Hampshire CCC 2025

[stevegrant]

Eagerly awaiting the sanction handed down to Somerset for their pitch transgressions this season... 

Anyway, we've been beaten by the rain in Hove, fairly certain we'd have won that game if we'd been able to get the overs in, so that's annoying.

Also annoyingly, Durham were saved by the rain at Chelmsford, so we are now only 6 points clear of the drop zone, and they play Worcestershire next week. We finish against two of the top three, which isn't ideal.

[Andrew Watson]

Will Sussex get docked points for the wicket at Hove this week ?

[Toadhall Saint]

Off to the Blast tomorrow - hopefully the weather doesn’t spoil the day out. Cmon Hampshire!

[Picard]

Fortuin was named in the Hants squad but as he played for SA yesterday and probably tomorrow can't see him playing today. Probably have to play Neal as spinner.

[Hodgey]

He’s playing, as is Orr. Lots depending on our top 3 today - at least 2 of them need to fire.

Cartrights power will be a big miss as will Dawson guile 

[Lighthouse]

3 hours ago, Hodgey said:

He’s playing, as is Orr. Lots depending on our top 3 today - at least 2 of them need to fire.

Cartrights power will be a big miss as will Dawson guile 

Well, Chris Lynn sending Pope for a hotdog has certainly helped. How the umpire gave him out off that sixth ball I've no idea. Will need a few other players to turn up in the final.

[Lighthouse]

Always felt about 20 short on that pitch, oh well.

[John Boy Saint]

That missed catch was probably the difference- as you say - oh well.

[Lighthouse]

I'd like this to be farewell to Wood and Howell but it probably isn't. I know it's already been said but the messed up dates and availability of players really is a bit of a farce. in 2022 and 2023 we had Nelly and McDermott across both seasons. In the last two seasons it seems like we've had a different ringer in every game.

[Picard]

Ah well, down to Taunton on Monday. Should be fun. 

[Andrew Watson]

Somerset deserve to be champions on the back of winning so many group games,however even allowing for Woods injury those last 5 overs were dire to say the least.

[Hodgey]

Good effort - they lost their way 10-15 overs in and had a really poor last over leaving them 20 short where they should have been.

Wood I assume was crocked hence couldn’t bowl and Lynn couldn’t run either - neither of those helped but fair play to Somerset - a really good side with strength throughout.

What has happened to Prest though this year failing to get into a limited overs team with Orr and a 17yr old preferred….

[Toadhall Saint]

Good day out all in all. The century plus from Lynn was worth the money on its own. Best side won but we weren’t that far off as above we needed about 20 more. Hey ho well go again next year.

[Gloucester Saint]

Not much prospect of play other than tomorrow https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2636177

Better forecast in Durham at the moment, today a goner, half day Weds so 2.5 days to force a win v Worcestershire, possibly three if the outfield isn’t too wet on Weds to start on time https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2653224

[Trader]

4 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Not much prospect of play other than tomorrow https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2636177

Better forecast in Durham at the moment, today a goner, half day Weds so 2.5 days to force a win v Worcestershire, possibly three if the outfield isn’t too wet on Weds to start on time https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2653224

Increasingly obvious cricket and September just don't mix.

Wasted all that glorious weather playing pantomime cricket instead of the real stuff.

[Window Cleaner]

Started well, Somerset 5 down for less than 100 but now they're piling on the runs.

Bowling now looks painfully inadequate.

Edited Tuesday at 15:37 by Window Cleaner

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Window Cleaner said:

Started well, Somerset 5 down for less than 100 but now they're piling on the runs.

Bowling now looks painfully inadequate.

370-7 - started well with the ball but yes, pitch dried out and short boundaries at Taunton. Aldridge’s farewell present before joining Durham. Should have at least got them all out today before the rain all day tomorrow to maximise bowling points.

But Worcs have held firm at Durham - 311/5. Will check the forecast to see if it’s still better there.

