Unless they were all rubbish Kolpaks, Glamorgan-style, in which case I'd embrace the underdog tag.
by StaggerBreaths6/5/2017 2:10:07 PM
I'd probably change county Dave. I've done it before. :P
by StaggerBreaths6/5/2017 2:09:26 PM
@DaveKnibb Both of Hants' biggest young english talents are away with the Lions at the moment. Both would definitely have been in this team. Most county teams have a mixture of young english players and older pro's who have either finished with international cricket or never played. I don't really see why it matters if the older players are England qualified or not. We have a good set of young english talent in Vince, Dawson, Crane, McMannus among others.
by jacobnorton6/5/2017 2:08:33 PM
Just for arguements sake, if your county, whoever it may be, could win the title with just 2 or 3 english qualified players, would you be happy with winning it or not?
by Dave Knibb6/5/2017 2:08:29 PM
Arguably the main reason they're making a good go of it is that real problem. Take away Abbott's wickets, leave in every other Kolpak if you like, and the situation's much bleaker.
by StaggerBreaths6/5/2017 2:06:56 PM
Decent side Hants now, Yes lots of the talent in bought in and I have had my fun with that but I will probably judge it more on what happens at the end of the current Kolpaks contracts. If the side has established England qualf players and then replacements are more young talent then its done a job if Hants just sign more 'overseas' then its been a failure. Also think its awful if Carbs is pushed out
by nickcricket6/5/2017 2:06:22 PM
UPDATE: Play due to start at 3:05pm, Northamptonshire 44/1 (12 ov, target: 205) v Durham
by ESPNcricinfo Live6/5/2017 2:03:12 PM
On the 1.3 million, The Money Yorkshire needed for the new stand dwarfed it all that money financed privately with the council watching over it. The ECB seem to have halved their reserve to pay for it will need a big TV deal to keep it going
by nickcricket6/5/2017 2:03:12 PM
Agree with that Matt W
by Mugshot1206/5/2017 2:02:57 PM
We shouldn't be in Div 1, but we are, and I am just pleased we are making a good go of it.
by Matt Warwick6/5/2017 2:01:04 PM
I agree SB, it's very sad and worrying at the same time.
by Dave Knibb6/5/2017 2:00:44 PM
Arguably Hants shouldn't even be in Div 1.
by Sam Inglis6/5/2017 2:00:21 PM
Only the same ones that have been reiterated ad nauseam Dave. Abbott the real problem for me: ought to have been playing England in the Test series, not chewing through Division 1.
by StaggerBreaths6/5/2017 1:58:35 PM
I didn't know Ervine bowled spin.
by Sam Inglis6/5/2017 1:57:32 PM
Just over 50% of Hampshire's runs and 50% of the wickets taken were by non-english qualified players. Any thoughts?
@DK, not the most sensible move by him. Could go as far as saying he didn't analyse the situation very well...
by dave6/5/2017 1:54:51 PM
All being well (I.e. no ridiculous collapse) Somerset will be of the foot of the table tonight. Get a win next week and we'll be above Lancs hopefully and all will be well again in the world...
by dave6/5/2017 1:54:02 PM
On the plus side, by booking now, Warks will save on hotel rooms in Derby and Leicester next season.
by Sam Inglis6/5/2017 1:51:48 PM
I think Dave, that Simon 'the anylist' Hughes forgets that the Cricketer has a circulation of 22,000 and that the 'disgruntled' members are the people that buy the magazine.
by Dave Knibb6/5/2017 1:50:51 PM
Hurrah!
by Mugshot1206/5/2017 1:49:46 PM
Decent game for Ervine. 203 runs and 3/22.
by Matt Warwick6/5/2017 1:49:41 PM
RESULT: Hampshire won by an innings and 94 runs Warwickshire 167 all out (64.4 ov, trail by 94 - 2nd inns) v Hampshire
by ESPNcricinfo Live6/5/2017 1:49:10 PM
Look out of my window, see rain, look back and the final wicket is down!
