The Essex CCC Thread

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

He wasn't really good enough for Division 2 level either. Or by level did you mean 'professional' level?

I meant County level i.e. professional. Should have made it clearer.

He's OK (and only OK) at OD level, but FC is way out of his league. He'll be lucky to 350 FC runs this season...

 

[number11]

Beat me to it.

It's going to be a big concern all season. One thing we have in common with Surrey this season - a skipper who will barely warrant a place in the team on cricketing ability.

Thankfully things we dont have in common are that we are in a higher division and we don't have that **** Chris Adams around. (hello Stats ;)).

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

It's going to be a big concern all season. One thing we have in common with Surrey this season - a skipper who will barely warrant a place in the team on cricketing ability.

Thankfully things we dont have in common are that we are in a higher division and we don't have that **** Chris Adams around. (hello Stats ;)).

:D

BTW, I'd swap Pettini for Hamilton-Brown in a shot. I think RHB is going to be a good player. Shouldn't be captain, but he's easily good enough for the 2nd division (hello Stats again). He's also a handy spin bowler (handy in the sense you don't need to pick a specialist and can go for an extra seamer).

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

He'll be lucky to make 350 FC runs this season...

Ouch - really, as bad as that?

Is the side replete with potential captains anyway? The only obvious candidates are RtD, Napier and Fozzie - and I suspect the latter is a bit too much of a nice guy to be skip...

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Ouch - really, as bad as that?

Is the side replete with potential captains anyway? The only obvious candidates are RtD, Napier and Fozzie - and I suspect the latter is a bit too much of a nice guy to be skip...

Fozzie would do a good job. Napes doens't have a brain, and I'm not sure RtD is really assured of his place (notwithstanding his performance against Hants)

 

[canveyshrimper]

Ouch - really, as bad as that?

Is the side replete with potential captains anyway? The only obvious candidates are RtD, Napier and Fozzie - and I suspect the latter is a bit too much of a nice guy to be skip...

He's not great at first class level that is for sure. He's ok at the one day & T20 stuff.

Cook is the obvious choice to be captain, but because of his England commitments he won't be around for Essex much. I've an idea that Tim Phillips is highly thought of and could be a surprise choice if Pettini falls on his sword or is sacked. At least we won't have to import a captain like Surrey. (Sorry Stats and hello ;))

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

180-4, Fossie 31*, Mickleburgh 59*

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Cook is the obvious choice to be captain

Can't see how you have a centrally contracted player as county captain - that just doesn't work for me. Phillips is a good shout, though. I still think Fozzie is a bit too nice to be a captain.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Fozzie would do a good job. Napes doens't have a brain, and I'm not sure RtD is really assured of his place (notwithstanding his performance against Hants)

I think RtD is as automatic as they come.

I was scathing of his signing and his early performances, but he's turned himself into an automatic selection in all formats of the game.

Can't see how you have a centrally contracted player as county captain - that just doesn't work for me. Phillips is a good shout, though. I still think Fozzie is a bit too nice to be a captain.

Phillips is an interesting call.

I think the big worry with him would be his inability to keep fit.

To be honest, Pettini has actually done a pretty good job as captain and would be a tough act to follow. The club is certainly in a better state than it was in the aftermath of the Law fall-out.

Maiden fc century for Mickleburgh:clap:

Three different players have now top-scored in Essex's last 3 innings and none of them have been older than 21 and 2 months. Add in our two England batsmen who are 25 and 24 and thinks are looking bright on the batting front.

 

[The General]

Great day for Essex after a shaky start!

 

[Grayson]

RtD is probably third name on the team sheet after Foster and Masters (our England internationals aside).

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

I still think Fozzie is a bit too nice to be a captain.

