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Post by procswrongfoot on Feb 28, 2018 22:29:22 GMT
Out of general interest, I am always intrigued as to what odds the bookies are offering for outright winners of Division 2.
Not surprisingly, Middlesex are the red hot favourites to top the table (I still find it hard to see how they actually managed to get themselves relegated last season!).
Current best odds are Middlesex (2/1), Warks(11/2), Sussex (6/1), Kent (13/2), Northants (9/1), Durham (16/1), Derby 20/1), Glam (22/1), Glos (25/1) and Leics (33/1).
Personally, very hard to see beyond Middlesex. However, last season I also thought that strong favourites Notts would simply run away with the Division, only to see them stumble over the promotion line behind Worcs. Also remember back in 2012, when totally unfancied Derbyshire made a mockery of pre-season predictions and ended up pipping favourites Yorkshire. (Sadly, we ended up with the wooden spoon that season).
Over the past 5 seasons, Glos have managed to be comfortable also rans in final league table placings, finishing 6th on 4 occasions and 7th in 2014.
Anyway, I can see a Jason Gillespie inspired Sussex having a strong season and Northants continuing their trend of being surprisingly competitive. Durham will miss the loss of Keaton Jennings and Graham Onions but could still potentially unearth some more talented youngsters from their very impressive production line. However, Kent (minus Coles and Northeast) might well struggle, unless they manage to sign a very strong overseas. (Just wait and see 41/42 year old Darren Stevens once again somehow run through our batters with his "dibbly dobblers" to firmly ridicule my prediction).
Accordingly, my prediction for the Div 2 final platings for 2018 is as follows:
1. Middlesex 2. Sussex 3. Warks. 4. Northants. 5. Durham. 6. Glam. 7. Glos. 8. Kent. 9. Derby. 10. Leics
(NB Atl least 3 counties are supposedly chasing the signing of Morne Morkel, including Warks and Kent. Potentially a brilliant signing and might revise my above predictions if either of the Div 2 teams actually sign him).
Am I being pessimistic, overly optimistic or merely being realistic regarding our chances. What do you think?
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steve
Full Member
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Post by steve on Mar 2, 2018 13:22:47 GMT
Seventh sounds about right.
However, if a decent number of the team really lift their game like Norwell and Jack did last year, you just never know.....
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Post by rcotswold on Mar 11, 2018 19:03:18 GMT
We can breathe a sigh of relief that relegation doesn't threaten us or we would be well in the mire. Yet another season of the same; or rather nearly the same!
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paul
New Member
Posts: 33
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Post by paul on Mar 27, 2018 11:05:08 GMT
Getting a good start always helps, especially with a new captain. Away Kent H Glam and A Sussex that's pretty tricky. So we have to avoid 0-0-3 which I am sure we will do. The weather this April looks like its going to be a million miles away from the excellent April 2017. So 0-3-0 wouldn't be a surprise. If somehow we could go 1-2-0 then that would be nice. After Sussex away we are away Middlesex! Great to play at Lords so I would like to go up for a couple of days, and just enjoy the game win lose or draw. But 3 difficult away games in the first 4 is good to get out the way. Surprises more likely to happen maybe. Sussex look like best bet for a decent price, but Middlesex probably the obvious favs looks correct. Hard to work out how Warwickshire are going to get on. And Northants always dangerous with match winners.
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dccc1
New Member
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Post by dccc1 on Mar 27, 2018 23:08:31 GMT
Seventh sounds about right. However, if a decent number of the team really lift their game like Norwell and Jack did last year, you just never know..... 9th Derbyshire. We're not that bad! |
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Post by procswrongfoot on Mar 28, 2018 14:21:46 GMT
Hi Derbyshire fan (and warm welcome). Always good to get a contribution from a fan from another county).
Apologies if my original prediction sounded totally disrespectful towards your county. Rather sadly we are part of the also ran group of counties.......Glam, Leics, Derbyshire and Glos (to which I perhaps surprisingly included Kent for this coming season, for the reasons previously explained). I somehow doubt that in reality very few points will actually separate this group of counties at the end of the season and they could easily end up in any order. (Deep down I rather hope that Leics manage to avoid the wooden spoon).
