The Hants Thread

[Weston Saint]

Entirely unbothered, to be honest. Actually, I'm quite pleased. He's been holding back the development of Bates (and, to a lesser extent, Rouse) for the last year or so, when he was fit he still played even in the T20 when Bates is clearly a much better keeper.

 

 

Why did he complain about that last night when the captain who he's presumably talking about (Cork) won't be here next year? Very odd. On that particular issue, I can kind-of see his point, but does someone with the influence, experience and know-how *really* need to get on a coach to have the respect of other senior players?

 

 

Good news on both fronts. I'm loathe to say we should be strong next year, as we've been saying that every year for the last decade, but the last 5 games have shown that we can compete in the longer form of the game, we just need to do it more consistently rather than in a desperate last-ditch attempt to save our arses.

 

Make a decent start and we could be looking at a short stay in division two.

Steve, he flew back from SA yesterday to attend an event as guest speaker. His father is very ill at present.

[Weston Saint]

Youre a steward at The Rose Bowl arent you ? Surely you should be more discreet , re-cycling what a bitter Pothas might have said is not helpful.

No I am not a Steward. I am a member but lucky enough to have access to all. It was not a bitter Pothas. He was just answering questions. He spoke for an hour as guest speaker. I am careful not to put anything up that the club might not be happy with. I have a lot more but it is not for forums. It is face to face only and only to the descreet

[saint1977]

If Mackenzie signs next year as well as Katich[With Carberry,Vince,Dawson,Adams and Ervine] we should come straight back up with Yorkshire. I think Bates should also be a shoe in,his batting is improving rapidly. It is a shame that we will lose a year in division 2.

 

On paper I agree with you but only if White is sacked. Inexcusable underperformance with such a huge wage bill - a bit like if Saints had finished 22nd in League One last year. We will not be promoted whilst White is in charge (a contradiction in itself judging by other posts on here).

 

A new coach with clear thinking must get us fit and ready for next season - no Myburghs or De Wets. Balcombe has been taking wickets for Kent - why not for us? Vince is learning and will score loads in Div 2 although has to tighten up when the ball is seaming. There isn't room for Dimi and Irvine - it is blocking younger players, like Riazhuddin who bowls 10 mph faster than those two, and we only need one part-time medium pacer so one of them needs to be released, prob Dimi sadly as Irvine signed a longer contract. Wood is developing well, as is Bates and if we can get Griffiths fit for any length of time with Tomlinson also in the bowling pool we could do well. Must keep Briggs. Ali, Jones and all the other crocks/wastes of space can go.

[Weston Saint]

On paper I agree with you but only if White is sacked. Inexcusable underperformance with such a huge wage bill - a bit like if Saints had finished 22nd in League One last year. We will not be promoted whilst White is in charge (a contradiction in itself judging by other posts on here).

 

A new coach with clear thinking must get us fit and ready for next season - no Myburghs or De Wets. Balcombe has been taking wickets for Kent - why not for us? Vince is learning and will score loads in Div 2 although has to tighten up when the ball is seaming. There isn't room for Dimi and Irvine - it is blocking younger players, like Riazhuddin who bowls 10 mph faster than those two, and we only need one part-time medium pacer so one of them needs to be released, prob Dimi sadly as Irvine signed a longer contract. Wood is developing well, as is Bates and if we can get Griffiths fit for any length of time with Tomlinson also in the bowling pool we could do well. Must keep Briggs. Ali, Jones and all the other crocks/wastes of space can go.

I am going to be careful and not comment on our coach at this time. He will be here next season and under enormous pressure.

 

Balcombe is a strange one. He was in contention but everytime he got near he got an injury. When he was finally fit he could not get into our side and was sent out on loan. Played well for Kent using a different ball (they are using a different one that in the 1st Div) and took plent of wickets but came back early for treatment to an injury AGAIN and then went back for one more game and did well. If he can stay fit he will have a good future with Hampshire. No fault of the coach on this one.

 

Dimi continues to bowl well and is still worth his place. He is still better than our other bowlers and is an ideal first change. He is blocking no one that is near to him at present. It took a little while to get inn the grove after his injury but he is now in the grove and hungry for more cricket. Wood will come in place of Cork at No 8. Ervine still is a class batsman and again he is not holding up any of our up and coming batsman at present.

