...it is also a very important aspect of a winning club (note the lack of the word side or team).
The reason I am harping on tonight is that Surrey's second team trounced their Essex counterparts by 93-runs today in a display that will only be sadly noticed by the die hard fans, and me.
A winning squad needs players who are on the fringes to be playing well and also needs players to push those above them to keep the stakes high and ensure everyone is performing to their maximum.
This year it looks like that might happen at the Oval.
For too long Rory Hamilton-Brown has been criticised for 'picking his mates', an argument that I have never bought in to. But head of cricket Chris Adams always said this was a three-year project and here we are, year three.
Surrey now have a group of about 16 or 17 players that can put in match-winning performances and rotating them will be key. Chris Schofield is the man I believe will do a lot of chopping and changing, his second team captaincy role will be to inspire others to make themselves regular first team choices.
The names that pushed forward after today's 40-over match in Chelmsford are Arun Harinath (70 in 50 balls), Chris Jordan (50), but mostley Matt Spriegel who scored 46 off 38 balls, including a massive six over extra cover, and then later took 4-23, capping it all with a stunning catch - surely he is knocking on the first team dressing room door? According to the Telegraph "We need a spinner who can bat a bit."
Next up is Glamorgan. A stern test in Cardiff and with the first game nerves gone we will begin to see how good this Surrey side is...hopefully.
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Monday, 11 April 2011
Two good debuts, needed to be three...
New players can always take a while to bed in, but it seems more so with the ball then the bat.
New signings Tom Maynard (72 total match runs) and Zander de Bruyn (126 total match runs) both put in good stints at the crease during a fascinating draw in the opening fixture of the 2011 season against Northants.
The worrying aspect of the whole four-days though was our inability to finish things off, or in the words of Tiger Woods "Get things done."
Where was that killer instinct? Obviously skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown has confidence in his attack because his second innings declaration was brave and bold, but it was a comfortable draw in the end for the visitors - when it should have been anything but.
Some of the blame has to lie with another debutant, Yasir Arafat. The Pakistan international, who will no doubt have a great role to play in the one-day format, just couldn't find a breakthrough and finished with dismal figures of 0-108 off 31 overs. Ok economy, but that is not what we need from a new ball bowler.
When Jade Dernbach returns Arafat should move to first change, but he will need to learn to swing it at the Oval - a feat that has proved elusive for some of the top players around the world.
I should not be too critical, because I was there on Friday and I was very impressed with the positive approach to the game, nearly 350 runs in a day. The young batting line up will learn off Ramps later this season on how to convert a 20 or 30 into a match changing score.
And lets not forget that Surrey were in charge for a good 70 per cent of this game, if they get Chris Tremlett back for a while and also Mr Dernbach, they will have that fire power to turn draws into victories.
Surrey have every reason to be positive going to Wales next week to face Glamorgan.
New signings Tom Maynard (72 total match runs) and Zander de Bruyn (126 total match runs) both put in good stints at the crease during a fascinating draw in the opening fixture of the 2011 season against Northants.
The worrying aspect of the whole four-days though was our inability to finish things off, or in the words of Tiger Woods "Get things done."
Where was that killer instinct? Obviously skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown has confidence in his attack because his second innings declaration was brave and bold, but it was a comfortable draw in the end for the visitors - when it should have been anything but.
Some of the blame has to lie with another debutant, Yasir Arafat. The Pakistan international, who will no doubt have a great role to play in the one-day format, just couldn't find a breakthrough and finished with dismal figures of 0-108 off 31 overs. Ok economy, but that is not what we need from a new ball bowler.
When Jade Dernbach returns Arafat should move to first change, but he will need to learn to swing it at the Oval - a feat that has proved elusive for some of the top players around the world.
I should not be too critical, because I was there on Friday and I was very impressed with the positive approach to the game, nearly 350 runs in a day. The young batting line up will learn off Ramps later this season on how to convert a 20 or 30 into a match changing score.
And lets not forget that Surrey were in charge for a good 70 per cent of this game, if they get Chris Tremlett back for a while and also Mr Dernbach, they will have that fire power to turn draws into victories.
Surrey have every reason to be positive going to Wales next week to face Glamorgan.
Friday, 8 April 2011
In Fits and Starts
First of all, great start for the season at the Oval.
Secondly however, on the opening day of the county championship season, it was slightly annoying to actually see so many starts.
Travelling into central London I was captivated at the way three national newspapers described Surrey as the favourites for promotion to division one. I believe they are right, but the Surrey top six will have to learn how to 'kick on' when well set.
