County News: Retired Threads

 

26/09

Is it just the Australian preference of technique that's the problem?

Law dictates that ‘palm down’ return ‘catch’ be declared ’not out’. 

PTG Editor.

Tuesday, 26 September 2023.

PTG 4302-20991

As was the case in an Ashes Test earlier this year (PTG 4234-20704, 2 July 2023), Australia was once again denied a key wicket due to a post-catch grounding before a fielder had gained full control of the ball.  The latest incident occurred during the second One Day International of the series against India in Indore on Sunday, when Indian batter Shreyas Iyer chipped a return chance towards Australian bowler Sean Abbott.  

The New South Welshman dived, scooped the ball up in his right hand, but as he landed he turned that hand palm down so the ball made contact with the ground.  Umpire Kumar Dharmasena asked TV umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan to look at the matter, and he concluded from replays that the ball had hit the turf before Abbott completed the catch. Law 33.3 states that a catch is only completed once the fielder has total control over the ball and their own movement, so Iyer was called back by Dharmasena.  Some pundits have expressed the view that the law is inadequate as it now stands (PTG 4235-20706, 3 July 2023). 

25/09

Don't blame me, blame Bazball - Sadler at Northamptonshire

An interesting article, not totally because of the means of dismissal, nor the fact that two of the players involved are former Notts Outlaws, but because of the sanitised way the verb Mankad has been lost for describing this manner of running out (at least in this article). Is it time for Barker to re-enter the discussion? A clear case of Nottingham's own Barkering here...

Despite Law’s requirements, non-striker recalled after bowler runs him out.
PTG Editor.
Sunday, 24 September 2023.
PTG 4300-20979.

New Zealand batter Ish Sodhi was run out by Bangladesh bowler Hasan Mahmud when he was backing up too far in their two side’s second One Day International of their series in Mirpur on Saturday, but was subsequently recalled to the crease by Bangladesh captain Litton Das. Following an appeal from Mahmud, bowler’s end umpire Marais Erasmus referred the issue to TV umpire Nitin Menon who advised the batter was out of his ground and the bowler had taken the bails off as required by the Laws, so Erasmus gave the Kiwi out.

As Sodhi was walking towards the pavilion he, apparently in ignorance of the requirements of the applicable Law, sarcastically applauded Mahmud, however, Das then walked up to Erasmus and withdrew the appeal, even though the batter had been correctly given out. Sodhi resumed his innings, giving Mahmud a somewhat theatrical hug before he did so.

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal however, didn’t agree with the move to recall Sodhi, saying the mode of dismissal was justified. He told a media conference after the game: “I don’t see anything wrong in it. The rule is there. If we get someone out, or one of us gets out in that manner, I don’t think we should react the way people are reacting nowadays”. Keen observers of the match pointed out that of the 24 balls Sodhi was at the nonstriker’s end during his innings, he left his crease early on every single occasion. Sodhi himself praised Bangladesh for their "tremendous sportsmanship" in reinstating him and acknowledged Das' handling of the situation.

22/09

Coach sacked for role in racism scandal hired by Cricket Tasmania.
Will Macpherson.
London Daily Telegraph.
Friday, 22 September 2023.
PTG 4297-20970.
  

Former Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale has been appointed head of Cricket Tasmania’s male performance pathway, two years after he was sacked by the County club following allegations of racism made by Azeem Rafiq.  Gale, a former Yorkshire captain before he became head coach, was sacked alongside 15 other members of staff in December 2021 after Rafiq’s allegations of institutional racism (PTG 3751-18483, 4 December 2021). He later received compensation as Yorkshire admitted his sacking was “procedurally unfair”.

Gale refused to engage with the England and Wales Cricket Board’s Cricket Discipline Commission hearings earlier this year, at which he was handed a four-week ban from coaching and a £UK6,000 ($A11,500) fine. Gale denied allegations of bullying and discrimination against him and alleged a “witch-hunt” (PTG 4184-20501, 4 May 2023).  Gale said via LinkedIn that he is "happy to share that I’m starting a new position”, and Cricket Tasmania chief executive Dominic Baker said he was comfortable that Gale deserved another chance in the game.

