David Lloyd - Dragons Journey - Some Surprising News

[Aislabie]

About Me​

Perhaps it's time I introduced myself. I'm David Lloyd, and at the end of last season I made my first class debut for Glamorgan. Needless to say, it went horrendously, and I recorded a pair. I also made another duck before finally posting some runs. On that record, I'm hardly pushing for further First Class cricket any time soon, but this season could be different for me.

This season, Cricket Wales have decided to work with Cricket Ireland and Cricket Scotland to create a new List A tournament, the Celtic Super 7. There are going to be two teams from Scotland, also, and three from Ireland. Cricket Wales also intend to break away completely from the ECB, which is fantastic for those of us who finally want a cricketing identity of our own.

How does that affect me? Well, I've been picked up by the Dragons, the Welsh team that is based out of Colwyn Bay. With a bit of luck, I'll get to play some one-day matches. Maybe even push for the Wales team. You never know - the sky's the limit.

| Mts | Inn | N/O | Rns | Ave | B/F | S/R | H/S | 50s | 100s | Ct/St First Class |2|4|1|11|3.67|37|29.72|11*|-|-|0/0
List A |2|2|0|18|9.00|11|163.63|11|-|-|1/0

First class debut - Yorkshire v Glamorgan, 2012
Last first class - Glamorgan v Kent, 2012
- - - - - - - - - -
List A Debut - Dragons v Glasgow, 2013
Last List A - Dragons v Valleys, 2013
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​

 

[RPHKR]

You can't judge a player based on his debut. Hoping for some scintillating knocks.
Promising story btw.

 

[Aislabie]

Meet The Dragons​

The Dragons, along with The Valleys, are representing Wales in the inaugural Celtic Super 7. We will also be facing two Scottish (Glasgow, Edinburgh) and three Irish (Leinster, Munster, Ulster) teams on our way to the trophy. As well as me, there are a number of other players of high quality that this surprisingly well funded competition has attracted.

Will Bragg

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List A |14 matches|283 runs @ 23.58|0 wickets

Predominantly a long form player, Will Bragg excelled in the Championship in 2012. He will be batting at the top of the order for the Dragons, and looking to play the anchor role.

Robert Croft

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ODI |50 matches|345 runs @ 14.37|45 wickets @ 38.73
List A |408 matches|6490 runs @ 23.42|411 wickets @ 32.62

The years have caught up with Robert Croft, and he has retired from county cricket, but he has been tempted out of retirement for one last season with the Dragons. His leadership will be vital for us.

James Harris

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List A |35 matches|179 runs @ 9.94|44 wickets @ 27.77

James Harris feels that his future lies with England, but that doesn't stop him getting in some additional cricket with the Dragons. A bowler of genuine class who made an impact way back as a sixteen year old, taking a First Class seven wicket haul that season. Has recently been in and around the England squads without making an appearance.

David Hemp

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ODI |22 matches|641 runs @ 33.73|1 wicket @ 119.00
List A |309 matches|6844 runs @ 27.93|13 wickets @ 27.46

Another player of ripening vintage, 42 year old David Hemp has seen a lot of Welsh cricket. He worked his way right through the Glamorgan age group system, and played for the county from 1991 to 2008. He also captained Bermuda, the country of his birth.

Geraint Jones

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ODI |40 matches|815 runs @ 24.69|0 wickets
List A |181 matches|3013 runs @ 24.69|0 wickets

Born in Papua New Guinea to Welsh parents and raised in Australia, it is fitting that Geraint Jones went on to play for England. He struggled for impact, and has never made a one-day century. He recently made a return to international cricket for Papua New Guinea in the World T20 qualifier, and has remained loyal to Kent throughout his career.

Freddie Klokker

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List A |28 matches|708 runs @ 32.18|0 wickets

Yet another player in this Dragons team with no prospect of playing for Wales, Freddie Klokker is a special case. He has long been Denmark's star player, and spent some time bouncing around the county scene. Dragons fans can expect a solid streak of run scoring from their Scandinavian connection.

Graham Wagg

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List A |92 matches|1158 runs @ 17.54|103 wickets @ 31.81

A somewhat adopted Welshman, but a Welshman nonetheless, Graham Wagg is a very capable left arm seamer. Short of express pace but capable of generating an awkward angle, he has been plying his trade for Glamorgan for several years. He can also hit a long ball down the order.

