Essex County Cricket 2011 Season

[Dick Bate's Protege]

Well if DBP is alluding to what i suspect then i'm sickened and horrified, i know it goes on .. hell the world does after the recent high profile shenanigans .. but to find an Essex captain implicit is revolting to me :sick:

Sorry I wasn't very clear. I'm actually alluding to quite the opposite; the rumour I heard was that he may have been involved in revealing to the authorities what was allegedly going on and felt that he could no longer skipper the side having effectively shopped two of his own.

If this is in anyway unsuitable for the forum, please remove. Again it was only rumour, but the person who told me is far to old and sensible to get involved in mere here-say. If true it says a lot for him as far as I'm concerned.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Sorry I wasn't very clear. I'm actually alluding to quite the opposite; the rumour I heard was that he may have been involved in revealing to the authorities what was allegedly going on and felt that he could no longer skipper the side having effectively shopped two of his own.

If this is in anyway unsuitable for the forum, please remove. Again it was only rumour, but the person who told me is far to old and sensible to get involved in mere here-say. If true it says a lot for him as far as I'm concerned.

I think you've included enough "alleged" and the like words for it to be ok, and thanks for clearing up your meaning, i certainly feel a lot better about things now ...

Back to "on the pitch" matters and the friendly with Cambridge is petering into a draw however Chris Wright who came in as night watchman hit 77 off 65 balls and Alaistair Cook is 77* at lunch

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

So night'watchman is now a swear word... :winking:

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Nightwatchman is a dirty word in some people's books, but I don't have an issue with it myself.

In fact I prefer Wright in that role than as a bowler.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

So night'watchman is now a swear word... :winking:

Hahaha .. good spot :smile:

 

[canveyshrimper]

The season starts today, the earliest start to a cricket season ever, and it looks like the weather is set fair at least as we take on K*nt, with Reece Topley in the 12. I had been told that Essex would sign Kiwi Tim Southee, but he has instead opted for the riches of the IPL. :sad: Paul Grayson & David East have both stated that an overseas bowler will be here to play our second championship game against Middlesex.

 

[Grayson]

Reece Topley plays, according to Sky Sports News who just did an interview with Don.

In other news, we've signed Saffy bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe as overseas player.

 

[number11]

Essex team
AN Cook, BA Godleman, JC Mickleburgh, RS Bopara, MJ Walker, T Westley, JS Foster*†, TJ Phillips, DD Masters, MA Chambers, RJW Topley
Kent team
RWT Key*, JL Denly, SA Northeast, M van Jaarsveld, GO Jones†, DI Stevens, JC Tredwell, AJ Blake, SJ Cook, RH Joseph


Teams listed on Cricinfo. Good start for Essex as Kent's troubles are worse than I thought and they appear to be playing with 10 men.

Looks like 2 teams with batting their strongest suit. I know its early season pitches, but with the sun out, is this a draw in prospect?!

 

[Grayson]

I'd imagine Charlie Shreck is the man missing from that list, as he signed for them yesterday on loan. I can't see us bowling them out today.

EDIT: Just as I say that, Masters bowls fat-boy Key. Great start.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

*sigh*

Makes me wish I was at Chelmsford - not least to see how young Mr. Northeast is progressing...

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Reece Topley plays, according to Sky Sports News who just did an interview with Don.

In other news, we've signed Saffy bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe as overseas player.

I'm underwhelmed by the signing of Lopsy Tsotsobe. I wanted someone who could lead the attack in championship cricket and I'm not sure he's the man. He's not express, he's more of a left-armed Masters. If we wanted a left-arm medium pacer who gets a bit of bounce - is that not young Topley? I don't think he'll be taking the workload off of Napier and Chambers and he's not all that experienced - just five tests and he's been bowled after Kallis in at least some of those, so he's not exactly the leader of the attack. I suspect we've signed him with an eye on the one-day stuff, which is a bit depressing.

Mind you, I was underwhelmed by the last South African we signed, Amla, and he was an outstanding signing so let's hope I'm wrong again.

*sigh*

Makes me wish I was at Chelmsford - not least to see how young Mr. Northeast is progressing...

Sadly still in according to cricinfo.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

A wicket with his third ball in Championship cricket.

I think I'm officially on the Reece Topley bandwagon:loyalsupporter:

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Kent now 42-3, Topley getting Denly with his 3rd ball, and now Masters has got van Jaaarsveld

Edit - Cricinfo has Topley as LMF, I'm sure I read somewhere that he'd been timed at 90mph +

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

In other news, we've signed Saffy bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe as overseas player.

Lopsy joins Essex

Why isn't Danish re-signing for us, incidentally? He was cleared in the spot-fixing inquiry in which Westfield is implicated, wasn't he?

 

[canveyshrimper]

Kent now 42-3, Topley getting Denly with his 3rd ball, and now Masters has got van Jaaarsveld

Edit - Cricinfo has Topley as LMF, I'm sure I read somewhere that he'd been timed at 90mph +

Indeed I've been told that Topley is quick. I'm not sure about Tsotsobe, but Essex do have a history of bringing in unheralded overseas players and them becoming very good players in turn. But then we've also signed Hugh Page & Scott Brandt in the past.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

I'm sure I read somewhere that he'd been timed at 90mph +

Feck, that's fast for someone of his tender years.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Kent now 42-3, Topley getting Denly with his 3rd ball, and now Masters has got van Jaaarsveld

Edit - Cricinfo has Topley as LMF, I'm sure I read somewhere that he'd been timed at 90mph +

Is that Topley or another young left-armer Tymal Mills?

Indeed I've been told that Topley is quick. I'm not sure about Tsotsobe, but Essex do have a history of bringing in unheralded overseas players and them becoming very good players in turn. But then we've also signed Hugh Page & Scott Brandt in the past.

Brandt was a left-armer as well, wasn't he?

 

[canveyshrimper]

Feck, that's fast for someone of his tender years.

64/3 in the 20th over with Northeast on 22*, he's another highly rated young player.

Confirmation of Tsotsobe signing here. It's a shame we missed out on Tim Southee.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

90/4. Masters picks up Jones, gives him figures of 7.3-0-22-3 :clap:

Edit - just looked at Kent's line-up and Tredwell is due in next :hilarious:. So this means they'll comfortably rack up 300+ from here...:sad:

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Very tidy spell from Masters, this. All 4 have been bowled, which is unusual!