The Reverse Sweep

County Championship XI of the week #17

Andrew Strauss (Middlesex) - A daddy hundred - a career best 241 not out - for the England skipper on his return to county cricket. A case of anything Cook can do ...?

Jimmy Adams (Hampshire) - Compiled a second career double hundred to leave Somerset's title hopes in ruins at Taunton.

James Cameron (Worcestershire) - Defiant 98 was worth at least a hundred runs more in a game where no one else reached 50. Its value to his side was priceless as it could yet preserve their Division 1 status.

Michael Carberry (Hampshire) - The inspirational feegood story of the summer is Carberry's successful return from a life threatening illness. His 182 at Taunton increased his tally to 639 runs from just seven Championship matches.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Warwickshire) - Second Championhip hundred in a week against Yorkshire and an unbeaten fifty to secure the draw for his side in the second innings. 

Gary Ballance (Yorkshire) - First hundred for Yorkshire saved his side's bacon at Edgbaston and provides some hope in what appears to be a forlorn battle to escape the relegation trap door.

Steven Davies (Surrey) - England's forgotten man has run into form at just the right time. His 81 and 156 helped Surrey to a big win over promotion rivals Northamptonshire and guaranteed his place in our XI for the second successive week.

Stuart Meaker (Surrey) - Devastating four wicket burst changed shaped of crunch match with Northamptonshire. Another fast bowler to add to long list of England hopefuls - and as he was born in Durban, Meaker ought to be at the head of the queue!

Pragyan Ojha (Surrey) - Recorded second innings figures of six for eight from 18.1 overs at Wantage Road to leave one bemused that the impotent Mishra was picked ahead of him in India's Test squad this summer.

Alan Richardson (Worcestershire) - Derailed Lancashire's title aspirations with a second innings six for 22 to take his season tally to 62 Championship wickets. Effigies of the 36 year old veteran are probably being burnt all over the Red Rose county.

David Balcombe (Kent) - How did Hampshire let such a fearsome fast bowler go out on loan? Balcombe destroyed Essex with a ten wicket match haul to outshine the country's leading wicket taker David Masters at Canterbury. 

Where next?

Does anyone actually want to win the County Championship?

Cricket XIs: Cricketing Criminals

Read all our County Cricket coverage

See if you agree with our other County Championship XIs of the week

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris,Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

 

 

County Championship XI of the week #16

Circumstances have dictated that we haven't been able to post a County XI of the week for the last few rounds of games, so without further ado...

Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire) - A great week for one of our ten to watch in 2011. In a tight match with Durham, his 115 (only one other player from either side passed 50 in the 1st innings) set up a win for the reigning champions - much to the delight of Lancashire supporters. A good week for Hales was capped off with a call-up to the England T20 squad for next week's match with India.

Rob Newton (Northamptonshire) - The young opener struck a composed century against title rivals Middlesex at Wantage Road.

Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire) - On a treacherous Rose Bowl surface where only one other batsman scored a fifty, Solanki's patient 79 not out looked to have given his side a decisive advantage in the basement battle until the rain gods and some suspect covers cruelly intervened on the final day.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Warwickshire) - Memories of his lacklustre debut against Hampshire the week before were quickly forgotten as a typically epic seven hour and twenty minute 193 set up the title challengers for an emphatic win over Yorkshire.

Dawid Malan (Middlesex) - Stroked a brilliant ton to put Middlesex in control of the top of the table clash with Northamptonshire - alas rain washed out the final day.

Steve Davies (Surrey) - England's forgotten man opened the batting and helped Surrey to a comfortable win at Grace Road with a 1st innings 121.

Keith Barker (Warwickshire) - Put in a fine all-round performance with four wickets in each innings and 85 with the bat to ensure that even with the absence of Woakes, Clarke and Rankin Warwickshire's title charge continued.

Andre Adams (Nottinghamshire) - Another to enjoy success with bat and ball as three wickets in each innings and a characteristically agressive second innings fifty helped derail Durham's title hopes at Trent Bridge.

Tim Linley (Surrey) - Excellent season continued with career best match figures of nine for 79 to help Surrey storm back into contention for promotion from Division 2.

Imran Tahir (Hampshire) - The pitch at the Rose Bowl may have offered him considerable assistance but there was no doubting Tahir's quality as he ripped through Worcestershire with five for 29.

Chris Wright (Warwickshire) - He can't get a game with Essex in Division 2, but the on-loan seamer starred for Warwickshire to take seven wickets against Yorkshire including a second innings five for 31.

Where next?

Read all our County Cricket coverage

See if you agree with our other County Championship XIs of the week

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris,Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

County Championship XI of the week #15

Marcus Trescothick (Somerset) – Fifth Championship ton of the season set his side on the way to victory against leaders Durham to blow the title race wide open. Has now usurped Mark Ramprakash as County Cricket’s run plunderer extraordinaire.

