Essex internationals

[Matt the Shrimp]

Nice to see Goughie being called up for the one-day side in the Carribean.  It means that he's still very much in the England picture for the ODIs this summer - which should keep him hungry in terms of playing for Essex!

And here's a picture to gladden the eyes of any Essex CCC supporter...

As for other news, Saqlain Mushtaq has been dropped by Pakistan in the wake of their first Test walloping by India in Multan.

He looks set to be replaced in the second test in Lahore by... Danish Kaneria.  More good news for Essex!

As for England v. Windies (3rd Test, Barbados), England has won the toss and have elected to field... bit unusual that, but there you go.

Matt

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ April 01 2004,14:46)]As for England v. Windies (3rd Test, Barbados), England has won the toss and have elected to field... bit unusual that, but there you go.

Apparently it's going to do a bit early doors. Our bowlers have got the sign on them at the moment, so nothing like saying to the oppo "we fancy another go at you".

In related Essex news, James Foster, Graham Napier and Alastair Cook are in the MCC side to play against Sussex in the annual Curtain-Raiser at Lord's. MCC lookes remarkably like an Engalnd A side, with the likes of Key, Kirby, Bell and Mahmood in the team as well. Napier for the Engalnd one-day team this year perhaps  

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (BILLERICAY BLUE @ April 01 2004,15:10)]Napier for the Engalnd one-day team this year perhaps  

Possibly worth a look... if he's going to mature into a full-time ODI player in time for the CWC (he'll be, what, mid-20s by 2007?), then time to look at him now, I reckon.

Matt

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ April 01 2004,15:14)]

Quote[/b] (BILLERICAY BLUE @ April 01 2004,15:10)]Napier for the Engalnd one-day team this year perhaps  

Possibly worth a look... if he's going to mature into a full-time ODI player in time for the CWC (he'll be, what, mid-20s by 2007?), then time to look at him now, I reckon.

Matt

Yep, did well on the A tour, so should be one of the next in line, although we seem to be going away from bits-and-pieces players towards specialists. Still, as you say, probably worth a look at this summer.

BB

WI 6-0 off 3 overs

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Yep, Hoggy's second over was a maiden, and so was Harmy's second... 6/0 off 4 now...

Matt

P.S. Good description of Napier, alas... he's always struck me as a touch "bits and pieces"... a sort of 21st Century Mark Ealham. Perhaps I'm being a touch harsh, not sure...

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Ooh...6/1, Gayle's been given out, although Cricinfo reckon that it was a poor decision - going down leg, and going over as well...

Not that I'm too fussed about that, mind!

Matt

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

6-1 now, Gayle LBW Hoggy. Missing leg by all accounts. Sarwan in.

Back to Napier, it appears that his batting has come on a lot, he's not so much of a hitter as he was, but I don't think he's going to improve quite enough. Time will tell I suppose.

Also, thought we might have picked Jones instead of Read for this match. 7 is too high for Read and we can't expect the 30somethings to keep bailing us out

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ April 01 2004,15:32)]Ooh...6/1, Gayle's been given out, although Cricinfo reckon that it was a poor decision - going down leg, and going over as well...

Not that I'm too fussed about that, mind!

Matt

Beat me to it Matt  

8-1 now

Actually, it's Lara not Sarwan at 3

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (BILLERICAY BLUE @ April 01 2004,15:34)]Beat me to it Matt  

8-1 now

Actually, it's Lara not Sarwan at 3

Indeed it is - naughty Cricinfo for tricking me!

Matt

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

18-1.

Ganga has finally managed to hit one off of the sqaure. Ganga also dropped by Thorpe

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

20-2.

Thorpe's dropped catch costs precisely 3 runs as Ganga leaves a straight one from Harmison, and Umpire Hair gives him out LBW  

Missing off and too high as well, apart from that a pretty good decision !

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Hmm, Windies on top now... 67/2. Enjoying crincinfo, though:

24.4 Harmison to Lara, no run, some X-Rated TV there for you, camera
focuses on some scary Best of British types, a dozen teeth between
the four of them

 

[The General]

Lara century comin' up to save the day me reckons ...

Kev

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (The General @ April 01 2004,17:09)]Lara century comin' up to save the day me reckons

Whaddya mean "save the day"? Are you West Indian, all of a sudden...?!

Matt

P.S. Who's the bird on your avatar?

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Quote[/b] (The General @ April 01 2004,17:09)]Lara century comin' up to save the day me reckons ...

Kev

Then you reckon wrong - Lara out for 36, caught Butcher Bowled Flintoff. WI now 96-3.

 

[The General]

Quote[/b] (BILLERICAY BLUE @ April 01 2004,18:18)]

Quote[/b] (The General @ April 01 2004,17:09)]Lara century comin' up to save the day me reckons ...

Kev

Then you reckon wrong - Lara out for 36, caught Butcher Bowled Flintoff. WI now 96-3.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ April 01 2004,14:46)]More good news for Essex!

On the contrary, I think that's bad news for Essex.
The most valuable players to have in county cricket are the ones who do NOT get called up for their country.

Good news for Essex would be Goughie and Kaneria retiring from international cricket so they would be available for every game.

Its definitely good news from the Caribbean though - fingers crossed one of our batsmen can make three figures for the first time this tour!
I'd love it to be Freddie to follow on from his bowling heroics

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Quote[/b] (Yorkshire Blue @ April 02 2004,08:33)]Its definitely good news from the Caribbean though - fingers crossed one of our batsmen can make three figures for the first time this tour!
I'd love it to be Freddie to follow on from his bowling heroics

Excellent bowling yesterday, shame the catching wasn't quite as good. Another WI collapse to match some of the best one's we ever had in the late 90's, So pleased for Flintoff, he ahsn't always had the best of luck with the ball. As for him getting a ton, he'll probably chip one up off of some trundler having made about 30

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Eng 24-2. Butcher out in the 4th over of the day, caught at slip of Edwards.

Tough going for Vaughn and Hussain 26 balls without a run

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Make that 34/3... Edwards is making a big impact. Given how much damage he did in his first spell in Kingston, are we open to the criticism that the only reason we've built up a 2-0 lead in the Series is because he's been out injured...

Edwards currently boasts figures of 3/15 off 10 overs (and 4 maidens) - pretty damn impressive.

As they say - there's no substitute for genuine pace...

Matt