He's Guy Bulpitt's son isn't he? Guy played for Staffordshire.

Who's Neville?

Pollock
Benjamin
Lamb
Bethell
Chakrapani
Burgess
Brookes
KvV
Garrett
Johal
Sidey

???

Mikkyk wrote:

BristolBear wrote:

The ECB had to ask the counties for the players. And only players who agreed to play and who’s clubs agreed were released.
A number of notable players said no, in order to rest or prioritise the 50 over competition.

If there was any doubt to the approach we were going to take, I think it's clear now.

It does also suggest some other counties will not be taking the same approach as us and will use as many first teamers as possible.

Looking at yesterday's round of warm up games I was struck by the blend of first teamers and academy lads in the XI's.

Sounds like we could be having a few triallists and ringers in our side though...

Malc wrote:

I hear what you say, but I’m actually quite excited by the thought that I might witness an emerging gem in these games. I remember going to a game at Portland Road a few years ago and watching a young lad called Rob Yates! Already got tickets for York and Derby!

Hi Malc, how did you pick up a ticket for York? When I looked on Yorkshire website I couldn't find anything about it.

Maybe they've sold out!

Yeah there is a case for getting Miles a rest though I still think he'll play quite a bit. Possibly Burgess too. Think we'll see Lamb, Pollock, Yates and Mousley (if fit). Bethell will play. Benjamin is gonna get a chance you'd think. Norwell, Sidebottom, Garrett, Johal, good opportunity for them. Ethan Brookes too. Throw in Rhodes, though he may need a rest at some stage, and a couple of others and we've still got enough to be more than competitive I'd say.

BristolBear wrote:

Update to the previous. Davies is joining because Lancashire are signing Phil Salt from Sussex.

Davies thinks he’s now behind Salt, Allen, and Jennings regarding batting at the top of the order. And can’t force out Vilas or Salt as a keeper because of his fingers.

Interesting. Lots of well regarded batsmen have moved the past fortnight or so Northeast, Gubbins, Davies, Salt...

Don't think Davies, who I rate, comes here unless he's had assurances that he is keeping in all formats.

Feel for Burgess, don't think he's quite good enough to start as a specialist batsman and he's keeping has really improved. Like really, really improved.

Its an odd one.

We have quite a big squad all of a sudden. Would think they'll be a few moving on.

It's turned out to be very interesting!

Benjamin in over Pollock and Lamb is...interesting.

Sidebottom then a toss up between Lamb and Yates.

BristolBear wrote:

Does the average points per game set up now because of Derbyshire help or hinder us?

Yeah I've been wondering this, what is the situation here?

Agreed

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/57843984

It will be interesting to see what 'University players' Robinson is referring to, when he talks about giving youngsters a chance in the RLC ?

Benjamin etc?

I hope all the contracted lads get a good go before any potential triallists.

Dobell's match report would suggest that we're more likely to see Vihari back than Malan.

Well up for helping the developing world, no issue there.

Still don't see how entire squads going into self isolation and matches/comps getting called off because of a handful of positive cases aids the situation in the UK at this point though.

It's never going to be gone, we've got to learn to live with it now. Can't keep periodically locking down then reintroducing restrictions before relaxing them then reintroducing them again repeat ad nauseum, it's been over 16 months now.

I'm sympathetic to the concerns but we have vaccines that work, they are an incredible scientific feat, and a really successful vaccine rollout but it may aswell have been a shambles if we're gonna carry on like this.

Aware of all that. People are going to die. It's bad, but we've got a new thing out there to kill people. Some aren't vaccinated and vaccines aren't perfect, these ones are very good though. However we'll never stop it killing people, especially not the old and frail.

I don't want to come across as unsympathetic because obviously it's a terrible thing. It offed my missus' nan in the winter. I Iost 8 of my work colleagues, terrible stuff. We all wish it didn't exist, but we have to see the world as it is, not as we want it to be.

The number of dying might have a bit to go up yet but we were going to face this moment at some point. It will happen again in the winter too, no doubt. But what can we do, really? This thing is here now.

I wish we'd done what NZ had done, it's a national scandel that we didn't, but here we are.

When England lose, blame the County system.

When England win, praise the England set up.

Would imagine the flu has some 31 year olds in hospital too.

The NBA is 5 or so days away from completing its post season. That didnt get suspended or cancelled and they had numerous positive cases all 72 game season long. If a player tested positive he didn't play until he produced a negative test result. They didn't put entire squads into isolation, they just got on with it. No bio secure bubbles or anything.

I was an advocate of lockdowns and distancing last year but at this point, with a successful vaccine rollout in operation, we're being way too cautious over all this now.