Wouldn't it be great if one of the also rans could pull off a massive shock and repeat what Derbyshire managed in 2012. Amazing when a team gets on a roll and maintains unstoppable momentum. Anyway pre-season dreams helps keep us all going until "normal service" reality resumes.
From the memory bank a short story involving Derbyshire:
In the 1970s (or possibly early 80s), we played Derbyshire at Gloucester Festival, at the Winget ground (formerly Wagon Works). In the morning session Derbyshire brought on a left arm spinner (really wish I could remember his name). Foolishly, I helped another spectator move the seemingly heavy sight screen in order to cope with the different angle. Unfortunately, the bowler insisted on bowling around the wicket to right handers and over the wicket to left hand batsmen. You've guessed it, every time a single was taken the umpires requested the sight screens to be move yet again. Must have moved those damn screens at least 20 times. Never ever been so totally exhausted at a cricket match and gladly moved seats at lunch.
(Humble apologies for this piece of self indulgence).
PS
Some years ago I was angrily ticked off for lazily referring to Derby rather than Derbyshire (apparently Notts rather than Notinghamshire can also stir the sensitivities).
Thankfully, referring to us as Glos can never be faulted. (Although anyone using a mis-spelt Gloster rather strangely gets me annoyed).
PPS
How is Kim Barnett getting on in his role at Derbyshire? Fond memories of him in his relatively short but successful spell with us.
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dccc1
New Member
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Post by dccc1 on Mar 30, 2018 8:21:56 GMT
Hi Derbyshire fan (and warm welcome). Always good to get a contribution from a fan from another county). Apologies if my original prediction sounded totally disrespectful towards your county. Rather sadly we are part of the also ran group of counties.......Glam, Leics, Derbyshire and Glos (to which I perhaps surprisingly included Kent for this coming season, for the reasons previously explained). I somehow doubt that in reality very few points will actually separate this group of counties at the end of the season and they could easily end up in any order. (Deep down I rather hope that Leics manage to avoid the wooden spoon). Wouldn't it be great if one of the also rans could pull off a massive shock and repeat what Derbyshire managed in 2012. Amazing when a team gets on a roll and maintains unstoppable momentum. Anyway pre-season dreams helps keep us all going until "normal service" reality resumes. From the memory bank a short story involving Derbyshire: In the 1970s (or possibly early 80s), we played Derbyshire at Gloucester Festival, at the Winget ground (formerly Wagon Works). In the morning session Derbyshire brought on a left arm spinner (really wish I could remember his name). Foolishly, I helped another spectator move the seemingly heavy sight screen in order to cope with the different angle. Unfortunately, the bowler insisted on bowling around the wicket to right handers and over the wicket to left hand batsmen. You've guessed it, every time a single was taken the umpires requested the sight screens to be move yet again. Must have moved those damn screens at least 20 times. Never ever been so totally exhausted at a cricket match and gladly moved seats at lunch. (Humble apologies for this piece of self indulgence). PS Some years ago I was angrily ticked off for lazily referring to Derby rather than Derbyshire (apparently Notts rather than Notinghamshire can also stir the sensitivities). Thankfully, referring to us as Glos can never be faulted. (Although anyone using a mis-spelt Gloster rather strangely gets me annoyed). PPS How is Kim Barnett getting on in his role at Derbyshire? Fond memories of him in his relatively short but successful spell with us. Hiya That's a good story re Derbyshire bowler Don't worry about your comments about us I've got a thick skin Yes we don't like being called derby. Nick knight & Paul Allott enjoy doing it on sky Kim has improved things at the club. He is director of cricket but it seems the captain picks the team. We needed stability and we seem to have that now. He's managed to get John Wright in for the t20 with Cork which served us well I always enjoy coming to your ground. Pleasant place although always reminds me of the 2003 semi final which we should really have won. Back in the days you were a real one day force 're 2012 was amazing to win the league but we made the fatal mistake of not strengthening the team for division 1. As only 2 go up and 1 of those normally the team that's just been relegated it'll be a long time I think before we're in division 1 again. I expect 5th if we fire |
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