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Post by nevillerhodes on Jan 7, 2018 13:26:05 GMT
The new signing the club are announcing next week - who do you think it might be?
Possibilities a) A new overseas player b) Josh Shaw (although I've seen nothing to say he has been released by YCCC) c) New Kolpak d) Other
I suspect either a) or b) - anybody know anything else?
Neville
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Post by nevillerhodes on Jan 9, 2018 17:36:30 GMT
Announcement at 1pm tomorrow (Wednesday) according to the club website
Now the Ashes are over cricket can officially (re)exist as a proper sport - all record having disappeared for the last few weeks - bet it's another bl**dy Aussie they've signed though (-:
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Post by procswrongfoot on Jan 9, 2018 21:10:50 GMT
The brief item on the club website regarding the new player announcement at 13.00 on Wednesday, appears somewhat low key, to my mind. Accordingly, I rather suspect that we are most probably talking about a domestic signing.
Remember in late 2014, when we were completely teased by the following classic JB utterance, regarding a forthcoming signing:
"On track for a big name signing. A former international cricketer and Ashes winner. You would class him as an all rounder, but our intention is to use him as a batsman".
Of course, it turned out to be Geraint Jones.
My guess therefore is that we are signing Josh Shaw (which would not come as much of a surprise to anyone).
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Post by nevillerhodes on Jan 10, 2018 17:57:08 GMT
Well I right about the Aussie.
I had assumed he was already signed for T20 so a bit of an anti-climax. I suppose I should be used to this as a GCCC follower (-:
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steve
Full Member
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Post by steve on Jan 11, 2018 11:03:56 GMT
Oh...
It was built up somewhat, only to be told Andrew Tye is coming back after playing for us two years ago and was due back last year but was injured.
I thought we had signed Steve Smith!
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Post by procswrongfoot on Jan 11, 2018 11:55:09 GMT
Oh well.......hands up........my supposed educated ( ) guess turned out well wide of the mark. Immediately sends me plummeting to the bottom of the class (or merely sees me continuing to languish at the footû of any prediction league!). Anyway, on another recent thread ('How things stand'), I did comment on my preference for signing AJ for T20 rather than the previous suggestion of the return of Perera. Accordingly, I am rather delighted at the actual outcome. Given our squad, my T20 line up would look something like this: Overseas, Dent, Cockbain, Mustard, Higgins, Jack, Benny, KNB, Tye, Smith, Taylor (M) or Payne. I am working on the basis that sadly Maxy will not be in a position to return. Perhaps asking for too much, but if the overseas was capable of bowling some half decent spin (or more likely T20 darts) then this would give a few more bowling options to my suggested line up. Sincerely hope that Matt Taylor can somehow rekindle his form. Thought that he was excellent in the 2016 T20 campaign.
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jonb
Junior Member
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Post by jonb on Jan 12, 2018 8:37:42 GMT
Yeah, I think it's unlikely we'll see Maxy. If not, and it is the last we see of him, what a great overseas he's been. Easily the best since Harvey, and possibly since Courtney.
Replacement - I accept we will want a 'pure' batsman, and probably an opener. For T20 though, if we are prepared to be a bit more flexible (and taking on board the comments ref spin), how about Ashton Agar?
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Post by procswrongfoot on Feb 14, 2018 9:52:33 GMT
Apparently, a new signing is being announced at 13.00 today. I am rather assuming that this is our overseas for the season.......in which case it must surely be a top order batsman. It does seem like Australians are being encouraged to play county cricket this season. At one stage, I did think that someone like Travis Head would have been a good option, only to see that he has recently been signed up by Worcs. Rather struggling to come up with any worthwhile guesses as to who the signing might be, so will await for the announcement later today with great interest.
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Post by procswrongfoot on Feb 14, 2018 13:58:40 GMT
"Well, it is bound to be a top order batsmen"...........so welcome to Australian right arm fast medium bowler Dan Worrall, who we have signed until the beginning of July. From his Cricinfo profile - 'has an unusual angled run-up reminiscent of Malcolm Marshall'. (Apparently, blamed on an inconveniently placed tree when playing cricket in his backyard, which prevented a conventional run-up). Looking at his stats, I think we can safely state that he will be competing for the number 11 slot in our batting line up. I can't help but think that this leaves us with a really unbalanced overall squad, top heavy with bowlers. Would someone please help me out and suggest a potential batting line up for our first CC match of the season? (With a surname of Worrall it is not particularly difficult to work out his rather obvious nickname).