Those are the star players that we'll be dealing with. The rest of my team mates are:

Chris Ashling

Sean Griffiths

Adam Harrison

Dave Harrison

Jeremy Lawlor

Aneurin Norman

Michael O'Shea

Dom Reed

Michael Reed

Andrew Salter
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[Aislabie]

A Quick Look at the Opposition (Part One)​

As well as the Dragons, there are six other teams in this competition. I suppose I ought to walk you through them all so you don't get confused later.

Edinburgh​

Richie Berrington |

Tyler Buchan |

Ewan Chalmers |

Freddie Coleman |

Mathew Cross |

Alasdair Evans

Neil Laidlaw |

Matt Machan |

Calum MacLeod |

Gregor Maiden |

Preston Mommsen |

David Murphy

Marc Petrie |

Navdeep Poonia |

Scott Redhead |

Jan Stander |

Rob Taylor |

Sean Weeraratna

If Edinburgh have a weakness, it's their lack of strengths. Despite a heavily stocked side that has lots of talented players, there isn't anybody in the squad who has a reputation as a proven match winner. However, Calum MacLeod, Richie Berrington and Jan Stander all have T20 centuries to their name and could prove very influential.
Predicted finish - 5th

Glasgow​

Aman Bailwal |

Neil Carter |

Kyle Coetzer |

Richard Coughtrie |

Josh Davey |

Gordon Drummond

Ryan Flannigan |

Gordon Goudie |

Ollie Hairs |

Majid Haq |

Moneeb Iqbal |

Patrick Sadler

Safyaan Sharif |

Qasim Sheikh |

Simon Smith |

Craig Wallace |

Iain Wardlaw |

Fraser Watts

On paper, Glasgow is probably the stronger Scottish team. They've worked wonders to acquire a battery of all-rounders that includes former County Championship MVP Neil Carter and star spinner Majid Haq. Add to that Scotland's leading batsman (Coetzer) and seam bowler (Goudie) as well as the national captain (Drummond), and you have a strong squad.
Predicted Finish - 2nd

Leinster​

Ben Ackland |

Andrew Britton |

Phil Eaglestone |

Allan Eastwood |

Ryan Hunter |

Trent Johnston

Nigel Jones |

Ed Joyce |

Tyrone Kane |

Fintan McAllister |

Graeme McDonnell |

Chris Murtagh

Tim Murtagh |

Will Porterfield |

Stuart Poynter |

Boyd Rankin |

Eddie Richardson |

Albert van der Merwe

Leinster are a strong looking side with a watertight opening pair of batsmen and bowlers. I expect them to be difficult to beat, but if you can break the opening stand early you might be in with a good chance. In all, I'm not completely sold on their strength in depth, particularly with the bat, and I think that they will get beaten occasionally.
Predicted finish - 4th
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[Aislabie]

A Quick Look at the Opposition (Part Two)

Munster​

John Anderson |

Andrew Balbirnie |

Scott Campbell |

Peter Connell |

Alex Cusack |

George Dockrell

Chris Dougherty |

Thinus Fourie |

Shane Getkate |

Ryan Haire |

Gary Kidd |

Hamish Marshall

Graeme McCarter |

Gavin McKenna |

Andrew Poynter |

Max Sorensen |

Jason van der Merwe |

Gary Wilson

Munster are almost over-laden with bowling options, but with George Dockrell and Graeme McCarter to partner Max Sorensen and Alex Cusack, the attack has a good blend of youth and experience. Also, with the Test experience of Hamish Marshall, who has long intended to see out his career as an Irishman, the batting should be competitive too. Munster will be the team to beat, and any team that does so will be able to hold their head up high.
Predicted finish - 1st

Ulster​

Adam Berry |

Kenny Carroll |

Adam Coughlan |

Tom Fisher |

James Hall |

Andy McBrine

Rory McCann |

Niall McDonnell |

John Mooney |

Niall O'Brien |

Kevin O'Brien |

James Shannon

Paul Stirling |

Reinhardt Strydom |

Greg Thompson |

Stuart Thompson |

Andrew White |

Craig Young

Where Munster have bowlers, Ulster have batsmen. In the O'Brien brothers, they have a huge dose of talent to back up the tone set by Paul Stirling at the top of the order. They will be heavily reliant on all-rounders to provide their overs, which means that the balance of their team could allow recognised batsmen all the way down to number 11. You don't want Ulster chasing.
Predicted finish - 3rd

Valleys​

Jim Allenby |

Chris Cooke |

Sam Davies |

Jonathan Denning |

Rhodri Evans |

John Glover

Nick James |

Alex Jones |

Simon Jones |

Will Owen |

David Phillips |

Mike Powell

Gareth Rees |

Mike Wallace |

Stewart Walters |

Huw Waters |

Ryan Watkins |

Ben Wright

The Valleys look like they have a fairly solid batting lineup. Rees, Walters, Wright, et al are all proficient, but the real weakness lies in the bowling lineup. As a batsman, I have to look forward to tucking into the medium pacers they have to offer. The only question mark is over Simon Jones. Will he be fit? If he is fit, will he still be able to bowl fast? If so, then the Valleys may become much harder to beat.
Predicted finish - 7th

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[Till Valhalla]

Just loving it!!