 

It is not all about pace. We have Wood, Griffiths and Tomlinson for that. Riazhuddin is a decent player but down the pecking order at present and I would like to see him loaned out next season to aid his development. Griffiths is injured again with a foot fracture and tendon damage in the same foot. He is wearing a special boot at the moment and when I spoke to him yesterday he seemed pretty down and did not look that well.

 

Briggs is an important part of the team and Giles has said that. He will be an automatic pick next season.

 

Jones & Ali have a year left of their agreement and Contract respectively. I will be suprised if either feature next season but let's not blame them. They have both worked tirelessly to get themselves fit when I spoke to Rod Bransgrove.

 

Jimmy Adams is already talking about having a smaller pool next season.

 

Apart from Katich for Lumb it looks like there is not likely to be any futher replacements. The youngsters, who have done very well and above expectations, will have to step up to the mark.

[saint1977]

I feel sorry for Griffiths Weston, he's had no luck at all with injuries. I can see what you are saying re:pace but you need to be to get the ball through on flatter pitches or to be able to do something different. Irvine has quality as a batter, his quality at Lancs proved that, but we need moe consistency if he's going to hold his own in the top 6. Dimi keeps it tight but I still think he seems to have lost a bit of nip since his injuries to get people out but that's just opinion. Ali and Jones can't help being injured Weston but Jones certainly had a poor injury history prior to coming here and I seem to recall Ali may have been out injured for quite a while the season before he joined us so signing both was risky rather than signing one as a calculated gamble. That's without having De Wet on the books at the same time this season!

 

At least with Lumb, Corky and few others moving on it gives us a more sustainable wage bill although Corky was brilliant for his furst 2 seasons so wish him well in particular. As with Saints, the academy is producing good young players that can push for national honours with the right development and direction and that gives me hope for 2012.

 

Your posts are always informative and well worth reading Weston.

[wadesmith]

I think the different ball they use in div 2 will help us next year it swings all over the place. Carberry, adams & katich are going to clean up when it comes to runs. It will be good for Briggs Bates,Dawson,Vince,Wood to develop at a slightly lower level, Saints have shown how stringing some wins together can make players performances improve when they finally move up a level. I really think next year could be straight back up....but we have to keep the players.

[chrisobee]

We have so many young players coming through that it's reasonable not to retain Cork, Pothas, Myburgh and De Wet. Lumb will be no loss either. As far as Pothas is concerned he has been a great player for us, easily the best wicketkeeper/batsman I can recall. However, it is now time for Bates to step up with Adam Rouse as back up.

Katich is a great signing and a player who wants to be here :

 

Katich said; “I'm really looking forward to going back to The Rose Bowl as I have many good friends and memories from my previous time at the club over a number of seasons from 2003-2005. Hampshire have been great to my family and I during my career and I am looking forward to helping the club continue to have success.”

 

Our batting next season looks very strong with Adams, Dawson, Katich, Carberry, McKenzie, Ervine and Vince so at least one is going to miss out I imagine. We will have a bowling attack consisting more or less of home grown players, Dimi, Briggs, Tomlinson, Wood and ( if fit) Griffiths. However,if either of Ali or Jones can stay fit that would be a bonus.

[Neil]

An absolutely disgraceful championship season from Hampshire resulting in a deserved relegation. Giles White must be sacked immediately, and not given another job by HCCC.

 

The amount of money we've wasted on mercenaries (Myburgh / De Wet) and crocks (Jones / Ali) must be staggering!

 

Agreed that it's time for Bates to step up but Pothas won't be easy to replace. An average of 44 over his 9 years at the club, and more importantly an ability to hold together the lower order and show some steel / fight that many others don't seem to have.

[stevegrant]

CB40 draw has already been done for next year, we've got Scotland again

 

GROUP A

 

Netherlands, Leicestershire, Worcestershire, Lancashire, Middlesex, Essex, Gloucestershire.

 

GROUP B

 

Scotland, Durham, Hampshire, Surrey, Glamorgan, Somerset, Nottinghamshire.

 

GROUP C

 

Unicorns, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Kent, Warwickshire, Sussex, Northants.

[Weston Saint]

Cardiff get Ashes test in 2015 ahead of Rose Bowl. We miss out on 2013 Ashes Test as well although that is less surprising!