[stevegrant]

Looks like a round of draws here, perhaps with the exception at the Oval in what might be a title decider. Difficult to see Surrey getting 300 in these conditions.

[Picard]

1 hour ago, stevegrant said:

Looks like a round of draws here, perhaps with the exception at the Oval in what might be a title decider. Difficult to see Surrey getting 300 in these conditions.

A bit optimistic for the Hants game. Can't see them avoiding the follow on and Taunton seems to be avoiding the rain. Birrell sounded pretty pessimistic in his end of day interview yesterday.

Birrell was saying Leach turns the ball the opposite way to the Hants bowlers ( which would be better)and the pitch was becoming more and more favourable to turn . He regretted not playing another spinner.

Edited Wednesday at 11:06 by Picard
Additional text

[stevegrant]

1 hour ago, Picard said:

A bit optimistic for the Hants game. Can't see them avoiding the follow on and Taunton seems to be avoiding the rain. Birrell sounded pretty pessimistic in his end of day interview yesterday.

Birrell was saying Leach turns the ball the opposite way to the Hants bowlers ( which would be better)and the pitch was becoming more and more favourable to turn . He regretted not playing another spinner.

Not sure what he expected, it's been a spinner's wicket for years!

Somerset were 99/5, so now all we've got to do is put on a 250-run partnership and everything is fine...

[Andrew Watson]

Relegation a definate possibility now,totally disastrous,that 8 point deduction has certainly not helped. Will we be the be the only county docked points this season ?

[Hodgey]

Feels like we gave up on red ball cricket somewhat this year - the two Indian recruitment may still keep us up but outside of Abbott and Dawson we mainly look like a div 2 outfit - especially in the batting.

the reliance on youth has kind of worked in short form with Albert, Currie and Mays all doing well but Orr/Middleton/Albert/Turner/ Prest have all been found wanting in red ball (as you could argue has Gubbins and Brown) which compounded the loss of Vince and Abbas.

Be good to stay up - but only if we invest in the team for next season or it’s pretty pointless.

[Andrew Watson]

12 batting points and not replacing Vince has been s disaster. It would not be a gimme if we go down to come straight back up either,Lancashire with a very decent top order have only won one championship game so far.

[Dusic]

Looks like relegation very likely now. As mentioned above the biggest error was not replacing Vince properly and then compounding it by letting Abbas go to then strengthen the batting and ending up with Brett Hampton who neither batted nor bowled well.

[Window Cleaner]

Who knows if Vince would have done any better, pretty poor season he's had.

We went cheap options everywhere and now we may pay the full price of that in the 4 day game.

Still we'll probably win on Sunday.

.

 

[stevegrant]

20 hours ago, Andrew Watson said:

Relegation a definate possibility now,totally disastrous,that 8 point deduction has certainly not helped. Will we be the be the only county docked points this season ?

Somerset will surely be due one for their game against Durham that was done in 5 sessions, and would imagine their penalty will (should) be much bigger. Not that it makes any tangible difference to anything, really.

10% chance of rain in Taunton, so we're going to have to bat all day, which feels somewhat unlikely.

One bugbear of mine, they went off for bad light as soon as Orr was given out LBW last night. The light doesn't turn in the space of one delivery, so were the umpires just hoping to get through to the end of the over before calling play off, or did they only think "ooh, bit dark now" after the fall of the wicket? Going in this morning 0 down compared to 1 might (unlikely, but might) prove the difference...

[Andrew Watson]

A great rear guard showing,how many of us expected that ?   Need to be totally ready for Surrey next week now.

[Lighthouse]

A draw against Surrey should do it, with Yorks playing Durham, but it’d be squeaky bum time. Plus they’ll need to go balls out to overhaul Notts and win the Championship.

[Gloucester Saint]

3 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

A draw against Surrey should do it, with Yorks playing Durham, but it’d be squeaky bum time. Plus they’ll need to go balls out to overhaul Notts and win the Championship.

