Hampshire CCC 2025

[Window Cleaner]

I see we're chugging along quite nicely in our innings of the first 2 day friendly against Sussex. Prest and Gubbins both past 50.

Need we be concerned by the seeming tonking of Turner, and to some extent Baker, yesterday?

[Dman]

On 21/03/2025 at 11:35, Window Cleaner said:

I see we're chugging along quite nicely in our innings of the first 2 day friendly against Sussex. Prest and Gubbins both past 50.

Need we be concerned by the seeming tonking of Turner, and to some extent Baker, yesterday?

Yes, its going to be a long season I think. 

We're weaker (somehow) at the top of the order with the loss of Vince and lost consistency that Abbas brings to restrict sides to lower scores. 

[Window Cleaner]

Day 2 of our practice match against Middlesex. After Turner got well and truly spanked again yesterday, I see that we're practising our batting collapse today. 51/6 , some 270 behind. Fortunately, we have more warm up games before our CCC start next friday.

Edited 25 March, 2025 by Window Cleaner

[Picard]

5 hours ago, Window Cleaner said:

Day 2 of our practice match against Middlesex. After Turner got well and truly spanked again yesterday, I see that we're practising our batting collapse today. 51/6 , some 270 behind. Fortunately, we have more warm up games before our CCC start next friday.

Don't worry. We won't have to play Middlesex in the CCC as they're in Div 2.

[Hodgey]

Think my expectations are mid-table. Losing your top scorer and captain plus arguably your best bowler will have an effect. It’s possible one of Turner / Currie / Baker could have a good season but surely this is being looked at as a transition season so expectations lower. Vince replacement appears to be Albert (Stoneman replacing him). 
Think with our young squad the one day cup may be the best shot as less players will be in the 100. T20 is reliant on one of the two young South Africans exploding as we really don’t have many explosive batsmen which is what wins t20 comps.

[Window Cleaner]

Live stream today. Hants 95/3. Middleton looked well enough until he got out, only saw two balls before Gubbins was out, can't say how he got on. Prest and Albert in at the moment, scoreboard ticking along. Doesn't seem to be any commentary.

[Picard]

Jack Edwards already injured and will be replaced by Kiwi Bret Hampton for first two months.

[Andrew Watson]

A 4 day struggle on the cards ,we have not come close to replacing Vince our most important player. Turner and Baker are likely to go around the park,if they rely just on speed alone,all a bit of a worry. Why do we always have such a problem recruiting decent overseas players all season long ? Odd we cannot compete when we have been taken over and again, why no Indian batter ?

I understand the South Africans for 1 day cricket,due to the Birrell conection,but as for Giles White,what a total waste of space.,

 

[Window Cleaner]

Good start, Yorks, who chose to bat, now 112/9. Our bowling has been quite good but not 112/9 good. Malan ran himself out on a suicide run, Bairstow caught at third man from a wild swipe off Baker, and now Dawson is cleaning them up. 

[Window Cleaner]

121 all out, Dawson and Abbott 3 each. Right then, the proof of the pudding is in the batting. Stoneman and Middleton to open I presume.

[stevegrant]

Solid start, 55/0 off 17. Middleton doesn't have a particularly wide range of shots, but he does at least seem to have the patience to wait for a delivery that suits him.

[Gloucester Saint]

158/5, poor shots from Prest and Stoneman who otherwise looked decent to straight bowling. Wheal gone as night watchman. 

[Andrew Watson]

Prest has the ability,but he needs to cut out the reckless shots,especially with only a few overs left in the day. Need a big score tomorrow from at least one batsmen.

[Window Cleaner]

4 minutes ago, Andrew Watson said:

Prest has the ability,but he needs to cut out the reckless shots,especially with only a few overs left in the day. Need a big score tomorrow from at least one batsmen.

That would be handy but I'm not counting on it overmuch. Batting doesn't look particularly simple on that track. We're ahead and 100 lead would be good I think.

Edited 4 April, 2025 by Window Cleaner

[Gloucester Saint]

10 minutes ago, Window Cleaner said:

That would be handy but I'm not counting on it overmuch. Batting doesn't look particularly simple on that track. We're ahead and 100 lead would be good I think.

A lot from both sides have played on today. Probably a spongy wicket at this time of year, might dry out a bit and harden up if this good weather carries on.