“There is absolutely no doubt that Andrew wouldn’t be here unless there was an acknowledgement that the type of behaviour which he has been censured for is not acceptable to Tasmanian cricket and there’s a full acknowledgement of that”, said Baker.  "So we’ve taken him on trust because we know him and we’ve worked with him before and I couldn’t be more confident that with what we’ve got set up here as an organisation, we’ll get the best out of Andrew and it’ll be the absolute best for our young Tasmanian cricketers”.

“We obviously have done a whole load of due diligence on the whole situation. That was something that we actually discussed right up to board level.  But we knew Andrew, we know he’s an exceptional talent. We had a long conversation with Andrew about, if he was to re-join cricket and to re-join cricket with Cricket Tasmania that there were absolute non-negotiables around our Code of Conduct. He’s very aware of those and we are very, very confident that any of the issues that happened in England are left behind, and we are moving forward”.

Bat breaks, dislodges bails, but 'no ball’ call saves batter.
PTG Editor.
Friday, 22 September 2023.
PTG 4297-20967.


Somerset batter Lewis Goldsworthy’s bat broke and a piece of it landed on the stumps dislodging the bails when he played a delivery from Kent's Jaskaran Singh during their County Championship match at Taunton on Thursday, but he wasn’t out. That’s because umpire Tom Lungley had quickly called a ’no ball’ for an overstep by Singh. Goldsworthy was on 79 at the time and Singh eventually dismissed him, but not until he had scored 122.

20/09

Call to end Glamorgan cronyism

Does it sound familiar?

19/09

Behaviour of four Sussex players cost the club any hope of promotion.
Will Macpherson.
London Daily Telegraph.
Tuesday, 19 September 2023.
PTG 4294-20954.

Sussex’s hopes of promotion to Division One of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) County Championship series for 2024 have ended abruptly after they were slapped with a 12-point penalty that has led to four players – including captain Cheteshwar Pujara – being banned for the fixture against Derbyshire in Derby which is due to start on Tuesday. Sussex were handed two fixed penalties by match referee Wayne Noon in a fractious win over Leicestershire last week, taking them to four penalties for the season, triggering an automatic 12-point deduction from the ECB and a one-match ban for Pujara, who was captain on all four occasions.

In addition to the ECB’s actions, Sussex itself suspended two of their best young players, England Lions Tom Haines and Jack Carson, because they were found guilty by Noon. The club’s leading wicket-taker, Ari Karvelas, has also been made unavailable by the club “until an investigation into an incident in the Leicestershire game has been concluded”. Haines committed a Level One offence for the second time this season, but Carson’s action was a more serious Level Two offence. He was charged with “making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with another player”, which is thought to relate to a subtle attempted trip of the Leicestershire batsman Ben Cox as he attempted a run during their run chase. Both Haines and Carson have apologised for their behaviour.

Carson.said: “In the heat of the battle.. ..my desperation to compete and ultimately win the game resulted in me crossing the line in what is deemed acceptable within the Spirit of Cricket. I would like to apologise to my team-mates and to all our Sussex supporters for my actions during the game. I plan to learn from the experience and conduct myself in the correct manner without losing my fierce determination to compete in all fixtures while representing the club”.

Haines added: “In light of the recent game against Leicestershire, I’d like to apologise to all Sussex supporters for overstepping the mark with regards to discipline on the field. It came out of pure passion to compete and help the team win the game. This is something I will learn from and channel better in future games for Sussex”.

Sussex appealed vociferously throughout Leicestershire’s chase and Pujara was spoken to by the umpires Paul Baldwin and Ben Debenham on a number of occasions, but was unable to improve his players’ behaviour. Earlier this season, Pujara himself committed a Level One offence, for “wilfully mistreating any part of the cricket ground, equipment or implements used in the match” in the game against Durham. As a result of the suspensions, Sussex travel to Derby for Tuesday's game with a very inexperienced side and their hopes of promotion over. They were due to go into the final two rounds 18 points behind Worcestershire, with a more favourable fixture list. But now they have dropped from third to fifth.

