A fantastic fight back. At last, a couple of batters with some spine. Well played Grant and Joey. You feel like we deserve a draw now after such a battling performance, although there is still some way to go to secure the draw. we need to survive another seven or eight overs I feel. Let's hope Jimmy with the new ball doesn't skittle us.
A draw is an amazing result. Well played Grant Stewart and Joey Evison with their lower order heroics. But …. our toothless bowling attack and our hopeless middle order batters have been exposed again.
After my previous rant, that's a great performance by the tail. I'm not much mollified- we were outplayed there, but some actual cricketers who dig in was great after the problems we had earlier. But the fact remains we are truly awful right now.
Great effort by Grant, showing the benefit of a positive approach. Today wasn't just about defending at all costs, as we needed to get ahead of Lancs. Plus we needed to put some pressure back on their bowlers.
Good to get the draw from that position but overall little else to cheer about. Aside from the opening 2 games we've been so poor in the county games. I accept the injuries of course but it has been so poor. Normally, we'd look forward to playing Northants but given the turn around in fortunes since the April opener it's hard to see us getting anything from it especially as they chased down over 300 today!
Just read the article in full - compton , Gilchrist, Muyeye l expected to leave. Muyeye one doesn’t sit right with me whatsoever, persisted with him and finally his talent comes to fruition he leaves, very poor
Been in & out all day, watched Jayden competently do us ( and his uncle ) proud, but then touched base later to find us 7 down.....back to the weeding, Fanny !
But, wonders will never cease, checked in again to be astounded by the fantastic partnership taking place between 2 of my favourite players ! ( Have sadly given up on Jack L now...) Two guys who should be lauded for their understated work on the pitch for the team....no big egos here.
But, oh sh*t ! Fanny's curse strikes again & Grant was gone....dancing shoes, anyone ?
But Joey with the assistance of big Wes saved the day. Bless their you know whats !
Let's see more of that fight, lads as the season progresses. Just all need to produce your best at the same time !
Just read the article in full - compton , Gilchrist, Muyeye l expected to leave. Muyeye one doesn’t sit right with me whatsoever, persisted with him and finally his talent comes to fruition he leaves, very poor
If we'd let him go the talent would still have some through somewhere. Any cricketer with aspirations will want to better themselves and we have very little to offer him both financially and as a pathway to potential international representation. Begs the question as to why we didn't extend his contract last year and it's no different to Cox or Robinson in that we had no leverage, contractual or otherwise, to keep them. Their career is a very short one and they will have been paid by us for a season's work less than the equivalent of one week of a pro footballer whereas it might be the equivalent of two or three weeks elsewhere.
My main concern is that we will go the same way as the Women who lost a whole team due to us not being given top status. I've said for a couple of years now that we will end up becoming a feeder club for those Test and Hundred hosting counties and I just don't see what we can do to stop that.
AA I think you're bang on the money with your last sentence and it's something I've been worried about since the inception of the Hundred that it's creating a 2 tier system within the county system where anyone that shows a bit of potential at a non Hundred/test county is snapped up by one of the bigger boys. The wages are a great point too , of course the big guns on central contracts or have a few franchise deals in the window that helps with the income are absolutely fine , but there's plenty of county players that if they've come through the uni system and have a decent degree behind them would make more money from a day job than a county contract. Will always go back to Zafar Ansari , capped by England but retired at 25 to be a lawyer.
Muyeye I guess it's Surrey or potentially Hampshire?
Just read the article in full - compton , Gilchrist, Muyeye l expected to leave. Muyeye one doesn’t sit right with me whatsoever, persisted with him and finally his talent comes to fruition he leaves, very poor
If we'd let him go the talent would still have some through somewhere. Any cricketer with aspirations will want to better themselves and we have very little to offer him both financially and as a pathway to potential international representation. Begs the question as to why we didn't extend his contract last year and it's no different to Cox or Robinson in that we had no leverage, contractual or otherwise, to keep them. Their career is a very short one and they will have been paid by us for a season's work less than the equivalent of one week of a pro footballer whereas it might be the equivalent of two or three weeks elsewhere.
My main concern is that we will go the same way as the Women who lost a whole team due to us not being given top status. I've said for a couple of years now that we will end up becoming a feeder club for those Test and Hundred hosting counties and I just don't see what we can do to stop that.
It's nowhere near as clear cut as with the women's team, as the divide there is brutal, and an off the field decision.
Plus there are different formats of cricket. We are 2nd division in red ball, but that divide doesn't apply in the Blast, which was won last season by Gloucs, very much a 2nd division CC team. Northants are the runaway leaders of the northern section, but also a 2nd div team.
Muyeye has been great in the Blast, but underwhelming in the CC. I can't see him getting in the red ball team for a decent county.