Will Smith (Durham) – Carried his side’s batting at Taunton with 74 and then 114 when Durham followed on. Alas for Smith, his heroics were in vain.

Neil McKenzie (Hampshire) – On a pitch where Adam Voges was the only other batsman to reach 50, McKenzie’s 235 ball 97 not out was a mighty impressive knock.

Chris Taylor (Gloucestershire) – Fluent 196 against Kent helped his side to a big victory and enhanced their promotion prospects.

Tom Maynard (Surrey) – Blistering 141 off just 101 balls helped Surrey at least set a target after following on against Middlesex.

Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire) – Took a career best seven for 68 and match figures of 11 for 111 on a controversial spin-friendly Rose Bowl pitch. 

Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire) – In a week where few keepers shone with the bat, it was Ambrose’s 73 against his former county that stood out.

Chris Woakes (Warwickshire) – Continued his fine season with bat and ball by scoring 74 and taking six wickets in the win over Sussex. His all-round performance gets him the nod ahead of Rick Pyrah, whose remarkable hundred transformed the Roses match into a truly gripping contest.

Jeetan Patel (Warwickshire) – Put Sussex in a spin at Edgbaston with match figures of 10 for 168 after scoring a quickfire 65 - a victory which has put Warwickshire firmly in the title mix-up

Kyle Hogg (Lancashire) – Reduced Yorkshire to 42 for eight in their 1st innings with five wickets and then after a stunning fightback by the home team revived his side by top scoring with 52 in their 2nd innings before picking up two further wickets.

Tim Murtagh (Middlesex) – The veteran seamer sent Surrey packing at Guildford with a ten wicket match haul to keep his side in the hunt for promotion.

Where next?

Read all our County Cricket coverage

See if you agree with our other County Championship XIs of the week

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris,Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

 

County Championship XI of the week #14

Rob Key (Kent) – So near, yet so far for Key after his vainglorious 162 came so close to leading his side to an improbable victory at The Oval.

Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire) – A career best 184 in front of the watching Geoff Miller will do his England chances no harm at all. One of our ten to watch in 2011 and also 2010.

Zander de Bruyn (Surrey) – His 179 on the first day formed the bedrock of Surrey’s win over Kent, even if Key’s heroics meant it was squeaky bum time at the end.

Chesney Hughes (Derbyshire) – His side were in the mire with only six second innings wickets left and still 63 behind Glamorgan until a brilliant 167 turned the game around at Derby.

James Hildreth (Somerset) – After a stellar 2010, this season has been one of frustration for the Lions captain, but maybe his first Championship hundred of the season against Notts could finally get things going.

Matt Prior (Sussex) – Kieswetter, Foster and Wallace all may have scored hundreds, but Prior’s fabulous unbeaten 97 not out steered Sussex to a tricky victory target against Hampshire at Hove to seal his spot in our XI.

Jonathan Clare (Derbyshire) – A dream all-round match at Derby saw Clare hit a career best 130 and 29 with the bat and take five wickets with the ball.

Tim Linley (Surrey) – Outshone all the international bowlers on show at The Oval to return match figures of seven for 100 from 38 economical overs.

David Masters (Essex) – Took his Championship tally for the season to 52 wickets with another five for at Grace Road as Essex defeated the home side.

Monty Panesar (Sussex) – Just shaded his battle of the left-arm spinners with Danny Briggs at Hove with seven wickets in the match.

Tony Palladino (Derbyshire) – Completed a remarkable turnaround victory against Glamorgan with five for 50 to give him eight wickets in the game. 

Where next?

Read all our County Cricket coverage

See if you agree with our other County Championship XIs of the week

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris,Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

 

 

County Championship XI of the week #11: Division 2 Half-Term XI

 
Yesterday we named our County Championship Division 1 Half-Term XI. Today we turn our attention to Division 2 and an XI that seems to be comprised of a number of unsung heroes:

Will Jefferson (Leicestershire): 609 runs at 46.84 – Division 2’s leading runs scorer thus far was once talked about as a possible England player when he was at Essex. Those times have long since gone, but the 31 year old has scored freely in a struggling side.

Chris Rogers (Middlesex): 479 runs at 47.90 – It remains a mystery why the Victorian has played just the one Test, but Australia’s loss has proved to be Derbyshire’s and now Middlesex’s gain. Pips Glamorgan pair Gareth Rees and Alviro Petersen, as well as former team mate Wayne Madsen for his spot.

James Taylor (Leicestershire): 461 runs at 46.10 – Others have scored more runs, but has anyone showed their mettle and had their technigue and bottle tested as much as Taylor did when facing down a fearsome Surrey attack on a rare Oval greentop? Taylor’s innings that day proved once and for all that a long Test career awaits.

