CrawlingFox

First time anyone's thanked someone for reminding them of George Rhodes! Batting lineup with Evans, Rhodes and Dearden. Attack of Griffiths, Davis and Sakande. Turgid times. I'll take what we have now!

I'd not be against trialling Mike coming in earlier in t20. I've long thought his batting has more potential than his bowling and he scores quickly in t20 and can clear the ropes with ease when on song.

Whilst I agree I think the evidence of recent years would suggest we'd only miss it in a couple games. Be interesting to see if Northants are able to get some consistency out of him.

The amount of cricketers sat around when they could be playing is a growing issue, whether it's Ahmed in the IPL or Helm this week it just does nobody any favours.

Could be he's next cab off the rank if they need a pace bowling sub?

So far I think we can be reasonably happy with our batting, it's not all gone swimmingly but Weatherald, Eskinazi and Tattersall I would all say look to have strengthened us for the step up and Patel and Cox seem to be thriving. That of course is only 5 players with a pretty big hole at 3 currently. Of note is that Ahmed did a superb and unorthodox job for us there last season and it's frustrating to be missing him. Budinger not at the same level. I don't know what NZ's schedule looks like but can't help but feel asking Nick Kelly if he can play some red ball stuff (he has a good record) during and after his t20 stint might shore up the top order a bit given A.Patel isn't proving effective with the ball. Ideally we'd look for an overseas quick, it's obvious we badly need one. Bowling wise Green has looked a very solid contributor, bowls a lot of overs, doesn't go for many and taking wickets. Beyond that though it was clear that Helm looked a step up on the rest of the attack. Helm for longer would be great but Thomas needs to plug the other holes quickly: Patel Weatherald - Eskinazi Tattersall - Cox (wk) Green - Helm - If Holland is captain then he could go in at 8 or pushing it at 6, clear he's not a top order batting at this level though. Worryingly unless conditions and pitches change he's not taking many wickets either.

3 wickets at 125 and an economy over 5 this season. Career bowling average is 48. I'm always wanting academy players to do well but Hull has a long way to go if he's going to be a decent red ball cricketer. I felt relieved to see him dropped, hope he goes well in the t20, and with confidence high can come back into the side later in the season.

I'd go: Patel Weatherald Hill Eskinazi Tattersall Holland Cox B.Green Scriven Helm A.Green/A.Patel The last pick based on conditions and pitch but I'd play A.Green over Hull who I think has been struggling and the continued lack of wickets isn't helping his confidence. 5 man attack means Green can be protected if he suffers the same fate but I think he has a bit about him and could do well. We bat deep with Green and Scrivo but would tempted to bring in Budinger for one of them at 3 to help ensure the middle order get a platform but don't think we can risk a 4 man attack with the way we're bowling and we don't really have any part timers.

That's a decent loan signing. Ben Mike back fit and playing for the second XI too. Batted well, bowled expensively.

Hull's figures this season: 1/121 0/52 2/84 0/19 0/85 3 wickets at an eye watering 120, and going at Ben Mike economy. Career first class average approaching 50 now... I know we don't exactly have a wealth of options to swap in but he might benefit from some time in the seconds because he's struggling. Boost his confidence for the Blast where in contrast he'll be vital. I'd say a 5 for in the second innings might prove me wrong but probably won't get the chance.

Something something Ben Cox.

Agree about the bowling. Guys like Scrivo and Ben Green I think are solid first change bowlers. Wood looks like he's of the same mould. Holland and Davey, the old stagers are going to be lethal on certain pitches and in certain conditions but those are not perhaps what we're seeing so far. Mike will take some wickets if he plays but will go for buckets. Hull has all the raw materials to be the strike bowler and point of difference but it's not come together for us so far at all really, an average of 45.87 after 24 games speaks for itself. It looks like signing an overseas genuine fast bowler would have been a better shout at the moment, not only to liven up the attack but to mentor Hull and Alex Green as well.

Johnson played a handful of games for our seconds a few seasons ago it seems? 359 runs in one match is some going!

Who was the commentator who described Ben Mike as "the black headed Mike" as he ran in to bowl?

I liked Rae, dropped the odd clanger but had a calming voice.

That's Cox 5th first class ton and really pleased to see him get it. Has looked a much better bat for us than his record would suggest and think that's because he spends so much time selflessly batting with the tail and salvaging situations when the top order hasn't fired. Deserved this one.

The national team couldn't be more disrespectful to the County game than it's been in recent years. I've never understood this argument to be honest. Think the net benefit of overseas players is by far more weighted towards the county game rather than the OS players getting some exposure to county pitches (which don't often resemble those England will use in anycase).

The value and problem with both of these is that it's not really clear whether either is a better batter or bowler. Though I think on both counts Scrivo is a more reliable option than Mike who with the ball will be almost unplayable very occasionally but spanked to all parts the rest of the time. In D2 it worked well as it meant we always had a long tail, especially with Holland, Ahmed and Green also contributing with both bat and ball. But in D1 it remains to be seen whether it comes off. D2 success was built on that long tail of all rounders and an aging middle order engine of Hill, Handscomb and Holland. Right now it's hard to see where the quality in our side is to manage the step up I think.

I wonder whether we should have persevered with him. He had the mentality and ability to bat for long periods as shown by 4 tons at county level. He only averaged about 28 I think but his real problem was scoring at snail pace, I just wonder that surely the batting coach could have worked on that and added more scoring shots to his game. Mind you could say the same about Hassan Azad. Perhaps they tried and he just couldn't do it but players with the mentality to bat long are rare.

He was in the Scotland A squad announced a couple weeks ago, his club was listed as Whitstable so assuming he's no longer linked with Leicestershire. Played a seconds game for Gloucestershire at the end of last season too so assume he was looking for a go there.

Sam Evans? Was far too slow but otherwise a reasonably solid opening bat. Not a world beater but that's a tough job, 3 tons in the 21 season but not much after that.

To be fair to Hull if you look at the top wicket taking pace bowlers in division two this season you're looking at: Reece, Roland-Jones, Higgins, Dale, Balderson, Bailey and Holland. Dale is quick but the reality is that County pitches and English conditions aren't doing many fast bowlers any favours. Dale actually took 40 wickets at 30, Hull had 19 at 30.7 so actually a significant improvement on his previous record (at 4 an over mind) so I think he's heading in the right direction. Division one is no different and Hull would do well to look at the likes of Dale and Tongue as pace bowlers who have learned to be effective in County Cricket. He may have Green breathing down his neck as well soon to spur him on!

110/6 = 18.33 18.33/40 = 45p per over 96/3 = 32 32/100 = 32p per over It's a bargain! But yes that seems very odd.

Mon!!!

Patel has averaged 27.8 with a ton and 3 fifties this season in the CC as of this post. Budinger has averaged 32.5 with a ton and 2 fifties. Interestingly they've both faced about 730 balls though Budinger's superior scoring rate means he's scored 618 runs vs Patel's 389. Patel still in so may improve on the above. Don't think either are good enough to be opening in Div 1 next season. Patel is hopefully having a poor season though last season he only averaged 36 with again a solitary ton and 3 fifties so is it a bad season or is this his level and his breakthrough season a one off. Budinger is a white ball player who is doing an ok job for us but not really good enough. Some counties have had good mileage out of the likes of Jewell or Bancroft so wonder whether someone like Renshaw might have been a good investment of an overseas slot up top.