So hard to judge Hollioake in my (completely amateur and unqualified) opinion as it doesn't feel like he's been given the tools he needs, if a large chunk of the players aren't good enough what can he do?
True, but we are way worse than we were under Walker last season with more or less the same side.
We finished third bottom in the Metro table, bottom of the Blast table and bottom in the CC. We won 8/36 matches in total. We've won 9/28 so far this season.
Both seasons have been disastrous but I've countless times given the reasons how and why this has happened. It has nothing to do with the coaches.
Simon Cook has been the director since 2024; surely some of the blame must fall at his hands?
So hard to judge Hollioake in my (completely amateur and unqualified) opinion as it doesn't feel like he's been given the tools he needs, if a large chunk of the players aren't good enough what can he do?
True, but we are way worse than we were under Walker last season with more or less the same side.
We finished third bottom in the Metro table, bottom of the Blast table and bottom in the CC. We won 8/36 matches in total. We've won 9/28 so far this season.
Both seasons have been disastrous but I've countless times given the reasons how and why this has happened. It has nothing to do with the coaches.
Simon Cook has been the director since 2024; surely some of the blame must fall at his hands?
I've also said that Downton saw what was coming and got out at the right time - "No obvious young players coming through, an inability to sign players from other counties that would immediately improve the side, the lack of financial strength to attract top overseas players, the loss of probably one of if, not our best all-rounder of all time, Darren Stevens, Billings edging towards white ball commitments and predators circling for the few worth something that might be persuaded to go."
Imagine the difference if we still had Stevens and had kept Cox and Robinson. Those three alone would have improved us massively. As I've also already said, we have six of our top order missing. By comparison, take a look at Durham's top order in the Metro Bank- Lees, Gay, Rhodes, Bedingham, Ackerman and Robinson. What would they be doing without those players?
So hard to judge Hollioake in my (completely amateur and unqualified) opinion as it doesn't feel like he's been given the tools he needs, if a large chunk of the players aren't good enough what can he do?
True, but we are way worse than we were under Walker last season with more or less the same side.
We finished third bottom in the Metro table, bottom of the Blast table and bottom in the CC. We won 8/36 matches in total. We've won 9/28 so far this season.
Both seasons have been disastrous but I've countless times given the reasons how and why this has happened. It has nothing to do with the coaches.
Simon Cook has been the director since 2024; surely some of the blame must fall at his hands?
I've also said that Downton saw what was coming and got out at the right time - "No obvious young players coming through, an inability to sign players from other counties that would immediately improve the side, the lack of financial strength to attract top overseas players, the loss of probably one of if, not our best all-rounder of all time, Darren Stevens, Billings edging towards white ball commitments and predators circling for the few worth something that might be persuaded to go."
Imagine the difference if we still had Stevens and had kept Cox and Robinson. Those three alone would have improved us massively. As I've also already said, we have six of our top order missing. By comparison, take a look at Durham's top order in the Metro Bank- Lees, Gay, Rhodes, Bedingham, Ackerman and Robinson. What would they be doing without those players?
Cook recruitment of domestic and overseas players has been pathetic
Kent also need their version of Dr Will Abbott. A ridiculous number of injuries for many years, and it's getting worse, including half of our top 6 today.
Major issues with conditioning, fitness, the medical facilities?
So hard to judge Hollioake in my (completely amateur and unqualified) opinion as it doesn't feel like he's been given the tools he needs, if a large chunk of the players aren't good enough what can he do?
True, but we are way worse than we were under Walker last season with more or less the same side.
We finished third bottom in the Metro table, bottom of the Blast table and bottom in the CC. We won 8/36 matches in total. We've won 9/28 so far this season.
Both seasons have been disastrous but I've countless times given the reasons how and why this has happened. It has nothing to do with the coaches.
Simon Cook has been the director since 2024; surely some of the blame must fall at his hands?
I've also said that Downton saw what was coming and got out at the right time - "No obvious young players coming through, an inability to sign players from other counties that would immediately improve the side, the lack of financial strength to attract top overseas players, the loss of probably one of if, not our best all-rounder of all time, Darren Stevens, Billings edging towards white ball commitments and predators circling for the few worth something that might be persuaded to go."
Imagine the difference if we still had Stevens and had kept Cox and Robinson. Those three alone would have improved us massively. As I've also already said, we have six of our top order missing. By comparison, take a look at Durham's top order in the Metro Bank- Lees, Gay, Rhodes, Bedingham, Ackerman and Robinson. What would they be doing without those players?