Rory Hamilton-Brown (Surrey, Captain): 587 runs at 48.91 - One of our ten to watch in 2011. Despite the distraction of the captaincy and having volunteered to open, Hamilton-Brown has shone with the bat, is Division 2’s second highest run scorer and has a Sehwagesque strike rate of 78. That Surrey appear to have woken from their slumber and are challenging for promotion makes it a doubly good first half of the season for the young skipper.

Tom Maynard (Surrey): 560 runs at 56.00 – After his explosive departure from Glamorgan, Maynard has really sparkled in his first season at The Oval and had the pleasure of serving his revenge cold by scoring his maiden first-class hundred against his former county at of all places Cardiff.

Niall O’Brien (Northamptonshire): 417 runs at 83.40 – Ireland’s wicketkeeper has ably demonstrated that there is more than one cricketer in the O’Brien family and pips the likes of John Simpson, James Foster and Mark Wallace to wear the gloves in this XI.

James Harris (Glamorgan): 26 wickets at 21.96, 224 runs at 37.33 – Another of our ten to watch in 2011, Harris is developing into a useful bowling all-rounder. Would have more wickets but for injury restricting him to just five Championship matches and pips Will Gidman and Andrew Hall given he is by far the best bowler of the three.

Claude Henderson (Leicestershire): 26 wickets at 28.26, 321 runs at 40.12 – A slightly contentious pick as Glamorgan’s Dean Cosker has taken more wickets to put his side in the promotion shake-up, but Henderson has done well in a struggling side and offers the added bonus of runs in an XI with an otherwise long tail.

Stuart Meaker (Surrey): 23 wickets at 18.78 - Another contentious pick as many would probably go with the old warhorse Chaminda Vaas. But Meaker’s wickets have come in only four games and his phenomenal strike rate of a wicket every 32.4 balls is just too good to ignore.

Jack Brooks (Northamptonshire): 30 wickets at 22.03 – The benefit of opening the bowling with Vaas has been all too clear for Brooks who is having a glorious season thus far to help inspire his side to the top of the table.

David Masters (Essex): 40 wickets at 20.77 – The leading wicket taker in either division, the experienced opening bowler has once again been the model of consistency despite a faltering return to Division 2 for Essex.

Where next?

Geoffrey Boycott apologises to Michael Yardy

County Championship XI of the week #10: Division 1 Half-Term XI

Ten to watch in 2011: Half-Term report - Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

Read our previous County Championship XIs of the week

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

County Championship Previews - Division 2: Derbyshire, Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire,  Kent,  Leicestershire,  Middlesex,  Northamptonshire,  Surrey

County Championship Previews - Division 1:  Yorkshire,  Worcestershire,  Warwickshire, Sussex,  Somerset,  Nottinghamshire,  Lancashire,  Hampshire,  Durham

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

KP's Summer of Cricket Diary #12: Zafar Ansari

 
The great KP has given a lot to English cricket.

The Ashes were won in 2005 from the dastardly Australians for the first time in 18 years because of the greatest innings ever seen in Test cricket - my 158 at The Oval.

Then my decision to sacrifice my captaincy to rid the England team of the imbecile Peter Moores put in place the Strauss-Flower axis that ensured further Ashes triumphs in 2009 and 2010/11. Who said I wasn't a team player?

Now I humbly give you Zafar Ansari. If I hadn't had the foresight to give the young lad my wicket at Cambridge a few weeks ago, Surrey would never have played him in the T20 match with Essex last night.

His 30 off 18 balls was right out of the KP school of batting except that he didn't get out to a left arm spinner. Maybe I should take some tips?

Once again, English cricket has good reason to be grateful to the magnificent me. 

Where next?

KP: "My super injunction shame..."

Read all the excerpts of KP's Summer of Cricket Diary

Farewell and a tribute (of sorts) to Shane Warne

10 reasons why Ian Botham may have worn sunglasses at the premiere of 'From the Ashes'

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Douglas Jardine, Gideon Haigh and The Daily Telegraph

 
It has been a good couple of days for this blog, even if we haven't quite managed to get our own 'walk-on girl' from Surrey Cricket Club yet.

On Saturday, our contribution to Balanced Sports and  World Cricket Watch's 'My Favourite Cricketer' feature was published. Regular readers of this blog won't be surprised to know that our nomination was England's greatest ever captain. Read why Douglas Jardine is our favourite cricketer here.

Talking of World Cricket Watch, David and the guys staged a bit of a coup last week to get the revered Gideon Haigh on their excellent One Hand One Bounce weekly podcast. We got to hear the views of the great man and he even spent ten minutes or so deliberating over a question posed by the Reverse Sweep on which Test team he regards as the greatest in history. Listen to the Podcast here.

