Hampshire Cricket History

Andrew Gale plays the shot off Barber from which he was caught first ball

Basil Akram (left), Jimmy Adams 91* (right) with James Tomlinson

Spot the Difference: Barber and teammates celebrate two wickets in two balls

Or maybe not. I watch enough Hampshire cricket not to be overly bothered about today’s game, but imagine a family with a couple of kids who maybe only watch limited overs cricket and therefore came today for the last time this season and paid cash to get in. Not much of a game was it?

On the positive side, Jimmy Adams was terrific. He came in for the third legitimate ball of the innings and was therefore just those two balls away from being the first man ever to carry his bat in a limited overs game (for Hampshire). Then Tom Barber took two wickets in two balls in his first competitive over for Hampshire – a record he shares with CG Fynn in 1930 and maybe no one else (?). ‘Tommo’ bowled nicely and took a couple of wickets and Carberry was an active captain in a hopeless cause, but for the rest, silence may be the best option.

(My camera/computer connection is not behaving right now but if I can get it working I have a pic or two worth sharing) 

Not really ‘all”, but apparently the first side displayed on the website was incorrect. Wood is not playing and my curiosity about Basil Akram is answered – he’s in the team too.

Meanwhile Tom Alsop kept wicket for England U-19 today and Brad Taylor bowled another tight 10 overs. Alsop is batting now and England look odds on to make it four-from-four.

From Hampshire Cricket who “can confirm that leg-spinner Imran Tahir has signed for the Club subject to visa clearance.  The South-African will only be available for Hampshire’s last two LV= County Championship matches against Kent at the Ageas Bowl and Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium”.

PS: Thanks to Bob for an update about tomorrow’s side (see Comments: “Who Will Play?). I’m intrigued that last weekend Dale Benkenstein spoke about Basil Akram as the next choice pace bowler if anyone was unfit at Canterbury yet tomorrow Barber is playing and Akram isn’t. Maybe it’s the different format?

I’ve been to Hilliers Gardens (Romsey) today to give a talk about cricket in 1964, contrasting it with today. It was part of a more general initiative, linking the gardens with Hampshire Cricket. There was a demonstration of skills by some of Hampshire’s age group youngsters – here is a fielding practice:

‘Punchy’ otherwise Alan Rayment who played for Hampshire in the 1950s came along and met up with Harry Roberts a member of Hampshire’s under-10 squad and a cricketer at Burridge CC where he’s coached by Derek Kenway – here are Alan and Harry exchanging thoughts about cricket bats then and now:

The match against Yorkshire on Thursday (21 August) is Hampshire’s first wholly irrelevant match of the season – and quite possibly the last one too. It wasn’t often possible to say that in the past!

Given Finals Day two days later, I wonder who will play? It sounds as though Will Smith won’t be fit and we know that Tom Alsop and Brad Taylor should still be with the England U-19 side who play their final games on Wednesday and Friday. I wonder whether any reserve players will get a go – Michael Bates probably, Lewis McManus possibly, maybe Joe Gatting. I imagine we may see Basil Akram who has been at Canterbury but it’s not obvious that any other bowlers will play unless David Balcombe is now fit (he played, but did not bowl v Sri Lanka A last week). Brathwaite? It seems unlikely. They have to be careful too since three teams including Yorkshire are on 10 points chasing two home ties. If I was a Yorkshire fan I’d fancy them to win this one.

In yesterday’s U-19 ODI Alsop scored 57 and Taylor 21* to which he added figures of 10-1-24-0. England won (again).

I’ve added a Comment below that Surrey with Hampshire in Div One would be good for the fixtures but it’s unlikely. As far as I can figure out, Worcs only need 16 points from three games to knock Surrey out of their spot – unless it rains a lot that seems likely to happen so if Surrey go up, I guess Hampshire won’t. On paper, Hampshire have the easiest last two games and a number of these competing sides play each other (Worcs v Surrey, Essex v Kent and Worcs).  

Worcs P13 – Pts 208 (max possible: 280)

Still to play: Derbys (A), Surrey (H), Essex (A)

Hants P13 – Pts 183 (max: 255)

Kent (H), Leics (H), Glams (A)

Surrey P 14 – Pts 175 (max: 223)

Worcs (A), Derbys (H)

Essex P 13 – Pts 163 (max: 235)

Kent (H), Leics (A), Worcs (H)

Kent P12 – Pts 142 (max 238)

Glams (H), Essex (A), Hants (A), Gloucs (H)

Just that really. Not enforcing the follow-on? Fantastic! Target of 500+? Fantastic! Rain at Leicester? Fantastic (unsporting it may be, but still Fantastic! And it’s Surrey)

Fantastic!

PS I have mentioned this before but ignore that time – it doesn’t adjust from GMT so I posted around 3.30

Three wickets this morning is reasonable but the forecasts suggest the game might finish around 4pm and Kent’s 6th wicket is so far worth 47 – I wonder why Briggs, who took a wicket last night, isn’t bowling?

Meanwhile, as expected, Essex won early and are currently second although whatever the result, Hampshire will overtake them. Surrey have less time to dismiss Leicestershire but they are generally poor and sure enough contrived to lose three wickets in the first 14 overs – so lunch is a bit of a nervous affair.

Tom Alsop who made a century for England U-19 yesterday is out today but has made another half-century. I did hear a tweet suggestion on commentary this morning that if Will Smith is unfit for T20 Finals Day (Saturday – he’s done a hamstring) then Alsop might play. But why wouldn’t the very in-form Terry be first choice as a batsman? I gather Owais Shah might come in to replace Maxwell.

On Saturday the Academy beat Alton. Gatting was captain and top-scored with 84, while McManus made 41 – no one else reached 20 but the total of 229-8 was good enough to win against Alton’s 154. Murray took 4-18 and Gatting and Newman a couple each. I know nothing about Murray or Newman. Matt King took 1-25 but I’m sorry to report that (again) Tom Barber was wicketless. He has taken some however, check them at

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/597655.html