 

[Aislabie]

The Curtain Raiser​

It may surprise you that the Dragons were down to play Glasgow in the curtain raiser on a chilly Sunday in May in Colwyn Bay. It will probably surprise you more that I was down to play, and bat at six or seven according to the coach, which I felt was a little low but didn't complain about because I was glad to be playing at all.

After Crofty won the toss and batted, Will Bragg and the Viking strode out to open the innings. They started off well, Freddie in particular taking advantage of the field restrictions until his untimely departure in the sixth over. He was replaced by our veteran Bermudian-Welshman at number three. David Hemp looked his age and batted scratchily, but at the other end Will Bragg made up for that, in spite of his stonewaller reputation. He was reaching full flow when he fell victim to a Majid Haq arm-ball that trapped him in front of all three.

I smote Gordon Drummond for six, but he came out of things rosier with three wickets to my seven runs.

Haq was among eleven players chosen by the ICC as being of Test quality for the game against England in the UAE, and he repeated his trick against Hemp some time later. Geraint Jones at five fell cheaply, while Crofty hung around for a long time for his 14, a disappointment seeing as he was sent in for quick runs late in the innings. He wasn't the only one promoted. Graham Wagg (Glamorgan), Dom Reed (Unicorns) and James Harris (Middlesex) all got sent in above me. By this stage, steam was flying from my ears, and it was fitting that I smoked my first delivery for a monster six off Drummond, who had three wickets to his name already. Unfortunately, I fell trying to repeat the shot off Safyaan Sharif.

With an asking rate of five runs per over, Glasgow's powerhouse lineup realised the importance of keeping up with the rate. Kyle Coetzer and Ollie Hairs made a very positive start to things, each hitting big sixes off Waggy in the sixth over. It was quite disheartening, but I had to cut short my sulk when Ollie Hairs skied a slog down towards me at long leg. Or not quite towards me. Suddenly I had to stride out, sprinting at full tilt, eyes on the ball, flying horizontal to the ground, feeling the ball more than seeing it stick into my hand, holding on as I landed on the deck. I was mobbed by my teammates. It was a sublime catch, probably the best I'd ever taken.

I was extatic with my catch, but it couldn't stop Neil Carter taking Glasgow to victory.

Unfortunately, I couldn't hault the momentum of the chase. Josh Davey and Fraser Watts made run-a-ball contributions, before they were haulted by the hand and the foot of Harris. However, despite our best efforts, with ten overs left, Neil Carter and Richard Coughtrie needed just over twenty to win. Coughtrie was struggling, but Carter was not and some hitting from Gordon Goudie helped Glasgow to victory. So, one game into the season and we were sitting at the bottom of the table. Hopefully that will change after our next five.

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[Aislabie]

News From Elsewhere​

Before the second Dragons fixture, there were a few games from elsewhere.

In Swansea, rain stopped Munster before claiming a certain victory against the Valleys. Peter Connell and Max Sorensen scythed through the top order, and were only stopped by a sixth wicket stand between Rees and his skipper. The partnership couldn't last, though, and the part-timers cleaned up the rest of the innings. Munster made a good start, but rain came in the third over.

[B][U]Valleys   136ao        Munster   15/0[/U][/B]
Gareth Rees 33
Mark Wallace 27
Peter Connell 3/35
Max Sorensen 2/17
   [B]NO RESULT[/B]

Nigel Jones may have retired from full Ireland duty, but it didn't stop him from being in fine fettle against Glasgow. He hit his maiden List A half century, employing a few of his trademark leg-side swats. However, the target was well within Glasgow's reach, and despite a barrage from Boyd Rankin, Ryan Flannigan eventually won the game with a top-edged six from the big fast bowler.