[Gloucester Saint]

100 lead up now, Brown and Hampton building a stand which looks critical to the rest of the game. Another 50 combined from these two would leave a very strong position. 

[whelk]

Surrey look like they are going to struggle to win as well. Our year

[Gloucester Saint]

Wheal strikes twice in his first over, Yorks 10-2. Handy 128 run lead on the first innings after a flurry from Ben Brown. Shame we missed out on a batting point for 250.

[badgerx16]

Bairstow reaches 50, after being dropped 3 times.

[Gloucester Saint]

15 hours ago, badgerx16 said:

Bairstow reaches 50, after being dropped 3 times.

Lucky a player of that calibre only made 56 really. In the box seat but Lyth hanging on in there.

[Window Cleaner]

Bowling looks a bit lacklustre this morning. Can't really see, as of yet, that Hampton brings anything that we didn't have already. Still perhaps he'll get better before the 2 months are out.

[Window Cleaner]

Well there you go, we're making a right old dog's dinner of getting the 148 we need to win.  Batting looks horribly fragile against decent bowling again. I hope we're not made to pay for those dropped catches.

[badgerx16]

10 minutes ago, Window Cleaner said:

Well there you go, we're making a right old dog's dinner of getting the 148 we need to win.  Batting looks horribly fragile against decent bowling again. I hope we're not made to pay for those dropped catches.

Failing to win would cap off a perfect day.

[Gloucester Saint]

4 hours ago, Window Cleaner said:

Bowling looks a bit lacklustre this morning. Can't really see, as of yet, that Hampton brings anything that we didn't have already. Still perhaps he'll get better before the 2 months are out.

Hampton looks Division 2 standard to me. Floaty little slow 6th part-time seamers and T20 batting. Hopefully he improves as you say. Scott Currie is certainly a better bowler.

Edited 6 April, 2025 by Gloucester Saint

[Hodgey]

Early days but I’m not confident with that middle order if the openers can’t protect them (today is a good example). Think we have enough bowling (we’ve been unlucky with our overseas injury) but see another season of batting struggles ahead like last year.

[Gloucester Saint]

Prest with an important knock to get us the win it seems but share others’ concern about the top and middle order. Albert struggles to get it off the square and Middleton is a slow scorer as well. 

[Window Cleaner]

Middleton is opening, so that's ok if he's not too mercurial. Gubbins needs to find some sort of form sooner rather than later. I've high hopes for Prest and Albert...well we'll have to see if there's not a better option. Good to get off to a winning start though.

[John B]

50 minutes ago, Window Cleaner said:

Middleton is opening, so that's ok if he's not too mercurial. Gubbins needs to find some sort of form sooner rather than later. I've high hopes for Prest and Albert...well we'll have to see if there's not a better option. Good to get off to a winning start though.

Yes I agree especially as our two best batters from last season Vince and Gubbins did not score many

 

What is the situation with Fuller and Barker

[Window Cleaner]

3 minutes ago, John B said:

Yes I agree especially as our two best batters from last season Vince and Gubbins did not score many

 

What is the situation with Fuller and Barker

Barker is injured apparently and the commentators said he might not be available for the first part of the season, read into that what you will.

Fuller played in the friendly last week, don't know what his trouble is, if any. Perhaps they just wanted to have a look at Hampton. 

[Andrew Watson]

Surely Currie is a better option than Hampton. Batting looks ordinary without Vince.

[Window Cleaner]

8 hours ago, Andrew Watson said:

Surely Currie is a better option than Hampton. Batting looks ordinary without Vince.

On this game's performance alone, can't really see much difference between Vince and Prest. Both make runs quite quickly at times and get out to silly shots as well. Who knows if Vince would have dug us out as Prest did yesterday. 

[Weston Saint]

I really do not understand this negativity. We bowled Yorkshire out twice and won the game in 3 days.

Middleton does well as an opener and has experience now. It is about ticking over in the early overs to take the shine off.  Stoneman has great experience and in this game we did not lose early opening wicket as we did all last season.

We know Albert has talent. Give him time.  Prest, Dawson and Brown as middle order is a strong one.

Hampton has only just arrived and was a late choice so again give him a little time. We have Fuller, Barker (injured and not expected to play until mid summer) and Curry (injured but expected to be fit in a couple of weeks)

Abbot and Wheal look a great opening bowling partnership with the latter finding more line and length that last campaign. 