Fozzie's got a tough side to him as well. I went to the FP semi-final a couple of years ago, and Fozzie got involved in a dispute with one of Yorkshires lower-order batsman after he felt that the batter had taken liberties with an overthrow. Basically Fozzie felt that the guy had obstructed him, and shouldn't have taken the extra run. He let the guy know in no uncertain terms what he felt. Anyway, next ball the guy waltzed down the pitch to Danish, missed by miles, Fozzie took it, waited a couple of seconds, then absolutely demolished the stumps, and gave the guy a real mouthful as we walked off. He's definitely tough enough.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Fozzie's got a tough side to him as well. I went to the FP semi-final a couple of years ago, and Fozzie got involved in a dispute with one of Yorkshires lower-order batsman after he felt that the batter had taken liberties with an overthrow. Basically Fozzie felt that the guy had obstructed him, and shouldn't have taken the extra run. He let the guy know in no uncertain terms what he felt. Anyway, next ball the guy waltzed down the pitch to Danish, missed by miles, Fozzie took it, waited a couple of seconds, then absolutely demolished the stumps, and gave the guy a real mouthful as we walked off. He's definitely tough enough.

Going back a bit further than that, it was his England debut, can't remember if it was a ODI or Test Match but he saw off Andy Flower with a flow of invective. I agree he's certainly tough enough. And he's also (I hope) showing that he can bat at 6 against first division bowling, although IMO he'll never play for England again, having run over Geoff Miller's daughter or shagged his cat.

 

[MrB]

If we keep this level up all season, Pettini can come in and score 10 runs every game for all I care! Ok so Harmison is not playing but Durham still have a great bowling line up so to post that score having been put in first gives us a great chance to at least force a draw against the reigning champs.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

283 -4 , Micklebuugh 105*, Foster 84*

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

305-4, 200 partnership, Fossie 96*, Mickleburgh 115*

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

100 for Fossie :clap:

 

[MrB]

Interesting looking at how the runs are coming, for about 8 overs there was only a couple of singles scored, everything else coming from 2's, 3's and 4's with lots of dot balls. Suggests they're picking they're shots wisely!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Fozzie's got a tough side to him as well. I went to the FP semi-final a couple of years ago, and Fozzie got involved in a dispute with one of Yorkshires lower-order batsman after he felt that the batter had taken liberties with an overthrow. Basically Fozzie felt that the guy had obstructed him, and shouldn't have taken the extra run. He let the guy know in no uncertain terms what he felt. Anyway, next ball the guy waltzed down the pitch to Danish, missed by miles, Fozzie took it, waited a couple of seconds, then absolutely demolished the stumps, and gave the guy a real mouthful as we walked off. He's definitely tough enough.

Going back a bit further than that, it was his England debut, can't remember if it was a ODI or Test Match but he saw off Andy Flower with a flow of invective. I agree he's certainly tough enough. And he's also (I hope) showing that he can bat at 6 against first division bowling, although IMO he'll never play for England again, having run over Geoff Miller's daughter or shagged his cat.

I was going to mention the same incident, but you beat me to it.

I don't have an issue with England overlooking for him, as long as it is for someone like Prior in tests or Kieswetter in limited overs cricket and previously Stewart whose batting is/was on a different level to Fozzie's. Foster's not a bad bat, as he is showing, but he isn't a test no.6, nor an ODI opener. Where he's been badly treated is when he's been overlooked in favour of Ambrose, Nixon and Read.

 

[canveyshrimper]

I was going to mention the same incident, but you beat me to it.

I don't have an issue with England overlooking for him, as long as it is for someone like Prior in tests or Kieswetter in limited overs cricket and previously Stewart whose batting is/was on a different level to Fozzie's. Foster's not a bad bat, as he is showing, but he isn't a test no.6, nor an ODI opener. Where he's been badly treated is when he's been overlooked in favour of Ambrose, Nixon and Read.

You forgot Davies & Mustard.

Stewart was a better batsman than all three, it will be interested to see how Kieswetter develops. I believe that Yorkshire have high hopes of Jonathon Bairstow son of the late David.

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