County Championship 2008 Season - Divisions 1 & 2

[Navdeep]

Cricinfo - Hoggard makes his point

With all the on going problems in the sport today, whether it involving the IPL, the "slapping" incident, or chiefs in the non playing side of things, its good to see some pros can stick to their sense of humour

"It's just a club policy thing," Hoggard said. "I'm scared of the white ball, you know -- I'm allergic to it. We've just got quite a few seamers at the club and Goughie is coming back. I want to concentrate on getting back in the Test team and the white ball can take a jump as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, it means I can spend a day with my family instead of watching the rain fall at Headingley."

How true that last statement is

[Aurelius]

Pleased to see Steve Magoffin thriving in the English conditions so far, which seem to suit that sort of bowling. I hope the national selectors take notice- the more West Aussies in the national squad the better, I say.

I'm also following the fortunes of the prospective English bowlers- in this round Broad has 3, Hoggard 1, and Sidebottom and Panesar are both wicketless so far, if very tidy. Flintoff hasn't turned out for Lancashire in this round, so I wonder what that means. It'd be a disaster if they brought him back prematurely and he broke down again.

[darksideofthemoon]

Read 115*
Broad 52*


Broad produced two sizzling drives in one Hoggard over as he outscored Read for a while.
Broad's 50 came off 70 balls.
Read's 100 from 168 balls.

[Navdeep]

England players looking to cement their selection in the SA series are getting some good practice out in the middle, whether with bat or ball. Here is how they are currently getting on in the current round of championship matches...

Batsmen: Cook, Vaughan, Bell, Shah, Strauss (KP rested)

On the fringe: Key, Carberry, Denly, Joyce

All Rounders: Flintoff, Mascarenhas, Bopara, Wright

On the fringe: Rashid, Bresnan, Murtagh, Patel

Wicket Keepers: Read, Foster, Davies, Prior, Mustard (Ambrose rested)

Bowlers: Mahmood, S.Jones, Hoggard, Harmison, Panesar, Plunkett, Kabir Ali, Tremlett

Anderon/Sidebottom/Broad all rested.
Yes some aren't necessarily on the fringe of national team selection (Joyce/Murtagh) but i thought i'd stick them in anyways, definately have the talent to oust some of the likes of Wright and co. Anyways, heres how they are currently getting on.

LV County Championship - Division Two: Middlesex v Northamptonshire

Strauss - 2 (11) + 4 (5)
Shah 1 (8) + 12 (35)
Joyce 21 (33) + 38 (72)
Murtagh 18 (31) + 33 (49)...........3/79 off 16.
Panesar ......................0/44 off 12 + 0/60 off 17.2.

LV County Championship - Division Two: Warwickshire v Gloucestershire

Bell - 215 (288) !!!

LV County Championship - Division One: Surrey v Kent

Denly 26 (32) + 18 (24)
Key 24 (37) + 0 (1)

LV County Championship - Division One: Hampshire v Nottinghamshire

Carberry 36 (60) + 8 (28)
Mascarenhas 55 (75) + 10 (10)...........1/36 off 22.
Patel 8 (22)...........2/57 off 19 + 0/29 off 3.
Read 25 (69)
Tremlett 18 (35) + 52 (64).............3/71 off 31 + 0/10 off 1.4.

LV County Championship - Division One: Sussex v Lancashire

Prior 30 (35) + 33 (62)
Flintoff 6 (15)..........0/43 off 15 + 0/38 off 17.
Mahmood........5/76 off 19.4 + 1/44 off 11.

LV County Championship - Division One: Yorkshire v Durham

Vaughan 0 (18) + 72 (99)
Rashid 22 (43) + 6 (14)..............1/26 off 6 + 0/27 off 3.2
Bresnan 4 (12) + 10 (23)............5/94 off 26 + 0/35 off 8.
Hoggard....................1/96 off 25 + 2/22 off 6.
Collingwood 5 (27) + 10* (22).............3/17 off 3.4 + 0/31 off 7.
Mustard 92 (110)
Plunkett 68 (138)..........3/70 off 15 + 3/49 off 13.
Harmison............2/43 off 15 + 2/97 off 20.

LV County Championship - Division Two: Essex v Derbyshire

Cook 95 (143) + 18 (22)
Bopara 7 (21) + 71 (82)...................4/33 off 7
Foster 32 (48) + 37 (79)

LV County Championship - Division Two: Leicestershire v Worcestershire

Davies 12 (25)
Kabir Ali 26 (56)............3/40 off 13 + 4/87 off 23.
S.Jones 5/30 off 12.5 + 2/73 off 23.

If i've forgotten anyone, just add on how they are getting on.

[Ernest]

Lancashire have beat Sussex in the County game today. The good news for England is that Flintoff steered them home with an unbeaten 62.

BBC SPORT | Cricket Scorecard

[south beds mikey]

I watched that game Ern and indeed your boy looked very good. I do feel however it would be a huge mistake to rush him back; let him play another 2 or 3 games for Lancs and if he is still fit get him in.

Regarding the upcoming fun next week when your boys take on the mighty, mighty Middx in the 20/20 quarter final.

Are you scared mate?

Also the powers that be have deemed we play this so called home game at the Oval!!! What's all that about!! It's taken us years to get this far then we play over the river?

Any how may the best side win my son!!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by south beds mikey

Regarding the upcoming fun next week when your boys take on the mighty, mighty Middx in the 20/20 quarter final.[..] Are you scared mate?

Well no I am not scared now I here the game is being played at the Lancashire friendly Oval.

The track there should be nice and pacey for Flintoff - Mahmood and 'Chapple', who bowled well today.

Originally Posted by =south beds mikey

Also the powers that be have deemed we play this so called home game at the Oval!!! What's all that about!! It's taken us years to get this far then we play over the river?

Well yea I would be a bit miffed if the same powers deem that Lanc's should play a home match at Headingly.
Strange.

[Aurelius]

Originally Posted by south beds mikey

I watched that game Ern and indeed your boy looked very good. I do feel however it would be a huge mistake to rush him back; let him play another 2 or 3 games for Lancs and if he is still fit get him in.

He bowled 34 overs in this match- however, he didn't even take a single wicket. Surely he's got to do more than just not break down in order to get selected?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

Surely he's got to do more than just not break down in order to get selected?

I think you can't judge any player on just one game, if he has a run without taking wicket - then that will be a cause for concern.

[07alfie]

hi ive just seen Simon Jones has been recalled Simon Jones wins England recall - Cricket News - Telegraph, just wondering how good he is now? i havent seen him play for his county. Thanks