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Essex transfer news

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Yorkshire Blue

Yorkshire Blue

Super Moderator⭐
Staff member
Looks like we've signed John Maunders the former Leics opener.

Not a bad signing, although I'm a bit bemused as to why Jaik Mickleburgh has been dropped. I seem to recall Maunders was considered quite promising at one stage, although he seemed to lose his way big time. The main thing going for him is that he is left-handed. At only 27, he might be a better option than Gallian next season. Gallian appeared to start off superbly this season but I was shocked to see him averaging just 26.39 and I'm wondering if age has caught up with him.

For next season we've adopted the Ashley Giles scattergun approach and have been linked with Dawid Malan (won't happen, everyone is after him after his TV ton, and has resigned with Middlesex), Ed Joyce (won't happen), Eion Morgan (won't happen) and most intriguingly with the awfully named Matthew Walker of Kent. Middlesex is not a happy place at the moment, but they'll sack Ed Smith as captain and I think they'll all stay and Smith will move on. Walker on the other hand is a good one-day player who probably feels a little left out at Kent as he doesn't speak with a Seth Afrikan accent. If Kent keep Dexter as is looking more likely, Walker may well be a viable signing.
 
Yorkshire Blue said:
Looks like we've signed John Maunders the former Leics opener.

Not a bad signing, although I'm a bit bemused as to why Jaik Mickleburgh has been dropped. I seem to recall Maunders was considered quite promising at one stage, although he seemed to lose his way big time. The main thing going for him is that he is left-handed. At only 27, he might be a better option than Gallian next season. Gallian appeared to start off superbly this season but I was shocked to see him averaging just 26.39 and I'm wondering if age has caught up with him.

For next season we've adopted the Ashley Giles scattergun approach and have been linked with Dawid Malan (won't happen, everyone is after him after his TV ton, and has resigned with Middlesex), Ed Joyce (won't happen), Eion Morgan (won't happen) and most intriguingly with the awfully named Matthew Walker of Kent. Middlesex is not a happy place at the moment, but they'll sack Ed Smith as captain and I think they'll all stay and Smith will move on. Walker on the other hand is a good one-day player who probably feels a little left out at Kent as he doesn't speak with a Seth Afrikan accent. If Kent keep Dexter as is looking more likely, Walker may well be a viable signing.
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Maunders has a bit of a disappointing first class average though and I couldnt see him being any more than a journeyman. Interesting you mention Ed Smith's exit from Middlesex....Im surprised he hasnt been linked. I know his future will no doubt lie with a pen in his hand rather than a bat, but he has an excellent first class record, has always been around the south eastern counties and could be looking for one last contract before packing it in.

I always thought Walker was big friends with Key, (Kindred fat boys....I certainly recall an odd TV interview with them eating Ice Cream by the sea) so if he is not getting a game for Kent I can only assume its cos he is on the decline.

Generally though, it would be good if the likes of Chopra, Pettini and the untried youngsters such as Mickleburgh can really push on next year.
 
I'm reasonably pleased with Maunders coming in - he adds some experience and in time will certainly be a replacement for Gallian at the top of the order. Added to that, he's left-handed, and since the departure of Andy Flower, we haven't had a left-handed top-order bat (if you discount using Tim Phillips at number three a couple of years ago in one of Essex's more interesting experiments). He hasn't got great first-class figures, but then Leicestershire have not been the best County side in the past five years.

We've been heavily (no pun intended) linked with Walker of late - another left-hander, and his omission from the Kent side this season is somewhat bemusing - he made 1419 Championship runs in 2006, and has barely featured since. At 34, he doesn't want to be kicking around in the second eleven.

With Cook and possibly Bopara looking at lengthy service for England, at times this season, our batting line-up has looked considerably threadbare. If you take out Ravi's runs from this season in first-class cricket, Foster averages 49, ten Doeschate 36, Pettini 34, Gallian 27 and Grant Flower 12 in the Championship, and those sort of figures (Fossie and tenDo - given that he has often batted at number 7) are not going to get you promoted.

I've been encouraged by Mickelburgh's progression, and Chopra and Westley have both shown signs of being of the requisite ability, but all three are far from the finished article. They will still get chances, but if we are to make up the 17 points on Warwickshire and win promotion, batting additions, rather than bowling, are key to managing to stay up.

As for Ed Smith, it seems that all the Middlesex boys will stay, even though Joyce doesn't want to be skipper, baring the former Kent man. I think it would be an excellent signing, averaging 40+ in his first-class career and over 30 in one-day cricket.
 
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I've heard Ed Smith is off to the Indy to take over grumpy Gus Fraser's job, who is supposedly off to Middlesex as coach. This should mean TMS listeners are spared Fraser's moaning. As the awful Selvey has been sacked this should mean a big improvement, but on recent form the BBC will promote the awful Alec Stewart. Personally I think Hoggy is the man for the job, but he still wants to carry on playing. If Smith goes, I expect all the malcontents in the Middlesex dressing room (and on paper they are the best side in the division by a comfortable distance) to stay and proper win the 2nd divison title next season.

Still don't know why Mickleburgh was dropped after scoring 60 on debut.

Anyway, cracking win today for the boys. The Pro40 looks a bit of a joke when the two best teams were battling it out for the 2nd division title.
 
BLUEBLOOD said:
No no no no to Walker, watching him on Saturday put me off my dinner ... he made Key appear slim (if thats at all possible)
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I agree, you have to question someone's workout and dedication if they allow themselves,as a professional sportsman, to get into such bad shape.
 
number11 said:
I agree, you have to question someone's workout and dedication if they allow themselves,as a professional sportsman, to get into such bad shape.
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Add to that Maunders is huge too, is cricket regressing to the days of Jack Simmonds ???
 
Yorkshire Blue said:
and most intriguingly with the awfully named Matthew Walker of Kent.
Click to expand...

*smiles, chooses not to rise to the bait*

:finger:

Actually, he'd be a cracking signing, name notwithstanding.

:clap:

Didn't realise Middlesex was such an unhappy camp too. Again, Joyce would be a very decent signing if we could get him.

Matt
 
Matt the Shrimp said:
...Didn't realise Middlesex was such an unhappy camp too. Again, Joyce would be a very decent signing if we could get him.

Matt
Click to expand...

Middlesex is an intriguing one - their members asked for an EGM, at which time Middlesex went on a lengthy unbeaten run in all competitions, culminating in winning the Twenty20 Cup. They cancelled the EGM, and promptly slumped again, throwing away all chance of promotion in the Championship and being relegated from Pro40 Division One.

I didn't think Smith would be a player that caused problems, and he has the cricket (and overall) brain to be an excellent captain. Joyce stepped in for the Twenty20 after Smith got injured against Essex, but doesn't want the job full-time, Smith isn't going to be offered it so it's anyone's guess who's next on the list!
 
Speaking of Matthew Walker, whilst at the Essex vs Kent T20 game at Chelmsford last year with various members of SZFC and MtS, the first wicket fell and Joe Denly trudged off.

We expected Rob Key to come out to bat at number 3, then this small rotund figure started trotting out to the middle. MtS says ''Key's put on some weight, before yelling from the stands (in the manner of a town crier) you fat barsteward.

Then over the tannoy comes the words ''Incoming Kent Spitfires's batsman, Matthew Walker.

How we all laughed.
 
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