The boys are back in town
The latest news and views from the county scene as the England players return to action
Andrew McGlashan
08-May-2007
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The internationals are still nine days away, but tomorrow at The Rose Bowl there'll be enough talent on view to make a Test team. England players have slowly been making their way back into county cricket, no doubt with a little help from the A-Z, already throwing up some intriguing battles such as Cook v Panesar and Vaughan v Warne. Now it's the turn of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff - among a clutch of players handed just one four-day game - to go head-to-head. Pietersen hasn't played a first-class match for his county since making his debut for England while Flintoff played just once last summer for Lancashire (who lost the match). Throw in James Anderson and Sajid Mahmood, plus the Aussie trio of Brad Hodge, Stuart Clark and Warne and the contest is bursting at the seams with star quality. It's a scene county cricket rarely gets to enjoy. If you are anywhere near the south coast there could be worse things to do than stop and have a watch.
Benefit of the doubt
The early instances of umpiring decisions being referred to the third umpire has had a lukewarm reception. Chris Adams, the first person to question a decision when he was struck on the pad by Peter Trego, said he felt uncomfortable. There is also the feeling that the umpires are coming together so that colleagues aren't overruled. The regulations state that there has to be 'a clear and obvious mistake' so it seems the only times we will see a change of decision will be a huge inside edge or a delivery that has pitched well outside leg stump. The first of those will show how fully the new system is being embraced. Maybe it's just proving that English umpires don't make many mistakes.
The early instances of umpiring decisions being referred to the third umpire has had a lukewarm reception. Chris Adams, the first person to question a decision when he was struck on the pad by Peter Trego, said he felt uncomfortable. There is also the feeling that the umpires are coming together so that colleagues aren't overruled. The regulations state that there has to be 'a clear and obvious mistake' so it seems the only times we will see a change of decision will be a huge inside edge or a delivery that has pitched well outside leg stump. The first of those will show how fully the new system is being embraced. Maybe it's just proving that English umpires don't make many mistakes.
A little older, a lot wiser
Overseas players often don't have long to make an impact these days. It is rare that they form long-term bonds before being whisked off for international commitments. So it's imperative a club gets value for money. Dale Steyn is with Warwickshire until early June (although they are keen on trying to organise an extension) and already he has improved markedly on his first county stint with Essex in 2005 which brought 14 wickets at 59 in six matches. "I'd only played about 10 first-class matches back then," he told Cricinfo, "so there wasn't a lot to fall back on. It was all raw pace and energy but since then I've listened to lot of advice which I'm putting into practice." And the results are proving perfect for Warwickshire; 15 wickets in three matches helping the team to two victories.
Overseas players often don't have long to make an impact these days. It is rare that they form long-term bonds before being whisked off for international commitments. So it's imperative a club gets value for money. Dale Steyn is with Warwickshire until early June (although they are keen on trying to organise an extension) and already he has improved markedly on his first county stint with Essex in 2005 which brought 14 wickets at 59 in six matches. "I'd only played about 10 first-class matches back then," he told Cricinfo, "so there wasn't a lot to fall back on. It was all raw pace and energy but since then I've listened to lot of advice which I'm putting into practice." And the results are proving perfect for Warwickshire; 15 wickets in three matches helping the team to two victories.
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County cricketers (or at least the 80% who responded to a PCA survey) have confirmed what many have thought for a long time - there's too much cricket. A majority of players would like to see one less limited overs tournament and less than a quarter felt the Pro40 serves any purpose. They also feel the domestic game should replicate the international scene, which seems a logical thought, but amazingly isn't the case at the moment with Powerplays, which aren't used in the Friends Provident Trophy. "I can't believe they don't use the Powerplays," said Lancashire batsman Mal Loye. "We always discuss that our game is mirrored by the international game and really it should be there." The players have spoken; expect more tinkering soon.
Pitch perfect
Lancashire's seven-wicket win against Surrey was only their fifth in five seasons at Old Trafford and justified a late change of pitch. With all the warm weather in recent weeks (yes, even in Manchester) the track designated for the match had dried too much and already started to crack. So groundsman Peter Marron brought forward his preparation on an adjacent pitch. It all started quietly enough, Surrey 111 for 0 at lunch on the first day, but from then on it was a fascinating contest between bat and ball. The seamers exploited a hint of variable bounce but batsmen who grafted, like Stuart Law with 120, could make runs. The Lancashire members missed a Saturday of cricket, but even they'll have found it hard to moan on this occasion.
Lancashire's seven-wicket win against Surrey was only their fifth in five seasons at Old Trafford and justified a late change of pitch. With all the warm weather in recent weeks (yes, even in Manchester) the track designated for the match had dried too much and already started to crack. So groundsman Peter Marron brought forward his preparation on an adjacent pitch. It all started quietly enough, Surrey 111 for 0 at lunch on the first day, but from then on it was a fascinating contest between bat and ball. The seamers exploited a hint of variable bounce but batsmen who grafted, like Stuart Law with 120, could make runs. The Lancashire members missed a Saturday of cricket, but even they'll have found it hard to moan on this occasion.
Tough at the top
Life back in division one hasn't started well for Surrey with three defeats on the bounce. It's a stark contrast to the way they marched to the division two title last year and adds further weight to the theory that the gap between the two is growing. Most bowling attacks in the second tier have a weak link or two, but the three sides Surrey have faced so far - Yorkshire, Hampshire and Lancashire - haven't shown any let up. "It's not like the players haven't faced these guys before," said Alan Butcher, "but maybe they need to work a bit harder for a bit longer. The frustration is that we have had chances in all three matches." Is this the first test of the father-son relationship? "We are fine at the moment, ask me in three more matches," added Butcher senior.
Life back in division one hasn't started well for Surrey with three defeats on the bounce. It's a stark contrast to the way they marched to the division two title last year and adds further weight to the theory that the gap between the two is growing. Most bowling attacks in the second tier have a weak link or two, but the three sides Surrey have faced so far - Yorkshire, Hampshire and Lancashire - haven't shown any let up. "It's not like the players haven't faced these guys before," said Alan Butcher, "but maybe they need to work a bit harder for a bit longer. The frustration is that we have had chances in all three matches." Is this the first test of the father-son relationship? "We are fine at the moment, ask me in three more matches," added Butcher senior.
England watch
Michael Vaughan breaks his finger against Hampshire after making 72 in the first innings...Andrew Flintoff hits 66 against Northamptonshire...Alastair Cook hits 136 before falling to England team-mate Monty Panesar, who made 33 later in the match...Steve Harmison ends April with 15 Championship wickets at 13 and the player of the month award under the new 'Most Valuable Player' system...Matthew Hoggard hits 61 as nightwatchman against Hampshire...Paul Nixon helps Leicestershire to victories over Scotland and Yorkshire
Michael Vaughan breaks his finger against Hampshire after making 72 in the first innings...Andrew Flintoff hits 66 against Northamptonshire...Alastair Cook hits 136 before falling to England team-mate Monty Panesar, who made 33 later in the match...Steve Harmison ends April with 15 Championship wickets at 13 and the player of the month award under the new 'Most Valuable Player' system...Matthew Hoggard hits 61 as nightwatchman against Hampshire...Paul Nixon helps Leicestershire to victories over Scotland and Yorkshire
Andrew McGlashan is a staff writer on Cricinfo