CrawlingFox

To be fair they've applied the standard ECB fast bowler development plan, steady backwards progress with stress fracture due soon. Really hope we see him back to his best next season. How great would it be to have a homegrown pair of Hull and Green opening the bowling.

I'd be ok if they wanted to give Gumbs a run and see how he goes. Eskinazi as a plan B might be ok but would prefer us to look at someone like Savin Perera who could add some competition to the top order.

He had a good season at 3 in the promotion season I think if he'd have backed that up with a dominant season there in D1 this season just gone it would have been interesting. As it is I suspect England see him as an interesting player because he's a leggie but he looks a touch "bits and pieces" and I struggle to see him finding a consistent spot in any format. Agree with those who said he needs to knuckle down, start to really churn out the runs in red and white ball. His record in all formats currently is ok but nothing that is really that impressive. Fine whilst he's 22 but by the time he's 25 needs to have a batting average nearer 40 or a bowling average under 30, both might be greedy! Currently 32.6 for batting and 37.7 for bowling, 17.9 and 27.4 in t20. Good for us, but won't be more than bits and pieces or maybe handy for a tour where spin will be dominant for England at best.

Whilst this is true I always think it's hard to really tell as spinners in England don't get the luxury of a raging turner very often and I'd wager Rehan just doesn't get the overs he'd really need to develop as a leg spinner (one of the hardest and most unforgiving crafts in the game). That's through a combination of missing games due to England/IPL as you say and the number of games we play on seaming decks where Holland may make hay but a spinner isn't going to get much of a look in.

I think that he was an excellent white ball bowler (sub 8 economy in t20) and whilst his bowling in red ball was never top drawer it was good enough to compliment a frontline spinner (which is what Rehan could be) on a spinning deck where 2 spinners would be warranted. Such a situation is rare in this country which is why he was again valuable with his batting average of 29.9 with 10 50s meaning he can more than hold a bat. So for a county like us without the budget for a big squad he offers: White ball bowling Backup spinner Batting depth Great fielder I think that's a useful and versatile skillset to have at our level.

Losing Hill and Cox in one go is big drop in experience. Cox's grit has been all that stood between us and humiliation at many points this season. Trevaskis is a loss as well I think. More positively Handscomb would plug that hole, experience wise and the drop to D2 means we should be looking to younger and hungrier players more than 30+ players in my opinion. My side for next season: Gumbs Budinger Ahmed Shaikh Handscomb (c) Blake/Tattersall (wk) Scriven Holland B.Green Davey A.Green Worryingly there is only Hull in reserve bowling wise and Eskinazi batting wise, plus whichever keeper misses out - none of whom I rate highly right now. Also no spinner if Ahmed is away, which seems less likely for next season to be honest at least. Letting Trevaskis go is poor as he could bat too. I think Gumbs is the most obvious player where the remaining overseas slot could be used to find an upgrade but we'd need to find a couple more seamers somewhere for depth either way. If looking nearer for an opening bat then Savin Perera could be an excellent pick up if available, a lot of runs for SACA and in second XI cricket as well as some decent knocks for Somerset in the ODC.

Just suggesting it. There was a list floating about and to be honest not many interesting names out of contract so not sure there will be much activity coming in. Ben Mike to Gloucestershire is an interesting one. Did hear a rumour Derbyshire were interested in Budinger too though he's under contract for next season so unsure there is much in it.

Brad Currie was who I meant, Sussex are releasing him.

Ben Mike off to Gloucestershire apparently. Cox to Warks again also. Wood also leaving. https://inews.co.uk/sport/cricket/essex-new-captain-leicestershire-surrey-keeper-sussex-4790644 Currie could be a good pickup to boost the attack.

It seems as though we are being priced out of appealing as the club may believe there is a probability we go down anyway and the legal costs of appealing are therefore wasted. The whole thing is a sordid affair and the blazers at the ECB will be pleased to see us back in what they see as our place. If we had the temerity to appeal the ECB would probably wait to see the final table and work out if they could do us a "leniency" if we're down anyway and move the points penalty to next season to further penalised us.

Very pleasing result. Kelly and Cox superb.

