Essex County Cricket 2011 Season

[number11]

I agree with the General, I would like us to try to sign a quality overseas player next year to bolster a team that has 5 or 6 very good components but the rest a bit weak. Potentially we could have a side that could survive in League one (have we ever done that since they split?) but it needs re-inforcing. Obviously the tricky part is getting someone over that can do a good job and doesnt have overseas or 20/20 commitments. Guess we feel stung a bit by Lopsey and Bravo being expensive flops, and to an extent the money spent on Southee and Styris not being repaired by failing to qualify, but would love us to sign someone who is 'our' overseas player. Kaniera was excellent as he excelled in all formats and was largely available. Someone like that would do nicely!

I see the CB40 is pretty tight and we have to win our last game to have a chance of sneaking through?

 

[MrB]

I see the CB40 is pretty tight and we have to win our last game to have a chance of sneaking through?

We need a win, Durham to lose and a decent NRR turnaround to get the best runner up spot. Unfortunately Durham are playing Surrey who have already qualified and we have to play our good friends Somerset :unsure:

More rain in the Championship game.

 

[MrB]

We need a win, Durham to lose and a decent NRR turnaround to get the best runner up spot. Unfortunately Durham are playing Surrey who have already qualified and we have to play our good friends Somerset :unsure:

More rain in the Championship game.

Durham won, we lost so that was that.

If anyones vaguely interested we're playing Kent in a largely irrelevant Championship match and we're 54/3.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

We desperately need a bat for next season. The bowling seems in reasonable shape with the introduction of Craddock and Mills, and hopefully Topley. But the batting's been hopeless, 27 batting bonus points from 14 games is terrible, especially when you compare it to Northants 45 batting bonus points.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

We had, going into this game, 6 players who averaged more than 40 with the bat in the Championship. The problem was that they had played 48 games between them and we had a further 6 specialist batsmen (or 5 and a half if you think RtD's bowling makes him a genuine all-rounder) who played 52 games and averaged under 30!

Rumour on the grapevine has it that we are leading the chase for Joe Denly. Personally, I'd stick with hoping one of Westley, Godleman and Micklebrugh come good. Denly is in a similar sort of rut that they are in, averaging about the same this season and his career average is only a couple of runs higher.

Other players I've heard us be linked with is Greg Smith (I think it's the derbyshire one and I think he may have signed) and, God help us, Dominic Cork.

I expect Wright will be off at the end of the season (maybe to Warwickshire seeing as they've got him on loan) and maybe MtS, who is hopefully out of contract.

I think RtD needs a winter off, but that's unlikely.

 

[MrB]

Well Denly is having fun against us, 37 off 32 balls.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Other players I've heard us be linked with is Greg Smith (I think it's the derbyshire one and I think he may have signed) and, God help us, Dominic Cork.

WTF?! That's like the cricketing equivalent of the Sol Campbell rumours!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

WTF?! That's like the cricketing equivalent of the Sol Campbell rumours!

Yeah, I'm hoping it's just us having a go back at Hants for them trying to steal Fozzie.

Mind you, we signed Goughie a few years back.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Mind you, we signed Goughie a few years back.

But the Dazzler is roughly the same vintage as Cork, isn't he? Cork is 11 months younger - but they would have been in the same school year and in fact Cork broke through to the England side in 1992, two years prior to Gough. I'd have signed Cork a few years back (on ability; even if there's the suspicion that he's a bit of a mardy so-and-so)... but now?! He's in his 40s, for heaven's sake... hardly planning for the future!

 

[canveyshrimper]

A very disappointing season for Essex, while I didn't really expect us to be in contention for promotion, I feel they should have made a better fist of of he first class game. T20 & CB40 were likewise disappointing although Essex did fall victim of the weather losing (I think) 3 CB40 games to the elements.

It's hard to tell how the late arrivals of Shah & RtD after the IPL and 6 weeks into the season affected things. However Tendo was nowhere near the player of previous years. I hope some of the young batting talent will finally start to produce, Wheater played acouple of great knocks, but I'd say Mickleburgh, Westley & Godleman continue to be inconsistent at best. David Masters will finish up as the leading wicket taker in the country, not knocking him I wonder how much of his success was down to the Tiflex ball. It's ludicrous that the first class game uses different balls.