Forecast midweek onwards full sun so survival will have to be earned unless Durham implode at Headingley. 

[Picard]

On 15/09/2025 at 16:12, Gloucester Saint said:

Not much prospect of play other than tomorrow https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2636177

Better forecast in Durham at the moment, today a goner, half day Weds so 2.5 days to force a win v Worcestershire, possibly three if the outfield isn’t too wet on Weds to start on time https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2653224

 

On 16/09/2025 at 19:02, Gloucester Saint said:

370-7 - started well with the ball but yes, pitch dried out and short boundaries at Taunton. Aldridge’s farewell present before joining Durham. Should have at least got them all out today before the rain all day tomorrow to maximise bowling points.

But Worcs have held firm at Durham - 311/5. Will check the forecast to see if it’s still better there.

 

1 hour ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Forecast midweek onwards full sun so survival will have to be earned unless Durham implode at Headingley. 

Not too sure about your source for weather forecasts!

[Gloucester Saint]

6 hours ago, Picard said:

 

 

Not too sure about your source for weather forecasts!

Used BBC last night who are returning to Met Office - looked up Met Office instead as the beat source and looks similar Weds/Thursday as they don’t go further than 7 days and looks dry first two days at least https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/forecast/gcp185f25#?date=2025-09-25

Leeds similar for Yorks v Durham https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/forecast/gcwfhf1w0#?date=2025-09-25

[Andrew Watson]

Good luck for the final this weekend Hants,looking like it might be played on sunday,if the bbc forecast for Nottingham is correct.

[Toadhall Saint]

Would be good to have both the ladies and men’s teams win. Good luck to both!

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Not sure in the merit of letting your worst bowler bowl the last over. Pretty shit.

[Gloucester Saint]

Kyle Abbott has had a nightmare there and whoever decided to take Neil off who had their batters on toast for Currie (who otherwise bowled superbly) needs putting into the bomb squad and told to find a new county tomorrow. Don’t want whoever that was anywhere near the squad for the Surrey game. Wheal bowling short as well as Abbott was brainless on that surface.

[badgerx16]

1 minute ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Not sure in the merit of letting your worst bowler bowl the last over. Pretty shit.

Bowling plan for the last few overs was wrong. Too wide, giving them room to swing.

[Andrew Watson]

Just go  Wheal,you crock of shit.

[Lighthouse]

One of those weekends where if I had a tenner on a horse, it’d get shot. I hate sport.

[badgerx16]

1 minute ago, Andrew Watson said:

Just go  Wheal,you crock of shit.

Gubbins saved him for the end, why ?

[Andrew Watson]

No idea Badger,what a ----ing day supporting Hants and Saints.

[Gloucester Saint]

6 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

Gubbins saved him for the end, why ?

Hope Gubbins is left out of the squad for Surrey and goes back to Middlesex. Disgraceful decision-making, Neil was all over them. And Currie bowling wides and Abbott/Wheal short into that surface. Will Still-level stupidity.

Edited 18 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[Gloucester Saint]

7 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

Gubbins saved him for the end, why ?

Because he’s an idiot.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

11 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Because he’s an idiot.

Even Mark Butcher on Sky was perplexed at not bowliing Neal for six overs

[Dusic]

End of an era vibe for Hants with Dawson surely considering whether to go white ball only from now onwards since his England hopes are pretty much over?

Feels like poor batting recruitment has caught up with the hierarchy and some new leaders need to emerge within the squad.

A lot of lads who now have a decent amount of games under their belts, are they good enough to really step up and nail four day cricket - the likes of Prest, Middleton, Orr, Albert (who is hugely talented in the shorter form), Jack, Turner, Baker?

Players like Wheal and Organ are mostly bit part and surely expendable?

I guess they tried with Northeast and Gubbins (who has been mostly successful) but shame they havent really recruited any batters in the last few years who have nailed it, especially at the top of the order.

