I think he's one of the most overrated players on the circuit. Hasn't made a FC century yet, averages about the same as Hose and he's had a good few goes in red ball himself (I'd guess he's played about 25 games?), moderate one day record. He gives it a bash in T20 though so he'd naturally be one of 'Farby's Favourites' and be given a 3 year contract. And be undroppable of course.

Postponing the game?! Moving the game?! What?! I've sat down there enough times in April/May/September freezing my cods off, I can't wait to be down there in 40+ temperatures, bring it on I say. I choose hotter the better everytime.

He really is very much into us signing from other counties as opposed to developing from within and upskilling what we already have.

Farby has his favourites already so adding in his step son to the mix will go down a treat...

Yes encouraging that Barnard is coming. I do get Will Gidman vibes from him though i.e an all rounder who did particularly well in Div 2 but will struggle to make the step up. Gidman was Botham-esque for Gloucestershire in Div 2 but really struggled at Notts. Fingers crossed Barnard can be a better acquisition.

Spot on, BristolBear, agree with all of that.

I was sent an email in Feb containing 4 codes, each code being an individual guest pass to be used by uploading the code onto the Edgbaston app for the game I wanted to bring a guest too.

Didn't realise Rawlings had left, that's a shame.

Welchy would have stayed if he could have been left to do the job as he saw fit and not have people meddling.

Besides when you remember people like Allan Donald, Dale Steyn and Shaun Tait all applied for the job but we ended up with Matt Mason...that needs explaining.

There was off field stuff going on away from cricket that meant Barker had to leave. Apparently.

I admit i actually thought the time was right to move him on from a cricketing perspective, he was poor in 2017 and i felt he'd struggle back in Div 1 after helping us to promotion in 2018. He looked like he'd lost a yard, lost a bit of nip.

Good job they don't consult me on recruitment and player retention etc as he's done amazingly well at Hampshire!

I actually think he's a different bowler now to how he was when he played for us. Doesn't seem to swing it as much but finds great areas consistently and if there is anything in the pitch he will exploit it. Just a brilliant county bowler who knows the pitches/batters etc. He's better with the old ball now.

Davies and Benjamin not entirely convincing here but their still there...

Definitely rings true. Some players are certainly being prioritised over others. New signings come straight into the side and generally perform poorly but keep getting picked regardless. It's nothing new. The club does have this tendency to look outside and sign from other counties as opposed to develop its own current talent too. Matt Lamb was part of the side that won the Championship, is a regular in the 4 day side, has performed pretty well but hasn't been offered a new deal? That's crazy. I can totally see Hose and Stone's point, they should be offered full contacts as they are long serving players and have also performed well. There are players within the squad who have performed less well but have the security of a long term contract. Somethings not adding up.

Look at Bethell, signed a 3 year contract last year, then gets a 3 year extension last week. Good young player, huge upside, but let's be honest his performances haven't warranted that at the moment. It's great that he's being backed but there are others who deserve that kind of backing too.

And in the meantime we're seemingly letting 3 senior players, who have performed well, walk away.

It definitely seems as though the current management set up has its favourites and if your face doesn't fit...

Somerset are major media darlings.

Nice one.

Tough one this...

Have Hampshire won 10 out of their last 11 now?

Agree with all that, I'm a huge fan of his, I've said further up I can see him captaining the Blast side.

But we've already got 2 batters in our squad who are finger spinners.

He'll certainly bat in the top 4 so I expect our overseas players to be a gun opener and a left arm quick.

Still nice he's come home and all that but...we kinda don't need him.

He'll bat in the top 4 and be 3rd spin option.

This makes Dan Mousley's improving spin redundant though.

It's a bit of a strange signing. Due to his involvement in the Hundred he'll likely only play in the Blast.

Agree with you both. Umpiring tonight was a disgrace.

Gutted for Brookes, he bowled alright tonight but he's shit the bed at the end there.

Reading between the lines he's gonna captain us in the Blast.