Cook recruitment of domestic and overseas players has been pathetic
Let's not make out that all our overseas recruits, in recent years, were fantastic under Downton. George Linde, despite subsequently doing well on the international stage, had to be released and who could forget Miguel Cummins with his 6-622. Times have moved on and the differential has widened.
The other issue is that, in the last few years, we've had to bring in bowlers because our existing cohort are either injured or need a couple of spearheads. International rank bowlers are few and far between because their respective Boards are unwilling to release them for fear of injury and those few that are still at the top of their game command massive fees. They will go the likes of Surrey who even flew in a spinner for one game last season!
I fear that the days of us recruiting someone like Matt Henry are gone.
Kent have suggested a 100 franchise based at an expanded Beckenham.
Something has to happen, as the county is drifting, and to me Canterbury is part of the problem. Not near to the most populous parts of the historic Kent area, and the ground itself is very old fashioned without being especially quaint.
With the cathedral in the background, Lime tree, St Lawrence is the definition of quaint
The cathedral is over a mile from the ground! And the replacement tree isn't on the outfield and has retirement flats behind it.
You can clearly see Canterbury catherdral in the backdrop, in addition its one of the oldest grounds in use, would you say the souless and dull Beckenham is a better option? Canterbury is a much nicer town then Beckenham for starters with a long history and the home of kent cricket
So hard to judge Hollioake in my (completely amateur and unqualified) opinion as it doesn't feel like he's been given the tools he needs, if a large chunk of the players aren't good enough what can he do?
True, but we are way worse than we were under Walker last season with more or less the same side.
We finished third bottom in the Metro table, bottom of the Blast table and bottom in the CC. We won 8/36 matches in total. We've won 9/28 so far this season.
Both seasons have been disastrous but I've countless times given the reasons how and why this has happened. It has nothing to do with the coaches.
Simon Cook has been the director since 2024; surely some of the blame must fall at his hands?
I've also said that Downton saw what was coming and got out at the right time - "No obvious young players coming through, an inability to sign players from other counties that would immediately improve the side, the lack of financial strength to attract top overseas players, the loss of probably one of if, not our best all-rounder of all time, Darren Stevens, Billings edging towards white ball commitments and predators circling for the few worth something that might be persuaded to go."
Imagine the difference if we still had Stevens and had kept Cox and Robinson. Those three alone would have improved us massively. As I've also already said, we have six of our top order missing. By comparison, take a look at Durham's top order in the Metro Bank- Lees, Gay, Rhodes, Bedingham, Ackerman and Robinson. What would they be doing without those players?
Cook recruitment of domestic and overseas players has been pathetic
Let's not make out that all our overseas recruits, in recent years, were fantastic under Downton. George Linde, despite subsequently doing well on the international stage, had to be released and who could forget Miguel Cummins with his 6-622. Times have moved on and the differential has widened.
The other issue is that, in the last few years, we've had to bring in bowlers because our existing cohort are either injured or need a couple of spearheads. International rank bowlers are few and far between because their respective Boards are unwilling to release them for fear of injury and those few that are still at the top of their game command massive fees. They will go the likes of Surrey who even flew in a spinner for one game last season!
I fear that the days of us recruiting someone like Matt Henry are gone.
True, recruitment for years has been overall really substandard, but this year is the worst I have ever seen, test player Kashif Ali was playing seconds by the time his spell came to an end, Dudgeon has missed the whole season, at least Linde contributed a little
Comments
Imagine the difference if we still had Stevens and had kept Cox and Robinson. Those three alone would have improved us massively. As I've also already said, we have six of our top order missing. By comparison, take a look at Durham's top order in the Metro Bank- Lees, Gay, Rhodes, Bedingham, Ackerman and Robinson. What would they be doing without those players?
https://longlazylewisham.wordpress.com/2025/08/13/when-catford-was-the-home-of-kent-cricket/
Major issues with conditioning, fitness, the medical facilities?
The other issue is that, in the last few years, we've had to bring in bowlers because our existing cohort are either injured or need a couple of spearheads. International rank bowlers are few and far between because their respective Boards are unwilling to release them for fear of injury and those few that are still at the top of their game command massive fees. They will go the likes of Surrey who even flew in a spinner for one game last season!
I fear that the days of us recruiting someone like Matt Henry are gone.