English county season 2008 (VI)

Henry wrote:So he wants to become English?

He won't play international cricket again. Not for England anyway...

JKLever wrote:

eowyn wrote:

Henry wrote:

What are Jacques Rudolph's plans? Will he remain a Kolpak? Or does he still harbour international ambitions?

He extended his contract at the end of last season, he's a full blown Yorkie and here to stay now.

What? He owns a whippet, wears a flat cap and chews coal? I don't believe it....

Fixed.

Henry wrote:So he wants to become English?

Don't think so, he just likes living here and playing here when he's here.

Well he couldn't play here if he wasn't here now could he Mrs V .....

**runs and hides behind the nearest pedant ... tailender*

... hmmm ... skip that ....perish the thought!!

JKLever wrote:

Henry wrote:So he wants to become English?

He won't play international cricket again. Not for England anyway...

He hasn't ruled out a return to SA from what I've heard.

Yeah possibly, can't see why he would rule it out.

Meanwhile Middlesex sign their 2nd player in 2 days - Neil Dexter on a 2 year contract.

Straight into the Stanford stuff too.... wonder how long it took to put pen to paper?

Is he any better than Middlesex's current mob though? Must be something in the rumours of Joyce to Notts then...

eowyn wrote:

Henry wrote:

What are Jacques Rudolph's plans? Will he remain a Kolpak? Or does he still harbour international ambitions?

He extended his contract at the end of last season, he's a full blown Yorkie and here to stay now.

Until the Saffies come-a-calling.

Interesting interview in the Torygraph with Graeme Hick yesterday. He doesn't rule out playing 20/20 for another county apparently.

One of the lads on another forum who's nearly always right about all things Nottinghamshire reckons we've missed out on Ed Joyce. Probably to Sussex.

Big shame if true.

I feel that Joyce received a bit of a rough deal from England in that he's not really an ODI/T20 batsman, and yet Fletcher and Vaughan asked him to open the innings in those forms of the game, yet he was never considered for a test spot despite averaging mid 40's in first class cricket. He's a dead set number 4-5 batsman who is most comfortable in the longer forms of the game.

Ignore his poor strike rate in the ODI's and there is definetly a touch of class about his batting, imo. His England days may well be behind him, however. I can't remember- Did he make the Lions squad?

He certainly looks the part when he bats, and to some extent he even looked good crabbing around for England at the top of the order. Considering he has a superior record to Shah or Bopara who have just 'battled' it out for the next best batsman spot, he probably has been unlucky. I think he was called in as backup for one of the Ashes Tests though, or is that my imagination? If so, it probably wasn't a case of Fletcher under-rating him, just about easing him into things and grooming him for an England future.

A not unwise strategy and one that has since been followed with Bopara and now Patel (even Owais Shah).

Morgan is far better than Joyce and is only 22.

I wasn't overly impressed by Morgan based on what I saw in the 2007 world cup when he played for Ireland.

Duncan Fletcher back in a coaching role with Hants
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/372633.html

Let's hope he doesn't fark about with Liam Dawson too much, given his liking for spinners who can bat!

so once again Big Dunc will in some small way have his hand on the pulse of the England captain! Might not be the greatest news if he starts whispering his opinions into KP's ear on a sunny afternoon at southampton.

JKLever wrote:Duncan Fletcher back in a coaching role with Hants
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/372633.html

Let's hope he doesn't fark about with Liam Dawson too much, given his liking for spinners who can bat!

Weird thing is, if you've got Fletch lined up, you're talking to Chris Adams: how the f*ck have you ended up with Giles White as head coach?

Cricket's so old boys-y at times, it's not even funny. White has got the job merely because he used to play (terribly) for Hants once upon a time.

Henry wrote:so once again Big Dunc will in some small way have his hand on the pulse of the England captain! Might not be the greatest news if he starts whispering his opinions into KP's ear on a sunny afternoon at southampton.

He'll have to do more than whisper if he wants Pietersen to hear him all the way over in London from Southampton.

First thing Pietersen did when he got called up by England in 2005 was sell his flat in Southampton and move lock, stock to the Big Smoke. Drops by once a year for an early season knock to get his eye in, then back "home".

He's the least Hampshire player in the history of the club.

In breaking news ..... Ramprakash gets an unprecedented 2 match ban in the CC plus a £1500 fine plus £1000 costs for "repeatedly swearing" at umpire John Steele during a CC Div 1 relegation match against Sussex on 20 August.

The punsihment could have been a lot worse but for the fact the panel took the following into consideration :
** his previous good character
**that he had already been fined the £1500
**his triumph on the dance floor in Come Dancing 2006
**he had unreservedly apologised to John Steele
**the fact he plays for Slurrey
**he only knew the one swearword (oft used against him), which he kept repeating.

You can't take the Middlesex out of the boy.

Dello wrote:

JKLever wrote:Duncan Fletcher back in a coaching role with Hants
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/372633.html

Let's hope he doesn't fark about with Liam Dawson too much, given his liking for spinners who can bat!

Weird thing is, if you've got Fletch lined up, you're talking to Chris Adams: how the f*ck have you ended up with Giles White as head coach?

Cricket's so old boys-y at times, it's not even funny. White has got the job merely because he used to play (terribly) for Hants once upon a time.

Has been academy coach there for year JD - not sure actually he has done much in that role to be honest, as he's had some serious talent to play with over the years, and very few if any have done owt!

Old boys-y.

Stuart Law hasn't had his contract renewed for 2009

What is he now - 38?

Direbyshire beckons if he wants to continue to play county cricket.

I'm sure the likes of N'hants or Essex would snap him up.

Yeah... come back 'home' Stuey

With Cork and Law gone the slip catching should improve.