Hampshires team for opening fixtures

[Weston Saint]

With the comment from White that North will be used as an all rounder batting between Crawley and Lumb here is my suggested order for the start of the season

Michael Carberry
Jimmy Adams
John Crawley
Marcus North
Michael Lumb
Nick Pothas
Sean Ervine
Liam Dawson
Dominic Cork
Chris Tremlett
James Tomlinson

Hard luck on Chris Benham but Ervine is likely to take the "all rounder" spot until Dimi returns. If Benham bats well in the seconds he will come into contention for Ervines place when Dimi returns, in my opinion.

We are unlikely to see Pietersen early on due to his probable IPL appearances and then straight into the England set up.

Looks a strong side

[Berkshire Saint]

Bit harsh on Chris to have his dad wheeled out ahead of him!

Can't really argue too much with the side though, perhaps an extra seamer in place of Ervine if his bowling continues to be poor?

[Weston Saint]

Thanks BS, showing my age

[Nellie]

Hard luck on Chris Benham but Ervine is likely to take the "all rounder" spot until Dimi returns. If Benham bats well in the seconds he will come into contention for Ervines place when Dimi returns, in my opinion.

Looks a strong side
Only hard luck in as much as any one of three of four underperforming batsmen could be dropped. Quick check through last years averages:

Pothas - 53.50
Benham - 28.76
Crawley - 27.73
Ervine - 27.95
Adams - 17.16
Carberry - 28.60
Lumb - 32.72
Dimi - 30.59
Brown - 40.86

It's a wonder that we finished so high in both competitions, although worryingly, with some consistent batting we might have been in with a shout of winning. Would agree with your line up, although Adams would be in only because there really isn't anyone else. It's a shame Michael Brown has gone as it leaves our top order looking like it needs some steadying, but if Crawley and Carberry both find form early on we might have a good season.

[Berkshire Saint]

Apparently Dominic Cork is possibly going to play in the IPL (read in a couple of places that Udal is in the auction as well). Will be a bit annoying if Cork gets signed as I'm fairly certain one of the main points of his signing was to cover for Dimi while he's away!

[The Saturday Boy]

Apparently Dominic Cork is possibly going to play in the IPL (read in a couple of places that Udal is in the auction as well). Will be a bit annoying if Cork gets signed as I'm fairly certain one of the main points of his signing was to cover for Dimi while he's away!

Yep, Cork is in the auction -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7855464.stm

[TopGun]

Yep, Cork is in the auction -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7855464.stm

He is one of about 150 players chasing 60 places so I'd think it's unlikely he'll end up in the IPL.

[Nellie]

He is one of about 150 players chasing 60 places so I'd think it's unlikely he'll end up in the IPL.
Fairly unsurprisingly, Cork didn't make the cut so will be available for us at the start of the season. Only English players are Pietersen, Flintoff, Collingwood, Shah, Bopara, Wright and Patel.

[The Saturday Boy]

Tahir out with a broken jaw and will miss the start of the season now -

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/4269777.Hants_hit_by_Tahir_setback/

[saintwarwick]

Tahir out with a broken jaw and will miss the start of the season now -

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/4269777.Hants_hit_by_Tahir_setback/

Interesting he was felled by a bouncer and the photo shows the ball in direct line of his jaw!!