Essex County Cricket 2011 Season

[Yorkshire Blue]

Just out of interest how did Essex supporters rate former Medium-Fast bowler Andy Clarke?

Lethal.

At least when bowling beamers at Fozzie in the nets.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Morgan picked for England squad -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/13484702.stm

Feel a bit sorry for Ravi but at least that means he'll be playing for us!

 

[canveyshrimper]

I thought this would happen, hopefully Ravi will carry on scoring runs for Essex. He'll be in the one day squad and if Morgan fails or there's an injury then he'll be the next cab off the rank for the test team.

 

[number11]

Morgan picked for England squad -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/13484702.stm

Feel a bit sorry for Ravi but at least that means he'll be playing for us!

Ravi must be devasted, especially with the written press seemingly so certain he was going to play. Good for Essex if he can stay motivated and focuses but will be a big test of his character.

Still him and Shah in middle order could help us get some decent scores.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Ravi must be devasted, especially with the written press seemingly so certain he was going to play. Good for Essex if he can stay motivated and focuses but will be a big test of his character.

Still him and Shah in middle order could help us get some decent scores.

Yeah he must be gutted, either way I hope England stick with their choice for a decent period of time and give Morgan a chance to prove himself.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Ravi must be devasted, especially with the written press seemingly so certain he was going to play. Good for Essex if he can stay motivated and focuses but will be a big test of his character.

Still him and Shah in middle order could help us get some decent scores.

To be honest, after Saturday him and Shah in our middle order is downright scary. We had two run outs as it was trying to save a game without either, what's it going to be like with those two in our middle order?

True to form Owais was run-out on debut yesterday and his last three innings* have all ended by being run out.

*at least

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

True to form Owais was run-out on debut yesterday

Shah looked in good nick and had hit 3 boundries before being the victim of a freak dismissal, he was backing up Pettinis scorching drive when Dan Wheeldon got the merest finger to the ball to leave him high and dry

Talking of Wheeldon he looked really impressive going for just 25 in his full allocation and tempting makeshift opener Adam Wheater to edge to slip 3rd ball, one to keep an eye on though i believe Yorkshire have first dibs if he makes the breakthrough having appeared for their 2nd XI, apart from that only Chris Benham impressed really, surprisingly discarded by Hampshire last autumn this guy deserves a county contract somewhere, here making a second half-century against us this season (and there's few that'll achieve that i assure you) but he had no real support and Unicorns 183 was never going to trouble us despite the aforementioned Wheeldons early impression, Pettini and Walker knocked the ball around with consumate ease and if it hadn't been for the howling gale i could easily have drifted off to sleep it was that dull .. 4 completed games and wins by 7 wickets, 7 wickets, 8 wickets and 8 wickets underlines just what a fine one day outfit we are (and don't forget tenDo is still to return from the IPL) and i'll be surprised and not a little disappointed if i'm not at either Edgbaston for the T20 finals day or a Lords for the CB40 final later in the year

 

[The General]

Essex OD dream team of Pettini, Cook, Shah, Ravi, Walker, Tendo, Fozzie, Napier, Phillips, Masters, Wright would be immense. But how often will we see that side?! Not too often! Flower still is knocking about at about 50 will do a good job with the likes of Topley, the Saffer fella, Wheater, Goodleman, Comber, Mickleburgh and whoever i may have forgotten about to cover when need be?!

We can then add Styris and Southee into the equation when the T20's come and like you say, at least one OD/T20 final should be made!

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

LVCC Div 2 v Middlesex (May 24>27)

Play has just got underway at Chelmsford, with our visitors 6-0 having won the toss and electing to bat .. the Essex side shows 3 changes from the drawn game at Sorrey with young Reece Topley coming in for the ineffective Maurice Chambers, Ravi in for Wright despite the latter scoring well at Whitgift and Owais Shah making his championship debut in place of Alastair Cook (Pettini will step up and open with Mickleburgh i expect)

With us already falling behind in the race for promotion we really need a win here and at Gloucester next week if we are to start our challenge before the mid season break for T20

9-0 after 5 overs with no no-balls as yet :thumbsup:

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Topley back for the Championship game against Middlesex. Chambers, who looked short of rhythm at Whitgift makes way. Lopsy remains dropped.

Batting wise, Pettini looks as if he moves up to open in Cook's absence, with Shah making his Essex championship debut against his former team. Shah is the only non-English born player in the Essex side, although he's lived in England since he was 3. In contrast Middlesex line up: Convict, Convict, English, Saffer, Saffer, Kenyan, English, Saffer, English, Zimbabwean, Barbadian.

ps Wright also dropped. Forgot Bops missed the last game on Lions duty.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Golden Arm makes the breakthrough !!!

Ravi dismisses the dangerous looking Chris Rogers for 34

61/1 off 20

 

[We're not Cockneys]

90/4. Napier has taken 3 wickets for no runs in his last 3 overs!