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Post by nevillerhodes on Feb 14, 2018 18:26:12 GMT
Not sure a seam bowler would have been my first choice but
Dent, Howell, Roderick, Van Buuren, Hankins, Taylor J, Mustard or Higgins, Noema Barnett, Payne, Norwell, Worrall
Howell based on his form at the end of last season and assuming Bracey is at uni Mustard to keep wicket to stop Roderick breaking. Higgins is untested in 4 day cricket, but if has a good pre-season then the Coronel to miss out and Roderick keeps wicket Eight batsmen to help cover for the inevitable collapses, lack on consistency, etc
Thoughts?
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jonb
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by jonb on Feb 15, 2018 7:31:17 GMT
My thoughts are we're taking a lot on trust with the batting. On their day, the top 6 or 7 are good enough, but (mostly) haven't been consistent for years.
I wonder if a combination of Jack's bowling ban (so has to play as batsman only) and Benny's good form back end of last year influenced the decision. It is reliant on Benny/GvB/Hankins proving they can step up and consistently perform though.
Presume that bowling list will actually be rotated - add in Craig Miles/Tom Smith to the group.
It's difficult - you can only get what's available/who you can afford, but it's difficult to see us troubling many sides consistently with that line up. Not convinced there's enough consistent runs, and while we will take wickets early season the lack of a spinner could find us out on flatter and drier pitches.
Here's hoping I'm wrong!
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Post by rcotswold on Feb 16, 2018 9:56:33 GMT
.....so another medium/fast trundler; just the ticket. Am I missing something here or has the esteemed coaching team got a seriously good batsman from UK up their sleeves? Is our tail really going to start at 3 [just joking....hm..]?
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Post by procswrongfoot on Feb 16, 2018 11:04:43 GMT
Neville Think that you are probably not far off from the likely batting line up that Dawson will go with for our opening CC match.
However, a few observations from me:
Tavare....a more natural attritional/accumulator opener than Benny. Started last season well (including an early season century) before form tailed off badly. However, agree that Benny deserves the opportunity.
Personally worried at the thought of batting GvB at 4 and Hankins at 5. Based on last seasons 4 day record, they managed a combined total of 620 runs from 29 innings between them. Hope that we persevere with Hankins who has lots of potential. GvB remains a big worry and really needs to step up.
Based on previous comments as to why Higgins left Middlesex, I fully expect to see him batting at 5.
Also fairly sure that Mustard will play. Could at as high as 4, or as low as 8.
Do we really need 5 pace/seam bowlers in the team (Worrall, Norwell, Payne, Higgins and KNB) ? Really concerned that we could control the over rate requirements (sorry to sound like a broken record in once again repeating this).
Last season we bowled around 350 overs of spin in the CC, with almost half of those being bowled by Jack. Must be a big opportunity for Tom Smith this season and I would also love to see Miles Hammond make a breakthrough.
Very much agree with the comment from jonb. Would hate to see Craig Miles end up as merely a occasional back up. Come on coaches, we have a real diamond potential match winner who we need to get back fully firing and confident.
My realistic expectations for the CC season is more of what we have been accustomed to. Occasional surprise victory but sadly fail to be competitive throughout the season. However, on the T20 front I think that we are only one player (overseas) away from a decent potential line up.
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steve
Full Member
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Post by steve on Feb 16, 2018 13:47:24 GMT
How about;
Dent, Howell/Tavare, Roderick, Hankins, Higgins, Taylor, Mustard, Smith, Payne, Norwell, Worrall
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Post by nevillerhodes on Feb 16, 2018 21:40:34 GMT
Given that Higgins has only played in 4 first class matches/scored 129 runs I wouldn't select him as high as five. I only suggested him as I believe he can bowl a bit of off-spin, so with GvB can provide the spin options. Hopefully both will have good pre-season.
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