Melting chocolate

[Victor Frankenstein]

yeah warne has been a great influence on the club, not just on the team but the amount of effort he puts in to helping out the kids and stuff that come along to net sessions (i may be slightly biased in singing his praises as he's my cricketing hero ). Clarke's been hit and miss so far but will no doubt get some big scores as the season goes on, same with crawley, but that's pretty much it in the batting department, certainly with any consistency. Mascarenhas has improved his batting lately and his bowling is usually pretty good, i guess he just doesn't play for the right county, same as the fact we have one of the best, if not the best, grounds in the country but we only get 3rd team ODI's at best, does nothing to promote central and south west cricket but promoting cricket isn't what the ECB is about.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by cantplaycantalk

Don't expect Durham to be the pushover that Notts faced for most of the season either they were missing 5 key players against Notts, Shoaib, Gibbs, Collingwood, Harmison, Breese. Once we get the two first choice overseas players in we will be difficult to beat.

Suppose that all depends on how often you get to see GBH bowling for Durham! Shoaib's not exactly reliable is he? Herschelle Gibbs should be great to watch.

Notts have got a good seam attack, early season conditions should suit us. Later on it will depend on whether or not MacGill can pitch it!

[Mark Kidger]

MacGill can pitch it. The only question is whether it will be on the square or whether Chris Read will need to start wearing a helmet!

Odd that for a figure with excellent Test figures who most people think would get into most Test sides, his bowling is so questioned (mind you, he was awful against India).

[Notts Exile]

He was bad for Notts last season too, very bad in patches. Didn't start well last week, apparently!

[Mark Kidger]

Send him to Bristol. If he's alive and with the normal number of limbs he'll strengthen the Gloucester attack!

[Kirsty Harris]

I do think that at some point, a line is going to have to be drawn around the winter touring schedules. Every year, more and more cricket is played in the winter months, and not only does that mean fringe England players, like Clarke, are not available for there counties, but their is a real risk that our best players could have significantly shorter careers than they would otherwise have had, through playing too much cricket.

[James M]

I totally agree Kirsty. I was having a debate with a pal at The Oval the other day about whether Clarke would be better off with Surrey or with England and whether Surrey were better off with him or without him. We concluded that being an England player is now such a career on its own that counties must factor in their England players' absence at the start. The more progressive clubs will use it as a spur to develop more English born players. Others might sulk and revert to EU passported players. I think Surrey have been progressive by playing Benning, not that they have much choice. It's hard to understand just how much Rikki will gain from being in the WI. It certainly doesn't help when it rains forever. That's another sub-issue though, international scheduling.

[Kirsty Harris]

Lucky you actually managing to get to the oval..I'm still trying to find a free day to do this year

I really hate my job sometimes!!!!

Anyway, yes, I agree we you when you say that playing for England is a seperate career now days. While I can understand it, it also makes me a little sad. When I was a kid, my Dad would take me to the county games to see the likes of Robin Smith, David Gower, Graham Gooch, and so on, and it was a wonderful experience for me. I feel sad that youngsters today won't get that chance. (that makes me sound really old....when I was girl etc...!!!).

[James M]

I know what you mean, so nowadays I take every opportunity to see great modern players. For example, I went the other week and sat spellbound watching Mushy. It didn't matter that he was having quite a bad match, it was a pleasure to watch him bowl. Whenever Worcs are in town I make sure I'm there to see Hick. I realise that England aren't producing great players anymore and the ones that are anywhere near decent are in the England squad. I suppose that is encouraging from an England point of view but for the county regular, which I'm not, it must take the mystique out of watching.

[Kirsty Harris]

James

The fun thing is, you have a much greater chance of seeing a current international test player in a county game than an england one! There has to be something wrong with that...