 

[southend4ever]

Doing a dance here at work!
That's incredible!
Get in!

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

And then a stand of 90+

bollocks

 

[We're not Cockneys]

And then a stand of 90+

bollocks

Napier strikes again! 193/5

 

[canveyshrimper]

316/6 at close Napier 5/43.

Apparently Tosspotse has been tweeting that his spell at Essex has been the worst two months of his life, the feeling is mutual mate.

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

For those who were interested, my game at Windsor Castle on Sunday lived up to expectation. It was a stunning day, and the Royal Household managed to put out a decent, competitive XI to face us.

It was a humbling experience for a cricket fanatic to walk into the pavilion before play to learn that many of the greats had played there over the years leaving various memorabilia including a 'baggy green' cap from 1957. Bradman, Greenidge, Marshall, Strauss and even Elton John have played there over the years and a decade ago the Australians, including Ponting, Waugh(s), McGragh, Warne all turned up for a game whilst on tour. Oh and Peter Such has the all time 3rd best figures there from what I could tell.

Unfortunately the Queen didn't put in an appearance despite being in residence, but to be honest that was the only low point. The pitch sat about 500 yards from the Castle and was surrounded by ancient oak trees including a couple that lay inside the boundary. It is located close to the Royal Dairy and has superb views across the estate. We think we may have also passed Prince Edwards house on the way in (not certain though).

I was playing for Broadhalfpenny Down Brigands from Hambledon in Hampshire. They are responsible for determining the modern width of a bat and length of the wicket. They also introduced the middle stump for the first time and their set of laws can be found in their pub opposite the home ground (which is well worth a visit for cricket connoisseurs) . They were playing cricket 80 years before the Lords Cricket Club was formed. I've been asked if I'd like to represent them again this season at their home ground and will certainly do it if possible.

As for my own performance I opened the batting and scored 4 courtesy of an appalling edge through the slips, after which I received some posh sledging in the form of showing me the way to the Royal Golf Course. I also managed to take a half decent catch at mid-off to the very man that had sledged me earlier in the day so karma was restored. In the end we played out an honourable draw and there hoorahs all round.

Although not my most exciting days cricket in terms of team achievement, it certainly ranks as my proudest and will be a tale I plan on boring the Grandchildren with one day. Thanks for letting me bore you all with it.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

I'm not sure we needed to hear the tale twice DBP .. though of course that is mostly down to my insane jealousy !!!

Back to Essex and i was disturbed to learn that Reece Topley was sitting an exam until 10am this morning before being collected by his dad and driven to Lords in time to open the bowling, yes Tsotsobe has been a massive disappointment, and Wright and Chambers haven't cut it this year so far, but Topley is 17 for godssake and surely needs to be nurtured a whole lot better than this

 

[canveyshrimper]

For those who were interested, my game at Windsor Castle on Sunday lived up to expectation. It was a stunning day, and the Royal Household managed to put out a decent, competitive XI to face us.

It was a humbling experience for a cricket fanatic to walk into the pavilion before play to learn that many of the greats had played there over the years leaving various memorabilia including a 'baggy green' cap from 1957. Bradman, Greenidge, Marshall, Strauss and even Elton John have played there over the years and a decade ago the Australians, including Ponting, Waugh(s), McGragh, Warne all turned up for a game whilst on tour. Oh and Peter Such has the all time 3rd best figures there from what I could tell.

Unfortunately the Queen didn't put in an appearance despite being in residence, but to be honest that was the only low point. The pitch sat about 500 yards from the Castle and was surrounded by ancient oak trees including a couple that lay inside the boundary. It is located close to the Royal Dairy and has superb views across the estate. We think we may have also passed Prince Edwards house on the way in (not certain though).

I was playing for Broadhalfpenny Down Brigands from Hambledon in Hampshire. They are responsible for determining the modern width of a bat and length of the wicket. They also introduced the middle stump for the first time and their set of laws can be found in their pub opposite the home ground (which is well worth a visit for cricket connoisseurs) . They were playing cricket 80 years before the Lords Cricket Club was formed. I've been asked if I'd like to represent them again this season at their home ground and will certainly do it if possible.

As for my own performance I opened the batting and scored 4 courtesy of an appalling edge through the slips, after which I received some posh sledging in the form of showing me the way to the Royal Golf Course. I also managed to take a half decent catch at mid-off to the very man that had sledged me earlier in the day so karma was restored. In the end we played out an honourable draw and there hoorahs all round.

Although not my most exciting days cricket in terms of team achievement, it certainly ranks as my proudest and will be a tale I plan on boring the Grandchildren with one day. Thanks for letting me bore you all with it.

:clap: Great stuff and not in the least boring. :thumbsup:

 

[MrB]

Usual tail disposal issues for us, 385/9.