Finally, if all that wasn't enough we even managed to get a plug on the Telegraph cricket pages after they picked up our coverage of the rather OTT reaction to Glovegate on one Indian TV channel.

Where next?

Top Tens: Bodyline and other Ashes controversies

Cricket Heroes: Jack Hobbs

Cricket Heroes: Hedley Verity

Jack Hobbs by Leo McKinstry | Book review

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep 

Our 10 County Players to watch in 2011: Half-term report (2 of 3)

 
Continuing our half-term report on the ten players we nominated to watch in 2011 at the start of the season, we move to numbers 7-5 (as ranked  in order of ascending performance):

See also Part 1 - Adam Lyth, Jos Buttler and Danny Briggs

7. Jade Dernbach (Surrey) (Championship: 13 wickets at 36.61, CB40: 8 wickets at 17.12, ER 4.56)

Despite a stop-start season and fairly mediocre returns in the Championship, Dernbach was called into the England squad for the Lord’s Test with Sri Lanka. A nine-wicket haul for the Lions and a fiery performance against Leicestershire at The Oval probably sealed his elevation. The adopted South African will likely make his international bow in the forthcoming ODI series.

Verdict: C – must show more consistency for Surrey.

6. Adil Rashid (Yorkshire) (Championship: 262 runs at 20.15; 28 wickets at 33.78. CB40: 64 runs at 64.00, SR 95.52; 10 wickets at 17.90, ER 4.71)

The leggie started the season like a train with 11 wickets at Worcester. But like Yorkshire, has flattered to deceive since - even if he has still got his fair share of wickets. Reached a season nadir with 0/88 (in just 10 overs) and 0/187 in successive innings last week against Somerset and Sussex. Batting has also been disappointing. Has performed better in the CB40 where he has a current strike rate of a wicket every 22.8 balls.

Verdict: C+ – Expect him to get better on later season wickets in the Championship and watch out for a possible call-up to the England ODI squad.

5. Rory Hamilton-Brown (Surrey) (Championship: 587 runs at 48.91, CB40: 117 runs at 23.40, SR 101.73)

Despite many people being eager for public school educated Hamilton-Brown to fail, he is Surrey’s top run scorer in the Championship thus far despite also bravely volunteering to open. RHB isn’t doing too badly as captain either with Surrey handily placed for a promotion bid in the Championship and proud holders of a 100% record in the CB40.

Verdict: B – Could this be the season when a young captain leads Surrey out of the doldrums?

Where next?

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

An England under-23 XI - the future looks bright

Matt Prior's Desert Island Discs

Jack Hobbs by Leo McKinstry | Book review

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

County Championship XI of the week #9

 
Joe Denly (Kent) – Ended a nightmare run of just 82 runs from eight Championship innings in 2011 to record his first hundred since 2009. Added 74 for good measure in the 2nd innings to help Kent to their first win in Division 2 since the season opener against Essex.

Luke Wells (Sussex) – Promoted to open in the absence of Ed Joyce and proceeded to rack up 174 – the third ton of his rookie Championship season – as part of a 304 run partnership with Goodwin.

Moeen Ali (Worcestershire) – Rob White can count himself unlucky, but Ali's crucial role in his side’s first Division 1 win since 2007 and their first at New Road since 2004 gets him the nod. He top-scored in the 1st innings with 84 and then finished off the run chase with an unbeaten 35 off just 25 balls.

Murray Goodwin (Sussex) – His 274 against Yorkshire was the eighth time in 11 years with Sussex that Goodwin has registered a double hundred.

Ben Stokes (Durham) – First the ecstasy as a career best 185 – his third ton of the season – helped Durham leapfrog Lancashire at the top of Division 1. Then the agony, as a badly dislocated finger puts him out of action for six to eight weeks - robbing Stokes of a possible call-up to the England ODI squad against Sri Lanka. One of our ten to watch in 2011.

Gary Ballance (Yorkshire) – Earns a place in the XI ahead of Dale Benkenstein after his four-hour vigil for 73 not out saved Yorkshire’s bacon on the final day at Hove.

Chris Read (Nottinghamshire) – Once again played a crucial innings when it was most needed to seemingly put Notts in the driving seat at New Road. Alas for Read, on this occasion (unlike against Yorkshire earlier in the season) his unbeaten 120 proved not to be enough for the faltering holders.

Chaminda Vaas (Northamptonshire) – Showed Sri Lanka just what they are missing with a brilliant bowling display in the Division 2 summit meeting with Glamorgan. His ten for 82 simply blew the Welshmen away.

Tim Linley (Surrey) – Surrey may have been without Tremlett, Meaker and (for half of the match Dernbach), but Linley ensured they weren’t missed with ten for 107 in an excellent win at Derby.