Day one of the game against Northampton was a bit like ground hog day from last year, plenty of spark, plenty of promise, but lacking in run-scoring substance - too many getting in then getting out (I won't name names just yet because it is the first game and there is time, and they will know who they are).
However, up stepped the skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown with a superb innings of 74 to stabilise his side, and a late, and vital, flourish from Gareth Batty (64) has put the match right in the spot where a sea saw pivots.
Tomorrow will be fascinating but I cannot help but think, Surrey should be all over Northants at about 320 for 5...
Secondly however, on the opening day of the county championship season, it was slightly annoying to actually see so many starts.
Travelling into central London I was captivated at the way three national newspapers described Surrey as the favourites for promotion to division one. I believe they are right, but the Surrey top six will have to learn how to 'kick on' when well set.
Day one of the game against Northampton was a bit like ground hog day from last year, plenty of spark, plenty of promise, but lacking in run-scoring substance - too many getting in then getting out (I won't name names just yet because it is the first game and there is time, and they will know who they are).
However, up stepped the skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown with a superb innings of 74 to stabilise his side, and a late, and vital, flourish from Gareth Batty (64) has put the match right in the spot where a sea saw pivots.
Tomorrow will be fascinating but I cannot help but think, Surrey should be all over Northants at about 320 for 5...
Monday, 4 April 2011
Wilson unhappy with ICC decision, and not without good reason
It has been a funny day at Surrey CCC towers, and not a great one - on a team and individual basis.
Thrashed is the only way to describe a six-wicket defeat at Derby after only making 111 in 35 overs, largely thanks to a neat 23 from Tom Jewell. Derby had no problem knocking off a revised rain-affected total.
On the sidelines though, a rather large judgement call - and in my view a wrong one - has been made by the ICC. And it seems i'm not the only to disagree.
The council has voted to reduce the amount of teams taking part in the world cup from 14 to 10.
Only full ICC members - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe - will compete in 2015.
This rules out Ireland, who sparkled in India and were unlucky not to progress, and also Surrey's Irish keeper Gary Wilson who signed a new two-year contract in March this year.
Venting his anger on Twitter the 25-year-old said: "What is going on? Excuse the French but that is a shit decision! Not a world cup now, just a trophy with 10 teams. Heads up their own arses."
Wilson is right - how do the ICC expect to progress the game globally by only including the top nations in a battle for supremacy? It is ludicrous.
Value for money
The only reason behind the decision is to shorten the world cup. Surely we can just play two games a day like they do in the football version!
One morning/afternoon, one evening with floodlights. Even in the same stadium to really give value for money. Pair up the minnows playing each other with the big guns playing each other.
In the tournament that has just finished we were so so close to the finished article. Thrills, spills, quality, and the chance of an upset or two - all that will be wiped out in one sweep of the rulebook.
Why bother with the champions trophy now as well by the way. Gary Wilson I, and probably 1000s of other cricket fans agree with you, Utter Tosh.
Thrashed is the only way to describe a six-wicket defeat at Derby after only making 111 in 35 overs, largely thanks to a neat 23 from Tom Jewell. Derby had no problem knocking off a revised rain-affected total.
On the sidelines though, a rather large judgement call - and in my view a wrong one - has been made by the ICC. And it seems i'm not the only to disagree.
The council has voted to reduce the amount of teams taking part in the world cup from 14 to 10.
Only full ICC members - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe - will compete in 2015.
This rules out Ireland, who sparkled in India and were unlucky not to progress, and also Surrey's Irish keeper Gary Wilson who signed a new two-year contract in March this year.
Venting his anger on Twitter the 25-year-old said: "What is going on? Excuse the French but that is a shit decision! Not a world cup now, just a trophy with 10 teams. Heads up their own arses."
Wilson is right - how do the ICC expect to progress the game globally by only including the top nations in a battle for supremacy? It is ludicrous.
Value for money
The only reason behind the decision is to shorten the world cup. Surely we can just play two games a day like they do in the football version!
One morning/afternoon, one evening with floodlights. Even in the same stadium to really give value for money. Pair up the minnows playing each other with the big guns playing each other.
In the tournament that has just finished we were so so close to the finished article. Thrills, spills, quality, and the chance of an upset or two - all that will be wiped out in one sweep of the rulebook.
Why bother with the champions trophy now as well by the way. Gary Wilson I, and probably 1000s of other cricket fans agree with you, Utter Tosh.
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