Hampshire Cricket History

The Academy – missing some players who are working with the Aussies at the Ageas Bowl – were bowled out for 65 by Burridge on Saturday, but still won. Dan Stancliffe took a ‘hat-trick’ for Burridge with only Dom Kelly making double figures but then he took two early wickets, Finn Calderwood-Smith took 4-11 and ‘Tommo’s’ boys won by six runs to retain second place in the Premier 1 East League table.

St Cross are top, undefeated, with four wins. On Saturday they won too with their side including the former (capped) Hampshire opener Jason Laney plus two men Felix Organ and Harry Came straight out of Hampshire’s four-day side. I think it’s a good idea for our players not involved in the T20 to play local league cricket, but the Pompey News says its their 2nd XI. Is it? If so, in what league is their first team playing? All the top sides seem to be in either the Premier 1 East or West Leagues.

Overall, we are leading 15-11 in victories but we haven’t won any of the last five matches – three to Sussex and two abandoned. Our last win was at Hove in 2017. From our XI that day, only McManus and Crane will play today.

PS That’s a very telling ‘stat’ isn’t it? I doubt whether you could have ever said of a Hampshire side I watched in the first 20/30 (more) years, that three years after a victory only two men played the same fixture – even in 1979, which had seen many departures, I doubt that.

PPS Excellent rescue act by Holland and Fuller – record 6th wicket partnership for Hampshire v Sussex (beating 49) – in fact it’s now Hampshire’s highest 6th wicket partnership v anyone (beats 71) – thanks Tigger

However, before today, Luke Wright’s innings in T20 v Hampshire have included 116; 98; 68; 50; & 49*. Today he’s passed 70 already … (he got 81)

In their run-up to covering cricket live for the first time since 1999 the BBC website has its own version of ‘Forever Changes’, including this:

“When viewers tune in on Sunday afternoon, they won’t see batters getting their eye in, bowlers hitting the same line and length ball after ball, or less-than-athletic fielders stumbling around the outfield. Instead they’ll see big hits from ball one, extreme pace and mystery spin and the type of acrobatic, athletic fielding you’d probably have associated with just one man in 1999 – Jonty Rhodes.”

I made the point a few weeks ago that slip-catching these days is probably worse than it was in the days of Colin Cowdrey, Phil Sharpe, Bobby Simpson, Barry Richards etc, but it’s just not true that outfielders were all poor way back. In my time watching cricket at Hampshire among the better fielders were Turner, Jesty, Lewis and Murtagh from the 1973 Champions while Paul Terry is still the best all-round fielder I’ve seen, and further back my friend ‘Punchy’ (Alan Rayment) still has his fine reputation, Leo Harrison was superb before he picked up the gloves and so too was Barry Reed in the covers.

The difference is perhaps that these days there are rarely any passengers (and we certainly had them) but the best were always good – elsewhere for example, what about Clive Lloyd, Colin Bland, Derek Randall or Jim Foat? Jim was so hopeless at everything else he got in for his fielding! There are probably lots more examples.

Information

And more games (?)

Thanks to various of you for alerting me to today’s Daily Telegraph article which I hadn’t seen until about an hour ago. It puts ‘meat on the bones’ and appears to ensure no reduction in the number of matches which, if true, is a relief. (I’ll shut up now)

‘Race to Lord’s’ highlight of county shake-up
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/334/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/334/pub/334/page/152/article/76402

Many thanks for all those thoughts about the future of the Championship. I’d love to read more. Two thoughts:

1. Nobody will ask us, and it appears from those press reports highly probable that a Conference system will be implemented. If not, fine, but like it or not promotion/relegation appears to be under threat.
2. To what extent does the current system really ensure we see different teams? Consider these dates for the last time we met eight sides in the Championship: Northants 2013; Derbys, Glams, Gloucs & Leics 2014; Sussex 2015; Durham 2016; Middx 2017.

Well batted Joe Weatherley – otherwise commiserations to Kent.

Sadly no ‘Golden Days’ before the end of the Test series or Hampshire’s ‘interest’ in the Bob Willis Trophy – just a lot of rain and wind. There is of course one more round of BWT matches but before that we embark on the T20 (blast it) and the white ball internationals – including some at the Ageas Bowl.

Hampshire are at Canterbury tomorrow and it appears they will include the Oxford-born Scottish international George Munsey (I guess he’s played with Brad Wheal?). He was at Arundel this week, where I took this photo, sheltering from another downpour in a very pink tent:

Next up is Hove on Sunday. I reckon Hampshire have no chance, especially with the bat, if they are surrounded by new-look Psychedelic Sussex. I guess Ted Dexter could have got away with this style, but what about the Rev. David Sheppard?

Many thanks to Bob Murrell who reminded me about this

So, this is now not only the shortest home game in the 21st century but the only County game that has not managed the equivalent of a full day’s play

78 overs         August 2020  v Essex at Arundel (Home)

83 overs         April 2018       v Cardiff University (3 days)

106 overs       July 2012        v Yorkshire

119.1 overs    August 2001 v Warwickshire

120.3 overs    April 2006       v Loughborough University (3 days)

126 overs       May 2007        v Lancashire.

132.5 overs    May 2000*       v Lancashire (Northlands Road)

134.3 overs    August 2020    England v Pakistan Test Match (5 days)