Will also be interesting to see what profile of coach they get, someone who knows the domestic game or an ownership pick?

[Lee On Solent Saint]

13 minutes ago, Dusic said:

End of an era vibe for Hants with Dawson surely considering whether to go white ball only from now onwards since his England hopes are pretty much over?

Feels like poor batting recruitment has caught up with the hierarchy and some new leaders need to emerge within the squad.

A lot of lads who now have a decent amount of games under their belts, are they good enough to really step up and nail four day cricket - the likes of Prest, Middleton, Orr, Albert (who is hugely talented in the shorter form), Jack, Turner, Baker?

Players like Wheal and Organ are mostly bit part and surely expendable?

I guess they tried with Northeast and Gubbins (who has been mostly successful) but shame they havent really recruited any batters in the last few years who have nailed it, especially at the top of the order.

Will also be interesting to see what profile of coach they get, someone who knows the domestic game or an ownership pick?

12 bonus batting points in the Championship is a pretty daming stat all told.

[Andrew Watson]

Batting Middleton ahead of Albert is another very strange move.

[Weston Saint]

Wow, reading some of the comments on hear makes me feel I am on the wrong forum!

Why the negative for Gubbins. This is the only format where he is captain and he got us to the final. He also got the highest scorer in this competition. You have to bowl your most experienced bowler, Abbott, with his full allocation of 6 overs. We managed to get Currie back from England and his bowling justified 6 as well. The rest could only have a maximum allocation of 5.  With the side we put out at the beginning of this competition we did very well to reach the final. Worcestershire were always favourite especially when they won the toss and we fell short on runs. 27 overs made it nearer to T20 mode for them. 

For T20, we were captained by Vince. Again with the disruption  of overseas in and out because of other duties we did very well to reach the final and were beat by a club who were favourites early in the tournament.

In the Championship we were captained by Brown. We always know this was going to be a challenging year of transition and without the points penalty, which is not the fault of the players, we would have been 5th and safe for another year.

Yes I am disappointed with the season but I am not about to put any blame on individuals. 

Our younger players have to step up to the mark in the red ball game next year but it takes time.

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Weston Saint

[Dusic]

53 minutes ago, Weston Saint said:

Wow, reading some of the comments on hear makes me feel I am on the wrong forum!

Why the negative for Gubbins. This is the only format where he is captain and he got us to the final. He also got the highest scorer in this competition. You have to bowl your most experienced bowler, Abbott, with his full allocation of 6 overs. We managed to get Currie back from England and his bowling justified 6 as well. The rest could only have a maximum allocation of 5.  With the side we put out at the beginning of this competition we did very well to reach the final. Worcestershire were always favourite especially when they won the toss and we fell short on runs. 27 overs made it nearer to T20 mode for them. 

For T20, we were captained by Vince. Again with the disruption  of overseas in and out because of other duties we did very well to reach the final and were beat by a club who were favourites early in the tournament.

In the Championship we were captained by Brown. We always know this was going to be a challenging year of transition and without the points penalty, which is not the fault of the players, we would have been 5th and safe for another year.

Yes I am disappointed with the season but I am not about to put any blame on individuals. 

Our younger players have to step up to the mark in the red ball game next year but it takes time.

 

Agree on the white ball comments but in red ball it feels like some youngsters are mentioned about "stepping up" every season when a few have played 2 or 3 full seasons, or in some cases more now, without ever really doing so.

[Weston Saint]

1 hour ago, Dusic said:

Agree on the white ball comments but in red ball it feels like some youngsters are mentioned about "stepping up" every season when a few have played 2 or 3 full seasons, or in some cases more now, without ever really doing so.

Yes that has frustrated Adi Birrell this season in particular. I have had more than one conversation with him on that subject. Think that is one of the reasons he decided not to renew his contract but we have not spoken regarding him going.