Monty Panesar (Sussex) – Just shades Ian Blackwell for a spot in the XI for his sustained excellence against Yorkshire. Monty’s figures in the match 63.3-20-148-7 ensured he easily won the spin duel with Rashid, even if they weren't quite enough to get Sussex over the winning line.

Matt Dunn (Surrey) – Pitched into his first Championship outing when Dernbach received a call from England half-way through the game, the 19 year old didn’t let anyone down. On the contrary, he proved to be a match-winning super-sub with five for 56 to help bowl out Derbyshire for just 99.

Where next?

County Championship XI of the week #8

County Championship XI of the week #7

County Championship XI of the week #6

County Championship XI of the week #5

County Championship XI of the week #4

County Championship XI of the week #3

County Championship XI of the week #2

County Championship XI of the week #1

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Some inspiration for Strauss and Cook - the greatest opening stand in Test history #PakvEng

 
This week is Jack Hobbs week on the Reverse Sweep to commemorate the release of a new biography on the Master by Leo McKinstry (buy it on Amazon here).

Yesterday, we explained why Hobbs has been one of our cricket heroes since childhood. Today, we focus on the best of his many great partnerships for England with Yorkshire's Herbert Sutcliffe - the pair we selected to open in our All-time England and composite Ashes XIs.

Quite simply the pair formed the best opening pair in the history of Test cricket. They amassed 3249 runs in only 38 innings with 15 century stands at a whopping average of 87.81. Individually they rank as two of the greatest batsmen in history, but together they were near impregnable - especially when the odds seemed stacked against them.

In the 1926 Ashes, with the series 0-0, the final test at The Master's home ground of The Oval would be timeless; meaning that whatever happened there would be a positive result. England had lost the last three Ashes series 5-0, 3-0 and 4-1 and hadn't won a rubber since before the Great War, so much was at stake.

England rung the changes, drafting in Percy Chapman (in place of the unfortunate Arthur Carr) as skipper, the 49 year old Wilfred Rhodes and the young tearaway Nottinghamshire fast bowler Harold Larwood. An expectant nation waited with bated breath.

Chapman did his first job by winning the toss on what looked like a prime batting wicket, but despite Hobbs (37) and Sutcliffe (76) providing a good start, England could only make  280 in their first innings. Australia then eked out a 22 run lead after recovering from 122 for six thanks to a quickfire 73 from Jack Gregory batting at eight.

The fate of the Ashes lay with Hobbs and Sutcliffe and all looked well as they made steady progress to close the day on 49 without loss. But then disaster as heavy rain overnight meant that the uncovered pitch turned into a treacherous sticky wicket. England were only 27 runs ahead and if they failed to prevent a collapse, then most of the demons would have probably left the pitch by the time Australia came to chase. And that would mean the Ashes would be lost again.

But Hobbs and Sutcliffe had other ideas, despite fearing that England would be lucky to even add another 80 runs to their overnight score. They put these fears to one side and with great skill, resolve and sheer grit they tackled the sticky dog and the crafty bowling of Richardson, Mailey and Grimmett to preserve their wickets and punish any bad balls.

Slowly but surely they  grew their stand to 172 before Hobbs was out for exactly 100 just after reaching his milestone to rapturous applause from an excited crowd. Sutcliffe went on to make 161 and England 436.

By the time Australia finally started their second innings, further rain had fallen and they had no hope of getting the 415 they needed to retain the Ashes. Rhodes and Larwood took seven wickets between them, but it was Hobbs and Sutcliffe who were the heroes of the hour.

Hobbs and Sutcliffe shared 11 century partnerships in Tests against Australia, but this was undoubtedly the finest. Even more so then when they repeated the trick on another treacherous sticky wicket at Melbourne in 1928/29. That time they added 106 as England successfully chased down 332 to win. Sutcliffe again scored a brave matchwinning hundred. 

Where next?

Cricket Heroes: Jack Hobbs

All-time England Ashes XI: The Openers, Number 3, 4 and 5, All-rounder, Wicketkeeper, Fast bowlers, Spin King

Cricket Heroes: Arthur Carr

The 25 Greatest Ashes Tests of them all: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

County Championship XI of the week #7

 
Chris Nash (Sussex) – First Championship ton of the season after six fifties, and it was a vital one too as Sussex chased down a tricky target of 275 at Hove. Is now the leading run scorer in Division 1 with 656 runs at 54.66. Second successive appearance in our XI.

Rory Hamilton-Brown (Surrey) – In a team bereft of openers, it was the skipper who took the responsibility of moving up the order to face down Essex’s total of 548. RHB’s 159 off 195 was therefore even more impressive than the score already suggests. One of our ten to watch in 2011.

Ian Bell (Warwickshire) – Warmed up for the Sri Lanka Tests and showed his immense class with 139 against a strong Notts attack featuring England colleagues Broad and Swann.

