Essex v Lancs

[Hong Kong Blue]

Too depressing to talk about the test, however I see Essex are nicely placed at 225-4.

Grant Flower, my tip for player of the season, out just before tea for 115.

Andy Flower (39no) to be joined by the skipper.

[The General]

Now 272-4. The only problem is that Keedy's figures are pretty poor and he's one of the best spinners (if not, the best) in the country. Perhaps that's why we batted first so we can bowl them out cheaply in the 4th innings when the spin will really take affect. Luckily they no longer have Murali, but Symonds instead ...

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[The General]

279-4 at close of play.

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Hong Kong Blue @ July 21 2005,16:39)]Grant Flower, my tip for player of the season
*swoon*

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5th batting point duly collected - 451/6 off 126.4 overs. Top effort from Andy Flower - 117 n.o. - and good to see Middlebrook amongst the runs too with 51 n.o..

Time to accelerate the scoring, presumably, try and get up to about 530-ish by tea, and then put them in with a spot of Kaneria to face...

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Come on Essex!

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[Hong Kong Blue]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ July 22 2005,14:29)]
Quote[/b] (Hong Kong Blue @ July 21 2005,16:39)]Grant Flower, my tip for player of the season
*swoon*

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/suspect.gif *http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

5th batting point duly collected - 451/6 off 126.4 overs. *Top effort from Andy Flower - 117 n.o. - and good to see Middlebrook amongst the runs too with 51 n.o..

Time to accelerate the scoring, presumably, try and get up to about 530-ish by tea, and then put them in with a spot of Kaneria to face...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Come on Essex!

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MtS

I opposed signing Grant Flower as it was a backward step signing a 30+ Zimbabwean whose test record was mediocre at the best, as it would block the progress of young English talent like Bopara, Pettini and Tim Phillips. I did however say that he was a good one-day player and having been so opposed to his signing, he would no doubt score 1000 fc runs and be our player of the season.

I think his brother will probably be our player of the season, and I have no problem with Essex signing a former no.1 in the world as someone like that is an ideal role model. Players like Andy Flower and Kaneria are world class performers whose presence can benefit English cricket, however I continue to oppose signing overseas players who are bits and pieces one-day specialists - and you can include Andre Adams in that camp.

ps 499-7

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Hong Kong Blue @ July 22 2005,15:04)]
Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ July 22 2005,14:29)]
Quote[/b] (Hong Kong Blue @ July 21 2005,16:39)]Grant Flower, my tip for player of the season
*swoon*

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/suspect.gif *http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

5th batting point duly collected - 451/6 off 126.4 overs. *Top effort from Andy Flower - 117 n.o. - and good to see Middlebrook amongst the runs too with 51 n.o..

Time to accelerate the scoring, presumably, try and get up to about 530-ish by tea, and then put them in with a spot of Kaneria to face...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Come on Essex!

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
MtS

I opposed signing Grant Flower as it was a backward step signing a 30+ Zimbabwean whose test record was mediocre at the best, as it would block the progress of young English talent like Bopara, Pettini and Tim Phillips. I did however say that he was a good one-day player and having been so opposed to his signing, he would no doubt score 1000 fc runs and be our player of the season.

I think his brother will probably be our player of the season, and I have no problem with Essex signing a former no.1 in the world as someone like that is an ideal role model. Players like Andy Flower and Kaneria are world class performers whose presence can benefit English cricket, however I continue to oppose signing overseas players who are bits and pieces one-day specialists - and you can include Andre Adams in that camp.

ps 499-7
What about Dale Steyn or Andre Nel???

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Hong Kong Blue @ July 22 2005,15:04)]I opposed signing Grant Flower as it was a backward step signing a 30+ Zimbabwean whose test record was mediocre at the best, as it would block the progress of young English talent like Bopara, Pettini and Tim Phillips.
Totally agree, mate - hence the laugh face. *Sorry - thought I'd made my views on Grant Flower clear on many occasions. Completely agree with your comments about Flower & Kaneria as well.

