**Official English County Cricket 2013**

[Dan]

Just posted this in the tour thread, but thought I might as well post it here for anyone who might not read it.

I'll create the thread tonight if anyone shows signs of interest.

I'm interested.

 

[theegyptian]

JOverton with the first 5fer of his career. Surrey already in trouble against Notts. Roy is just a poor opener in fc cricket. You'd think they'd swap Roy and Harinath at least.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So will Bresnan appear for Yorkshire now?

 

[theegyptian]

So will Bresnan appear for Yorkshire now?

yes he comes in for pyrah

 

[Scaly piscine]

Tbf, Dernbach, Linley and Meaker is a very good County attack. Obviously not in Tremlett's class when at the peak of his powers but if he's sending stuff down at 80% then it's fair enough. It's not like they're picking Paul Franks ahead of him.

Somerset (Y) Good to see Gregory bowling well.

Slurry's bowling is nothing special really. They match up a bit better against lower quality batting, guys who can't handle a bit of pace. Against good batting line-ups they're average.

 

[Cabinet96]

Yawn. They also play on one of the best batting strips in the country.

 

[theegyptian]

Somerset in trouble here. Let Middlesex get 350 and then lose two best batsmen in a team already one batsman short.

 

[Cabinet96]

And Buttler is doomed to fail with Sky focusing on the test

 

[theegyptian]

And Buttler is doomed to fail with Sky focusing on the test

Buttler still batting at 6. Behind Gregory. Bit of a middle finger to Willis and all those who want him to bat higher when he is behind an allrounder who averages less than 12 in fc cricket.

Footitt is great. Erratic, expensive but a wickettaker.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Yawn. They also play on one of the best batting strips in the country.

So what?

Name 6 counties in CC Division One whose bowling attack is inferior to Slurry's.

 

[grecian]

Buttler still batting at 6. Behind Gregory. Bit of a middle finger to Willis and all those who want him to bat higher when he is behind an allrounder who averages less than 12 in fc cricket.

Footitt is great. Erratic, expensive but a wickettaker.

Well, Gregory is meant to be a much better batsman than that, despite little evidence to the contrary.

Somerset for relegation this year, just not happening at all. Joverton is good though

 

[Howe_zat]

Another partnership between Ballance and Rashid to forge a lead. Perhaps it's best to keep Ballance where he is after all.

 

[stumpski]

Surrey eight down now, can't leave it to Batty and Wilson every time. Worst thing is they're making Patel look like Bishen Bedi.

I see Kent got home last night having been 35-5 when I made my prediction of doom. Match finished shortly before 11 pm which is ridiculous, especially mid-week. It was too late for me and I was watching at home!

 

[Viscount Tom]

Ballance could realistically bat as high up as 3 he'd probably still make the runs.

 

[theegyptian]

Nice stuff by Somerset. They're just short of batsmen in general. Compton and Kieswetter will return in less than a month but Peterson and Buttler are both playing in the CT.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ballance could realistically bat as high up as 3 he'd probably still make the runs.

Well he was a youth opener and he always opened in Zimbabwe domestic cricket as well, even after he entrenched himself in the Yorkshire middle order, so I don't think batting higher up would really hurt him at all. I think he bats where he does more because of the unsuitability of the top four to batting lower than his own strengths - so for balance basically (hardy ha ha), but I would like to see him bat above Gale at the very least.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Fwiw unless Jacques starts making runs I'd be putting Ballance at 3 the only risk with that is if Ballance starts failing we probably lack the quality in a proper batsman to stop a collapse.

 

[grecian]

What a season for Chris Jordan, so far, his highest-score now.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Rashid in some nick this season, thank god the middle/lower order are playing well.

 

[Prince EWS]

Nice stuff by Somerset. They're just short of batsmen in general. Compton and Kieswetter will return in less than a month but Peterson and Buttler are both playing in the CT.

Virus getting called up to the Champions Trophy definitely wouldn't have been something they were preparing themselves for in the pre-season. I wonder if they'll pick up a replacement overseas player for that period. Someone like Brownlie could be a good signing; a quality bat who will already be in the country, pretty acclimated due to the Tests and not involved in the Champions Trophy.