by Matt Warwick6/5/2017 1:49:05 PM
Well done Hampshire!
by Will6/5/2017 1:49:01 PM
WICKET: Warwickshire 167 all out (64.4 ov, trail by 94 - 2nd inns) v Hampshire Sukhjit Singh lbw b Ervine 0 (6) Partnership: 8 (2.0 ov) SM Ervine 5.4-4-1-2 KHD Barker 27* (83)
by ESPNcricinfo Live6/5/2017 1:48:24 PM
Simon "the analyst" Hughes? Most commentators I get, or at least get why they are commentating, but never been able to pinpoint why Hughes has made it so fair.
by dave6/5/2017 1:47:11 PM
WICKET: Somerset 59/2 (20.4 ov, lead by 144 - 2nd inns) v Middlesex D Elgar c Rayner b Helm 33 (55) Partnership: 58 (20.1 ov) TG Helm 4.4-1-16-1 TB Abell 22* (68)
by ESPNcricinfo Live6/5/2017 1:45:06 PM
I suppose his two previous first class innings were 0 and 0, with a grand total of 4 balls faced.
by Matt Warwick6/5/2017 1:44:23 PM
God Nick, please don't mention the 1.3 million, it gets me going... In this month's Cricketer, Simon Hughes was all for the new T20 competition and said "The gains will be much greater than the losses of a few thousand disgruntled county fans". How dare he...
by Dave Knibb6/5/2017 1:44:10 PM
fair point, might see him batting at 10 next week
by dave6/5/2017 1:43:32 PM
I'd hope so but he made 16* of 56 balls in the first innings.
by Matt Warwick6/5/2017 1:43:02 PM
you know your number 11 is a walking wicket if Rankin is batting at 10
by dave6/5/2017 1:42:24 PM
WICKET: Warwickshire 159/9 (62.4 ov, trail by 102 - 2nd inns) v Hampshire WB Rankin b Ervine 4 (18) Partnership: 5 (6.4 ov) SM Ervine 4.4-3-1-1 KHD Barker 19* (77)
by ESPNcricinfo Live6/5/2017 1:41:28 PM
WICKET: Nottinghamshire 349 all out (93.3 ov, lead by 215 - 2nd inns) v Derbyshire HF Gurney c Thakor b Mendis 0 (11) Partnership: 23 (4.5 ov) BMAJ Mendis 25.3-2-96-4 CMW Read 74* (86)
by ESPNcricinfo Live6/5/2017 1:38:54 PM
RESULT: Sussex won by an innings and 7 runs Worcestershire 260 all out (86.1 ov, trail by 7 - 2nd inns) v Sussex
by ESPNcricinfo Live6/5/2017 1:38:06 PM
WICKET: Worcestershire 260 all out (86.1 ov, trail by 7 - 2nd inns) v Sussex JD Shantry c Finch b Philander 5 (13) Partnership: 7 (3.1 ov) VD Philander 12.1-2-30-3 NM Lyon 5* (12)
by ESPNcricinfo Live6/5/2017 1:37:42 PM
Surely Straussey 1.3 Mil bribe a year would have paid
by nickcricket6/5/2017 1:33:01 PM
UPDATE: Match start delayed (Play due to start at 3:05pm), Northamptonshire 44/1 (12 ov, target: 205) v Durham
by ESPNcricinfo Live6/5/2017 1:32:27 PM
I'm sure the local council would have approved another dodgy loan to help Yorkshire pay for it.
by dave6/5/2017 1:28:13 PM
Covers are off at the Ageas.
by Matt Warwick6/5/2017 1:27:08 PM
WICKET: Worcestershire 253/9 (83 ov, trail by 14 - 2nd inns) v Sussex J Leach c Wells b Philander 23 (27) Partnership: 16 (3.0 ov) VD Philander 11-2-26-2 JD Shantry 3* (6)