County Championship Season 2021
Re: County Championship Season 2021
MarcusRann wrote:Tim in Shropshire wrote:Now 29 points clear at the top of the div.
Really professional effort from day one. Week off next week and then it's Somerset at Bristol.
Will we win the league at a canter and then lose any silverware in a playoff?
Nothing is certain for any team with "Gloucester" somewhere in their name.
The format is that the two top teams in each of the three divisions go into a final table of six. They then play the four teams not yet played home and away (so eight matches) and the top team at the end of all that is crowned County Champions.
I can absolutely see a storyline where GCCC stroll into the top league, only for their luck and form to make like a cheese on Cooper's Hill...
Re: County Championship Season 2021
This week's matches that affect us now over. We still top our group by four points with a game in hand over Somerset who come to Briz on Thursday. A win would really put us in the boss seat with Hants 13 points behind and not playing this week.
An early look at the forecast suggests the players may spend the first couple of days dodging the showers.
Re: County Championship Season 2021
The forecast for the next round of games has got steadily worse which is a bit of a shame as Glouc/Som in Bris was shaping up to be a defining fixture for Glouc's season... Now it looks like an exercise in maximizing batting and bowling points in the first innings as the match squelches to a draw. Still, that which affects one looks like it will affect all.
Re: County Championship Season 2021
James Bracey in the England squad for this summer’s series against New Zealand.
Re: County Championship Season 2021
DieTrying wrote:James Bracey in the England squad for this summer’s series against New Zealand.
Really well deserved recognition. May not get the final nod but he's been in great form with bat and glove this season.
Good to see selectors picking on form!
Re: County Championship Season 2021
That must be the 1st for a long time - possibly since Jack - and Mike Smith's one in the late 90's. Lewi got a couple of games but only limited over stuff I think.
Re: County Championship Season 2021
REALLY chuffed for James Bracey.
There's plenty of commentary that this is a squad shorn of its IPL contingent as if this is some sort of asterisk against his inclusion; this is simplistic and ignores the fact that Bracey's preferred position - No.3 - would have been up for grabs regardless. Bairstow has never convinced anyone at first drop... so looking at this squad I see this as a shoot out between Bracey and Crawley for No.3 especially as Bracey is not listed as a wk (not that that's a bad thing - he'd never get the gloves ahead of Ben Foakes).
More generally it's an exciting squad regardless of the GCCC connection. The future of England's batting is there (you'd hope), look at their ages: Crawley (23), Lawrence (23), Pope (23), Bracey (24 this month). The NZ series needs to be used to properly blood and assess these lads. We know what Root/Bairstow/Stokes/Buttler can do already.
Re: County Championship Season 2021
Tim in Shropshire wrote:Good to see selectors picking on form!
Had to chuckle at this Tim... Can't imagine who you could be referring to
Re: County Championship Season 2021
Sod it... couldn't help myself... My XI for the first test against NZ would be as follows:
1. Sibley
2. Crawley
3. Bracey
4. Root (c)
5. Pope
6. Lawrence
7. Foakes (wk)
8. Wood
9. Stone
10. Broad
11. Anderson
Gone full on Youth in the batting department to get these guys playing even though NZ in England will be tough - they are a quality team these days and English conditions are very similar to their home conditions. No full-time spinner for a few reasons - no Ben Stokes means no allrounder and I want four seamers; it's early in the English season where spin is less effective; and I actually think Root can do a good job as a 'holding' spinner if required.
What does everyone else think?
Re: County Championship Season 2021
So who was the last GCCC batsman to represent England in a test match?
Do we have to go back to Tom Graveney?
Jack Russell, Sid Lawrence, Jon Lewis and Mike Smith have all played since then.