Barsiem

I remember DCC putting some good performances under Jones, and then Jones said to the press that he was telling DCC he was a defender rather than a footballer. DCC went right off form after that! I think he's potentially a great player for us, as long as his attitude is right

Money. Albeit the 50 over comp is good for counties to blood youngsters at least. Last season Middleton & Turner played and are now first teamers, and the year before was a bit of a breakthrough for Prest. But yeah, there's too much on at once with both comps running parallel

It'll be interesting to see the difference in media coverage between this and the Huw Edwards allegations.

I think it's the runs that need to be tweaked (i.e. Essex should have had a higher chase than 112), but certainly can't forsee a way you can alter the number of wickets the batting team have fairly

I said similar earlier in the season as well. During the game one of the commentators stated the fact it was likely to be a shortened game was a factor in Essex choosing to bowl first, which shows the players think the same! It's been a great system, but needs a tweak I think. That said, we probably would have won if we'd fielded a bit better. A couple of dropped catches, those ridiculous byes McDermott conceded, and then Ellis' slower balls being telegraphed by all & sundry were the difference today

It's disappointing that players couldn't postpone starting in the US tournament in order to play finals day... Albeit Hants aren't affected so suppose it helps us. I wonder if Vince was approached to play in it? Weather looks shocking at edgbaston tomorrow so it's a good bet the games will be played on Sunday

Whilst I have no love for the Sun, Edwards has brought this on himself. It's hardly a good look for a man who is in the public eye and paid a huge amount by license payers to be paying a girl who is young enough to be his granddaughter (and also allegedly a drug addict) for sex pictures. Even before you factor in that he's married with kids. He's another person who thought they could get away with it.

Why would JWP care what they bid??

It's an opening bid - they're always too low. Suspect it'll get to £30m and we'll take it. Tbh I think that's a fair price for him

Our batting is definitely fragile, albeit it's improved slightly as the competition has progressed. Our bowling and Vince are going to be vital next Saturday - from memory I don't think Vince has a great finals day record? We now also have the most final appearances of any county, and could get a couple more records if we win next week - most victories by a single county & first to win back-to-back tournaments. Somerset must be favourites, and maybe Surrey after them, but we're more than capable. Bring it on!

I didn't say it was a success.... We got relegated so it clearly wasn't. But in terms of outlay on players from big academy's they have paid for themselves. Compare that to experienced players we bought like Orsic & Onuachu. And I still disagree re Bazunu. It's all cumulative. If we had a better manager we'd have more points. If we had a proper striker we'd have more points. If we had better centre backs we'd have more points. If we had decent wingers we'd have more points. We failed all over the pitch and on the bench last season, and that's not down to one person alone. For me, the single biggest failing was the person in charge. A better GK would certainly have helped, but a better manager would have helped even more. And a better striker would have helped more than a better GK as well

To look at it another way, the success of one of those imports has meant we basically will get our money back for all 4 by selling that one. Plus the others may still come good. We do need a mix of experience and youth certainly, but I'm not against buying young players from other academy's. I don't agree Bazunu was the reason we got relegated. We finished on 25 points! That's not all down to one position. bazunu was part of the problem certainly, but arguably the biggest was the fact we didn't have a decent manager at any point during the season

Wow good for him! Apparently they are trying to manage his workload due to injuries so the shorter game will suit compared to 50 over games (sadly for Hampshire). If he carries on like this he'll be in international teams soon enough, although I suspect that'll be for SA

Hopefully we keep him until Jan at least, and then if we're not close to the automatic promotion spots maybe then he'd want to go. If he does well in those 6 months we'd get a better fee for him anyway so a bit of a no brainer for me

What is that opinion based on though? I'm not saying you're wrong, but the one season he was at Saints we were an absolute disjointed mess.

Has KWP been linked anywhere yet?

As long as we don't get hammered in the final game we're through. Could sneak a home QF as well

It looks like Cardiff will have to finally pay Nantes what they owe for Sala's transfer. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66071830 Also seems that several people at Nantes are subscribers to the Harry Redknapp school of accountancy!! All allegedly of course

What is up with the streams from Hampshire this year? It's stuttering a lot again. Not seen this from any other counties streams.

Yeah I agree. My point was more that England would be prepared to pick him in the shorter formats if Moeen & Rashid were unavailable, whereas I can't him being considered for Tests at all.

He actually has the best bowling average of all Hants players this year so far, but has taken over half his wickets in the last two days. Gubbins bowled a worldy today to take a wicket, so it was clearly a surface that favoured spinners. I can't see him being seriously considered for tests atm. He's got a much better shout for ODIs, when he is usually miserly

Can't see that happening under any circumstances tbh... Looking at his stats he has five 5 wicket hauls and one 10 wickets hauls (hopefully by the end of the day this will be 2) in 177 FC games. If he was picked it will be to hold down an end only, which doesn't sound very Bazball. Still, lots of us have been proved wrong before on these threads so I may well be again! Looks like Dawson likes the Kookaburra. Maybe we should pray this becomes the permanent ball going forward

Tanswell has confirmed Newcastle's interest as well! Can't see it happening and will be p*ssed off if it does

What a chase! Once again it was a Vince performing well win, but great to see several batters who have done pretty much f all this year putting in big innings

Oops... Dodgy maths! Still seems a bit generous for me, but maybe I'm just a sore loser 😂