Posted by Tony Hutton
The last week has seen a variety of pre-season county matches with the majority of counties now able to live stream the action. Some are still in the trial period with no commentary or sound effects at all, others have just the sounds from the middle and others have full commentary, usually with the local BBC radio commentators in action. Standards obviously vary but by and large this gives the professional cricket watcher an amazing choice of games to follow during this waiting period before spectators are admitted and we can watch the games live.
One of the games that was not covered in full, but with short video clips, was Yorkshire's friendly at Derby. Strangely this game was Yorkshire's first eleven against Derbyshire's second eleven, with a variety of very young academy players. Derbyshire's first team squad were involved with a game at Leicester. Even so Yorkshire's website went over the top yesterday when announcing that Josh Poysden had taken five wickets, thus emphasising the strength of Yorkshire's spin attack. To be fair all of them were not only tail enders but mostly 16 or 17 year old Academy lads, which emphasises very little.
However, not to be churlish, good to see Poysden back in action after dreadful injury problems last season. No centuries in the match at Derby, but they were there in plenty just down the road at Trent Bridge where Nottinghamshire were taking on Oxford University. The visitors with very little practice and a somewhat inexperienced squad took a hammering on the first day, when despite dismissing three leading batsmen in Hameed, Duckett and Clarke, very cheaply they were taken to the cleaners with centuries from Slater, Compton and Mullaney.
 |
| Trent Bridge in happier times. |
Nottinghamshire then declared on 410-4. The century makers included the grandson of Denis Compton, Ben, who was born in South Africa. Slater of course came from Derbyshire and was described by Dave Bracegirdle, of BBC Nottingham, as the 'Chesterfield Cruncher'. Mullaney, another import from Lancashire, is now the county captain. In fact looking at the Nottinghamshire squad I think nine of the team are imported from other counties. A precedent which Yorkshire seem intent on following.
Back to the action at Trent Bridge and Oxford perhaps predictably collapsed early on losing their first four wickets for only 23 runs and had only progressed to73-5 when Mohammed Rizvi and Calvin Harrison came together. They proceeded to put on a partnership of 114 for the sixth wicket with Rizvi, who has played for Essex seconds, making 66 and Harrison, yet another South African who is registered with Hampshire, going on to become the game's fourth century maker with 123.
So Oxford declared with a respectable 291-9 and then caused the home side more problems by opening bowler Whitlock dismissing both Hameed and Duckett cheaply yet again. Respectability was provided by the other batsmen until Harrison again distinguished himself by taking three wickets with his leg breaks. So not a bad performance by the University who left some of the home side still searching for their first runs when the three day game ended in a draw.
Meanwhile Durham were in action at Edgbaston against Warwickshire with live streaming, but no commentary provided. Here there were runs a plenty for batsmen on both sides and yet another century maker in the shape of Durham's new captain, returning prodigal son Scott Borthwick. Four of the Warwickshire batsmen, skipper Will Rhodes, Lamb, Hain and Hose all made fifties before retiring to give others a chance and sadly rain washed out the final day yesterday.
Elsewhere Lancashire had made the long journey to Chelmsford to take on Essex in a low scoring encounter which was interrupted by the weather. The only noteworthy feature here being that four Lancashire batsmen failed to trouble the scorers. Another low scoring affair at the Ageas Bowl saw Hampshire taking on Northants, whose top scorer was none other than the third Curran brother, Ben, while his two brothers were engaged in a match going on in India.
Somerset were in action against Gloucestershire at Taunton and followed a two day game with a T20 match yesterday. Again plenty of runs here, especially for Gloucester with fifties for Lace, Taylor, Higgins and Scott and forties from new vice captain Bracey and Charlesworth. The Gloucester side also featured the two former Yorkshire bowlers, Josh Shaw and Jared Warner.
Last but not least among the century makers was Brett D'Olivera of Worcestershire, grandson of the famous Basil, against Durham University at Kidderminster. This provided an easy win for the home county who bowled the University out twice fairly cheaply.
So plenty of action all over the country and hopefully the County Championship proper will get underway shortly, with of course everyone still waiting impatiently for the day spectators will be admitted. When this day comes no doubt there will still be restrictions, as already indicated by Derbyshire who have stated that their home game with Durham starting on May 20th will only be open to Derbyshire members. They have made it clear that Durham members will not be admitted, so no birthday celebration for me on day two!
No comments:
Post a Comment