Another damp weekend hindered attempts to complete the latest round of Friends Provident Trophy matches. However, there were six results out of eight, which is pretty good going for April really and there was at least some play at all of the grounds.
Firstly to Bristol and Gloucestershire vs Glamorgan. No result here I’m afraid, which will have been much to the annoyance of The Gladiators, as they were set a Duckworth-Lewis 10 over target of 74, after The Dragons had managed to amass just 174-4 from 42 overs. There was though enough play for opener Matthew Wood to impress with a frustratingly close 91 not out, whilst David Hemp hit a fifty. Marcus North meanwhile impressed with his off spin for Gloucestershire, taking 3-32 from 10 overs, as he continues in the role of premier spin bowler for The Gladiators.
There was a similar tale at New Road, where the weather again led to a draw between Worcestershire and Somerset. The Royals were able to complete 39 overs of their innings, in the process scoring 154-8. Only Daryl Mitchell made a score of note, ending on 48 not out. There were two wickets apiece for Charl Willoughby (2-14) and Steffan Jones (2-44), Willoughby’s the more deserved and economical. The surprise performer with the ball was James Hildreth though, who also earnt two wickets, albeit quite expensively.
Essex were involved in another run feast against Sussex on the placid Chelmsford wicket. Chris Adams won the toss and chose to field, just as Rob Key did a week ago. The result was a similar story of carnage. The Eagles amassed 291-8 off of their fifty overs, Ravi Bopara acquiring yet another batting landmark, just a fifty this time though (59). Grant Flower (75), Ryan ten Doeschate (61) and James Foster (35*) all chipped in with speedy contributions. Alistair Cook meanwhile failed to get a score of note again (8). There were two wickets apiece for James Kirtley (2-45), Robin Martin-Jenkins (2-39) and Michael Yardy (2-56), although Mushtaq Ahmed went wicketless for 55 runs from his 10 overs, a rare occurrence indeed. Sussex needed 156 from 24 overs after a bit of Duckworth-Lewis magic. Matt Prior continued his impressive start to the season, blazing a rapid fifty in reply, but with 3 run outs and 2 stumpings, it was clear that Sussex just couldn’t keep up with the rate and they fell away to end on 141-6. There was meanwhile another wicket for the impressive Bopara, whilst Andre Nel conceded just 16 runs from his 5 overs.
Ireland hosted Nottinghamshire in Dublin and despite having the visitors 19-3, they allowed them to escape to 217-9 from their fifty overs. Overseas signing Adam Voges hit 60, whilst captain Chris Read blasted a quick fire 45. O’Brien was the most impressive of the Irish bowlers, taking 4-31 from 10 overs. Ireland regularly lost wickets in reply and no-one managed to make it past 30. England players and hopefuls, Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad, Charlie Shreck and Graeme Swann all took a wicket, whilst ex-England player Mark Ealham claimed 4-39.
The home of cricket witnessed a tight game between Middlesex and Kent. Opting to bat, The Crusaders made 177-8 from a shortened 36.5 overs, Billy Godleman top scoring with 43. Azhar Mahmood continued his resurgence with 2 wickets for 29. In reply, Martin van Jaarsveld again took The Spitfires close with 53. However, the wickets tumbled as the required run rate soared and they finished on 166 all out after 33 overs, just 7 short of their target, Tim Murtagh taking 4-29. To England watch and Andrew Strauss struck 33, whilst Owais Shah managed only 2.
To Northampton, where Northamptonshire avenged their four day defeat to Warwickshire with a limited overs triumph in what was a high scoring game. Warwickshire racked up 293-5 from their fifty overs, Neil Carter typically belligerent in blazing 30 from 20 balls at the top, whilst Darren Maddy struck a run a ball 77 and was ably supported by Ian Westwood (65), Jonathan Trott (60) and Michael Powell (45*). Tim Ambrose made just 1, while Ian Bell did not feature. Captain Nicky Boje took 3-54, to top the bowling figures, but Monty Panesar went wicketless and dropped a catch. In reply, Northants started badly, slipping to 60-3. However the reliable David Sales steadied the ship with 60, while Robert White stole the show with a superb 111 from 113 balls. Ex-South African international’s Boje (23) and Lance Klusener (26*) finished the job with David Lucas (9*), a cool seven balls remaining. Carter took 3-49 to complete an impressive all round performance, while Ant Botha took a less impressive 2-59.