“We have made Jack and Tom unavailable for selection for this game at Derbyshire”, said head coach Paul Farbrace “Following the umpires and match referee’s decision to charge both players with on field Level One and Level Two offences, we needed to take a stance, and show them we will not condone such behaviours. Ultimately it has cost us the availability of Cheteshwar and we have been deducted 12 points. It is a great shame that these incidents have tarnished what was a fantastic game against Leicestershire, and all the hard work that has gone into the season. I am disappointed for our fantastic members and supporters and can assure them we will be working hard to make sure we are not in this position again”.

18/09

Promotion has been practically handed to Worcestershire after the ECB docked Sussex 12 points, and suspended their captain for their next game. 

ECB ruling

15/09

Not Broady, but MacGill our overseas player from the early '00s. 

14/09

Matthew Maynard will leave Glamorgan a year early from his contract

11/09

Congratulations to Durham, because of Leicestershire's failing with the bat at Hove, Foxes cannot now pass Durham's points tally, so Durham are mathematically promoted.

06/09
CDC sanction Hampshire following 'below average' pitch

A Cricket Discipline Commission Panel has sanctioned Hampshire CCL for breaching the ECB Pitch Regulations.



A Cricket Discipline Commission Panel has sanctioned Hampshire CCL for breaching the ECB Pitch Regulations.

The ECB charged Hampshire with failing to comply with Regulation 8.1 of the ECB Pitch Regulations, which requires each County to actively seek to prepare the best quality cricket pitch that it can for the match that it is staging.

The charge related to the pitch used in the club’s home LV= Insurance County Championship match against Essex CCC at The Ageas Bowl between 25-27 July, which was rated 'below average' by the Match Referee.

An independent CDC Panel upheld the charge following a hearing on Wednesday 6 September 2023 and has issued the following sanctions:

• An immediate 3-point deduction in the 2023 LV= Insurance County Championship.
• A 20-point deduction for the 2024 County Championship season suspended until the last day of that season. These suspended points will be deducted if the club commits any further breach of the Pitch Regulations in relation to the County Championship on or before that date.
• A fine of £5,000.

Match Referee was Wayne Noon, Hearing Chair was Nigel Popplewell

ICYMI

15/08

When T20 Franchise cricket is prioritised over Test cricket by a nation unilaterally, you get clashes and mis-matches- so how will South Africa fair in New Zealand? What credibility does that leave the World Test Championship with?

How are the ECB treating their golden goose, Test cricket? Taking punters for granted?

South Africa to send below-strength Test team to New Zealand

The Test series is overlapping with the SA20 and CSA chief executive Pholetsi Moseki said that none of the players contracted with the league will be available for the tour.

Published : Aug 15, 2023 21:48 IST , JOHANNESBURG

South Africa will send an understrength team to New Zealand for two World Test Championship matches in February, following the release on Tuesday of the fixtures for its domestic SA20 franchise competition.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Pholetsi Moseki confirmed to AFP on Tuesday that no players contracted to the six SA20 franchises would travel to New Zealand.

The SA20 will start on January 10 and finish on February 10, overlapping with the Tests which begin on February 4 and February 13.

The clash of fixtures effectively eliminates most of South Africa’s first-choice players with the exception of former captain Dean Elgar, who was not contracted for the first edition of the T20 competition earlier this year.

Several leading players have been pre-contracted and an auction on September 27 is expected to mop up most of the rest, including likely second-choice or even third-choice players.

“It is a directive of Cricket South Africa,” said Moseki, adding that the ruling would also apply to players whose involvement ended at the conclusion of the league phase of the SA20, which ends on February 4.

“Because of the time zones, players need at least a week to acclimatise in New Zealand so it will not be possible for some SA20 players to join the team for at least the second Test,” he said.

