Championship batting this season has been piss poor save for HK. They’ve all proved they can do it 2nd dig under much more pressure so somebody needs to give them all a proper bollocking, weed out the pisstakers and crybabies cos promotion this season is gonna be pissed away for no good reason at all
Having not trialed this year for Kent, Seb was asked last week if he would like to turn out for the U15s against Middlesex this Wednesday (I believe it's because they need a keeper) which he is more than to happy to do - not just because it doesn't conflict with his development playing Club cricket on a Sunday but because he will meet up with friends from other parts of the County that he has shared some great times with over the course of the last five seasons. I'm looking forward to catching up with the parents too although they probably won't think the same of me!
Having not trialed this year for Kent, Seb was asked last week if he would like to turn out for the U15s against Middlesex this Wednesday (I believe it's because they need a keeper) which he is more than to happy to do - not just because it doesn't conflict with his development playing Club cricket on a Sunday but because he will meet up with friends from other parts of the County that he has shared some great times with over the course of the last five seasons. I'm looking forward to catching up with the parents too although they probably won't think the same of me!
Are we heading for an end-of-season collapse and miss on out promotion by a point or, even worse, tied on points with, say, Sussex and fail to get promoted by dint of fewer wins?
Clearly has the potential to scores loads of runs but fails far too often to be a reliable opener for us.
But, hey ! What do I know ?
I think you're right Fanny.
The first thing to say is that he can no longer be considered as young and inexperienced - he's 25 next week and has played almost 250 matches and batted over 300 times in all forms of the game.
The fact that his one day average is 41 and his first class average is barely 33 rather puts him in the modern day opener category too - the more attacking fields set in the longer form of the game against the moving ball will find any chinks in the technique. This season DBD has batted 15 times for 292 runs so averages less than 20 with a top score of 61.
Every year the Head of the Kent Academy would hold DBD up as an example of someone who never had a downward curve in his progression until he got into the first team. He didn't know how to react to failure and as a result Kent now push their youngsters far earlier i.e. by throwing them into the 2nd XI as a teenager which they regretted not doing with DBD.
Perhaps now is the time to put him in the 2s to work things out and give him the opportunity to make a big score. The trouble is that he isn't unique in that respect with only Denly and Kuhn averaging more than 30 but, maybe, they are all just comfortable in their own "mediocrity". One things for certain is that if we go up next season isn't going to be any easier.
Bit late to report but still - I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Canterbury for our well earned point against Rah Rah The Rey on Friday. Hadn't been to Canterbury in years and I really enjoyed the town and one or two of its bars.
Had fun at the Spitfire Ground as well, though mostly watching Surrey's superb batting, unfortunately. We had no chance at that point but I would still have loved Kent to have a go. Could have done with a bat myself to deal with the tool singing 'Free Tommy Robinson' behind us. He soon shut up and apologised once confronted.
Gave up on the rain in time to catch one more lovely pub and catch the end of the Roses game. So despite the irony of a match abandoned because of rain in a heatwave, it was still a top afternoon/evening out.
@Addick Addict isn't that a problem, not unique to Kent?
Appreciate you know far more than me on the subject but it appears the county game is full of people like DBD. Play for England U19s etc, find it quite easy, then struggle against men?
Some people like Root and Cook, for example, look not only England candidates, but "Hall of fame" players at a young age. I have lost count of the number of young players that ripped it up, to end up as County journeymen at a relatively young age.
Is the gap between u19 and first class cricket too big? The second division is relatively poor. It also appears that future England regulars are earmarked at such a young age and have to sink or swim. Those that sink tend not to be stand out first class players after they are discarded. Finn is a good recent example of this.
I am rambling now, my main point being that's not a Kent problem but a cricket English cricket one?
@Addick Addict isn't that a problem, not unique to Kent?
Appreciate you know far more than me on the subject but it appears the county game is full of people like DBD. Play for England U19s etc, find it quite easy, then struggle against men?
Some people like Root and Cook, for example, look not only England candidates, but "Hall of fame" players at a young age. I have lost count of the number of young players that ripped it up, to end up as County journeymen at a relatively young age.
Is the gap between u19 and first class cricket too big? The second division is relatively poor. It also appears that future England regulars are earmarked at such a young age and have to sink or swim. Those that sink tend not to be stand out first class players after they are discarded. Finn is a good recent example of this.
I am rambling now, my main point being that's not a Kent problem but a cricket English cricket one?
Fanny waits with bated breath for @blackpool72 & @cantersaddick to debunk this theory.....whilst laughing hysterically.
Clearly has the potential to scores loads of runs but fails far too often to be a reliable opener for us.
But, hey ! What do I know ?
I think you're right Fanny.
The first thing to say is that he can no longer be considered as young and inexperienced - he's 25 next week and has played almost 250 matches and batted over 300 times in all forms of the game.
The fact that his one day average is 41 and his first class average is barely 33 rather puts him in the modern day opener category too - the more attacking fields set in the longer form of the game against the moving ball will find any chinks in the technique. This season DBD has batted 15 times for 292 runs so averages less than 20 with a top score of 61.
