Hampshire Cricket History

An extraordinary dismissal, the ball after Balcombe’s below. Coles bowled to Tomlinson down the leg side, you can see Tomlinson playing at it and missing. The ball is in the top right of the picture, already past the wicket which is intact and it seemed that moments later Kent appealed for a catch behind. Then they spotted the off bail on the ground. Apparently the ball flicked the leg bail which caused a slightly delayed reaction and the off bail was dislodged. Tomlinson briefly stood his ground, bewildered to be given out. (Click on the picture to enlarge it)

After a useful partnership between Adams and Mascarenhas, the latter was dismissed at 143-7. Balcombe then lasted four balls before (above) he is about to be caught by Stevens off Coles for one run (144-8). Tomlinson was bowled next ball but Briggs survived the ‘hat trick’ and then gave Adams terrific support in an unbeaten stand of 42

Hampshire’s Jimmy Adams facing Kent’s James Tredwell towards the end of this afternoon’s thrilling battle. Hampshire’s Adams must have dismayed his namesake, the Kent coach, and I was reminded more than once of David Lloyd’s “we flipping murdered them” comment after a Test some years ago. Kent dominated most of the game but Adams was superb in both innings and Briggs gave him terrific support at the end.

We’re hoping that there won’t be any more scenes like this today although the match situation offers little for Hampshire apart from an opportunity for batsmen like Vince and Shafayat to make good first innings failures. Incidentally, just under four hours was lost yesterday so the season’s Championship total as we approach the end of match number 11 is now 92.5 HOURS.

You may know that all home matches can be followed ball-by-ball via Beatport online radio which takes a feed from Hampshire’s long established Hospital Broadcasting service. Full details can be found on Hampshire’s website.

In addition, if you have a question for us during the broadcasts you can make contact by posting a comment on this Blog. Just click on Comment below, fill in your details and ask away. We will monitor the Blog and wherever possible, reply on air and via a Comment back or perhaps an email

On the left is the guest speaker, Sir Peter Coulson, educated in Hampshire and a great fan of the 1973 Champions. Also in the picture, on the front table are Raj Maru, ‘Cardie’, and Tim Tremlett

The first of a few shots from yesterday’s reunion of Hampshire cricketers. On the front table, John Manners (right) drove himself from Hungerford at the age of 97! On the left young Leo Harrison (90) talks about the 1961 title with Malcolm Heath. In the centre another Champion, Jimmy Gray explains how it’s done to Rod Bransgrove.

On the table behind, more ‘keepers – Adi Aymes and Chris Goldie with pace bowler Kevin Emery

It’s clear that Hampshire are most effective in crucial T20 matches when using a runner – maybe it should be a regular feature from now!

T20 UPDATE: Thursday morning

I have compiled a table of T20 achievements over the first ten years by all 18 counties. I have awarded 2 points for losing quarter finals, 4 for losing semi finals, 6 for losing Finals and 8 for winning overall

2012 is obviously not complete but if I take it to this stage today with Losing Finalist and Winner to be increased, Leicestershire are the most successful county overall although Somerset will overtake them if they win in 2012. Hampshire are one of the most improved after just one Quarter Final in the first six years while conversely, Surrey who began by winning the Trophy, then losing a Final, then losing two consecutive Semi Finals have not qualified in the past six years. Lancashire have the best record of any side yet to win the Trophy – there have been six winners, including three in this year’s final. If Hampshire win this year they will finish third equal on my system, level with Lancashire and behind Somerset and Leicestershire.

It’s an interesting thought that if City-Based Franchises are ever introduced Leicestershire would be very unlikely to host one.

Hampshire have beaten Essex by 2 runs after yesterday’s enterprising arrangements between the two captains – fully justified by today’s excitement. It’s not a record (there have been one run and one wicket results) but it was certainly exciting and one feels (a little) for Adam Wheater the young Essex wicketkeeper who needed three runs to win it and two for his century.

Essex last man Craddock came in at 317-9 with 42 needed. He faced 23 balls without scoring while Essex added 40 runs

The final three overs were really exciting. Balcombe bowled an over from which Wheater hit two sixes a four and a single. Then Briggs bowled to him and he hit a four and took a single from the fourth ball. Adams replaced Balcombe with Tomlinson and Wheater hit his first ball for six, then a dot ball, two runs, a four and, with just three needed (or two for Hampshire’s first tie since 1967) Wheater was caught by Ervine. This gave Tomlinson figures of 5-86 and the win took Hampshire into second place. Kent are just five behind with a game in hand so this week’s match against them takes on extra significance.

A couple of interesting pieces in today’s Independent:

Ravi Bopara made his fifth Test match duck on Friday and only two English men – one who played for Hampshire, and one who still plays along the coast – have a higher percentage of ducks than Bopara’s 27.7% – although of the three, only Bopara has also made a century (three in fact) …. (answers below)

Michael Henderson writes about South Africa’s tendency to “grind you down” rather than “knock you down”, adding “boldness and South African cricket make poor partners”. However, he suggests that the team of 1970 was potentially rather different and thinks they might have achieved “immortality” through Pollock, Procter and the “youthful BA Richards” adding “Many will tell you that Barry Richards was the purest batsman they ever saw”. You can certainly include me in the “many”.

(Alan Mullally and Monty Panesar)

(from the new Alan Edwards book) Hampshire played the final day of their last-ever County Championship match in Portsmouth. It was a bitter-sweet occasion for me – I was Chairman of Portsmouth Area Supporters at the time and entertained their Committee for the four days (the famous duel between Dravid and Warne). Their President was Colin Cowdrey who was charming throughout and I still have his letter thanking me for the hospitality. A few days later he suffered the stroke that killed him so it may have been his last view of county cricket. Paul Nixon, batting, won the game for Kent and in the Archive we still have one of the stumps, signed by Paul as well as a scorecard signed by Dravid.

Today is also the anniversary of Imran Tahir’s debut for Hampshire v Lancashire at Old Trafford in 2008, when he  returned match figures of 12-189, Hampshire’s best ever on debut – his second innings 7-66, equalling Shane Bond’s debut best for the county. I wonder whether he’ll manage anything similar at the Oval today and tomorrow?