die hard doonhamer

Week 1 - Falkirk

Test match cricket really is the fucking best

Really surprised to see Broad retiring, I thought he’d go in for another couple of years yet. He’s been a fantastic player for England. In terms of his own game, he’s going out on top.

Definitely. Currie has been knocking on the door for the last 12 months or so. I watched him take 4 for not very much for Sussex 2nd XI a couple of months back and was really impressed. McMullen looks like our next talisman, to be honest. Has bags of ability, should be a mainstay for the next decade plus.

I’ve just read that there is for world events, which I didn’t realise was the case. So they will be available, if they choose to be.

Fantastic from Brad Currie, great player. Hopefully the counties release our guys for the World Cup next summer, it’ll make a huge difference to our squad.

Foakes simply has to come back in for India. It’s not a place you can go with a substandard wicket keeper.

Another mistake from Bairstow

Yes, bizarre that it went on to tracking. Not much on ultra edge, but the deviation was clear as day.

They put a marquee up on the edge of the pitch to host their preseason nets

It’s just a wee bit bigger than the 5 deck square I maintain It must have 50 odd strips on it

Outstanding catch from Root this morning, but that’s Bairstow’s catch all day long. Really poor that he hadn’t even gone for it.

Can’t sign a multi year deal, he’s signed an amended tag.

Ambrose it is, signed until the January window

Watched a chunk of our batting innings, Hairs and McMullen were both in a mission. Fantastic to watch. Could see Hairs going even bigger against one of the next 2.

I heard yesterday evening that they did no prep to the pitch other than cut it in the morning of the game. Given the context of poor pitches already this year, it’s baffling that the WDCU had it hosted there.

T20 was a popular grassroots format long before it took off in the professional game. It’s the ideal format for midweek cricket.

The above is conveniently timed to answer the question. I’m not saying moisture is what caused the issues at West today, but that’s a good demonstration of an unsafe pitch, and water getting on to the wicket can cause an unsafe pitch.

Think they all hold Italian passports through parentage. Looking very dismal here at Old Trafford. I’ll be very surprised if we see any play.

The seam bowling today was pish, no pressure built and it just went nowhere. Spinners did a decent job. Hopefully get a few hours of play in tomorrow.

I’m in complete agreement with you. I can understand why they went with Berrington when Kyle gave up though. Watt was just in the door with Derbyshire and had missed games for county cricket, he hadn’t yet signed his new deal which gives priority to his Scotland commitments, so if he was given it then there was a real risk that the captain wouldn’t be available through the summer. Given it is now established that he’s always available, I’d have him as captain. Hairs can be filed amongst several other talents, such as Craig Wallace and Michael English, who have fallen victim to Cricket Scotland’s player management. They really are terrible on that side of things, unless you have money, of course. The real answer to why Cross is at the top of the order can be found on the front of the shirt.

Good write up. Berrington is the skipper though, rather than Watt, so it was him keeping Watt back rather than Watt himself. I find the call to keep Cross at 3 absolutely baffling. He’s simply not good enough at hitting out to be a top order T20 player (I don’t think he should be a top order ODI player either, but that’s for a different day). He’s an exceptional gloveman, and I think the side has enough all round talents (McMullen, Leask, Greaves and Watt are all all rounders to various extents) that you can carry a specialist keeper. I’d have him down at 7 though and get Leask up to 3. The hardest hitters should be the top 3. If you want your keeper to contribute with the bat then Craig Wallace should be in there.

Really looking forward to a weekend of staring at the Manchester rain from the big temporary stand. Hope England can force their way over the line. Solid stuff from Scotland in the end against Jersey. Mark Watt is some cricketer.

Italy have Gareth Berg, Wayne Madsen and Grant Stewart, all very capable county players. It had been rumoured that Spencer Johnson would play for them in this as well but he isn’t here. Joe Burns becomes eligible to play for them at some point in the next 12 months or so as well and is apparently keen. They definitely have players capable of throwing a spanner in the works.

I think you’ve got to be able to trust Bairstow to smash some quick runs. No point coming out after lunch, hardly adding anything (as was the case when Broad fell), and then declare and lose the 2 overs/10 minutes at the change. As well to make use of the time and try make it a bat once total, which it isn’t quite yet, imo. ETA: I’d have declared at lunch in the first place