Cricket South Africa tried to negotiate a postponement of the Tests but this was rejected by New Zealand Cricket.

The decision is another blow for Test cricket in South Africa, with the majority of future series restricted to two matches, including a high-profile home series against India in December and January - the only home Tests of the South African summer.

Moseki said at the announcement of the International Cricket Council’s future tours programme last year that South Africa’s reduced Test schedule was necessary in order to accommodate the SA20 in a prime part of the season.

But Moletsi said he was confident that South Africa would send a competitive team to New Zealand. “I have faith in our pipeline,” he said.

Elgar bemoaned the situation in a newspaper interview last month. “It’s tough to take,” he said.

“It shows what the narrative is when it comes to Test cricket and again it’s the players who suffer. A high percentage of the players still really want to play Test cricket.”

07/09

Rajasthan Royals bid to takeover Yorkshire CCC, but it is in the Mail so have a pinch of salt handy.

06/09

Handscomb new deal

05/09

Hugh Morris to stand down as CEO of Glamorgan

Kent new DoC

01/09

Former Notts Outlaw Graeme White Retirement

Northamptonshire view

26/08

Peter Handscomb

24/08

Having had the inclusion of Sammy King and Ben Martindale in the past month in the Notts Outlaws eleven, both being former pupils of Nottingham High School, we are reminded that this year is the 150th anniversary of cricket at said school. Watch an informative video here.

19/08

Taking three wickets appears to be enough to get you stolen by the dreaded H*ndred, so Outlaws will be without Calvin Harrison on Tuesday.

Calvin Harrison is to replace Usama Mir at Manchester Originals with immediate effect, after the Pakistan international was called up for his country.

The all-rounder made six appearances for the Originals over the last two editions of The Hundred, with best figures of 2/18 and a high score of 23.

Harrison's Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign has yielded three wickets, with a top score of 41 in Notts Outlaws' defeat at Radlett.

The leg-spinner will now join up with the Originals ahead of their final two matches, at home to Northern Superchargers (Sunday 20 August) and Southern Brave (Wednesday 23 August).

18/08

Duckett's Ashes Reflections

Will Macpherson, Daily Telegraph

Ben Duckett has not had much time to reflect on an Ashes series which he solidified his status as England’s opening batsman. Three days after that unforgettable ending at the Oval, he threw himself straight into the Hundred.

Duckett admits that a summer like no other has left him “exhausted” but he declined a break for a few reasons. First, having spent years on the domestic grind, he is used to flitting between the formats. Second, he had promised Birmingham Phoenix that he would be available from the start, and did not want to be “disrespectful” to them. Third was a desire to press his case for a more regular place in England’s white-ball side. Most of all, though, was a desire to keep the party rolling.

“It is quite hard to reflect on something when you’ve not had time to pause,” he tells Telegraph Sport. “But I have had an appreciation of how big the Ashes was, and I love all the hype around it. I’ve played all three seasons of the Hundred but this is definitely the first time I’ve had little kids under 10 shouting my name and stuff like that. It’s pretty special being a part of an all-time great series.”

Duckett says he would have “taken” his Ashes series, with an average of 35 against a “world class” bowling attack, and his partnership with Zak Crawley at the top of the order increasingly settled. He has no regrets – not even falling within 20 runs of an Ashes hundred at Lord’s twice, both times to the short ball.

“It would have been pretty incredible to make an Ashes hundred at Lord’s,” he says, “but I have no regrets about getting out like that. They bowled short balls at me for 85 per cent of that game, and I scored 180 runs. If you flip that round, and on a green nipper they pitch it up with four slips and they try to nip you off and you score 98 and 83, everyone says what an unbelievable game you played.

“But because it’s short pitched it looks different, and I eventually got out to it twice, it seems frustrating. But people forget that facing 6ft 6in guys bowling bumpers for two hours it’s quite difficult! If we had not played any shots, they would have carried on because they wanted to dry us up. We nearly chased 350 in that game.”

That was the game in which tensions between the teams appeared to fray over Jonny Bairstow’s stumping. But if there was niggle, Duckett did not see it.

