I think that's the bit that stood out for me, 3 years! He must have done incredibly well in the nets. I mean he's 22, talk about going under the radar...

Interesting. Always thought him a bit overrated. He's had loads of issues with illness and injury too. Has pace and can bit though I suppose and he's a left armer which we don't have currently.

I wasn't overly impressed to be honest and he looked like a bit of a comedy fielder. 3 years is a huge show of faith. A full winter of pro training and pre season will do him good though.

Sussex picking up John Simpson is a curious one. Simpson has been terrific but his best days are definitely behind him and the current Sussex keeper Oli Carter seems to have a lot of promise.

Then let us never question the continued selection of Alex Davies ever again as the coaches work with him everyday and see his efforts, general attitude and behaviours.

Yep, I've said a couple of times now our record with bringing through seamers from academy level to 1st team level performers is extremely poor and has been for a long time. We'll often line up with a seam bowling attack made up entirely of recruits from other counties (and according to some we don't recruit from other counties anywhere near enough!), Manny and Garrett both showed demonstrable promise in their first seasons around the 1st XI, several decent performances. Manny looked like he had an action that could get the ball reversing. A good skill. Yes, I'd be interested to know where it all went wrong...good first class debut at Lords after a decent ODC campaign and never seen again, that can't be right.

SC_Bear wrote:

Officially retired. Seems like a throwback to a bygone age now but what a player. Doubt we'll see his like again. Thanks for the memories - particularly captaining an Ashes winning team in Australia. A proper legend and a true gent.

Was he really captain in 2010/11?! I'd have bet my life Strauss was. Blimey, I'd be dead!

Terrific player and person though, totally agree that we won't see his like ever again. You have to respect him for doing 5 years post international retirement with Essex too. A real titan of cricket.

I don't really follow international cricket anymore. It just isn't played on a level playing field and due to the expansion of franchise cricket you just won't often see the best competing against the best anymore. With regards to the World Cup, when it went to 10 teams that was me done. Just a glorified Champions Trophy now. Its been destroyed. Shame.

Yes he definitely seems one worth investing in. We've a few good ones aged 16-18 or so at the moment, definitely a positive.

Kent always seem to be in total disarray in terms of injuries to seam bowlers so if he can stay fit he should be a decent opportunity.

Highveld wrote:

Even worse than the poor record of the overseas players was probably the largest signing made by Robinson, and the fact that all 3 of 4 full county caps given out this season were to players whos contribution to the club did not deserve the honour.
Ed Barnard deserved to be capped, but wasn't.

Yeah it's wild when you think that Davies is capped but Barnard isn't.

Yeah fair enough. If I can be picky (really picky, sorry!) I'm not sure I'd be calling Drakes a disappointment, seems harsh.

Terrific move for him. Said in a previous thread on here earlier this week that it just doesn't feel as though he's had a proper chance. Another academy lad leaves having not been been given a real go, it's not a great look for the club.

I'd love to know what actually went on with Johal. He makes his List A debut in 2021 playing several of the games and performing decently, then makes his first class debut at Lords where he not only bowls well but he appears to field well and be a serviceable tailender with bat in hand. Sky commentators talk him up, Dobell on cricinfo says he definitely has a future. He's made an impression. Signs a contract extension in April 2022, it seems to be lift off for him.

He is literally never seen in the first team again, barely even making a squad.

Garrett, for me, has been a victim of the pandemic in a way. He comes into the 4day side in late 2019 and does well bowling steady away swingers at around 80mph. He stays in the side, even took the new ball v Essex, got wickets away at Notts, gets a few top order scalps etc. He finishes 2019 in a really good place with credit in the bank so to speak. Covid hits. No cricket til August 2020. Those who had been injured recover and come back into the side, Garrett goes back to the bottom of the pile. Doesn't play any first class cricket in 2021, plays one FC game away at a rampant Hampshire in 2022, is barely seen in 2023. I'm not really sure he actually did get a proper chance. He did have some injuries to be fair.

Its not a good look on the club and coaching though this. Two academy seamers who both show decent ability at first glance, a little bit more than a glance in GG case, both getting released at the same time. You'd have thought one of them would have made it or at least one of them to have got a bit more of an opportunity. Neither looked out of their depth or had any horror show performances.

Our record at bringing through home grown seamers has been particularly poor for quite some time.

I think its something that will need to go on the back burner for quite some time.

Can't really comment on any potential Test match performances as I don't watch enough of it but Liam Dawson is clearly one of the best players in County cricket, he's improved so much. Had a great couple of years.

MalmesburyBear wrote:

Interesting to see Rob Yates appearing relatively high in the rankings, particularly in the County Championship

I said in the Somerset thread yesterday his numbers stack up favourably in comparison to most other Division 1 openers.

Ben Slater might go above him this evening to be fair.

Highveld wrote:

To become true contenders in the championship, a massive improvement in the quality of the opening batsmen is needed. It is not fair on the rest of the side that the mediocrity delivered this season is accepted, and even worse rewarded with full county caps.

I mean Rob Yates has a higher season average than Rory Burns, Alastair Cook, Nick Browne and Fletcha Middleton who all play for counties that finished above us. He alone had more centuries than Burns and Sibley combined. He also averaged more than Lammonby, Dickson, Hameed, Slater, Stoneman, Gay, Wells etc all regular openers.

He can do better for sure but he's not a glaring weakness. He's clearly one of the better openers in County cricket.

ajones1328 wrote:

Talking to management after the game, they felt the umpires just wanted to go home early.

If that's the case a formal complaint should be made by the club

Totally agree.