I've mentioned it previously but I do think that there will be a bit of a shake up at the end of the season by virtue of the fact that we are consistently not preforming as both a group and as individuals.
Ones that might be leaving us:
Walker - Walks is a first class bloke but the fact that we can't get away from is that this is a results based business. One win from 14 matches is really poor and the only thing that might save him, in my opinion, is winning the Royal London. Is that likely though with most of our best white ball players playing Mickey Mouse cricket?
Stevens - it's almost sacrilegious to even mention the word "retirement" but given his struggles with form this season and the fact that he is unlikely to get better at the age of 47 next season. I'm sure that he would much rather be remembered as a great servant that someone who overstayed his welcome as a player.
DBD - has, somewhat ironically, been regarded as a white ball batsman but has actually performed far better in the CC than The Blast. He is probably safe but that might be more due to one or two of the ones mentioned below leaving.
Denly - injuries/illness seems to have prevented him from playing a lot of games in the last year so much so that his ton the other day was his first 50, let alone 100, in the last year. Does he still have the hunger to do it each and every day he gets up?
Billings - one understands why he goes to the IPL, The Big Bash etc etc. One could equally also understand that, at the age of 31 (next week), that he will want to give himself one last chance to fulfil his England aspirations. Can he do that in a struggling Kent side?
Robinson - can't be happy at not being part of our Blast squad. Assuming Billings does stay he is unlikely, I would have thought, to get an IPL contract next season and it is difficult to see a side with those two and Cox in the CC side. There have been several suitors in the last few years for his services and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him move to be first choice keeper/batsman elsewhere.
Crawley - you just know that there will be whispers in his ear when he meets up with England - "why are you are playing on that bowlers' paradise at Canterbury when you could be batting for two days on the road in SE11?" Whilst Canterbury has performed much better this year, the fact is that The Oval will never be any different. His mentor and the current ECB Director of Men's Cricket might well be saying the very same thing to him.
Podmore - has hardly played in the last couple of years as injuries have taken their toll. Will we be prepared to carry him?
Stewart - recalled from loan but the fact that he was allowed to go to a rival suggests that he wasn't considered as being in the top rank. since then, however, has done reasonably well with bat and ball in both white and red ball and his departure might be down to him more than us.
Logan - this is a really strange one. He did really well last season but the arrival of Linde has, effectively, made him surplus to requirements.
O'Riordan - I don't know what Marcus really is. Is he batsman or a bowler? When he's been played he has always been used as a bowler but batted at 8 or 9 but has never had any real success with the ball - in three years as a contracted player he has 11 CC wickets at 41.72, just one wicket in the Royal London and three in The Blast. If he's a batsman then we must give him a chance to prove himself otherwise he's just a contracted 2nd XI player which is a waste of resource.
Qadri - would have thought that he will stay but he might be another one who is frustrated at the lack of opportunities. Took six wickets in one CC game this season but has lost his place to Linde and won't get in The Blast side with Linde and Qais in the side.
Blake - white ball contract only so probably less vulnerable than many but, at 34 next season, well probably need a couple of meaningful performances to justify a new one.
I should stress that all of the above is speculation and not based on any inside information and I am not aware of the length of contract many of these players currently have. I don't think that too many will argue, though, against the fact that we do need change and as Compton (and Milnes, Quinn and Gilchrist for that matter) has demonstrated there are some good players out there who have yet to be given a chance and that are still, despite numerous knock backs, hungry enough to take any opportunity given.
Very good write up! Can’t see billings leaving despite many fans constantly criticising him for not being here !
Losing Robinson would be absolutely criminal though, he is the future of Kent alongside cox.
Denly, Stevens ( pains me to say) , Logan, podmore, Blake and qadri should be moved on. Squad needs a complete refresh and new bowlers need to be brought in who are capable of bowling teams out.
Do Think DBD needs a change of scenery, would be awful to lose him but he is very hit and miss!