A bit of a miss-match now as Lancashire faced Scotland at The Citylets Grange. The Scots were skittled for just 73 from 37 overs. There were two miserly wickets for James Anderson (2-19), whilst Andrew Flintoff went for just 14 runs from his 7 overs. It was young Tom Smith who impressed most though, with 3-14 from 7 overs. In reply Dewald Nel took two wickets, but The Lightning cantered to an easy eight wicket victory from just 11.5 overs, Andrew Flintoff finishing not out on 27 from 23 balls, though he will need to score more runs against more illustrious opposition before he can be considered worthy of a place in England’s top seven.
Our final match takes us to Headingley, where Yorkshire, buoyed by their recent emphatic triumph over Hampshire, faced an equally invigorated Derbyshire. The Phoenix hit 119-7 from 24 overs, Adil Rashid ending on 41 not out. There were two wickets apiece for new kolpak signing Charles Langeveldt (2-25), the impressive Tom Lungley (2-12) and all rounder Graham Wagg (2-34). Michael Vaughan continued his less than impressive start to the season with just 16. Derbyshire never got close in reply though and stumbled to 94 all out from 22.4 overs, only Jamie Pipe making 20. There were two wickets apiece for England hopeful Tim Bresnan and utility player Richard Pyrah. Meanwhile Anthony McGrath took 3-16.
Player of the Week: For managing to score the only hundred of the week and for it being crucial to the result of his side’s match, this weeks player of the week is Northamptonshire’s Robert White. Meanwhile, there are honourably mentions for Matt Prior and Ravi Bopara who both continued their impressive early season form, whilst Tom Smith showed why he was included in the Young Pretenders XI 2008.
Showing posts with label Robert White. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert White. Show all posts
Monday, 28 April 2008
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
2008 Season Preview: Northamptonshire
Continuing our series of county previews, here is an assessment of Northants's chances in 2008.
2007 In a Nutshell:
The season began poorly for Northamptonshire with a second consecutive abysmal Friends Provident Trophy campaign where they recorded a solitary win over Scotland. It failed to pick up in the middle as they never threatened to even flirt with promotion in the Championship while a typically awful performance against Somerset killed off hopes of securing a Twenty20 quarter-final berth. The end to the season was little short of apocalyptic. The Steelbacks looked to have secured their first division status in the Totesport League before a last over meltdown, featuring the team’s two best players – David Sales and Lance Klusener – doomed them to the relegation playoff, where they capitulated against Middlesex, thus ensuring that 2008 will be spent down among the dead men in both forms of the game.
2008 Prospects:
At first glance it doesn’t look good, although their may be some reason for optimism. The ECB’s decision to block the registration of Johannes van der Wath and Andrew Hall is potentially a fatal blow. The seam bowling is too weak to expect a serious challenge for promotion in the Championship and the team lacks proven quality at the top of the batting order. Usman Afzaal left for Surrey and while his attitude may not be missed, his runs will be and it could once again be a case of Sales against the world, as Northamptonshire battle for respectability. Despite the losses of Hall and van der Wath there is sufficient all-round talent to suggest that they could feature in the mix for one of the limited overs trophies, although they will need the cards to fall in their favour.
Batting:
As Sales go, so go Northamptonshire. He was superb last year and single-handedly kept the county in a number of games. He has stepped down from the captaincy in a bid to boost his international prospects and is comfortably the most gifted player of his generation not to have been offered the chance at the highest level. There are rumours that this will be his last year at Wantage Road, so Northamptonshire fans should enjoy him while they still can.
Stephen Peters is assured of one opening spot and has the ability to score 1,000 runs and provide some impetus early on. Andrew Crook, Alex Wakeley and Rob White look set to contest the other opening spot and the number three position. Wakeley is an exciting prospect and should be given his head while White has the ability to be brilliant or awful. Crook is no more than a body. At this stage of their careers White and Crook have yet to prove they can produce on a consistent basis, while Wakeley is still finding his way. It won’t be a surprise if Sales finds himself walking to the crease with the scoreboard reading 20-2 on a regular basis.
