v Northamptonshire YB40 at Wantage Road

Taylor and Patel put Steelbacks away! Notts opened up their 40 over season with an easy victory over a poor Northants team on a warm afternoon with a large away following from Nottingham. Northants have decided to go for a light blue strip this season instead or their more traditional team colours and they were certainly off colour with bat, the ball and in the field. As ever it is clear that Mick Newell is using this competition as a training ground for the less experienced members of his squad, there was no place for Shahzad and Fletcher and with Broad now sufficiently fit for England, the seam bowling line up looked weak on paper namely Messrs Gurney, Carter and Ball. One bonus though was a first List A appearance in Notts colours since April 2009 for Graeme Swann. Notts won the toss and batted on what turned out to be a good batting surface. After a first over from Steven Crook which went for 15; Lumb departed in the second over being caught at point off right-arm fast medium bowler Trent Copeland who hails from Gosford, New South Wales. Copeland a tall (6 foot 5) skinny bowler took 10 wickets in Northants win at Canterbury last week. Hales who had a poor game against Durham looked in far better form here and added 79 in 16 overs with James Taylor. Hales was given a life on 48 when dropped at fine leg by former Durham and Scotland man Kyle Coetzer. He did not cash in though as he was bowled by Crook trying to work the ball to leg. Hales’ 50 came off 52 balls with 6 fours. Notts though needed to put their foot on the accelerator and the impetus was provided by Taylor and Patel who added 149 in 18 overs as the Northants bowling became decidedly ragged.  The 4-over batting power play was taken after 28 overs and Patel whilst on 34 was dropped on the ropes by the butter fingered Coetzer; this drop proved costly. Taylor’s first 50 took 69 balls put as he had done at the Rose Bowl last year accelerated rapidly ; he hit two maximums and ten fours before being caught at long on in front of the Spencer Pavilion by Matt Spriegel; the former Surrey man making his debut for the Cobblers, Steven Crook picking up his second wicket. Taylor’s 108 came off 102 balls. Wessels recalled in place of Ed Cowan added 36 in 17 balls, Patel who hit a huge six into upper tier on the Indoor School departed for a superb 66-ball 95, Gosford’s finest Trent Copeland taking the caught and bowled chance as Patel who was trying to hit the ball over his favoured extra cover area only succeeded in putting the ball into orbit. Patel had hit 11 fours and one six. The skipper came in and Notts closed on 287 for 4; Copeland finished with 8-0-50-2. Andrew Hall was the most economical bowler with 7-0-36-0. Northants target looked steep but far from impossible given the strength of the Notts seam bowling resources. Gurney and Cater immediately got the extras count going; Carter once again failed to impress after his poor game against Middlesex. Peters and Coetzer added 59 in 10 overs. Peters (21) had a terrible hoick against Patel and only succeeded in missing the ball and being bowled neck and crop; 59 for one. Ball produced the ball of the day by yorking Coetzer for 30; 62 for two. Next over, one-day Alex Wakely captain was bowled by Patel as an attempted reverse sweep went dreadfully wrong.  The rotund David Sales became the next Northants batsman to commit Hari Kari slashing Jake Ball straight to Titch Taylor at point; 64 for four now in the 14th over. England under 19 stumper, Ben Duckett came in for his debut he hit a couple of fours before gloving a sweep off Patel for Read to take an easy catch; 75 for five. Worst to follow as Swann bowling from the Indoor School end had Steven Crook stumped for a single. The procession continued as Matt Spriegel was caught at mid on by Carter as Mullaney picked his first wicket. At 92 for seven the game was up for Northants. The game died a slow death as James Middlebrook and Andrew Hall added 97 in 16 overs. Read rotated his bowlers as the home team took the power play late on. In the penultimate over Gurney bowled Middlebrook middle stump as he departed for 43. Andrew Hall was left unbeaten on 58 as Northants closed on 204 for 8. Notts had won the match by 83 runs. Patel, Hales and Taylor had all batted well against a home side that bowled poorly feeding the green and gold with plenty of leg side half volleys. Northants top order had also had a bad day playing a series of poor shots. Patel had figures of 8-1-30-3 and was well supported by Swann who enjoyed his return to Wantage Road with 7-1-15-1. The seam bowling attack of Gurney, Carter and Ball though will not win many matches it is just fortunate that they had a large total to defend. Shahzad who was the leading wicket taker in the competition last season with 21 wickets; seemed a strange non-selection.

meanwhile at Taunton, Scott Elstone is playing for the Unicorns, closed on 75* a personal best List A score. Somerset raced to a rapid win however; Scott didn't get a bowl.

Academy winning draw

The final game of the day saw the Nottinghamshire Academy draw with Mansfield Hosiery Mills at Lady Bay. The county side batted first and Tom Rowe (77) led the way as their innings closed on 232 for 9; Adam Tillcock supported with 38 and Matt Wright stood out with figures of 5-74 with Sudesh Fernando adding 3-57. The visitors were always in the game but regularly lost wickets and ended on 191 for 8 with Gareth Curtis scoring 60 and Matt New 49; Luke Wood continued his fine start to the season with 4-32.

from:http://nottinghamshirecbpl.play-cricket.com/content/view.asp?id=10404059&cid=200

More photos on HBD's Facebook

Indian vote fixing?

Have a read of this

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/cricket/indian-lobby-could-oust-tim-may-from-icc/story-e6frectl-1226635233701

12 selected to travel to Northampton

The following have been announced to play Northamptonshire at Wantage Road tomorrow; from
 Hales
Lumb 
Cowan
Wessels
Taylor
Patel 
Read
Mullaney
Swann
Carter 
Fletcher
Ball
Gurney

Sams Wood and Kelsall were added to the squad when it was released that Read and Cowan were "carrying knocks".

Swann picks up points

Graeme Swann was clobbered with a 3 point penalty following his reaction to his dismissal yesterday against Durham, being given LBW. 

Samit Dropped

Ravi Bopara's selection for England's Champions Trophy effectively at Samit Patel's expense might serve as a "buck your ideas up Samit" call - he certainly needs a firm kick up the *^<> for his lack of contribution so far against counties in 2013. Swann and Broad made the squad, however.

Comment from NSW

Thanks so much for another great report on what must have been for the neutral as well as the biased an absorbing cricket match. I am looking forward to the week-end with great anticipation as I will be playing alongside guys who have been selected for Australia's Over 70's side which tours England in August and is involved in a 3-Test series of games v. England.

I will be going to a ground near Mandalong which is about 35 minutes north from here in NSW.

I have just completed the reading of the autobiographical ''Sometimes I forgot to Laugh'' by Peter Roebuck which is a good read. As you know his life ended in controversy and sadness. He is hugely respected here, though by commentators on cricket. He was a part of the ABC coverage on cricket and wrote many articles.. He coached as a specialist batting mentor at Cranbrook, a top-notch private school in Sydney. In an article of 25/12/2011 written by Joe Karsay in Roar magazine Ed Cowan is mentioned as being perhaps the Australian most upset at Peter Roebuck's passing. Ed attended Cranbrook and was noted for his hard work and constant practice and coached by Peter. It would be interesting for you / Notts View to get an interview up with Ed as he is a pivotal cricketer not just for Notts but also Australia. 

Meanwhile I hope you Red'uns enjoy the Forest/Leicester game and have a great week-end yourself.