It looks like Essex are building a decent bowling unit, apart from Masters, Topley, Mills and Craddock emerged, plus Chambers is still with the county although another who is perennially injured. The overseas player situation was ridiculous with Tsotsobe being slightly less than ordinary. Such a shame that we weren't allowed to sign Peter Siddle who isn't on the current convict tour of Sri Lanka, or indeed Tim Southee who looked pretty good in the T20.

Grayson has been quoted as wanting 3 new players for 2012, two batsmen and an all rounder, we'll no doubt no more in the next month or so. Isuspect Cork will join but mainly to play one day cricket. If we go for an overseas player I'd like one who'll be available to us all season, and able toplay in all forms of the game.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

A very disappointing season for Essex, while I didn't really expect us to be in contention for promotion, I feel they should have made a better fist of of he first class game. T20 & CB40 were likewise disappointing although Essex did fall victim of the weather losing (I think) 3 CB40 games to the elements.

It's hard to tell how the late arrivals of Shah & RtD after the IPL and 6 weeks into the season affected things. However Tendo was nowhere near the player of previous years. I hope some of the young batting talent will finally start to produce, Wheater played acouple of great knocks, but I'd say Mickleburgh, Westley & Godleman continue to be inconsistent at best. David Masters will finish up as the leading wicket taker in the country, not knocking him I wonder how much of his success was down to the Tiflex ball. It's ludicrous that the first class game uses different balls.

It looks like Essex are building a decent bowling unit, apart from Masters, Topley, Mills and Craddock emerged, plus Chambers is still with the county although another who is perennially injured. The overseas player situation was ridiculous with Tsotsobe being slightly less than ordinary. Such a shame that we weren't allowed to sign Peter Siddle who isn't on the current convict tour of Sri Lanka, or indeed Tim Southee who looked pretty good in the T20.

Grayson has been quoted as wanting 3 new players for 2012, two batsmen and an all rounder, we'll no doubt no more in the next month or so. Isuspect Cork will join but mainly to play one day cricket. If we go for an overseas player I'd like one who'll be available to us all season, and able toplay in all forms of the game.

I thought Grayson said he was after an all-rounder (presumably Greg Smith, of Derbyshire), an overseas batsman (apparently Amla, who won't be available all year) and an experienced bowler (presumably Cork). The other player I've heard mentioned is Katich, but there will be half a dozen counties chasing him, minimum.

I reckon Westley, Godleman and Micklebrugh have been pretty consistent (you can add Pettini and MtS to that list as well): you have to be to average as low as they do.

You've missed out Napier from our bowlers! He makes Chambers (who I think missed games mainly due to form rather than fitness) look fighting fit, but bowled well in patches. We'll probably end up rotating Mills and Topley as you can't expect either to play a full season at their age.

Interesting to see what happens to Chris Wright. It looks like he's going to win the County Championship with Warwickshire, yet can't get in the Essex team. Now there is a player who lacks consistency.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Chris Wright has signed a 2 year deal with Warks Matt

 

[canveyshrimper]

First one in for next season as Greg Smith signs a two year contract, good shout Matt.:thumbsup:

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Small piece in the DT this morning reckons we are going to sign Charl Willoughby from Zummerzet

 

[southend4ever]

We have been linked with Charl for a while.
Why we couldn't get Chris Wright firing at our place is a mystery!
Do we just have to presume Chelmo to be an absolute road that suits only very few bowlers.
David Masters did alright on our track this year and plenty of others come to that.
Reward Mr Masters I say.
Graham Napier is to get a benefit year I believe.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Here's a good little read from Rob Steen

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/533147.html

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

A (very VERY early) quick heads up for 2012

The groups have been announced for next years CB40 and after the extremely tough group we had this year things would appear a little kinder next time

Essex Eagles
Netherlands
Worcestershire Royals
Leicestershire Foxes
Lancashire Lightning
Middlesex Panthers
Gloucestershire Gladiators

I think its about November the dates are announced but Amstelveen and Lords are "must do" fixtures for me

 

[canveyshrimper]

Amstelveen will be good, I hope it's on a weekend.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Amstelveen will be good, I hope it's on a weekend.

Midweek would suit me better, as if its a weekend i'd have to consider taking Daniel, whereby a midweeker i can easily use school as a reason for him not going

 

[canveyshrimper]

Midweek would suit me better, as if its a weekend i'd have to consider taking Daniel, whereby a midweeker i can easily use school as a reason for him not going

Good point mate, I've got a lot of holiday already allocated for 2012, that's why I'd prefer a weekend. If it is tell Daniel he hasn't got a passport. Sorted.