“I actually feel it’s completely overhyped,” he says. “Most of the back and forth was just niggle in the media. On the field, they are not niggly at all. I hope they don’t mind me saying this but they are bunch of nice guys who are very good at cricket. I don’t think I got sledged once in the whole series.”

At Lord’s, however, Cummins gently ribbed him about his distaste for leaving the ball. Duckett has left approximately 1 per cent of the deliveries he has faced in Test cricket; for context Andrew Strauss, a classical Test opener, left 28 per cent of the balls he faced.

“Cummins bowled me a ball down the slope at Lord’s and I definitely played and missed,” Duckett said. “He says ‘was that a leave?’ I asked what he reckoned and he said ‘definitely’. When he was bowling bumpers I was doing a bit of a Steve Smith trigger. He pitched one up and I left it, and he said: ‘don’t ruin the percentage now Ducky’.”

Friendly joking aside, Duckett believes the Ashes were vindication of his quirky method.

“I will only normally leave one or two an innings, but they had a deep point out and they were bowling pace, you just had to get bat on ball and get down the other end,” he says.

“I had two low scores at Edgbaston, when I was nervous in the first innings, and a few years ago I would have panicked about nicking off twice. But I spoke to the coaches and they told me to go harder. I did and it worked. So I don’t think I will be practising those leaves any more ahead of India, especially as so much spin will be bowled there.

“It’s nice that mine and Zak’s partnership has clicked. My game has come on thanks to him, and I think he’d maybe say the same. It’s obvious things, with the lengths that bowlers are having to find. I am cutting the same ball he would drive through the covers. It’ll be different for us in India, but I will stick to my strengths. I’m not going to spend six months working on my forward defence. I know how I can be successful over there, and that’s trying to put pressure back on the bowlers.”

For the remainder of the summer, though, Duckett is looking to stake a white-ball claim. He appears disappointed but not surprised to miss out on the World Cup squad, especially with Ben Stokes back, but will face New Zealand in a T20 series at the end of the Hundred. Duckett’s form in the competition has arguably reflected his tiredness, with four scores between 23 and 34.

“Twelve months ago I thought my Test career was done, but had a chance in the Hundred,” he says. “Now I’m in the Test side now and loving it but I still feel my white ball game is as good if not stronger.

“The trouble is it’s near to impossible to break into because they are such a good side. I have massive ambitions to be involved in it all. 50 overs might even be my best format but I haven’t played too much of it in the last few years.

“My game doesn’t change that much. I am just as aggressive against spin in white ball cricket as I am in red. Take the odd risk. At the Oval, I ran at Hazlewood. That is something I want to bring into my game in white ball cricket.

“But mainly I just feel in the form of my life and am loving the game. Been a decent summer but if I finish it well for anyone I’m playing for it’ll be one of the best summers of my life.”

16/08

Shaw injury mean he ends his time at Northampton

No Ben Duckett in the England ODI squad as zero respect is shown for players' decisions on retirement, again!

Duckett makes the IT20 squad with Josh Tongue. 

15/08

Sol Budinger century

Four Day Test

07/08

Yorkshire response to criticism over weather and tickets at Scarborough

31/07

Mick Newell must have Imad Wasim on speed dial, as yet again the Pakistan International comes to his aid in his hour of crisis / lazy management moment. This time it's to do with his cuckoo franchise losing their most over paid overseas player through injury. What's going to happen to all the merch they're made with Rashid's name on now? 

NCCC will have to foot the bill probably.

 Another reason to rid cricket of this scourge!

Metro Bank Cup Competition summary

29/07

Broad to Retire after the Ashes

Gurney and Fletcher on Broad podcast

26/07

Matt Montgomery is in the Germany squad today for their T20 World Cup qualifier against Ireland and Italy on Friday.

24/07

Hameed to captain in the Metro Cup, even when Steven Mullaney will be technically available

The Second XI 50-over fixture between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire at Belper Meadows, due to take place on Tuesday 25 July, has been cancelled. 

