Melting chocolate

[James M]

OK, I've watched a lot of Surrey in their opening exchanges. Frankly, I'm worried. I know a lot of you will say 'it's arrogant Surrey' and 'they think they deserve to win everything'. Well yes, but who doesn't at the start of the cricket season. So much hope. Not that I'm jumping to rash conclusions. We're not in crisis by any means. Just that without numerous England call-ups, some of which dubious (Clarke) and some totally justified (Butcher, Thorpe), we look a shadow of the championship winning teams. The key figures are essentially the same, but something is different. We don't appear to be enjoying our cricket. Whereas before, the confident strokes and the up-and-at-em bowling was commonplace, now the strokes are ill-judged and the bowling way too short. Their is plenty of youth in the side and some experience. But the perfect blend needs to be found.


In less than a fortnight, I've seen my team outplayed by good cricket from Sussex, Middlesex and now Glamorgan. We simply weren't the better side. We all know teams want to beat us and I reckon a big part is the 'Surrey Strut' theory. If we could get rid of that then we will get some respect, which we must earn of course. I'm a big believer in earning the right to play. You can't just go out there and blast from ball one and expect to end up 500-4.

In addition, I don't think the older players are standing up. People like Benning have been exposed to early season movement whilst certain veterans have consistently got starts but not capitalised.

So to sum up:

1) Too much attacking cricket when defence is required, i.e. poor shot selection
2) Surrey Strut
3) Changes in personnel/youth development
4) Early season rustiness (dubious one)
5) Older players not taking enough responsibility
6) Not enough enjoyment ... energies channeled wrongly??

[Rich Greenfield]

Brilliant win for Glamorgan, I reckon then can win the one day league this year and get promotion in the CC.

[Notts Exile]

Promotion from Div 2 in the Championship is going to be tough. Notts and Yorkshire have both started well, and look to have the strength to push on. Hampshire and Glamorgan look good and I can't help believing that Essex might be difficult to beat most of the time.

[Mark Kidger]

Surrey do seem to be struggling suddenly. It's odd because there have not been any really large changes of personal and they are used to having heavy Test calls. The County Championship seems though prone to violent changes of form and fortune - Yorkshire being relegated as defending champions is a good example. fat more than football the fortunes of teams seem to rest on one or two key players having especially good or bad seasons.

[Mark Kidger]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Promotion from Div 2 in the Championship is going to be tough. Notts and Yorkshire have both started well, and look to have the strength to push on. Hampshire and Glamorgan look good and I can't help believing that Essex might be difficult to beat most of the time.

Relegation from Division 1 should be easier. I don't fancy Gloucestershire's chances of survival at all. In fact, it's hard to see at the moment how they might win a game with such a weak attack.

[Notts Exile]

Not convinced that Shabbir Ahmed (that his name?) wil do them too much good either. They seems to have gained promotion yet weakened their squad. I agree, it looks like being a hard summer down at Nevil Road.

[Mark Kidger]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Not convinced that Shabbir Ahmed (that his name?) wil do them too much good either. They seems to have gained promotion yet weakened their squad. I agree, it looks like being a hard summer down at Nevil Road.

The game with Kent has already shown how hard. A competative total to chase on the last afternoon and Kent cruised it. And the attack was held together by two honest medium pacers , one of whom (James Averis) looked a great prospect a few seasons ago, but last year barely played a game in any mode of cricket. Alex Gidman looks a great prospect and a real possibility for England, but the attack is ludicrously weak - it would probably struggle in the 2nd Division.

[Victor Frankenstein]

I wouldn't say hampshire look good, we struggle to get scores together, we really need a few decent batsmen but the board always buy in bowlers :/

[Notts Exile]

Surely the influence of Warne will have a positive impact? And Michael Clarke and John Crawley will score a few runs. A player I've always liked is Mascarenhas, surely unlucky not to have won a One-Day Cap for England?

[cantplaycantalk]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Promotion from Div 2 in the Championship is going to be tough. Notts and Yorkshire have both started well, and look to have the strength to push on. Hampshire and Glamorgan look good and I can't help believing that Essex might be difficult to beat most of the time.

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.