Skipper Nicky Boje and Lance Klusener will likely bat at five and six with the wicketkeeper, Niall O’Brien or Rikki Wessels, at seven. With Johann Louw and Stephen Crook coming in lower down Northamptonshire will not lack depth and if Klusener can maintain the form he has shown in his first two seasons with the county, Northamptonshire could spring a few surprises.
Wicketkeeper:
Take your pick between O’Brien and Wessels. Northamptonshire couldn’t make up their mind last season and then muddled the situation further by giving both players two-year contracts. The two keepers played musical chairs last season and although Wessels looks the better prospect, O’Brien appears to have his supporters. It won’t be a shock to see O’Brien take the gloves – not a move guaranteed to have the Wantage road faithful turning cartwheels of delight – although Wessels will have the opportunity to earn a berth as a specialist batsman and both could figure in the limited overs competition where Wessels’ destructive hitting at the end of the innings is a legitimate threat.
Bowling:
At the end of last year Northamptonshire were fielding arguably the worst seam bowling attack in the county’s history. After Stephen Crook was injured and van der Wath returned to South Africa, Northamptonshire were forced to rely on David Wigley, David Lucas and Richard Logan. Their efforts with the new ball fluctuated between iffy and abysmal and it was a major surprise that all three were offered new contracts for 2008. It will be an even bigger surprise – and not a particularly pleasant one – if all three feature on a regular basis this season.
This year Northamptonshire will place their hopes on Klusener defying the advance of time – he turns 37 in September – Crook staying fit and Louw showing the form he displayed in his first stint with the county in 2004. Yet although that trio represents a considerable upgrade over Lucas, Wigley and Logan, it is hardly an attack that will cause opposing batsmen to regard a visit to Wantage Road with any degree of trepidation. The tracks will continue to offer turn at Wantage Road and Northamptonshire could do better than expected if Monty Panesar’s exile from England’s One Day Squad continues. Boje will bowl a lot of overs and showed in a brief spell at the end of last season that he is a more potent threat than Jason Brown. Brown has a benefit to occupy him this year and could potentially find himself reduced to the role of one day specialist. Meanwhile, youngster Graeme White could force his way into the reckoning this summer.
Probable Side:
Championship
Peters
Wakeley / A Crook
White
Sales
Boje (c)
Klusener
O’Brien / Wessels (wk)
S Crook
Louw
Lucas / Wigley
Panesar / Brown
Northamptonshire’s biggest problem will be negotiating the new ball when they bat and then picking up 20 wickets when they bowl. If Rob White and Peters produce runs at the top of the order and provide Sales with a platform, runs should not be a major problem. However, it’s not easy to see the bowlers regularly dismissing a side twice until the pitches begin to take turn. If the selectors continue to ignore Sales and Northamptonshire manage to avoid their customary slow starts and hang around in contention until August, they could spring a surprise.
One Day / Twenty/20
Peters
O’Brien (wk)
White
Sales
Boje (c)
Klusener
Wessels
S Crook
Louw
Lucas / Brown
Panesar / Brown
Had Hall and van der Wath been cleared by the ECB, Northamptonshire would have had an excellent chance of winning something in the limited overs format. Even without the two South Africans they should have enough firepower with the bat – plus six bowlers – to cause a few problems for whoever they come up against. If Sales, Klusener and Louw click, Northamptonshire could yet strike gold.
Key Man:
It’s tempting to say Sales or Klusener. However, they’ve both been exceptional for the past two seasons and Northamptonshire don’t exactly have a great deal to show for their efforts. Bowling-wise Stephen Crook needs to stay healthy but the most pressure may be on Rob White. It’s time for White to stand and deliver because if he finally produces the breakout season that he seems capable of, Northamptonshire’s batsmen could run riot. If he doesn’t, he might just find that the club’s hierarchy has lost patience and decides against renewing his contract at the end of the year.
Rising Star:
Alex Wakeley captained the England Under-19s during the winter and went to the same school as Alistair Cook. He showed glimpses last year that he has the talent to develop into a force at the top of the order. He will have the opportunity to cement his place in the side this season and if he takes it Northamptonshire could be in much ruder health than anyone suspects.