Just read the article in full - compton , Gilchrist, Muyeye l expected to leave. Muyeye one doesn’t sit right with me whatsoever, persisted with him and finally his talent comes to fruition he leaves, very poor
I disagree with the fruition comment based on Stewart having more centuries this season
Just read the article in full - compton , Gilchrist, Muyeye l expected to leave. Muyeye one doesn’t sit right with me whatsoever, persisted with him and finally his talent comes to fruition he leaves, very poor
I disagree with the fruition comment based on Stewart having more centuries this season
It was mostly aimed at the fact he’s currently the leading the run scoring in the t20 blast. A lot for him to learn in four day cricket still but there’s been signs this season more so than previously that he is getting there.
Just read the article in full - compton , Gilchrist, Muyeye l expected to leave. Muyeye one doesn’t sit right with me whatsoever, persisted with him and finally his talent comes to fruition he leaves, very poor
If we'd let him go the talent would still have some through somewhere. Any cricketer with aspirations will want to better themselves and we have very little to offer him both financially and as a pathway to potential international representation. Begs the question as to why we didn't extend his contract last year and it's no different to Cox or Robinson in that we had no leverage, contractual or otherwise, to keep them. Their career is a very short one and they will have been paid by us for a season's work less than the equivalent of one week of a pro footballer whereas it might be the equivalent of two or three weeks elsewhere.
My main concern is that we will go the same way as the Women who lost a whole team due to us not being given top status. I've said for a couple of years now that we will end up becoming a feeder club for those Test and Hundred hosting counties and I just don't see what we can do to stop that.
It's nowhere near as clear cut as with the women's team, as the divide there is brutal, and an off the field decision.
Plus there are different formats of cricket. We are 2nd division in red ball, but that divide doesn't apply in the Blast, which was won last season by Gloucs, very much a 2nd division CC team. Northants are the runaway leaders of the northern section, but also a 2nd div team.
Muyeye has been great in the Blast, but underwhelming in the CC. I can't see him getting in the red ball team for a decent county.
That rather depends how one defines "decent" county. For last season (Div 1) and this (Div 2) Muyeye's scored 1,075 runs at 32.58. That's better than Crawley (641 runs at 31.82) and would, statistically, get him into the top 6 at Essex, Hants, Warwickshire, Worcs and Yorkshire. The "value added" is his white ball game and Hants or Warwickshire could mean him playing at the same venue in the CC, Blast and the Hundred. He's was only 24 three months ago and still early in his development.
Some people said the same about Ollie Robinson ("we've got Billings and Cox") but prior to him leaving and we then lost him, Cox and potentially Muyeye too. How do we get better when other counties pick off our promising youngsters and we don't have the money to bring in replacements? Someone like Benjamin might turn out OK but he's 26 with a lifetime FC average of 29.00. That's the pool we're fishing in and I'm not sure how many, apart from Compton, Gilchrist (both likely to leave according to the above rumours) and Stewart, of those we've recruited from outside, have clubs, let alone top ones, knocking our door for their services:
Compton Stewart Gichrist Leaning Evison Benjamin Finch Garrett Parkinson Cohen Quinn Flintoff
If we were to include the likes of Qadri, Logan and Bhuiyan (all released and now without counties) plus Milnes (refused to sign a new contract) and if we add Billings (white ball only), Crawley (centrally contracted), Joe Denly and O'Riordan (both constantly injured) then it's really not difficult to see where we are. In fact, DBD could next season be the only homegrown pro with any real experience in red ball left.
The only thing that might turn things around from a downward spiral is, ironically, the money received from the sale of the Hundred but then we will be in receipt of far less than those hosting counties anyway. Or that some of our up and coming prospects hit the ground running but, there again, if they do then they, too, will be rich pickings for suitors.
AA I think you're bang on the money with your last sentence and it's something I've been worried about since the inception of the Hundred that it's creating a 2 tier system within the county system where anyone that shows a bit of potential at a non Hundred/test county is snapped up by one of the bigger boys. The wages are a great point too , of course the big guns on central contracts or have a few franchise deals in the window that helps with the income are absolutely fine , but there's plenty of county players that if they've come through the uni system and have a decent degree behind them would make more money from a day job than a county contract. Will always go back to Zafar Ansari , capped by England but retired at 25 to be a lawyer.
Muyeye I guess it's Surrey or potentially Hampshire?
AA I think you're bang on the money with your last sentence and it's something I've been worried about since the inception of the Hundred that it's creating a 2 tier system within the county system where anyone that shows a bit of potential at a non Hundred/test county is snapped up by one of the bigger boys. The wages are a great point too , of course the big guns on central contracts or have a few franchise deals in the window that helps with the income are absolutely fine , but there's plenty of county players that if they've come through the uni system and have a decent degree behind them would make more money from a day job than a county contract. Will always go back to Zafar Ansari , capped by England but retired at 25 to be a lawyer.