Gordon Muchall (Durham) – Struck his first ton of the season with his 175 being the base from which Durham dominated against Worcestershire at New Road.

Alex Gidman (Gloucestershire) – Pips Ian Blackwell and team mate Kane Williamson to the final batting spot for his fluent 168 (off 244 balls) at Grace Road – a week after his brother also made our weekly CC XI.

Graham Napier (Essex) – World Record equaling performance with 16 sixes in a first-class innings And 172 runs came in boundaries in his 130 ball 196. Phenomenal. Cricket’s Six Million Dollar Man?

Phil Mustard (Durham) – Put Durham out of sight at New Road with 101 and then marshalled his bowlers well to earn an innings victory.

James Harris (Glamorgan) – Eight wickets at Lord’s including that of Andrew Strauss to ease pain over Lions omission and send Glamorgan second in Division 2.

Naved-ul-Hasan (Sussex) – 10 for 161 in the match kept Sussex in the game – his potency proving the main difference between the sides as pre-season favourites Somerset were beaten at Hove.

Gary Keedy (Lancashire) – 10 wickets in the Roses match to put a buoyant Lancashire top of the table. Match figures of 77.3-14-177-10 make him the most deserving selection in this XI.

Steve Harmison (Durham) – Grabs the final spot in our XI ahead of Boyd Rankin and James Anyon for his seven wickets at Worcester. If he stays fit, Durham could challenge for the title they won in 2008 and 2009.

Where next?

Farewell and a tribute (of sorts) to Shane Warne

Cricket XIs: Cricketing Criminals 

County Championship XI of the week #6

County Championship XI of the week #5

County Championship XI of the week #4

County Championship XI of the week #3

County Championship XI of the week #2

County Championship XI of the week #1

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Is Graham Napier the new Six Million Dollar Man?

 
We've always thought of Graham Napier as a decent enough county pro; the kind of bits and pieces all-rounder that England habitually called up to their one day side in the 1990's.

But to be fair, you couldn't see the likes of Mark Ealham, Matthew Fleming, David Capel or Derek Pringle holding even one cricket world record. Napier holds two.

As a Sussex supporter, we remember only too well Napier's astonishing 152 in a Twenty 20 game in 2008. He hit 16 sixes that day - a world record in the shortest form of the game.

By poetic coincidence that was the same number of sixes (or should they be called Napier Maximums now?) that he hit in his stunning 196 against Surrey yesterday. His knock came off only 130 balls and 172 of the runs came in boundaries.

So Napier joins Andrew Symonds - another belligerent fellow - as the batsman with the most sixes in a first-class innings.

Amazingly, it was Napier's first County Championship innings for 11 months following a stress fracture to the back.

Considering that we also saw Napier reaching speeds in excess of 90mph when taking a hat-trick against Glamorgan in a 40 over match the other week, we are now wondering at the RS whether Napier has been given the same bionic implants as the Six Million Dollar Man.

Let's be honest has anyone actually see Napier and Steve Austin in the same room?

Thought not.

Where next?

County Championship XI of the week #6

County Championship Previews - Essex, Surrey  

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

KP's Summer of Cricket Diary #7 - Humiliated. Twice.

 
It wasn’t my fault that Surrey was humiliated by Cambridge MCCU.

Yes, I know I was the captain, the senior player and I got out in both innings when well set (although not, I should point out to a left-arm spinner in the second innings).

But as I said it wasn’t my fault.

As captain, I should be able to choose who the coach is. I believed that during my glorious reign as England captain. And I believe it now.

The sad fact is that Chris Adams is as much of an incompetent muppet as Peter Moores. Why do I get all the crap coaches to work with? Genius and inspired captaincy can only take you so far.

I may have only been the captain for one match as Rodney (or is it Ricky?) Brown will be skipper again when we actually play a proper match, but I still should have been able to choose the coach for this game.

And who would I have chosen? Well, me of course, the Great KP – cricket coach extraordinaire, greatest batsman ever, architect of the Ashes win and friend of the stars.

On another note, my trip to Cambridge was doubly disappointing for another reason.

I waited eagerly in the hotel lobby every evening, but they didn’t come.

I looked for the tell-tale signs of a helicopter in the sky whilst I was on the pitch or in the pavilion, but it never came.

I waited on tenterhooks for them to call my phone, but it never rang.

You would have thought that when an international superstar like me has the courtesy to visit their manor, then the Duke and Duchess would have come to see me. But they didn’t.

I’m going to vote Republican from now on.

Where next?

Read all the excerpts of KP's Summer of Cricket Diary

Cricket XIs: Cricketing Criminals

10 reasons why Ian Botham may have worn sunglasses at the premiere of 'From the Ashes'

KP's Ashes Diary: 11th January - The urn needs some bling

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KP's Summer of Cricket Diary #6 - My Achilles Heel

 
Those pesky left-arm spinners peeps. Every great man has his Achilles Heel - even as great a person as my good friend Piers Morgan - and I've certainly found mine. Still at least I wasn't the bowler's first or second first-class wicket or anything like that!

