CrawlingFox

https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/2025/09/01/english-wicketkeeper-determined-to-take-second-shot-at-pro-game-with-desert-vipers-in-ilt20/?s=34 Article also includes Arron Lilley, quite interesting to read what he's up to.

That's very true. 2 England internationals with another seemingly on the way suggests the academy is managing quality over quantity! Wood has had quite a few games this season and hopefully will develop into a solid county pro. He seems to bat a bit and bowl a bit and could do a lot worse than try to emulate Scrivo who is a similar style player but almost 6 years older. Scrivo probably only looked a county player at about 23/24 so Wood should be given time.

Not a good look for us that we played so poorly whilst having the lowest number of players under 25 in the tournament. Hull and Ahmed missing doesn't help that stat but it's still disappointing.

Mike hits a long ball. Next season I'd like to see him used at 5 or 6 in white ball cricket. Think he'd more than replace Kimber's runs in that role. Eskinazi Budinger Patel Overseas bat Mike

Glos have backed their academy big time in recent years. Payne, Dent, both Taylors and then Bracey and Hammond were the first generation. Now the brothers Price, Charlesworth, Phillips, Boorman, Goodman and Bailey have followed them off the production line with others on the periphery and Miles who was an earlier product coming back. Think they're losing a few to other counties (Tom Price and Goodman plus maybe Bailey?) but I've a lot of time for their approach. They've probably been as shite as us a lot of the time but won the T20 last season with 8 homegrown players in the XI which is impressive. Ahmed, Hull and now Green have been a pleasure to see emerge in recent years and hope more follow.

Posted before but in comparison with Tattersal: Eskinazi last few seasons: County Champ: 2025 (D2): 4 games avg 37 with 2 50s 2024 (D2): 5 games avg 30 with 1 50 2023 (D1): 10 games avg 18 with 1 50 T20/Hundred: 2025: 14 games avg 35 with 4 50s 2024: 15 games avg 19 with 0 50s 2023: 26 games avg 31 with 5 50s Tattersall: County Champ: 2025 (D1): 2 games avg 13 with 0 50s 2024 (D2): 14 games avg 40 with 2 200s and 2 50s 2023 (D1): 9 games avg 21 with 1 50 T20 2025 + 2024: Didn't play 2023: 12 games avg 14 0 50s Really not seeing what either bring beyond experience and a decent 20 record for the former.

That over was Ben Mike in a nutshell. Carted twice then a woeful wide that Cox had to go full dive for, another ball that was borderline wide but Benkenstein went after and got him a wicket and then an absolute beauty to clean bowl Campher.

Top order looks poorer without this season's Rehan at 3. Budinger hasn't been too bad, seems to be getting better and better but Rishi has been having a pretty poor season. Holland hasn't shored it up today but to be honest I'm very disappointed in Masood, ok knock today but overall he's been below par when I really expected him to be really strengthening the top 3 at this stage of the season.

Good to see Mike back and having a few good swings late on. He can hit a long ball, surprised we've never tried him up the order in t20.

Maybe it's a really comfy deck chair?!

Eskinazi last few seasons: County Champ D2: 2025: 4 games avg 37 with 2 50s 2024: 5 games avg 30 with 1 50 2023 (D1): 10 games avg 18 with 1 50 T20/Hundred: 2025: 14 games avg 35 with 4 50s 2024: 15 games avg 19 with 0 50s 2023: 26 games avg 31 with 5 50s Based on the numbers should bolster the white ball top order but won't be offering much in red ball cricket.

Green was good again, looks like we've a serious player on our hands if he stays injury free and on his current trajectory. We made it close but think our total was that bit short. Fair play to the two Glos batters who saw it through.

I think they really wanted a tournament to kick off franchise cricket and the existing tv deal with Sky for the Blast meant it couldn't be another T20 comp. I will be very surprised if they aren't binning the hundred ball format (though keeping the name for now) and adopting the T20 format from next year. Was always the plan after 5 years I reckon and what the recent investors will be expecting.

Looks a serious player.

Good start for Green. Looks to have filled out a bit since last season, big unit.

Yeah agreed, Green feels like he's the other talent who is ready to play more first team games this season. Then like you say would hope to see Dunk or Madan starting to really establish themselves at second XI level next season and make a case with runs for an opportunity this time next year.

Yeah both signings that perhaps weren't the most exciting at the time but they're absolute key players for the run in now.

It's great (in terms of recognition) that Hull and Ahmed have done well enough for themselves that they're away at the Hundred. Hope to see Wood and Green getting decent gametime and the academy conveyor belt of talent continuing. With Swindells retiring and Hill aging it would be nice to see an academy batter breaking in too. Looking at second XI stats nobody is banging the door down this season though Dunk has had a couple 70+ scores.

I think Tattersall would make a lot of sense, he's a very decent batter and at 30 gives us more longevity in the keeping options compared to the existing three. If you look at the ages as of next season for what's been our first choice/best XI or I'd guess would be next season if all still here: Patel (27) Budinger (26) Ahmed (21) Hill (35) Handscomb (35) Holland (35) Cox (34) Van Beek (35) Green (28) Scriven (27) One of Hull (21) or Mike (27) The middle order from 4 to 8 is all really getting on so good to be prepared for them either retiring or their form dropping off. The two overseas are somewhat easier to replace obviously but Hill, Cox and Holland have been our engine. Good news is the rest of the side is peak age or young. I do think Scrivo is good enough with the bat to go in at 6 too.

Who are we after? Swindells retiring and at the start of next season Cox will be 34 and both Hill and Handscomb (if he's here) will be 35. Unless Maddy whose been keeping for the seconds is fancied then a keeper in their 20s would be sensible.

Great to see Patel with a 50. A return to his best form and the run in looks much smoother. Hope he goes on to a ton.

They want their Hundred franchises as the top tier of red ball cricket as well. County cricket relegated to a second tier, the big counties happy as they still host the franchises and the small counties paid off the same way they got the Hundred over the line. The Hundred will soon move to the t20 format also.

Those numbers at Lancs or Surrey probably get you test caps. Shame he hasn't had the opportunity in D1 to see if he can do the same. Bear in mind he used to open batting and bowling for them as well, serious player.

Agree. Taylor has told them "Luis Reece has a ball with your name on it at some point so score as many as you can before he gets you".

Kimber knew full well that there was no point hanging about and the best shout was to get Derbyshire out there for Rehan asap. Even shared that wisdom with the tail.