English Domestic Season 2025

[kevinw]

George Hill was a batting all rounder but his performances with the ball are astonishing, barely averages over 20 and has taken a cheap five for today. What's his potential as a number eight frontline bowler?

 

[wpdavid]

Think Surrey could have done with another seamer.

On a related note, I was pleased to see SCurran turning out for us today. To be fair to the lad, he does generally make himself available when not on IPL or England white ball duties.

 

[brandon]

Enjoyed a brilliant day of Championship cricket today, had ‘multi-screen’ set up for the most part enabling me to watch large chunks of most of the games.

Mentioned it on the Durham thread, but it surprised me how much assistance the bowlers got from the pitches up and down the country. Given the dry weather we’ve been having I expected bowlers to be toiling away hard with little to no success - but in Division One, every team that batted first were dismissed and only Derbyshire across the 9 FC games enjoyed a truly dominant day.

 

[Chin Music]

On a related note, I was pleased to see SCurran turning out for us today. To be fair to the lad, he does generally make himself available when not on IPL or England white ball duties.

I was at the Oval today. I thought Surrey seamers were dreadful in the opening spell with lots of width either side being given the full treatment . When Curran came on, he took a wicket nigh on immediately. There were a fair few edges that went to third man too on a lightening fast outfield. Then the Surrey bowlers found their groove and it was a very different game, a fine counter attack from Pepper and a cameo from Snater apart.

Both Sibley and Burns looked comfortable enough to start with but the former was seen off by Porter. Patterson looked in good touch but got out shortly after I left. Lawes also departed and I would say it is pretty even although Surrey bat very deep.

 

[Nintendo]

Curran bowling first change and batting #4 for surrey is an interesting development. Interested to see how that goes if he plays a full season for them at some point.

 

[Third_Man]

Difficult to know which of Lancashire and Kent are going through a worse patch at the moment. If patch is the right word.
Derby 483/4 Kent no bowling points
Leics 189/2 (130/0 before lunch) Lancs' chosen overseas 0/24 off just 3. No wickets in previous match either.
Bottom two in Division One last year, bottom two in Dvision Two this year?
Will be interesting when they play eachother. Bit like the UEFA cup final?

 

[kevinw]

Difficult to know which of Lancashire and Kent are going through a worse patch at the moment. If patch is the right word.
Derby 483/4 Kent no bowling points
Leics 189/2 (130/0 before lunch) Lancs' chosen overseas 0/24 off just 3. No wickets in previous match either.
Bottom two in Division One last year, bottom two in Dvision Two this year?
Will be interesting when they play eachother. Bit like the UEFA cup final?

Kent's batting hasn't fired but it should be reasonably decent on paper at D2 level but the bowling is so poor that they just bowl themselves out of winning any games. Lancashire's struggles are harder to fathom as they have a much better squad than Kent for example.

 

[Third_Man]

Kent's batting hasn't fired but it should be reasonably decent on paper at D2 level but the bowling is so poor that they just bowl themselves out of winning any games. Lancashire's struggles are harder to fathom as they have a much better squad than Kent for example.

Today Kent collapsed from 235-3 and 276-4 to 326 all out. (101/7 and 50/6) while Lancashire continue to battle but still losing wickets just before lunch (Harris) and tea (Bell) - mentally shot not able to play the key moments has been a problem all season.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Today Kent collapsed from 235-3 and 276-4 to 326 all out. (101/7 and 50/6) while Lancashire continue to battle but still losing wickets just before lunch (Harris) and tea (Bell) - mentally shot not able to play the key moments has been a problem all season.

No Crawley no party…

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I'd been wondering why Essex had been persevering with young Charlie Allison - averaging about 17 with a high score of 28. But a drop down to 5 and he scores his first FC ton against a reasonable Surrey bowling attack. Nice work!

 

[Third_Man]

The coach has clearly lost the plot. Everyone else is to blame.