The decision was mutually agreed between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, as both sides now turn their attention to this week’s LV= County Championship fixtures and the upcoming Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign.

23/07

Josh Tongue

Leicestershire want Worcestershire taught a lesson after dodgy catch at Oakham School.

Watch it for yourself here

Can Notts appeal to the ECB when it can be shown that a good catch, at the Oval, was refused by the square leg umpire that was clearly unsighted on the TV replays? Can Notts appeal to the ECB that they could have had four favourable LBW appeals that were rejected by Russell Warren this week? TV replays appear to show that the ball would have hit the stumps on all occasions.


11 Worcestershire players have their contracts up for renewal in 2023, but we know three of those have already opted to go elsewhere.

One player, Gareth Roderick extends his contract at New Road

22/07

Otis Gibson will lead the Vikings in the Metro Bank Cup after stepping away from the H*ndred

According to the Daily Telegraph (behind a paywall), Mohammad Amir is seeking UK citizenship and is to join Derbyshire as a "local player".

20/07

Guardian does Botham Bashing

19/07

Madsen to play for Italy

18/07

Heritage talks at Trent Bridge

Lunchtime Heritage Talks

During the lunch interval on each of the first three matchdays there will be an illustrated heritage talk about an important but often overlooked Notts cricketer:

Wednesday 19 July (Day One) Thomas Barker, No. 1 on the list of Notts’ First-Class cricketers and the first bowler to Mankad a batsman

Thursday 20 July (Day Two) Muriel Lowe, Notts’ first great all-rounder, a pioneer of women’s cricket and a multi-talented sportswoman

Friday 21 July (Day Three) AO Jones, captain of the 1907 Championship winning side whose 296 against Gloucestershire in 1903 remains the highest score by a Notts batsman at Trent Bridge



Talks take place on the first floor of the Radcliffe Road stand (follow the signs inside the stand). Admission is free, all are welcome and you can bring your sandwiches and drink.

14/07

Sponsor for the One Day Cup found.

Stewart and Moores Talking Balls

13/07

Middlesex and Northants draw with scores level

12/07

Leicestershire Ground Development Plans - Grand designs

11/07

Great news for Nottinghamshire as Tom Moores gets a widcard draft pick for the Rocketeers. Zak Chappell is Invincible! Apparently...

MCL

07/07

Tamim unquits Internationals

06/07

Paul Nixon departs Leicestershire. Did I hear that he was headed for Texas?

05/07

Paul Downton, Kent DoC to retire

04/07

Both the Daily Telegraph and The Cricketer have published news that Notts will sign Worcestershire fast bowlers Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington for 2024. 

We currently have on sick note rota: Luke Fletcher and Olly Stone.

Stuart Broad is centrally contracted by the ECB.

We also have: Toby Pettman, Tom Loten and James Hayes under contact but who aren't given a game ever

Brett Hutton, Dane Paterson and Jake Ball are left to do the heavy lifting for the rest of the season or until one of them breaksdown. Lyndon James is just used to give the 3 a bit of a break every now and again.

Olly Stone has proved to be an absolute waterproof teabag of a signing. Josh Tongue would a great signing but for the fact England have first dibs and will "manage him" as they do with Stone and Broad, which isn't what Notts need.

Dillon Pennington has been around for while and hasn't been on anyone's radar before, and maybe there's a reason for that.

03/07

Injured Samit Patel has been drafted into the Zim Afro T10 competition which starts later this month.

Smart new pavilion at Farndon

30/06

Two Interim Coaches at Leicester appointed

28/06

Buried in all the other sorry news yesterday, NCCC response to this.

27/06

They asked for examples of discrimination and that is what they got.

Discrimination in cricket

Rotten Culture in cricket

Recommendations

26/06

Josh Cobb usurped, the fallout

24/06

Talking balls - the kookaburra trials

CEO Jarvis denies there's a crisis

22/06

Tongue to Notts or Lancs, du Plooy to Middlesex - agents are at it again!