Will be an interesting winter but questions need to be asked
Still bottom of the table, getting though to the next stage is very unlikely sadly
Leaving aside the franchises and the artificiality, what pisses me off about the Hundred, as it's turned the 50 over competition into a second team lottery, rather than a chance of genuine, and meaningful silverware. Counties currently go into a season with 3 trophies to win, but the chance of winning the 50 over trophy are massively influenced on how many Hundred callups you have, it's ludicrous that our one 50 over trophy can be won by a team (Glamorgan) because none of the Hundred franchises wanted their players.
I really like 50 over matches, but who wants to watch a county second 11 without its stars?
Here's a question for those that don't know the answer - it would be too easy if you did! But which former Kent player has bowling figures in the Kent League/Kent Regional League this season of 28-3-113-7?
Here's a question for those that don't know the answer - it would be too easy if you did! But which former Kent player has bowling figures in the Kent League/Kent Regional League this season of 28-3-113-7?
I don't know, but of the top of my head Adam Riley and Adam Ball spring to mind
Here's a question for those that don't know the answer - it would be too easy if you did! But which former Kent player has bowling figures in the Kent League/Kent Regional League this season of 28-3-113-7?
I don't know, but of the top of my head Adam Riley and Adam Ball spring to mind
Here's a question for those that don't know the answer - it would be too easy if you did! But which former Kent player has bowling figures in the Kent League/Kent Regional League this season of 28-3-113-7?
Final clue - he played in the 2007 Kent side that won the Blast.
OK - time is up. The answer is, obviously, Geraint Jones who has played for Ash CC in the Kent Cricket League (1st) and Kent Regional Cricket League (2nd) for a number of years - on Saturday his bowling figures against Bexley 3s were 10-0-58-2. He only started bowling for them in 2017.
Here's a question for those that don't know the answer - it would be too easy if you did! But which former Kent player has bowling figures in the Kent League/Kent Regional League this season of 28-3-113-7?
Final clue - he played in the 2007 Kent side that won the Blast.
OK - time is up. The answer is, obviously, Geraint Jones who has played for Ash CC in the Kent Cricket League (1st) and Kent Regional Cricket League (2nd) for a number of years - on Saturday his bowling figures against Bexley 3s were 10-0-58-2. He only started bowling for them in 2017.
With all England's bowling injuries, he's after a recall as a bowler now!
Stevens - it's almost sacrilegious to even mention the word "retirement" but given his struggles with form this season and the fact that he is unlikely to get better at the age of 47 next season. I'm sure that he would much rather be remembered as a great servant that someone who overstayed his welcome as a player.
Denly, Stevens ( pains me to say) , Logan, podmore, Blake and qadri should be moved on. Squad needs a complete refresh and new bowlers need to be brought in who are capable of bowling teams out.
13 man squad for tomorrow announced - Jas Singh will probably be one of the ones left out but the other one surely has to be a batsman and I haven't a clue as to who that might be
13 man squad for tomorrow announced - Jas Singh will probably be one of the ones left out but the other one surely has to be a batsman and I haven't a clue as to who that might be
13 man squad for tomorrow announced - Jas Singh will probably be one of the ones left out but the other one surely has to be a batsman and I haven't a clue as to who that might be
Difficult choice as all of them have put their hand up in red ball - and Denly playing the T20 like a red ball game.
13 man squad for tomorrow announced - Jas Singh will probably be one of the ones left out but the other one surely has to be a batsman and I haven't a clue as to who that might be
13 man squad for tomorrow announced - Jas Singh will probably be one of the ones left out but the other one surely has to be a batsman and I haven't a clue as to who that might be
Difficult choice as all of them have put their hand up in red ball - and Denly playing the T20 like a red ball game.
Straight choice between BD and Denly for the last pick, unless Billings decides to drop himself.
Comments
Come on you Spitfires !
Leaving aside the franchises and the artificiality, what pisses me off about the Hundred, as it's turned the 50 over competition into a second team lottery, rather than a chance of genuine, and meaningful silverware. Counties currently go into a season with 3 trophies to win, but the chance of winning the 50 over trophy are massively influenced on how many Hundred callups you have, it's ludicrous that our one 50 over trophy can be won by a team (Glamorgan) because none of the Hundred franchises wanted their players.
I really like 50 over matches, but who wants to watch a county second 11 without its stars?
Geraint Jones?
Bloody typical.
Oh my God, these two have killed Bambi!
You bastards!