[B][U]Leinster  176/7        Glasgow   182/6[/U][/B]
Nigel Jones 59*        Ryan Flannigan 45*
Stuart Poynter 39      Kyle Coetzer 44
Majid Haq 3/27         Boyd Rankin 3/42
Neil Carter 3/50       Nigel Jones 1/26
   [B]GLASGOW WON BY 4 WICKETS[/B]

Edinburgh made it a good day for Scottish teams by beating Ulster handsomely. Young talent Freddie Coleman lashed a sparkling 97 to help Edinburgh to a healthy 221. In reply, the long Ulster batting lineup seemed flustered by the prospect of having to score at close to a run a ball and tried to do it by finding the boundary all the time. Stuart Thompson kept them in the hunt with a valiant 88, but when he fell, so did the rest of the Irishmen.

[B][U]Ulster    185ao        Edinburgh 221ao[/U][/B]
Stuart Thompson 88     Freddie Coleman 97
Adam Berry 22          Richie Berrington 27
Richie Berrington 4/27 Andrew White 3/27
Rob Taylor 2/4         Paul Stirling 2/31
   [B]EDINBURGH WON BY 36 RUNS[/B]

All of which left us last, but not last alone. Unfortunately, Glasgow look like they may just run away with this one.

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[Aislabie]

Dragons Downed by Daffodils​

Jeez, what an embarrassing day. It all started off okay, because I was selected. Coach told me that I'd be six or seven, although I'm not holding my breath on that after last time. We were playing at Colwyn Bay again, the only team to start the season with back-to-back home games, and against the least fancied opposition in the entire league, we REALLY had to make this fixture count. At least, that was the plan.

But we lost the toss, and after their disastrous performance last game, it was understandable that Mike Wallace would want to get the nerves out of the way in the field. And there the embarrassment begins. After the Viking fell for three, David Hemp batted so scratchily that a holly bush would be positively smooth in comparison. He eked his way to a horrible thirty-odd, running out Mike O'Shea in the process. O'Shea was in full flow at the time, and his flying bat was some reflection on the quality of the Bermudian's call.

The only two threats took three scalps each.

Which, along with Wallace's skied catch of Will Bragg, brought me to the crease. I was highly disapponting, mustering a measly eleven runs before missing a straight delivery. Fortunately, with Simon Jones and Jim Allenby being saved for the death overs, Geraint Jones and Robert Croft made some good use of friendly trundlers. Most impressive, all the way down at nine, was Dom Reed whose batting has been most on show in club cricket until now.

And that, ladies and gents, is where everything turned to turd. James Harris seemed to be wilder, less controlled than his usual self, and the Valleys openers made a serious dent in his economy rate. Waggy was also generous in conceding runs as Gareth Rees and Mike Powell confirmed themselves emphatically as the first choice Welsh opening pair. The only bowler with any kind of control was Captain Croft whose flight and control belied his years, and conceded his runs at less than three per over. A pity then that the pressure had already been released.

It isn't every day you see a double-century opening stand.

Powell and Rees played a truly brilliant partnership. The score mounted past 50, 100, 150, 200. The boundary boards were peppered as Rees played carpet cricket while Powell cut loose. The ribless Welshman played a blinding innings, the best on his record for several seasons, and saw his team home with a full ten overs to spare. All of which leaves us swinging by our nooses at the bottom of the table after two home games. Balls.

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[RPHKR]

Really poor day for you Lloyd. Valleys just crushed you.

 

[Aislabie]

Really poor day for you Lloyd. Valleys just crushed you.

Tbf, looking at his 2nd XI stats, there could be more poor days to come. But there's also a surprise after the third round (OMG SPOILER)

 

[Aislabie]

Getting Left Behind​

Once again, there are a couple of games to catch up on before the next Dragons fixture. No matter what the result, we're looking like slipping further behind the eight-ball.

In an all-Irish clash, the youngsters from Leinster put together a very respectable total. Ryan Hunter, who impressed in the Under-19 World Cup is a promising keeper-batsman and showed his worth with an unbeaten fifty from number five. The leading light form the top order was Ben Ackland, who also struck a half-century, while Graeme McCarter took the wickets of Joyce and Porterfield. In reply, Munster's bowler-heavy team mostly struggled, but Alex Cusack showed what he's made of, and that his First Class average of 38 is not unduly high, as he tamed Murtagh, Rankin and Johnston for a match-winning century.

[B][U]Munster   215/6        Leinster  212/6[/U][/B]
Alex Cusack 101*       Ryan Hunter 54*
John Anderson 33       Ben Ackland 50
Tim Murtagh 2/31       Graeme McCarter 3/51
Trent Johnston 1/27    Max Sorensen 1/21
[B]   MUNSTER WON BY 4 WICKETS[/B]

The other Irish team had to settle for just one point against Glasgow as rain cut short a promising fixture. Fraser Watts made a startling return to form with his second List A century, which was the primary factor in getting his side all the way to 227 before they were bowled out by the pace of Stuart Thompson and spin of Paul Stirling. Both Stirling and Niall O'Brien looked in good form before the Scottish climate got the better of the cricket.