I'm not feeling a happy bunny as a result, so haven't got much to say today other than I wished that I played for Derbyshire.

Now there's a county that knows how to deal with incapable coaches - sack them in the middle of the match. If only the ECB had done the same with Peter 'moron' Moores and then I'd still be England captain. Sob.

By the way, I see that Lancashire are top of the Division 1 Championship Table. Who is their coach? He must be a good 'un.

Until tomorrow peeps.

Where next?

Read all the excerpts of KP's Summer of Cricket Diary

10 reasons why Ian Botham may have worn sunglasses at the premiere of 'From the Ashes'

Three captains, Ken, Barbie and a whole lot of confusion

KP's Ashes Diary: 11th January - The urn needs some bling

KP's Ashes Diary: 2nd January - It was KP that won it...

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KP's Summer of Cricket Diary #5 - captain again!

 
Just a footnote to my previous entry peeps, I've just found out that Robbie (or is it Rodney, or maybe Randy?) isn't the captain today and the job has been given to little old me. Well, why get a boy to do the job, when you can have a man?

Ha! That shows you Geoff Miller and Andy Flower. Stuart Broad and Alastair Cook - pah! Watch out Cambridge, here I come. Woo hoo!

I'm not sure about this Chris Adams chap though, I'd better get a newspaper column ready. It's either him or me...

Where next?

Read all the excerpts of KP's Summer of Cricket Diary

County Championship XI of the week #5

Three captains, Ken, Barbie and a whole lot of confusion

Who should make the England Lions XI to play the Sri Lankans?

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KP's Summer of Cricket Diary #4

 
Hello again peeps, the big match starts today at Fenner's when Surrey take on Cambridge.

I'm really looking forward to such an important game, which our boy captain tells me is absolutely crucial to our season - hence why they need the great KP to play.

At first I thought it wasn't a County Championship match so didn't want to play, but captain Robbie (or is it Rodney?) told me that Cambridge had been made a new first-class county in honour of the Royal Wedding of the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Makes sense I suppose, and our boy captain is practically royalty, so he should know.

I think it's great that the ECB are following the lead of the IPL and creating new franchises too - I always thought that there weren't enough teams in the County Championship. If the Premier League has 20 sides, than so should we.

Robbie (or maybe it's Richy?) also tells me that Cambridge is the site of a world famous university. To be honest, I don't know much about universities and can't say I've ever heard of Cambridge University. But hey, I'm looking forward to the ride up in Robbie's (or is it Randy's?) Dad's helicopter.

Wish me luck peeps.

Where next?

Read all the excerpts of KP's Summer of Cricket Diary

County Championship XI of the week #5

Three captains, Ken, Barbie and a whole lot of confusion

Who should make the England Lions XI to play the Sri Lankans?

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep  

County Championship XI of the week #5

 
Yet again our County Championship XI of the week features a number of promising youngsters, suggesting the England cricket side looks set to be in rude health for some time yet; and Amen to that:

Joe Root (Yorkshire) – The 20 year old continues to impress even if he failed by just five runs to record his maiden first-class hundred against the reigning county champions at Trent Bridge.

Luke Wells (Sussex) – His maiden first-class ton helped Sussex chase down 308 to beat Durham and now his second just two weeks later secured a draw at the Rose Bowl.

Mark Ramprakash (Surrey) – Looked like he’d never been away with 37 and 91 on an Oval green top. Even at 41, his powers show no sign of dimming.

Chris Taylor (Gloucestershire) – Scored 117 and 60 to help end Middlesex’s 100% start to the season in a draw at Bristol.

Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire) – After 58 first-class innings including 17 scores of 50 plus, 21 year old Bairstow finally reached three figures at Trent Bridge and promptly turned his maiden ton into a double.

James Vince (Hampshire) – The 20 year old Michael Vaughan clone registered a stylish second career ton against Sussex at the Rose Bowl.

Craig Kieswetter (Somerset) – After a poor domestic season in 2010, Kieswetter continued his resurgence with 117 on an untypically testing Taunton pitch to set up victory over Worcestershire.

Stuart Meaker (Surrey) – Took eight wickets in the match as Surrey’s pace battery proved too much for Leicestershire at The Oval.

Gemaal Hussain (Somerset) – Finally repaid some of the faith shown by his new county for securing his services over the winter by taking a career best six for 33 to propel Somerset to victory over Worcestershire.

Simon Kerrigan (Lancashire) – Made excellent use of a poor Edgbaston pitch to take seven wickets in the match including five for seven in the 2nd innings as the slow left-armer made a bang on his first Championship appearance of the summer.

