Pro40 League 2006

[Collyisamackem]

The Pro40 competition has started today, replacing the National League as the 40-over List A competition in the revised fixture arrangements from this season and following the conference stages of the C&G trophy and Twenty20 competitions.

This thread will host discussion of the competition this year. Essex vs Northants is the opening fixture and at the last time of checking Essex were 146/3 after just shy of 26 overs, Ronnie Irani not out on 49.

[Vrock]

Irani is now out which is a big blow for Essex as they have no Andy Flower in the middle order who was so consistent in the C&G Trophy.

Northants will be rueing not playing a second spinner on a pitch that has been helpful to the slow bowlers. Jason Brown bowled out his overs (9) for only 44 runs and picked up two key wickets. Sourav Ganguly has done pretty well bowling also, six overs for only 22 runs is a good return and is clearly showing off his allround abilities.

I think we're seeing, with 40 overs again, the attempt to cut down the middle over gap. It's worked to some degree but the, labelled, 'boring' overs are still present. I know this is the first innings to be played but I can't see it changing too much - 40 overs of slogging really would be stupid.

[Collyisamackem]

The thing is, a high-tempo game of 6+ per over will sustain the interest, especially in the 40-over game. I have no problem with the middle overs though, I frequently watch them because they can be where the game is decided, say if the scoring comes down and all of a sudden four or five wickets have gone. Many a run chase has been scuppered in overs 20-35, especially by guys like Shane Warne.

[Vrock]

I too enjoy the middle overs; it is the only reason that the nudgers and nurdlers are in there - taking the pressure off with sneaky little shots that a bowler just can't prevent.

Often the powerful players try to play the same type of shots but they just try and force the ball too much which means they either get an edge or dolly it up to one of the fielders on the edge of the circle.

It's something that I've noticed in the test matches; Pietersen will go for the sweep shot and will try and hit the ball to the boundary and sometimes he doesn't quite time it and gives his wicket away. When watching the tail bat on the final morning of the test both Plunker and Hoggard swept (Kaneria I think) in a succession of deliveries. The only difference was that they just paddled the shot and used the pace of the ball to take it to third man.

We should be sticking to using the sweep/reverse as a strike rotation shot rather than for a boundary attempt. It is something which Marcus Trescothick, generally, does quite well at.

Essex are heading somewhere close to the total I said to my brother this morning, 275 was my 'good score' prediction, currently 231-6 off 36 overs.

[Collyisamackem]

275 from 40 overs is equivalent to about 350 off 50, so I think it's more than a "good" score if you get that in Pro40!

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

275 from 40 overs is equivalent to about 350 off 50, so I think it's more than a "good" score if you get that in Pro40!

That is true, although remember there are less middle overs where the run rate is generally much lower than the early restricted overs and the ten over slog. Maybe I'm overrating county cricket - 250 would be more reasonable I suppose given we might just see one pace bowler friendly wicket where English bowlers should really dominate.

[Collyisamackem]

Well, Essex did score 280! Not sure what the final result was but Northants were well out of it when I last looked.

[Vrock]

Northants were taught a lesson in how to play one-day cricket, coinciding with being thrased by 109 runs; a real 'steel' kick up the 'backs'ide for them. Although the game was over when David Sales was out 79 runs less than Northants ended up scoring.

Essex's fielding was extremely impressive - Ryan ten Doeschate took an amazing catch on the square boundary, he managed, amazingly, to prevent the ball from going for six at full stretch. He took one step and flicked the ball up in front of him whilst his running momentum carried him over the boundary rope. Finally he got back over the boundary and took, what he had made for himself, an easy catch.

Not forgetting also, it was a no ball. It would have been the (scorecard written) boundary catch of the season.

I'm going to have to drop my predicted average even further - only a total of 230 now.

I'm also going to see Yorkshire play Leicestershire at Scarborough this Sunday. Looking forward to seeing Yorkshire get thrased.

[Andy Mellon]

Nice work from Essex today. Good team performance IMO. Good to see Ravi Bopara amongst the wickets. He seems to have a bit of a gift as a partnership breaker. If he can raise his batting up a few notches he could find himself in the running for an England spot in the ODI side, next time there's an injury crisis!

As for a good score, I remember when 280 would have been considered a good score in the 60 over Natwest Trophy! 280 in 40 overs is pretty damn good if you ask me. Certainly, Northants weren't equal to the challenge. If Essex can keep up those sort of performances, they could challenge for the title!

[Vrock]

Worcestershire v Gloucestershire on the box today.

Another pitch that is offering something to the spinner that gives the ball the opportunity to spin it or the pace bowler willing to try their cutter.

Chris Taylor has a good chance for a century if he can just bide his time in taking the eight runs needed with just short of three overs remaining. He's played a fine knock with a mixture of well timed boundaries and gap finding with the spinners.

The keeper Stephen Adshead has hit 51 runs off 39 balls so far; two sixes and three fours being a good contribution to that but he came in when a partnership (with Taylor) was needed to really allow for attack at the end. He's also done very well in finding the gaps against the spinners and has played very well.

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

If Essex can keep up those sort of performances, they could challenge for the title!

I think Essex are definitely one of the favourites, they did so well last season in this same format and seemed unbeatable at times. If they continue this kind of level of cricket they should finish the competition with an unbeated record.