Every year the Head of the Kent Academy would hold DBD up as an example of someone who never had a downward curve in his progression until he got into the first team. He didn't know how to react to failure and as a result Kent now push their youngsters far earlier i.e. by throwing them into the 2nd XI as a teenager which they regretted not doing with DBD.
Perhaps now is the time to put him in the 2s to work things out and give him the opportunity to make a big score. The trouble is that he isn't unique in that respect with only Denly and Kuhn averaging more than 30 but, maybe, they are all just comfortable in their own "mediocrity". One things for certain is that if we go up next season isn't going to be any easier.
Don't worry, batting a few overs on Thursday in Old Wilsonians Presidents day game will sort out DBD and boost his average!
@Addick Addict isn't that a problem, not unique to Kent?
Appreciate you know far more than me on the subject but it appears the county game is full of people like DBD. Play for England U19s etc, find it quite easy, then struggle against men?
Some people like Root and Cook, for example, look not only England candidates, but "Hall of fame" players at a young age. I have lost count of the number of young players that ripped it up, to end up as County journeymen at a relatively young age.
Is the gap between u19 and first class cricket too big? The second division is relatively poor. It also appears that future England regulars are earmarked at such a young age and have to sink or swim. Those that sink tend not to be stand out first class players after they are discarded. Finn is a good recent example of this.
I am rambling now, my main point being that's not a Kent problem but a cricket English cricket one?
Absolutely it is a national issue but that doesn't mean we, as a county, shouldn't try to address the issue with the individuals in question.
The problem, however, is that all counties, even at age group level are actually going the other way - as directed by the ECB. T20 games are now arranged in addition to the 50 over matches but there is a danger that we could end up with cricket's equivalent of football's big lad hoofing the ball up to the fast kid up front i.e. the system favours those lads that can dominate the bowling by virtue of their size. Instead of learning what it takes to occupy the crease.
Comments
I've done it!
Leics 121-5. Well done Ivan!
We’re still very much in this match.
In 2 minds whether to pop down tomorrow
221-8
First innings lead 125.
D B-D gone.
That would be typical Kent/Charlton.
Clearly has the potential to scores loads of runs but fails far too often to be a reliable opener for us.
But, hey ! What do I know ?
The first thing to say is that he can no longer be considered as young and inexperienced - he's 25 next week and has played almost 250 matches and batted over 300 times in all forms of the game.
The fact that his one day average is 41 and his first class average is barely 33 rather puts him in the modern day opener category too - the more attacking fields set in the longer form of the game against the moving ball will find any chinks in the technique. This season DBD has batted 15 times for 292 runs so averages less than 20 with a top score of 61.
Every year the Head of the Kent Academy would hold DBD up as an example of someone who never had a downward curve in his progression until he got into the first team. He didn't know how to react to failure and as a result Kent now push their youngsters far earlier i.e. by throwing them into the 2nd XI as a teenager which they regretted not doing with DBD.
Perhaps now is the time to put him in the 2s to work things out and give him the opportunity to make a big score. The trouble is that he isn't unique in that respect with only Denly and Kuhn averaging more than 30 but, maybe, they are all just comfortable in their own "mediocrity". One things for certain is that if we go up next season isn't going to be any easier.
Had fun at the Spitfire Ground as well, though mostly watching Surrey's superb batting, unfortunately. We had no chance at that point but I would still have loved Kent to have a go. Could have done with a bat myself to deal with the tool singing 'Free Tommy Robinson' behind us. He soon shut up and apologised once confronted.
Gave up on the rain in time to catch one more lovely pub and catch the end of the Roses game. So despite the irony of a match abandoned because of rain in a heatwave, it was still a top afternoon/evening out.
Appreciate you know far more than me on the subject but it appears the county game is full of people like DBD. Play for England U19s etc, find it quite easy, then struggle against men?
Some people like Root and Cook, for example, look not only England candidates, but "Hall of fame" players at a young age. I have lost count of the number of young players that ripped it up, to end up as County journeymen at a relatively young age.
Is the gap between u19 and first class cricket too big? The second division is relatively poor. It also appears that future England regulars are earmarked at such a young age and have to sink or swim. Those that sink tend not to be stand out first class players after they are discarded. Finn is a good recent example of this.
I am rambling now, my main point being that's not a Kent problem but a cricket English cricket one?
The problem, however, is that all counties, even at age group level are actually going the other way - as directed by the ECB. T20 games are now arranged in addition to the 50 over matches but there is a danger that we could end up with cricket's equivalent of football's big lad hoofing the ball up to the fast kid up front i.e. the system favours those lads that can dominate the bowling by virtue of their size. Instead of learning what it takes to occupy the crease.
54 behind with 8 to go.
We're going to lose this unless Stevo or Stewart can cobble up a miracle from somewhere....
8-4 in real terms!
Kent to win by 27 runs tomorrow.
Maybe ...
30 ahead
Bilbo gone for 29