Anyhow, back to the cricket. *Essex have gone for the thrash as predicted - from 451/7 after 127 overs to 536/9 after 140... that's 88 off the last 13 overs, which is almost 7 an over.

Personally, I'd declare just to have the satisfaction of declaring and get stuck into 'em straight after tea.

[Hong Kong Blue]

Dale Steyn I opposed on the basis that it was a short-term contract which was going to benefit Steyn and South Africa far more than it benefitted Essex and England. Counties shouldn't be helping to prepare raw players to play test cricket against England, or adapt to English conditions immediately before a test series.

Andre Nel, being older, more experienced and a more established international cricket is a far better signing. He'll improve the standard and hopefully a few of our players will learn from his intensity.

[Hong Kong Blue]

The above criticised Andre Adams hitting 48 off 24 balls with 3 fours and 5 sixes!

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ July 22 2005,15:22)]Anyhow, back to the cricket. *Essex have gone for the thrash as predicted - from 451/7 after 127 overs to 536/9 after 140... that's 88 off the last 13 overs, which is almost 7 an over.
Including a 20:20esque 48 off 24 balls by Andre Adams.

[The General]

26-1 off 15 overs (you do the maths) and its tea-time and DK has had an over already so it looks like he'll be bowling a rather large stint ...

[canveyshrimper]

Old Trafford is normally a spinners paradise so i think Middlebrook and G Flower will get some overs under their belts.

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Hong Kong Blue @ July 22 2005,15:26)]Dale Steyn I opposed on the basis that it was a short-term contract which was going to benefit Steyn and South Africa far more than it benefitted Essex and England. Counties shouldn't be helping to prepare raw players to play test cricket against England, or adapt to English conditions immediately before a test series.

Andre Nel, being older, more experienced and a more established international cricket is a far better signing. He'll improve the standard and hopefully a few of our players will learn from his intensity.
HKB - tend to agree with you about Steyn, although he did well fopr us. Nel is a bit crazy, but with Tudor & Cowan out & Goughie only just coming back from the one day stuff we are limited to Plladino & Adams. Plus the loanee from Yorks who does not look like he will play again. Palladino looks a good prospect.

I disagree with you about Adams as he has been a valuable signing, maybe bits and pieces but scores valuable runs, picks up wickets & is a brilliant fielder.

[Matt the Shrimp]

Blimey - the Essec v. Lancs game turned into a bit of a runs orgy. Mal Loye hit 194 and Andrew Symonds 134 as Lancs reached 655/6 dec. I imagine the rest of the game was rained off, as neither side played a second innings. *As a result of our inability to take wickets, Lancs outpointed us in the bonus points stakes as well - 6 to 5.

Kaneria returned possibly his worst figures ever as well (and the poor sod was asked to bowl too much - 70.2 overs, for heaven's sake!)... 0/208.

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Hey ho.

Matt

[Hong Kong Blue]

Quote[/b] (Hong Kong Blue @ July 22 2005,15:04)]I opposed signing Grant Flower as it was a backward step signing a 30+ Zimbabwean whose test record was mediocre at the best, as it would block the progress of young English talent like Bopara, Pettini and Tim Phillips. I did however say that he was a good one-day player and having been so opposed to his signing, he would no doubt score 1000 fc runs and be our player of the season.

I think his brother will probably be our player of the season, and I have no problem with Essex signing a former no.1 in the world as someone like that is an ideal role model. Players like Andy Flower and Kaneria are world class performers whose presence can benefit English cricket, however I continue to oppose signing overseas players who are bits and pieces one-day specialists - and you can include Andre Adams in that camp.

ps 499-7
How Kaneria as Essex's overseas player can benefit England (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/essex/4723711.stm)

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[Matt the Shrimp]

Today's play has been entirely washed out by the weather.

Only a captain's agreement over declarations etc. will get a result now, I'd have thought...

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[Museshrimper]

Wrong match, sir.