The Essex CCC Thread

[Stats]

The selectors really need to allow Cook to play because Ravi needs to be playing first division cricket next season.

Nail.On.Head

My point made in the Reshape English Cricket thread, Div 1 is a must for test squad players. After all its fine getting runs against the likes of Dernbach, Linley etc but be better off earning the stripes against decent seam attacks like Durham, Notts and The Rose Counties.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

I don't get to see any First Class cricket, so how big is the gap bhetween Divs 1 & 2 ?? i know last time we were promoted we only lasted a season and Worcestershire seem to lose every week after promotion last term so i'm presuming its significant ??

 

[Stats]

Put it this way Durham this season have put this seam attack out

Plunkett, Onions and Harmison

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Put it this way Durham this season have put this seam attack out

Plunkett, Onions and Harmison

Valid point, but Onions has been in the test set up pretty much all summer, and Harmy has been in for the last 2 yet they still seem to be rolling over all and sundry

Very impressive considering the joke they were when they gained first class status, despite the array of "stars" they signed

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I don't get to see any First Class cricket, so how big is the gap bhetween Divs 1 & 2 ?? i know last time we were promoted we only lasted a season and Worcestershire seem to lose every week after promotion last term so i'm presuming its significant ??

I've only seen division 2 cricket this year, but I think it is fairly obvious there is a huge gap just by looking at the team sheets. The key tends to be in the bowling attacks. As Statski points out, Durham have got an awesome bowling attack with Harmison, Onions, Plunkett, Davies, Claydon and Thorp plus Blackwell as their spinner. I'd suggest the 6th best of their seamers would still be opening the bowling for Essex.

Notts have, even when Broad (and to a lesser extent missed) Swann are away with England, still got Sidebottom, Shreck, young Luke Fletcher and Pattinson (played for England last summer) or Andre Adams.

Lancs theoritically could field a seam attack of Flintoff, Anderson and Mahmood. Even when they are all injured they've still got pretty decent county performers like Newby, Hogg and Smith.

Somerset, a batting team (they have Langer AND Trescothick - who are probably still better than England or Australia's opening partnerships in the Ashes), still have Charl Willoughby, Andy Caddick with a couple more Kolpak internationals in Alfonso Thomas and Omari Banks as their bowling line-up.

In contrast probably only Kent have a decent bowling line-up (when fit) with Amjad Khan, Robbie Joseph and Azhar Mahmood plus a solid county journeyman like Simon Cook. They were probably only relegated because that bowling line-up was injured.

Otherwise in division 2 I'm struggling to name a good bowler. Obviously there is Kaneria. I don't think Nel is fit at Surrey. Kirby at Gloucs is one, and Lewis is a pretty decent county performer, as is of course Masters. You've then got Finn and Harris as promising. Combine the nine counties (or at least eight if you take away Kent) and you've still only got a bowling attack as good as Durham or Lancs.


When Essex were yo-yoing between the divisions, Irani's batting average was going from 55 in division 2 in 35 in division 1. Injury may have played a part, but I think there was also a step up in class.

Worcestershire are probably losing because Kabir Ali and Simon Jones are injured.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Fantastic news for Essex btw.

We've managed to sign Billy Godleman from Middlesex on a 3 year deal.

This is the most exciting signing Essex have made since errr.... we prised Danny Law away from Sussex. Admittedly that didn't work out, but Godleman was tipped as something special and I can't believe Middlesex have let him go. Actually I can, because Middlesex are a mess. They've got loads of talent yet somehow bottom of the bottom division. Gus Fraser has done an appalling job IMHO, but I digress.

Godleman is I think still only 20, but is hugely talented and left-handed. The prospect of him working with Gooch is very exciting. Essex's batting has been abysmal this season so hopefully he can help it out.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Agreed about Godleman, I am astounded he has been allowed to leave, and well done Essex for snapping him up. I hope this may be the fore runner of a few more signings and Essex don't go for the recent run of the mill county pro they have signed in recent years (Masters being the probable exception).

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

I hope this may be the fore runner of a few more signings and Essex don't go for the recent run of the mill county pro they have signed in recent years.

Such as my namesake, who has been mediocre at best; and Jason Gallian, who has been absoluteluy dire. What's happened to Gallian - where has it gone so wrong?

:unsure:

 

[number11]

Such as my namesake, who has been mediocre at best; and Jason Gallian, who has been absoluteluy dire. What's happened to Gallian - where has it gone so wrong?