Glasgow   227ao        Ulster    35/1
Fraser Watts 101       Niall O'Brien 18*
Josh Davey 27          Paul Stirling 14*
Stuart Thompson 4/35   Gordon Goudie 1/9
Paul Stirling 3/53
   NO RESULT

All of which leaves us right down at the bottom of the table alongside Leinster. I can't see Leinster staying down here long, though, not with three quicks of such high quality. To be honest, we're off the pace. There's only one way that I can see us getting out of it, but surely it's unfeasible?

 

[El Loco]

Glasgow sitting comfy up there. Looking forward to seeing how Dave fairs in the next one.

 

[Storer11]

Great read, buddy! Looking forward to more of the same!

 

[Aislabie]

Going Out on a High​

So, our third fixture was against Edinburgh. They'd won their only match so far, while we have contrived to lose both of ours. Needless to say, the odds weren't in our favour, but we were motivated by an announcement from David Hemp before the start of play. The Bermudian announced that he was retiring with immediate effect after this game because he wasn't able to play to his personal standards. He'd struggled in the first two matches, eking out his runs at a strike rate of around 50.

So, when Crofty lost the toss and we were sent out to field, it put Hemp's farewell on hold. Edinburgh have a deep batting line-up, with recognised run-makers all the way down to number nine, and the very first of them gave us problems straight away. Calum MacLeod, who in recent years has rediscovered himself as a hard-hitting opener after he was banned from bowling because of his action, cut loose against our strike bowlers with Wagg in particular getting harsh treatment. He hit another gear against the bowling of Dom Reed, but was stopped in full cry by an arm ball from our veteran skipper. Once MacLeod departed, the wickets started to flow with Chalmers, Coleman, MacLeod and Berrington all departing.

Graeme Wagg and Robert Croft took two wickets each to peg back Edinburgh.

The Scotsmen began to retaliate through number six David Murphy. While Rob Taylor gave him the strike, the Northants 'keeper took the initiative, playing carpet cricket while he manoeuvred the gaps for twos and fours. Once big Mike Reed had pinned Taylor back on his stumps, Murphy didn't quite have the same understanding with Taylor's Leicestershire team mate Preston Mommsen. After a couple of misunderstandings, they both ended up at the same end and our vintage skipper completed the run out. This brought in Jan Stander who, incredibly, has a Twenty20 hundred to his name. The pair both took the attack, but good death bowling from the Reed brothers knocked over the tail-end skittles to dismiss Edinburgh with overs to spare.

We were of the opinion in the break that 202 would not be enough for quite a fragile looking Edinburgh attack to defend, but you would not have known it from the circumspection from most of our top order. Will Bragg struggled against, and was dismissed by, Alasdair Evans. David Hemp could not deliver a good farewell, scratching around for an absolutely filthy dozen before departing. O'Shea nicked behind first ball, and Geraint Jones perished tamely. Suddenly, I was in with our Viking, and we had just ninety on the board.

Alasdair Evans bowled a well-groomed spell with the new nut before catching Geraint Jones.

The last thing Robert Croft had told me before I went out to bat was that I had to support Fred. He alone of out top order was finding the boundaries, and had moved past a classy half century. So I did the sensible thing, pushing a half volley straight to Jan Stander and running. Klokker just looked back at me like I was some sort of lunatic while David Murphy took the bails off. Another failure. As I passed the skipper, he too looked at me as if I'd lost my marbles. However, Graeme Wagg fought back, and matched Klokker shot for shot. When the Dane was finally dismissed by Alasdair Evans on 80, we still needed about a run-a-ball. Our skipper, an older man than our retiring batsman, found no difficulty in moving the ball around, racing to twenty. He found more difficulty moving himself, and became the second run out victim of the innings. Dom Reed, though, set about proving precisely why he is wasted at number nine, slaughtering the change bowlers and posting a vicious unbeaten 24 from eleven deliveries to win the game.

There was another surprise coming after the game though. As David Hemp bowed out, the chairman came into the dressing room to tell us the identity of his replacement. The newest Dragon would be none other than Dean Cosker, the left-arm spinner. He hadn't been picked by either franchise because of an injury, but he had recovered much better than expected, and would be available straight away.
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