What a rise it has been. Some questioned his inclusion, moaning that the likes of Kerrigan and Parry should have been in the squad instead (yes, they were Lancs fans). But when, amongst your list of victims you include Bopara, Goodwin, van Jaarsveld, Chanderpaul, Cook and Trescothick, then you are likely to be noticed. Danny Briggs has had a barnstorming year, leading English wicket taker in the 20/20 with 31, he even came into his own in the Championship, turning into a genuine spin threat.
Effectively 4th in line to the spin throne, it's just amazing even now, to see his name especially, amongst the lists for touring parties to Aus. That's certainly not to say he hasn't deserved it. Completely the opposite. Nic Pothas said in the latest issue of SPIN that some Hampshire players' faces didn't seem to fit with the England set up. Two of those mentioned have made it into the performance squad, justifiably. To have both openers score over 1300 runs for the season is brilliant. To have both of them English is even better and for one to be born in this county is the icing on the cake.
I expected Carberry to go to Australia in some playing capacity. I also half expected, half blindly hoped that Adams would be on the same plane, so overall it was a very pleasing squad announcement. To see none of, in my view the three best batsmen of 2010 (Adams, Hildreth, Lyth) involved with the main squad, whilst Bell waltzes back into the group of 16, has done little to repair my views on ECB selection.
But that should not detract from the marvellous achievements of these three Hampshire players, who have absolutely destroyed the selectors' door using Cosgrove as a battering ram. They richly deserve their chance, and some.
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I love Hamps in a very stupid fashion.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot expect Yummy to jump into an Ashes (!) squad out of nowhere. He needs his time in the p-team and as soon as he has made a few quadruple centuries there he will be in the contention, but as you said in an earlier post, the T20 squad is the most likely possibility for him as this lineup seems to be morphing continuously and new faces have greater chances to make it in, while the Test-squad is pretty much a closed event. Before Yummy gets to play a Test Cook must be engulfed by a suddenly appearing bottomless hole in the ground and Bell, Bopara, Davies, Kieswetter, RHB and grandma Boycott will get the call.
Briggsy is awesome, unfortunately too young to break into any first string side, he is absolutely fabulous but would probably get torn to shreds simply for his lack of experience. The performance squad is just the right place for both of them to prove their value and gather international experience, hope they're gonna make the best of it.
Cheers,
Wes
~ Play For Country Not For Self ~
I think with Adams, there is already a misconception that he will score too slowly in International cricket. Yes he doesn't set off like a steam train, unlike Tresco, but he has often had to play long innings in an effort to save the team, not exactly the right time to take risks! I hope terrible fates befall all those you mentioned so that he can be given a go. I hope they give Briggs a go in the 20/20s. Not many 19 year olds take 31 wickets in a tournament!
ReplyDeleteNah he doesn't score slow. But see, this is where the perception has come nowadays, just because his matchwinning ton vs (Glammy I think) did not include a six he is probably regarded as slow. All I can say is praise Hamps' smartest cricketer, praise the leading runscorer in the FPT20, who was the first to cross 600 and hencely made 668, and thusly guided his team to the title.
ReplyDeleteAnd concerning the Tests, he is just the guy you need when everything around you is falling apart and I needn't cite the examples now *bows down*
Ahh Jimmy.
Your avatar cracks me up. rofl
Cheers,
Wes
~ Play For Country Not For Self ~