Muyeye I guess it's Surrey or potentially Hampshire?
The destructive Hundred
Can't stand it. Been offered tickets to go to a couple of Southern Brave games but I just have no interest in it , I don't want to go to my counties biggest rivals to watch a composite side of Sussex and Hampshire with a few overseas names.
One of the big problems for Kent is the location of the St Lawrence ground. It's too far out of the city centre, and in my view they would be far more successful moving to the other side of the county to be more accessible to London. There is Beckenham, of course, but it doesn't get used much.
Where I live in Tonbridge would be a much better location for the county ground - 40 minutes by train to central London, close to M25.
For me, it is much easier to get to The Oval than Canterbury, so cricket days out with mates tend to be there. It's also a great ground whereas Canterbury is quaint, but very basic.
Kent are pretty unique in that their main ground isn't in the county town or a major population area. Canterbury is a long way from the massive population at the London end of the county, but also is much smaller than the Medway towns or even Maidstone.
And yes the St Lawrence is a bit of a relic too. Old fashioned when compared to the Test grounds, but without the charm of Tunbridge Wells.
Hoping to go down for one day of the Canterbury week game. I normally attend this match as there's the CAMRA beer tent to numb the pain from the cricket.
It does bring back bad memories of this game 2 years ago though...I was there for day 3, so saw Jamie Smith's brilliant century.
Comments
298-8 (83.2)
Evison 68* (151)
8 overs left. If Kent are bowled out, will two overs be lost due the change of innings
But the fact remains we are truly awful right now.
Been in & out all day, watched Jayden competently do us ( and his uncle ) proud, but then touched base later to find us 7 down.....back to the weeding, Fanny !
But, wonders will never cease, checked in again to be astounded by the fantastic partnership taking place between 2 of my favourite players ! ( Have sadly given up on Jack L now...) Two guys who should be lauded for their understated work on the pitch for the team....no big egos here.
But, oh sh*t ! Fanny's curse strikes again & Grant was gone....dancing shoes, anyone ?
But Joey with the assistance of big Wes saved the day. Bless their you know whats !
Let's see more of that fight, lads as the season progresses. Just all need to produce your best at the same time !
My main concern is that we will go the same way as the Women who lost a whole team due to us not being given top status. I've said for a couple of years now that we will end up becoming a feeder club for those Test and Hundred hosting counties and I just don't see what we can do to stop that.
Muyeye I guess it's Surrey or potentially Hampshire?
Plus there are different formats of cricket. We are 2nd division in red ball, but that divide doesn't apply in the Blast, which was won last season by Gloucs, very much a 2nd division CC team. Northants are the runaway leaders of the northern section, but also a 2nd div team.
Muyeye has been great in the Blast, but underwhelming in the CC. I can't see him getting in the red ball team for a decent county.
Some people said the same about Ollie Robinson ("we've got Billings and Cox") but prior to him leaving and we then lost him, Cox and potentially Muyeye too. How do we get better when other counties pick off our promising youngsters and we don't have the money to bring in replacements? Someone like Benjamin might turn out OK but he's 26 with a lifetime FC average of 29.00. That's the pool we're fishing in and I'm not sure how many, apart from Compton, Gilchrist (both likely to leave according to the above rumours) and Stewart, of those we've recruited from outside, have clubs, let alone top ones, knocking our door for their services:
Compton
Stewart
Gichrist
Leaning
Evison
Benjamin
Finch
Garrett
Parkinson
Cohen
Quinn
Flintoff
If we were to include the likes of Qadri, Logan and Bhuiyan (all released and now without counties) plus Milnes (refused to sign a new contract) and if we add Billings (white ball only), Crawley (centrally contracted), Joe Denly and O'Riordan (both constantly injured) then it's really not difficult to see where we are. In fact, DBD could next season be the only homegrown pro with any real experience in red ball left.
The only thing that might turn things around from a downward spiral is, ironically, the money received from the sale of the Hundred but then we will be in receipt of far less than those hosting counties anyway. Or that some of our up and coming prospects hit the ground running but, there again, if they do then they, too, will be rich pickings for suitors.
Leaves the One Day Cup as basically a 2XI comp.
Where I live in Tonbridge would be a much better location for the county ground - 40 minutes by train to central London, close to M25.
For me, it is much easier to get to The Oval than Canterbury, so cricket days out with mates tend to be there. It's also a great ground whereas Canterbury is quaint, but very basic.
And yes the St Lawrence is a bit of a relic too. Old fashioned when compared to the Test grounds, but without the charm of Tunbridge Wells.
It does bring back bad memories of this game 2 years ago though...I was there for day 3, so saw Jamie Smith's brilliant century.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-214075