Hampshire Cricket History

All sorts of possible reflections on what was overall a pretty ‘ordinary’ season I suppose? We know that Carberry and Smith have gone but who else do you think? It’s hard to imagine the unfortunate Ryan Stevenson will return and what about Brad Taylor? Might anyone else wish to leave? At the ageing end, will we see Sean Ervine and Jimmy Adams next year – and what about Fidel?

I’m not sure about the contractual status of 2nd XI regulars like Dickinson (3rd choice now?), Hart, Sole, Salisbury, Lintott (etc).

If there are lots of departures of capped players that will release money to sign all the promising youngsters in Southampton and Portsmouth and still leave some for transfers, Kolpaks etc. What do you think? Who might we like?

I’m sure you all know that this has been a most odd season for me, and yesterday was a rather odd finish. Mrs A & I are in a St Ives (Cornwall version) so I spent it wandering around bays, beaches and galleries checking my phone every two minutes. Eventually I gave up, went back to the hotel and listened to the final 90 mins on the radio. It was longer than any football match.

I guess then, despite what has passed this 12 months, and despite my fears confirmed about the structure of the season I still care – of course I do. Even the Blog became traumatic at one point so might I end the season by thanking all of you for ensuring that I hung in there and sorted things out. I enjoy the blog and I value the interesting, often humorous and informed comments which even when critical (who me?) are done in a friendly way – unlike as I understand it, many other ‘virtual’ sites.

I do plan for us to have a little inquest of our own, and then I’ll get going on the players’ histories but for today, one last day way out west for me, with my thanks and best wishes to you all. I’m hoping to return a bit more next year to see us win that third Championship … (!)

Here goes then – as much as anything I’d like 100 or more from Tom Alsop

Enjoy the day folks!

I have a busy couple of days ahead, so this might be my last Post of the season, although perhaps I’ll add a Comment or two. I suspect I won’t be alone.

It’s a grim time, but I think that’s not just about today and the prospect of relegation. It’s because the whole thing looks a mess with not a clear answer anywhere. If they stay up, will it be any better next year? Kevan James this afternoon said he wouldn’t mind if they signed six Kolpaks but I thought they already had. Anyway, I guess you know my thoughts about that approach.

Hampshire have two chances of staying up – always assuming that really is the best outcome. One is that Somerset cannot engineer a victory from where they are right now, but their chances of winning must be good. Alternatively Hampshire can win or draw. To do so (particularly the latter), they might have to bat for 90+ overs?

The last time they did that was 12 weeks ago at the Oval. In six completed Championship innings since then, they have averaged 53 overs per innings (each time losing all 10 wickets). The best was 88 overs, and today (34.2) wasn’t even the worst (29.4).

It’s difficult to see how Somerset v Middx will be a draw, in which case, unless Hampshire contrive to lose this game, they are already safe.

It’s almost 3pm. On Tuesday lunchtimes, my Southsea Skiffle Orchestra performs in Pompey Guildhall and one of our regular followers is a serious Hampshire fan, so he came with news of early wickets in both games that suited Hampshire. It seems a pretty satisfactory day so far.

Thanks for other news (below). The ‘old guard’ on its way (more?) but the ‘new guard’?

PS Seven hours later, it’s hard to believe I shared his optimism and wrote that (above). What a shocking afternoon that was.

I have a morning rehearsal and lunchtime gig so leaving early Comments to you guys – assuming we get going. In summary:

We have 140 points. Somerset can only get 147, so a draw and three bonus points for us is sufficient to be safe.

If Middx are bowled out for less than 200 and lose they can only get 146 points, so a draw and one bonus point will suffice – we’d be level, but they’d finish below us on more losses.

It’s between those three, Yorkshire are safe. The forecast for Taunton tomorrow looks ok now – rain will arrive but late afternoon/evening.

Might this be the first time since 2013 that we’ll know our fate before the last day?

The BBC has published England’s Ashes squad as selected by 15,000 of its followers. Joe Root got 98%, and Ben Stokes, James Anderson and Alastair Cook 97%.

98% of 15,000 leaves 300 and 97% of 15,000 leaves 450 – what’s that about? 300/450 cricket followers who don’t think they should go to Australia? Bonkers!

Crane got 5% and Dawson 3%. Vince? Nope

Nothing today at Edgbaston, while just after tea, Somerset have lost four wickets for eight runs despite some poor catching by Middlesex. There’s been one run out, and the spinners have taken all the other seven wickets. In addition, the forecast out west for Wednesday is a bit horrid, and might stuff that day’s play. At Chelmsford, Yorkshire are taking wickets and bonus points.

Eight Needed. 4.30 pm – Somerset are all out with just one batting point which means they must win to stay up, and can only get to 147 points if they do win. Middlesex now have 146 points with today’s wickets, with the prospect of batting points to come. Hampshire are stuck on 140 points but let’s imagine that (even?) they can’t lose to Warwickshire in three days, so will get five points for a draw. They can’t play that way of course, but if that’s correct, Hampshire need to get three bonus points to survive.

Incidentally I was ranting on a couple of weeks ago that Hampshire should have declared at Uxbridge to deny Middlesex points. I suspect people were right in suggesting that Jimmy Adams is a nicer man than me and wouldn’t do that, but actually it’s in the playing regs – counties cannot declare merely to deny their opponents bowling points.

I’ve just caught the Warwickshire commentator (on-line). He says it’s very wet, no chance of play before lunch, and maybe no chance all day.

Meanwhile, it appears that the only match going ahead is at Taunton where Somerset will bat …

PS: 10.50 am, Yorkshire v Essex will start soon.

Same squad as last week – the XI plus Crane and Wheal

Yorkshire are five points and one win ahead of Hampshire. As Tigger says, 12 points will take Hampshire to 152 points, one more than a maximum points win for Somerset and, coincidentally, one more than a maximum bonus points defeat for Middlesex.

But if Middlesex win, Somerset can only get 135 points so are down. If Somerset draw with full points they get to 140, where Hampshire are now so, if Hampshire get one point tomorrow, or Somerset drop one point, Somerset have to win to overhaul them.

Tigger stats v Warwickshire: http://hampshirecricket.net/Team_Warwickshire_FC_records.htm

PS BBC Weather for the week in Birmingham suggests rain overnight tonight might hang on into tomorrow morning, and that it will be wet again on Wednesday night. Otherwise probably OK. Taunton somewhat similar as the rain moves west to east.