:unsure:

In fairness to Walker, I think he is our leading run scorer(though that is more to do with others failures than his brilliance). Gallian has been woeful but next year I hope he doesn't stand in the way of the likes of Chopra and Mickleburgh.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Gallian has been woeful but next year I hope he doesn't stand in the way of the likes of Chopra and Mickleburgh.

Gallian's retired I think....

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Essex 83-2 against Kolpakshire (sorry Leics)

Cook out for 31, Chopra out for 13.

Maunders 25*, MtS 3*

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

I thought Godleman was only signed on loan till the seasons end ?? .. that's what BLUEBLOOD Senior said, but he's even older than canveyshrimper and Cricko i believe so its understandable he's losing it somewhat

Cracking signing IMO though

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Agreed about Godleman, I am astounded he has been allowed to leave, and well done Essex for snapping him up. I hope this may be the fore runner of a few more signings and Essex don't go for the recent run of the mill county pro they have signed in recent years (Masters being the probable exception).

To be fair to Essex I think the reason we've signed such mediocre players is because they've been the best available at the time. The good players rarely switch counties and those that do tend to go to the test hosting counties, as they are the ones with the money. Essex's money is tied up with the ground.

Now where have I heard this before.

I thought Godleman was only signed on loan till the seasons end ?? .. that's what BLUEBLOOD Senior said, but he's even older than canveyshrimper and Cricko i believe so its understandable he's losing it somewhat

Cracking signing IMO though

Godleman was signed on loan until the end of the season, he then signed a 3 year contract.

 

[canveyshrimper]

I thought Godleman was only signed on loan till the seasons end ?? .. that's what BLUEBLOOD Senior said, but he's even older than canveyshrimper and Cricko i believe so its understandable he's losing it somewhat

Cracking signing IMO though

...but no doubt taller than the fruit of his loins. :)

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Godleman was signed on loan until the end of the season, he then signed a 3 year contract.

Ah right, thanks for the confirmation YB :)

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

...but no doubt taller than the fruit of his loins. :)

Same height actually, though i should point out you aint exactly Robert Pershing Wadlow-esque are you mate :finger:

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Essex 83-2 against Kolpakshire (sorry Leics)

Cook out for 31, Chopra out for 13.

Maunders 25*, MtS 3*

I've a lot of time for Leicestershire. They get a hell of a lot of stick for their attitude towards Kolpaks, but you've got to have a look at the English youngsters they are bringing through. I think James Taylor is the most promising teenage batsman out there at the moment, plus Cobb isn't far behind. Boyce, New, White and Naik are also all English and under 25. In fact I think they've only 2 Kolpaks playing in this game, Dieppanar, who is the type of experienced pro that they must benefit from playing alongside, and Henderson. I'd suggest that was exemplary.

You've got to also remember that they had England's best young talent, Stuart Broad, poached away from them by Notts. Luke Wright also came through the Leicestershire set-up as well.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

I've a lot of time for Leicestershire. They get a hell of a lot of stick for their attitude towards Kolpaks, but you've got to have a look at the English youngsters they are bringing through. I think James Taylor is the most promising teenage batsman out there at the moment, plus Cobb isn't far behind. Boyce, New, White and Naik are also all English and under 25. In fact I think they've only 2 Kolpaks playing in this game, Dieppanar, who is the type of experienced pro that they must benefit from playing alongside, and Henderson. I'd suggest that was exemplary.

You've got to also remember that they had England's best young talent, Stuart Broad, poached away from them by Notts. Luke Wright also came through the Leicestershire set-up as well.

I stand corrected :(

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

I think its Northants that truly abuse the Kolpak system, i think when stickyboy, SUFCEssex and myself worked it out they had 7 of them

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I stand corrected :(

Took me a while to come round, I use to be highly critical of them. Their chairman produced a very interesting paper last year (maybe year before) about the impact of Koplaks on county cricket on young players where he argued that Leics did more for English cricket than the counties complaining about their use of Kolpaks who were reliant on aged journeymen and nicking players from counties like Leics. I was a little sceptical, but a year or two on they seem to be true to their word. I'll admit I was wrong on this one and fair play to Leics, I hope some of these kids make it.

I think its Northants that truly abuse the Kolpak system, i think when stickyboy, SUFCEssex and myself worked it out they had 7 of them

Northants are like South Africa C. Other than Monty (and his lack of batting and fielding is pretty damning on the county) it's difficult to think of many players they've produced, and Wakely (hasn't done much this year) I think is their only promising youngster. I suppose there was Swann, but he was going stale there and had to move to revitalise his career.