. It's the same with Rivzi. Hollioake needs to see him in action.
As for the batting, we are fortunate that we've had the likes of Jaydn, Dawkins and Ekansh coming through because we would have been in the same situation as the seamers in that respect.
We need another overseas signing to complement Dudgeon. Even then, we’re looking thin on the ground . Milnes will be a good addition , if fit . Amazing we had that one season where him, Podmore and Stevens played almost every game
Still wouldn't be surprised if Ari Karvelas makes his way to Kent. We've brought in Dom Goodman and Tom Price from Gloucestershire for next season and the rest of the seam attack at Sussex are signed long term.
Still wouldn't be surprised if Ari Karvelas makes his way to Kent. We've brought in Dom Goodman and Tom Price from Gloucestershire for next season and the rest of the seam attack at Sussex are signed long term.
Comments
Impressive stuff from Stanley their bowler, 5-80 and 6-100.
Personally think they should of declared with a 240+ lead.
125-3
He's carved a decent career for himself but confessed that he wanted to prove a point in the Blast to Somerset who were not, at the age of 34, prepared to offer him a new contract. Somehow I think he'll always receive a warm reception whenever he returns to Taunton.
Which leaves us with this 12 for the game starting tomorrow with the additions of Stewart, Flintoff and Curtiss from those that played in the last match:
Hollioake is a different character, a tough Aussie who is, perhaps, not so close to the players that he isn't able to make those tough decisions - Leaning was dropped and has done nothing in the 2s to warrant coming back into the CC side. One suspects that Hollioake is looking at the bigger picture and knows that this is the opportunity to give vital games to the youngsters that will make them competitive next season when it comes to selection. One also suspects that pre-season matches will have far more relevance than they have had for years and that no one player can automatically assume that they will be in the side come the first CC game. That can only be good because it is far too easy for players, as a group, to become a bit too comfortable in their mutually mediocre performances.
Yorkshire are in relegation trouble and need to play the best team they can but despite taking 7-93 against Sussex at the end of July hasn't played in the CC since. Northeast is Glamorgan's club captain and they are in second place in Div 2 hence why he is still being selected.
As for the batting, we are fortunate that we've had the likes of Jaydn, Dawkins and Ekansh coming through because we would have been in the same situation as the seamers in that respect.