Cricket Update

[Matt the Shrimp]

Just noted that...

* In what is probably a dead rubber in the C&G, given the way that Sussex has dominated the Southern division, we beat Kent comfortably in the competition on Sunday.

* England were hammered again by Sri Lanka in London - first at Lords, now at the Oval. Not good.

* Andy Bichel has slipped quietly into the Essex ranks in the last couple of days, and is now turning his arm over for the county. He could make a big difference for us in the second half of the season.

- - -

Currently we're playing Derbyshire in Derby who, having won the toss and elected to bat, made 312 all out thanks largely to Tim Birt's gritty 130.

Very pleasingly, Alex Tudor is back among the wickets - which is a great sight to see. 4/76 is a super return - his best in two years - backed up by 2/36 from Ravi Bopara and 2/54 from Andy Bichel.

Essex are now 17/0 in reply.

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[canveyshrimper]

Good to see Alex Tudor back with some wickets, if he could stay fit he would be a class act, he can still hold a bat as well.

The addition of Andy Bichel will also add a bit of penetration to the bowling attack.

The England one day side is going round in circles at the moment.

[Matt the Shrimp]

Essex are 60/0 at the mo - so far, so good!

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[Stats]

Speaking of the C&G trophy this season, whats peoples verdict on the new format?

Personally I think its crap, we now have no pure knockout cup comps

For instance if your side loses your first 4 games your def out of the running for getting to lords. The rest of your games are pointless you'd be better off having the extra days off to recoup after all the championship games are still going on around the C&G games

I read some southern side played a game up north finished 6pm on the saturday then had to travel back down south directly after to play the C&G game the following day. Some of the players only got 4hrs kip

[canveyshrimper]

The format where only the top two teams go through to the final is fatally flawed. If they stick to the basis of this format then at least the top 2 sides in each section should go into a semi final. I think the idea of the current method is to get the county clubs more revenue, but long term i can't see this working.

I think the ECB should cut their losses and revert to the knock out system asap.

[MrB]

The whole tournament format is a joke, if it's not changed next year I'll be amazed.

Chopra's just gone for 65, 123-2 and need a partnership from Bop and Flower.

[The General]

Sh*t format.

England seem to be getting worse at the one dayers. How much did we get bowled out for in the end yesterday?! I've lost all interest in cricket at the moment, mainly due to the inconsistancy of Essex and England!

Kev

[MrB]

191-2, looking more encouraging. If these two can stay in till close and we can have a good day tomorrow we could be in business.

[Matt the Shrimp]

Yep, very crap format - not least because if one side gets off to a flyer (e.g. Sussex), you end up with a lot of completely meaningless games - and that has to be bad for the competition.

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[Stats]

With the old format you used to get the county board XI's playing against countys in the first round, this always gave the potential for a shock just like a non league side beating a league side in the fa cup.

Whereas now you get none of that

Shocking to think that you can now get to the final probably realistically losing 2/3 games on the way

Mickey Mouse cup

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (statski77 @ June 21 2006,19:45)]Mickey Mouse cup
I don't agree with that. It is Mickey Mouse organisation, and typical of the ECB.

[canveyshrimper]

Essex 386 all out giving a lead of 74.

Latest Derby 10/2

[MrB]

12/3, a dream start!! Bichel with 2-4.

[MrB]

Bad Light stopped play though.

[MrB]

19-4!

[MrB]

26-5, could be over today at this rate. Bichel now on 4-9!

[Matt the Shrimp]

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27/5... Bichel is running riot!! Current figures:

O M R W
10 4 9 4

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[canveyshrimper]

With the occasional inability Essex have in bowling sides out i expect it to 527/5 by this time tomorrow. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[MrB]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ June 22 2006,15:41)]With the occasional inability Essex have in bowling sides out i expect it to 527/5 by this time tomorrow. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
Don't jest....

83-5 http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/glare.gif

We will need to bat again.

[MrB]

Ok, Bichel is back on again. 92-7 and he has 6-17.

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (MrB @ June 22 2006,16:37)]Ok, Bichel is back on again. *92-7 and he has 6-17.
Might be able to seal the win tonight all being well.

[Museshrimper]

98-8

[Matt the Shrimp]

132/8. We appear to have a one-man bowling attack - reminds me of a quote about facing New Zealand, and Sir Richard Hadlee in particular, in the 1980s:

"It's like facing the World XI at one end, and St. Mungo's Primary under-11 second team at the other end..."

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[stickyboy]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ June 21 2006,14:02)]The format where only the top two teams go through to the final is fatally flawed. If they stick to the basis of this format then at least the top 2 sides in each section should go into a semi final. I think the idea of the current method is to get the county clubs more revenue, but long term i can't see this working.

I think the ECB should cut their losses and revert to the knock out system asap.
The ECB have announced that they are introducing a semi-final stage in the competition for next season so now the top 2 will qualify. An improvement but still prefer the knockout system for this and go back to a full season of the Pro 40 league rather than just 8 games as is this year

[Matt the Shrimp]

All wrapped up last night...

Scorecard - Essex beat Derbyshire by 8 wickets (http://www.sportinglife.com/cricket/scorecard/12548.html)
Report - Derbyshire v. Essex (http://www.sportinglife.com/cricket/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=cricket/06/06/22/CRICKET_Derbyshire_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=)

I noticed this in particular:

"It means Derbyshire's miserable run at home continues and it is now more than four years and 32 matches since they won a championship match at the County Ground."

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Blimey! Bet home games in Derby are a laugh...

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Top result. I see that Bichel is going to make an enormous difference for the second half of the season... top man!

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[Bluesmanager]

I've seen some useless records in my time but 4 years without a home win?! Must be fun looking at the fixtures... "Derby away June 23-27th - Another win then."

[Matt the Shrimp]

Oi Stats, Essex beat your beloved brown caps by 6 wickets with 34 overs to spare...

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Still, it goes to show what a farce the league format for the C&G is, when both sides put out only second teams - Surrey with only four recognised first-teamers...

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Essex v. Surrey - scorecard (http://www.sportinglife.com/cricket/scorecard/12600.html)
Essex v. Surrey - report (http://www.sportinglife.com/cricket/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=cricket/06/06/25/CRICKET_Essex_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=)

[Stats]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ June 26 2006,12:21)]Oi Stats, Essex beat your beloved brown caps by 6 wickets with 34 overs to spare...

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Still, it goes to show what a farce the league format for the C&G is, when both sides put out only second teams - Surrey with only four recognised first-teamers...

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Essex v. Surrey - scorecard (http://www.sportinglife.com/cricket/scorecard/12600.html)
Essex v. Surrey - report (http://www.sportinglife.com/cricket/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=cricket/06/06/25/CRICKET_Essex_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=)
You said it SCCC only putting out 4 first teamers http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Our 1 day 50 over form is shocking, our batting is ok sometimes but the bowling is no more than buffet style which opposition batsmen tuck into with ease

Still bring on the 20/20