Captain and Coach:
It’s tempting to suggest that Boje got the job because no one else was assured of his place in the team. By nature South Africans are not the biggest risk takers but Boje has a more open-minded approach than many of his countrymen and may be inclined to roll the dice more often. In all fairness Northamptonshire have little to lose and even though they have been dealt a lousy hand by the ECB they should not be afraid to raise the stakes.
David Capel has done a decent job with limited resources, both in terms of finances and the size of the squad. He should be encouraged to give Wakeley and Graham White an extended run this year if circumstances allow and if he can persuade Sales to commit his future to the county it will be a major boost to morale.
Outlook:
2008 has something of a do or die element to it for the Steelbacks. It promises to be the last hurrah for Klusener and possibly Sales while a number of the lesser lights are playing for their professional future. 2007 was something of a train wreck but if the ball bounces kindly for them this season the Steelbacks could find themselves in the relatively unaccustomed position of challenging for silverware.
2007 In a Nutshell:
The season began poorly for Northamptonshire with a second consecutive abysmal Friends Provident Trophy campaign where they recorded a solitary win over Scotland. It failed to pick up in the middle as they never threatened to even flirt with promotion in the Championship while a typically awful performance against Somerset killed off hopes of securing a Twenty20 quarter-final berth. The end to the season was little short of apocalyptic. The Steelbacks looked to have secured their first division status in the Totesport League before a last over meltdown, featuring the team’s two best players – David Sales and Lance Klusener – doomed them to the relegation playoff, where they capitulated against Middlesex, thus ensuring that 2008 will be spent down among the dead men in both forms of the game.
2008 Prospects:
At first glance it doesn’t look good, although their may be some reason for optimism. The ECB’s decision to block the registration of Johannes van der Wath and Andrew Hall is potentially a fatal blow. The seam bowling is too weak to expect a serious challenge for promotion in the Championship and the team lacks proven quality at the top of the batting order. Usman Afzaal left for Surrey and while his attitude may not be missed, his runs will be and it could once again be a case of Sales against the world, as Northamptonshire battle for respectability. Despite the losses of Hall and van der Wath there is sufficient all-round talent to suggest that they could feature in the mix for one of the limited overs trophies, although they will need the cards to fall in their favour.
Batting:
As Sales go, so go Northamptonshire. He was superb last year and single-handedly kept the county in a number of games. He has stepped down from the captaincy in a bid to boost his international prospects and is comfortably the most gifted player of his generation not to have been offered the chance at the highest level. There are rumours that this will be his last year at Wantage Road, so Northamptonshire fans should enjoy him while they still can.
Stephen Peters is assured of one opening spot and has the ability to score 1,000 runs and provide some impetus early on. Andrew Crook, Alex Wakeley and Rob White look set to contest the other opening spot and the number three position. Wakeley is an exciting prospect and should be given his head while White has the ability to be brilliant or awful. Crook is no more than a body. At this stage of their careers White and Crook have yet to prove they can produce on a consistent basis, while Wakeley is still finding his way. It won’t be a surprise if Sales finds himself walking to the crease with the scoreboard reading 20-2 on a regular basis.
Skipper Nicky Boje and Lance Klusener will likely bat at five and six with the wicketkeeper, Niall O’Brien or Rikki Wessels, at seven. With Johann Louw and Stephen Crook coming in lower down Northamptonshire will not lack depth and if Klusener can maintain the form he has shown in his first two seasons with the county, Northamptonshire could spring a few surprises.
Wicketkeeper:
Take your pick between O’Brien and Wessels. Northamptonshire couldn’t make up their mind last season and then muddled the situation further by giving both players two-year contracts. The two keepers played musical chairs last season and although Wessels looks the better prospect, O’Brien appears to have his supporters. It won’t be a shock to see O’Brien take the gloves – not a move guaranteed to have the Wantage road faithful turning cartwheels of delight – although Wessels will have the opportunity to earn a berth as a specialist batsman and both could figure in the limited overs competition where Wessels’ destructive hitting at the end of the innings is a legitimate threat.
