Hampshire Cricket History

Currie 3-21, and Tom Prest top-scored with 20

But …

Excluding No Result matches, Hampshire have now won three and lost twelve of their last 15 T20 matches over these two seasons. It’s not very good is it? I reckon that must have finished hopes of qualifying, so team selection will be interesting.

From the County Cricket Matters site:

Results of the Cricket Supporters Association Survey

•63% of cricket fans feel negatively about The Hundred

•43% of cricket fans intend to watch more cricket compared to 2019

•33% of fans are more engaged with cricket now than in 2019

•94% think the lack of priority for county championship will impact Test Cricket

•93% believe all ICC Tournaments should have an element of FTA**

•Only 22% of fans believe the ECB considers fans when making decisions

**As they say, WTF is “FTA”?

I am astonished by tonight’s news. This is now the fourth season in which three Hampshire T20 matches have failed to reach a result – and there are still six games to go. The previous years were 2005, 2011 & 2012.

It is however the first time that it has happened three times in four consecutive matches.

Cricketers have played Test Cricket? There was Udal of course, and Tremlett and …

(There are a few more and not all Hampshire County Cricketers)

This one is perhaps the most intriguing. Here’s a note from his recent biographer GREG MILAM

Tony Dell, was the only Test cricketer to fight in the Vietnam War, and saw his life and career fall apart because of the ravages of PTSD. He now campaigns for better mental health support for veterans.

He was actually born in Hampshire and spent most of his childhood in the New Forest before emigrating to Australia as a teenager with his family. When he made his Australia debut in the 70-71 Ashes, he was still officially a ‘Pom’. I found a news report about Desmond Eagar saying Hampshire wanted to sign him for the ’71 season as they wouldn’t have had to register him as an overseas player! The Australia selectors had been tipped off about him by Barry Richards after a game between South Australia and Dell’s Queensland. He would, of course, been a Hampshire team-mate. I talked to Dell about why he didn’t take up the county offer, he gave me various reasons. Greg Chappell told me that, if he had signed up, it would have been the making of him as a fast-bowler.

Middlesex win, we’re bottom, “The Only Way Is Up”

Meanwhile Sussex v Surrey rained off (by just one ball a no result it appears?)

To date, there have been 41 matches ‘up north’ and just 3 have failed to reach a result.

But in the ‘sunny south’ 8 of 37 have been either Abandoned or No Result.

With tickets for the Championship match v Surrey?

I’m a Life Member and I’m only commentating on days 3 & 4. Do I have to book to watch the first two days? I can’t see anything on the website and I wouldn’t want to miss the only home summer-time Championship match of the season would I?

For England to remove Liam Dawson from Hampshire’s side without picking him, is it? I guess they consider today’s match a crunch fixture in the series?

Apparently they are playing at the Ageas (not Hampshire) Bowl today, so that’s enough of Cardiff and Welsh pop stars.

The young bloke and the big bloke. We’ve never had a World Test Champion in the side before – I’m glad to see Scott Currie back as well.

Many of you know that I’m not much of a fan of T20s, although I am threatening to get nostalgic about the ‘good old days’ of 2003 once the Hundred starts.

It’s not been much of a week for the short format though. I saw only brief glimpses of England’s two matches, neither really nail-biters and while I did enjoy being at Cardiff when we won promotion seven years ago it’s bit of a characterless stadium – especially with a small, chilly and damp crowd.

Then there’s the story about Edgbaston last night. I know some people thought the crowd there for the Test was fun and each to their own, but …

What a fantastic performance by New Zealand today. It seemed that India should never have given them a sniff but that’s not how it worked out. No big scores, no big totals, terrific cricket.

Mind you they have a real advantage don’t they? I mean there are almost as many people in their country as live in Yorkshire. My favourite stat of the day is that since 2014 they have selected 38 players in Tests, fewer than any other country (England? 64). There might be a lesson there?

PS: I’m not checking (yet) but I guess it’s the first six-day match ever played in Hampshire

But there are tickets available for the Sixth Day starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (who once lived in Pompey you know)

Go to

http://www.eticketing.co.uk/wtcfinal21

Forecast is OK