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The second XI is no better. One win in last year's championship. Therefore his options are limited, but to complain that Jones not being available does not help does not make sense. He played 2nd XI this week. (Along with the age comments being a young team. 8 of the team at Grace Road were 27 or over). Or his previous comment that they had the best two spinners (Wells and Hartley) in the country. How do you expect the team to do better: add Harris to last year's team. Play in a division below. Done. Blast side looks really weak without Salt, Buttler, Livingstone, Wood, Flintoff, Mahmood, Hartley. Jennings was sacked after Northants beat them. Wonder what is ahead this week?

But the club is limiting him. In the second XI's competitive 4 day matches last year there were 3 centuries (1 x Lavelle - released last winter), 1 x Savin Perera (on trial and not retained). The other by Rocky Flintoff. In their T20 campaign Tom Bruce top scored with 98* (trying to find form in the 2nds after being dropped). The only consistency within the team is that playing in the 1st XI seems to lead to a loss of form.

The last couple of years the second XI comprised largely teenagers. (It's clearly policy to be looking 2-4 years down the line). So there is little or no pressure put on the 1st team places. There appears to be cost savings made in recruitment (Jones over Gay for instance) yet the CEO doesn't seem brave enough to admit it. Stanley and Sutton only players recruited in 2024. One first class game between them, so cheap. Phillip can't be expensive either.

1864 to 2024 never last, never held the championship wooden spoon. History is being made.

 

[Blenkinsop]

I wonder if Benkenstein himself was simply the cheapest option? Other counties have recruited bigger names with better track records, like Darren Lehmann at Northants, or Chris Silverwood returning to Essex.

 

[Third_Man]

I wonder if Benkenstein himself was simply the cheapest option? Other counties have recruited bigger names with better track records, like Darren Lehmann at Northants, or Chris Silverwood returning to Essex.

Am sure you are right - which is why the members / supporters are becoming more concerned at those who made the decisions, drew the landscape like Anson, Gidney, Chilton (the latter might also have been a cheap option).

....the AGM which will take place in The Point at Emirates Old Trafford on Thursday 30 May.

Wonder if they will try and persuade Chris Read to switch from the women to the men - especially if they (finally) win something today.

 

[brandon]

A sight that sums up county cricket and its supports:

643 people are currently watching the live stream at Worcester showing a covered square

 

[kevinw]

Today Kent collapsed from 235-3 and 276-4 to 326 all out. (101/7 and 50/6) while Lancashire continue to battle but still losing wickets just before lunch (Harris) and tea (Bell) - mentally shot not able to play the key moments has been a problem all season.

And Kent couldn't really be bothered second time around either. The bowling is poor but the batters really have very little fight.

 

[Molehill]

Really impressed by Sussex so far this year, staying up looks a formality. I've particularly liked how seamers who have come in for one game have taken wickets (Hunt, Crocombe) showing there's some depth to this squad now.

 

[chris.hinton]

Cracking draw

 

[chris.hinton]

The Weather helped worcester but i'm delighted with the draw and we are beginning to improve as a side. Still going to be tough to stay up but optimistic about what's ahead as we go into the T20 blast

 

[zaremba]

Really impressed by Sussex so far this year, staying up looks a formality. I've particularly liked how seamers who have come in for one game have taken wickets (Hunt, Crocombe) showing there's some depth to this squad now.

Yes we are a formidable team now, and couldn't agree more about the likes of Hunt and Crocombe. Also Carson and Hudson-Prentice. 3rd in the division is quite excellent

 

[chris.hinton]

County Championship (Halfway stage)

Division 1

Nottinghamshire 115
Surrey 105
Sussex 95
Warwickshire 93
Somerset 92
Durham 84
Hampshire 82
Essex 75
==============
Yorkshire 59
Worcestershire 54

Division 2

Leicestershire 139
Derbyshire 108
==============
Glamorgan 97
Gloucestershire 88
Northamptonshire 72
Middlesex 70
Lancashire 66
Kent 65