Bowling:
At the end of last year Northamptonshire were fielding arguably the worst seam bowling attack in the county’s history. After Stephen Crook was injured and van der Wath returned to South Africa, Northamptonshire were forced to rely on David Wigley, David Lucas and Richard Logan. Their efforts with the new ball fluctuated between iffy and abysmal and it was a major surprise that all three were offered new contracts for 2008. It will be an even bigger surprise – and not a particularly pleasant one – if all three feature on a regular basis this season.
This year Northamptonshire will place their hopes on Klusener defying the advance of time – he turns 37 in September – Crook staying fit and Louw showing the form he displayed in his first stint with the county in 2004. Yet although that trio represents a considerable upgrade over Lucas, Wigley and Logan, it is hardly an attack that will cause opposing batsmen to regard a visit to Wantage Road with any degree of trepidation. The tracks will continue to offer turn at Wantage Road and Northamptonshire could do better than expected if Monty Panesar’s exile from England’s One Day Squad continues. Boje will bowl a lot of overs and showed in a brief spell at the end of last season that he is a more potent threat than Jason Brown. Brown has a benefit to occupy him this year and could potentially find himself reduced to the role of one day specialist. Meanwhile, youngster Graeme White could force his way into the reckoning this summer.
Probable Side:
Championship
Peters
Wakeley / A Crook
White
Sales
Boje (c)
Klusener
O’Brien / Wessels (wk)
S Crook
Louw
Lucas / Wigley
Panesar / Brown
Northamptonshire’s biggest problem will be negotiating the new ball when they bat and then picking up 20 wickets when they bowl. If Rob White and Peters produce runs at the top of the order and provide Sales with a platform, runs should not be a major problem. However, it’s not easy to see the bowlers regularly dismissing a side twice until the pitches begin to take turn. If the selectors continue to ignore Sales and Northamptonshire manage to avoid their customary slow starts and hang around in contention until August, they could spring a surprise.
One Day / Twenty/20
Peters
O’Brien (wk)
White
Sales
Boje (c)
Klusener
Wessels
S Crook
Louw
Lucas / Brown
Panesar / Brown
Had Hall and van der Wath been cleared by the ECB, Northamptonshire would have had an excellent chance of winning something in the limited overs format. Even without the two South Africans they should have enough firepower with the bat – plus six bowlers – to cause a few problems for whoever they come up against. If Sales, Klusener and Louw click, Northamptonshire could yet strike gold.
Key Man:
It’s tempting to say Sales or Klusener. However, they’ve both been exceptional for the past two seasons and Northamptonshire don’t exactly have a great deal to show for their efforts. Bowling-wise Stephen Crook needs to stay healthy but the most pressure may be on Rob White. It’s time for White to stand and deliver because if he finally produces the breakout season that he seems capable of, Northamptonshire’s batsmen could run riot. If he doesn’t, he might just find that the club’s hierarchy has lost patience and decides against renewing his contract at the end of the year.
Rising Star:
Alex Wakeley captained the England Under-19s during the winter and went to the same school as Alistair Cook. He showed glimpses last year that he has the talent to develop into a force at the top of the order. He will have the opportunity to cement his place in the side this season and if he takes it Northamptonshire could be in much ruder health than anyone suspects.
Captain and Coach:
It’s tempting to suggest that Boje got the job because no one else was assured of his place in the team. By nature South Africans are not the biggest risk takers but Boje has a more open-minded approach than many of his countrymen and may be inclined to roll the dice more often. In all fairness Northamptonshire have little to lose and even though they have been dealt a lousy hand by the ECB they should not be afraid to raise the stakes.
David Capel has done a decent job with limited resources, both in terms of finances and the size of the squad. He should be encouraged to give Wakeley and Graham White an extended run this year if circumstances allow and if he can persuade Sales to commit his future to the county it will be a major boost to morale.
Outlook:
2008 has something of a do or die element to it for the Steelbacks. It promises to be the last hurrah for Klusener and possibly Sales while a number of the lesser lights are playing for their professional future. 2007 was something of a train wreck but if the ball bounces kindly for them this season the Steelbacks could find themselves in the relatively unaccustomed position of challenging for silverware.
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