Jade Dernbach (Surrey) – Surrey’s gamble to prepare (or should that be underprepare?) a green Oval deck paid off as one of our ten to watch in 2011 took seven wickets in the match to spearhead his side to the win that lifted them off the bottom of the table.

Where next?

County Championship XI of the week #4

County Championship XI of the week #3

County Championship XI of the week #2

County Championship XI of the week #1

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

County Championship Previews - Division 2: Derbyshire, Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire,  Kent,  Leicestershire,  Middlesex,  Northamptonshire,  Surrey

County Championship Previews - Division 1:  Yorkshire,  Worcestershire,  Warwickshire, Sussex,  Somerset,  Nottinghamshire,  Lancashire,  Hampshire,  Durham

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County Cricket Preview - Players to watch: Rory Hamilton-Brown

 
Having plunged in at the deep end by taking the Surrey captaincy at the age of just 22, Hamilton-Brown performed creditably in his first season in the role - even if there was not much improvement in Surrey’s performance.

Now a year older and wiser, and with the county having been further strengthened over the winter, Hamilton-Brown will be looking to lead Surrey back into Division 1.

As a batsman, Hamilton-Brown is an exciting prospect, but was too inconsistent last season. There were glimpses of his talent with two championship hundreds and some impressive hitting in the limited overs games, but his overall championship return of 808 runs at 30 was a tad disappointing.

If he can rein back his aggressive nature, then Hamilton-Brown should have a better season personally. If he continues to impress in the 40 over and T20 formats he may come onto the radar of the England selectors, not only for his batting but also perhaps as a left-field choice as captain to build for the 2015 World Cup.

Forget the snide remarks about his privileged background and double-barrel name, Hamilton-Brown is a decent cricketer.

Where next?

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

County Championship Previews - Division 2: Derbyshire, Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire,  Kent,  Leicestershire,  Middlesex,  Northamptonshire,  Surrey

County Championship Previews - Division 1:  Yorkshire,  Worcestershire,  Warwickshire, Sussex,  Somerset,  Nottinghamshire,  Lancashire,  Hampshire,  Durham

2010 County XI of the season

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County Cricket Preview - Players to watch: Jade Dernbach

 
Dernbach’s call-up as a replacement to the England World Cup squad showed that his good performances for the England Lions in the Caribbean over the winter had certainly registered with the selectors.

Another potential England player that was born in South Africa, Dernbach is the product of the Surrey Academy where his steady progress saw a leap in performance in 2010 with 46 championship wickets at 29.

Surrey should do well this season and if Dernbach starts the season well, he could find himself in the ODI squad to face Sri Lanka.

It certainly promises to be a big year for the 25 year old.

Where next?

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

County Championship Previews - Division 2: Derbyshire, Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire,  Kent,  Leicestershire,  Middlesex,  Northamptonshire,  Surrey

County Championship Previews - Division 1:  Yorkshire,  Worcestershire,  Warwickshire, Sussex,  Somerset,  Nottinghamshire,  Lancashire,  Hampshire,  Durham

2010 County XI of the season

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County Championship Preview - Division 2: Surrey

 
Finishing seventh last summer would have come as a severe disappointment after heavy investment the previous winter. Surrey have again welcomed several new recruits for 2011 in Tom Maynard, Yasir Arafat, Kevin Pietersen and Zander de Bruyn so will the forthcoming summer see an upturn in fortunes?

Strengths

A top six comprising Mark Ramprakash, Pietersen, de Bruyn, the immensely promising Jason Roy, Steven Davies and head prefect Rory Hamilton-Brown looks impressive, although Surrey fans shouldn’t expect to see too much of KP.

The bowling looks good too with Chris Tremlett, Yasir Arafat, Jade Dernbach, Gareth Batty and Stuart Meaker plus having Chris Jordan back from injury will be like having another new player.

Weaknesses

Can this collection of individuals be gelled into a team? Tremlett, Pietersen and possibly Davies and Dernbach are likely to miss several games due to international duty.

Main man

If his back holds up expect the imperious Mark Ramprakash to continue his astonishing exploits with the bat. Enjoy it whilst you can, because even this evergreen 41 year old cannot go on much longer. Surely?

Look out for…

KP getting lost en route from Chelsea to The Oval and heaven forbid if he has to get to Guildford – that’s nearly in Hampshire!

Prediction

3rd – A hugely improved season but just missing out on promotion

Where next?

County Championship Previews - Division 2: Derbyshire, Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire,  Kent,  Leicestershire,  Middlesex,  Northamptonshire

County Championship Previews - Division 1:  Yorkshire,  Worcestershire,  Warwickshire, Sussex,  Somerset,  Nottinghamshire,  Lancashire,  Hampshire,  Durham

2010 County XI of the season

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