Time for the AX–W cull. The following will be farewelled against Charminster on Tues:
| Main-team veteran batters | 22-year-olds | Young undeveloped bowlers |
Kurt Murdoch
Shawn Dee | Ian Green (9th most capped for the club)
Oliver Bateman
Robin Warwick (7th most capped for the club)
Furqan Sheikh
Daniel Finlay | Abid Azam
Alf Madoc (recent scout)
Marcus Sears (recent scout) |
The middle column's the one to focus on, mostly long-term first XI players who the side has now outgrown. Green and Bateman can count themselves the most unlucky, as very decent mid-30s skill bowlers.
Murdoch and Dee have each capped their long AXI careers nicely with their stints for the affiliate. They will continue to play Cup games, until AX–W gets eliminated (i.e. in 7 hours).
For Murdoch I've done a little trial as to his effectiveness with the ball, because for AXI he very occasionally was used as funny hax for the last over (148kph heat, 2–3–5 distribution, Iceman), and ended up with 32 wickets at 16, economy 6.75. My theory being that the greatest impact of BQ is on the next few overs, bowling some Murdoch-type at the very last over could actually be the best. So he's bowled the last over in all his games, winning the last Cup game with a maiden (lol). But I think the experiment failed, which is to some extent pleasing. His economy for AX–W stands at 10.31.
Alf Madoc's quality – could become a very handy medium. One of the best buys among this lot, on the TM now.
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It's still a bloated squad at 24, but I think I like it that way to an extent. It's not like I'm gunning for 2 games a week from all of them. But spreading the games around will remain difficult. Mostly for my own benefit here's a list.
Price is there for the occasional friendly as club legend. Almost 39 now, amazingly. Ward is now green pitches only. Rusty won't play every game.
Todd, Ramsbottom, O'Callaghan, Hurst, and Picton are top senior players who will need to be guaranteed 2 games most weeks.
Mortimer and Hastelow are meme bashers who don't deserve to still be there but are funny. ul-Haq is the opposite: a long-form specialist who won't play many T20s at all so will have to play ~every DEV (12 weeks remaining) and OD competitive match to make up for the IGT.
In terms of keepers, Urban Townshend's going to wind down in favour of Rehman Naqvi, who will in turn be replaced in good time by Andy Hylton.
Hylton's one of six young bats who should form a great next generation. Ideally each should play twice a week, but especially Hylton, all-rounder Buck, and to an extent Precocious Tickner. Shinjinee has already entered the club first XI, while the rest (others are Carmichael and Ryder) should be prioritised in development in order to reach that stage ASAP.
Gangadharan is a young gun quick who has already entered the first XI while Katz is a young gun spinner who has almost reached that stage. Two games a week for both.
And finally some bits and bobs on the outskirts of future sides.
Wilkinson's a very unbalanced all-rounder, like a Yuen. Of the sort who really need all the games they can get. Gajendra's a next generation spin bowling candidate, but one of the worse options. Can do on 1.5 games a week and coaching. Mehr's one who was supplanted in his next gen role by all the other stupidly good players. So his 44 skill is set to be used as Dev filler.
Gutting.