Baker is quick and will take wickets. As he matures he will improve his line and length. Likewise Turner will improve. Turner is expected to play against Surrey instead of Baker as they alternate these young bowlers.

Personally, I expect us to  be upper mid table this season as our young team grows.   

Edited 7 April, 2025 by Weston Saint

[John B]

19 hours ago, Weston Saint said:

I really do not understand this negativity. We bowled Yorkshire out twice and won the game in 3 days.

Middleton does well as an opener and has experience now. It is about ticking over in the early overs to take the shine off.  Stoneman has great experience and in this game we did not lose early opening wicket as we did all last season.

We know Albert has talent. Give him time.  Prest, Dawson and Brown as middle order is a strong one.

Hampton has only just arrived and was a late choice so again give him a little time. We have Fuller, Barker (injured and not expected to play until mid summer) and Curry (injured but expected to be fit in a couple of weeks)

Abbot and Wheal look a great opening bowling partnership with the latter finding more line and length that last campaign. 

Baker is quick and will take wickets. As he matures he will improve his line and length. Likewise Turner will improve. Turner is expected to play against Surrey instead of Baker as they alternate these young bowlers.

Personally, I expect us to  be upper mid table this season as our young team grows.   

I agree unlike the Saints we have some decent young players and old hands Abbott Dawson Stoneman Brown and Gubbens and I would be surprised if we will get relegated for sometime

Our recruitment policy has been good for sometime together with letting young players develop probably Albert Middleton and Prest will have good seasons 

[badgerx16]

John Turner signed on a short term loan by Lancashire.

[Weston Saint]

Yes, 2 weeks loan just announced. 

[Lighthouse]

Have to say I prefer red ball Wheal to white ball Wheal.

[Window Cleaner]

Probably need Stoneman and Gubbins to bat through to the close here. Middleton beaten all ends up by Worrall.  

Still getting Surrey all out for 253 is pretty handy.

[Dark Munster]

Nice they didn't end the day at 10-3 or something like that which was typical in seasons past.

Still fearing the annual Oval thrashing though.

[Lighthouse]

This is more like our usual trip to the Oval. From 84-1 to 90-4. Albert chewing up 27 balls before getting out for 1.

[Hodgey]

He looks woefully out of form. See how he gets on second innings. As my thoughts above I’m far from convinced about that batting line up - funnily enough I think we’ve probably got the best openers we’ve had for some time. Need Dawson and Brown to come to the rescue again.

[Gloucester Saint]

56 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

This is more like our usual trip to the Oval. From 84-1 to 90-4. Albert chewing up 27 balls before getting out for 1.

He’s clearly out of nick but if it’s a struggle to get it off the square at least drop and run a few singles and rotate the strike until the timing returns a bit. 

[Lighthouse]

34-5 collapse in the middle order. Oh well, fun while it lasted.

[Window Cleaner]

Not a good day for Hants, started quite well, then we got bogged down and some of the batting technique just isn't good enough against fast bowling.

Probably now heading for a loss here.

[Window Cleaner]

22 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

Have to say I prefer red ball Wheal to white ball Wheal.

Still think I might prefer no Wheal at all. Too inconsistant.

[Andrew Watson]

Our normal 3 points coming from The Oval,having said that Roach and Worrall are still as good as a lot of opening attacks in world cricket and Fisher and Clark are both decent. 

[Picard]

Vince starting his PSL season with a century.

[Lighthouse]

16 hours ago, Window Cleaner said:

Not a good day for Hants, started quite well, then we got bogged down and some of the batting technique just isn't good enough against fast bowling.

Probably now heading for a loss here.

Our tail wagged to an extent but Surrey’s second innings has basically killed it off. They’re effectively 170-1 now, time to start doing a rain dance.

[Window Cleaner]

What exactly is the point of sending in nightwatch rabbits who can't bat to face 10 overs or so against good bowlers?

[Window Cleaner]

Surrey whingeing for a ball change this morning. Seems to be the new modus operandi when you're getting nowhere otherwise. So far the umpires have turned them down.

[John B]

22 hours ago, Window Cleaner said:

What exactly is the point of sending in nightwatch rabbits who can't bat to face 10 overs or so against good bowlers?

I am quite happy to have Abbott in at No 11 

 

Hampshire now 299 for 5 with ten overs left