I'm convinced that he could bat much higher than 8. 6 or even 5. Fonz seems to love stacking the side with bowling all rounders and Scriven has in the past bowled well but he's for me by far the best bat in that group. Always comes in late, usually stuck batting with the tail and yet still so reliable. Technique is solid and he has no glaring weaknesses.

That joke is ruff.

Patel has plenty of talent, but I think his t20 record sums him up in a way - 83 games and 2 tons (and bear in mind there are plenty of very, very good batters on the franchise circuit or in international teams with 0 hundreds) but only 3 50s. He's talented but inconsistent. That said, he's developed into a Division 1 level opener in the red ball game and there is no more difficult job. We'll miss him up top. Hopefully Shaikh offers solidify to the 3 or 4 slot and we prioritise an overseas opener next season.

Shaikh and A.Green are serious players.

R.Patel Eskinazi Ahmed Shaikh Kelly Cox B.Green Holland ? A.Patel A.Green Ahmed coming in is great as he goes in at 3 where we've had the revolving door and gives us 2 spin options meaning Rizvi isn't required. I feel like the last slot is interesting... Scriven is generally more reliable, but Mike could be ideal if quick runs are required, he and B.Green could rack up some big runs quickly in the last overs. Bowling wise he could bowl 4 overs for 40 runs or he could snag a couple key wickets. I think as it's a knock out game I'd go Mike, though it feels risky even typing it!

R.Patel Budinger Shaikh Kelly Ahmed Eskinazi Cox (wk) A.Patel B.Green Scriven (Holland probably) A.Green Would be my side for the run in, and agree about the two spinners on what will be dry tracks. I think that looks decent and better balanced than the first half of the season. I think 3 has been a bit of a problem for us so Shaikh who has batted there could solve that long term. Alternatively he could open if Budinger isn't fit and you make room for Gumbs (who could also open) or Tattersall. Bowling wise Davey and Holland are other options, probably likely over A.Green or Scrivo especially as Holland is captain but I must admit I'd prefer to see Scrivo and both Greens.

Cox is in my opinion our best all format player. Patel is also very good but not as consistent. Some balls up to have both signing elsewhere.

A good start for Shaikh and a timely indication that he's hopefully got the potential to be a decent player given that next season he will likely need to replace the runs of the other player who went big in Patel.

At least Scrivo is back.

Aye bit harsh to criticise a fan for supporting their team too much. Ben Mike for England is hardly an outrageous comment. Everyone knows he'd have been leading the Ashes attack in if he golfed and drank more.

Turned down a Warks contract to sign with us so hopefully a good sign he has potential. I like the signing, said a few weeks ago that signings of the ilk of Patel and Scriven - young, hungry and wanting an opportunity should provide the spine of the side supplemented by experience as opposed to the dad's army approach. Good scouting and talent id is vital do hopefully we've spotted something here.

They have ways of getting you out. Batters would face a stern interrogation and going over from their attack.

Thomas has to take the brunt of the blame. Just look at the t20 campaign: Even allowing for injuries selection is musical chairs. Nobody could predict our XI from one game to another. The batting order is musical chairs. Players up, down and everywhere. We don't seem to have anyone with the bottle to open and then to do well. Budinger, Patel, Ahmed, Eskinazi, Mike, Green and possibly others have had a go. 8 players bowled last night and nobody knows who are best attack is. de Swardt is another signing where he bats a bit and bowls a bit but offers no certainty to this side. Should have aimed for a gun batter or bowler to at least fill one role in a side that looks all at sea right now. It's not his fault and to be fair maybe a case of who is available and we should just be grateful they got anyone in. Performances haven't helped but there is no consistency or stability. No structure to the team. It's become cyclical where we're shite so he has to tinker and rinse and repeat.

Get what you're saying but they're both 28. Mulder has played twice as many first class games and many more t20s but he has 15 first class tons, 3 of them at test level. de Swardt has 3 first class tons. Mulder has 12 t20 50s, de Swardt has none. Mulder 235 wickets at 26. de Swardt 86 at 30. I hope de Swardt does well and I think he's a solid addition given his all round skill set across formats. But my expectations aren't particularly high.