English Domestic Cricket

[MUFC1987]

Somerset have signed Kevin O'Brien for the T20 stuff. Probably not a bad idea having a decent hitter in the middle order, as the likes of Compton and Suppiah are never going to clear ropes consistently. I think our only problem will be if Buttler and Kieswetter both get called up for England, as that leaves us with a young, part-time keeper who wouldn't get in the batting lineup on ability. Should be interesting to see how we go. Just hope some of the younger guys get a chance.

 

[MUFC1987]

Oh, and 54 balls for 116 for Eoin Morgan today. I wouldn't write him off just yet.

 

[Phen]

Seeing as your a Somerset man, what is your opinion of George Dockrell? Is at an international standard yet, has the potential? I know he has done well for Ireland but I wonder if he hasn't fully developed yet, he's still very young.

 

[MUFC1987]

If you'd asked me last year, I would have said that he's a decent spinner in Domestic One Day games. However, this year, we've played him as our only specialist spinner in 4 day games and he's done well. I think he's still a bit inconsistent, which is what you expect from someone that young, but he certainly has real ability. To me, I think he's done more than enough for Somerset to stick with him, so a few more years of the County Circuit and he could be very good in my opinion. I haven't watched him enough to judge how well he'd do at a higher level, but the signs are very good. The advantage of him not being English is also that he won't be thrown into the highest level too soon, which is what did for the likes of Rashid.

So in short, potential to be very good, just needs time. The scary thing is, if he does keep getting picked for Somerset, in a few years time, he'll have plenty of experience and still only be in his early twenties.

 

[Phen]

If you'd asked me last year, I would have said that he's a decent spinner in Domestic One Day games. However, this year, we've played him as our only specialist spinner in 4 day games and he's done well. I think he's still a bit inconsistent, which is what you expect from someone that young, but he certainly has real ability. To me, I think he's done more than enough for Somerset to stick with him, so a few more years of the County Circuit and he could be very good in my opinion. I haven't watched him enough to judge how well he'd do at a higher level, but the signs are very good. The advantage of him not being English is also that he won't be thrown into the highest level too soon, which is what did for the likes of Rashid.

So in short, potential to be very good, just needs time. The scary thing is, if he does keep getting picked for Somerset, in a few years time, he'll have plenty of experience and still only be in his early twenties.

Okay, guys like him have time on their side don't they. I was wondering because I'm a big fan of the Irish and many have talked him up as becoming a great which I thought was possibly because he became an international at such a young age.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Such sad news regarding Surrey batsman Tom Maynard who has died aged just 23.

 

[Haarithan]

Absolutely shocked to hear about Tom Maynard. Was just 23!

RIP Tom.

 

[Dipak]

Came across the news in cricinfo. Sad news that Maynard's no more. Such a talented player, he had a bright future.

RIP Tom

 

[swacker]

Great win for Lancs in the T20 on Wednesday. Slipped up in the field and let Leicestershire get 129 or thereabouts from the last 10 overs to end up on 179 but Lancs managed to chase it down with an over or two to spare.

Could do with a good run in the T20 or CB40 to make up for the championship form.

 

[MUFC1987]

Century from Hildreth today, taking Somerset to victory on his own essentially. Hopefully they'll think twice before dropping him next time.

I thought Somerset might struggle this year in the T20, due to their poor CB40 form, but they have managed to find such a weak group to be in, so top two shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Phen]

I just looked at James Hildreth's record, surely he's not far away from representing England! He's 27 and time is his enemy, good century from him.

 

[puddleduck]

He seems to have been bypassed. He's the epitome of form not meaning as much as early recognition.

 

[MUFC1987]

No one seems to watch Hildreth play either. You see all this about him being a FC specialist, yet he's regularly been Somerset's best One Day player in the last few years. He's just one of those blokes who gets on with it and does it well, without getting much recognition, because he hadn't been whacking 100 off 60 balls, but regularly getting 60 not out off 45. He'd be as good in England's One day side as their Test side for me.

 

[puddleduck]

If England do actually become the dominant side in international cricket (if... I said if!) will Hildreth end up in the same category as a Lehman or Hodge?

 

[War]

No one seems to watch Hildreth play either. You see all this about him being a FC specialist, yet he's regularly been Somerset's best One Day player in the last few years. He's just one of those blokes who gets on with it and does it well, without getting much recognition, because he hadn't been whacking 100 off 60 balls, but regularly getting 60 not out off 45. He'd be as good in England's One day side as their Test side for me.

Well it was his first T20 century, saw it all, really interesting innings.

Lets see how he goes for the remainder of the season in the shorter formats IMO.