Who's going to dominate the T20? These guys...
Chris Woakes - Warwickshire: After one of my longest running (in the 10 months of me having the site) bandwagons, Chris Woakes was selected for England during the Australia ODI series. Woakes is blessed with an ability to control the ball and keep it tight, while also being a real wicket taking option, making him the perfect T20 bowler. He's also pretty flipping good in Four Day and Forty Overs, and he's just hit a century for the Lions. So all in all, Chris Woakes should be England captain.
Tim Murtagh - Middlesex: Was I ever going to go through a county players to watch list without getting Murtagh in somewhere. Was a bit indifferent last year, but is a really great T20 bowler (on top of everything else), so watch out for a resurgent Murts as the Pink Army advance towards the T20 title... (you heard it here first!)
Alfonso Thomas - Somerset: Simply the best death bowler in T20s ever. You can't argue with the figures (although Dirk Nannes might), and Thomas is set to have another great season all round, but T20 is his forte. Expect wickets.
Showing posts with label 2011 County Players to watch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011 County Players to watch. Show all posts
Sunday, 3 April 2011
2011 County Players To Watch - One Dayers
Who's going to be the ones that stand out in pyjamas? These guys will be there or there abouts...
Peter Trego - Somerset: That Trego hasn't played many times for England is nothing short of a crime. The best all-rounder in the country in One Day cricket; a man who can bowl brilliantly in the middle overs or at the death with some fairly pacy stuff, and can thump the ball a hell of a long way. If he doesn't get the England recognition he deserves, look out for him propelling Somerset to the business end of the CB40 once more this year.
Paul Stirling - Middlesex: Stirling was a Middlesex player last year, but other than one T20 game he was playing around the world for Ireland rather than for the Pink Army. However, his Irish commitments will be far less this year, so expect some big hefty blows, as well as canny spin from the well-built Ulsterman. You saw what he did to top class bowling in the World Cup, so heaven knows what he'll do to some of the very ordinary attacks he'll be up against in the CB40 this summer.
Neil Carter - Warwickshire: An obvious pick to choose the MVP of the county season last year, but one-time Middlesex legend (for a week) Carter looks pretty well placed to replicate it. If he has even half as good a season as last, expect plenty more accolades to go his way. As good opening the batting as he is opening the bowling, he is the heartbeat of the Warwickshire side in all forms, but that's most keenly felt in the One Day arena, where he led them to victory in the final last time out. Will go well again this year.
Expect more County Players to Watch - coming later on...
Peter Trego - Somerset: That Trego hasn't played many times for England is nothing short of a crime. The best all-rounder in the country in One Day cricket; a man who can bowl brilliantly in the middle overs or at the death with some fairly pacy stuff, and can thump the ball a hell of a long way. If he doesn't get the England recognition he deserves, look out for him propelling Somerset to the business end of the CB40 once more this year.
Paul Stirling - Middlesex: Stirling was a Middlesex player last year, but other than one T20 game he was playing around the world for Ireland rather than for the Pink Army. However, his Irish commitments will be far less this year, so expect some big hefty blows, as well as canny spin from the well-built Ulsterman. You saw what he did to top class bowling in the World Cup, so heaven knows what he'll do to some of the very ordinary attacks he'll be up against in the CB40 this summer.
Neil Carter - Warwickshire: An obvious pick to choose the MVP of the county season last year, but one-time Middlesex legend (for a week) Carter looks pretty well placed to replicate it. If he has even half as good a season as last, expect plenty more accolades to go his way. As good opening the batting as he is opening the bowling, he is the heartbeat of the Warwickshire side in all forms, but that's most keenly felt in the One Day arena, where he led them to victory in the final last time out. Will go well again this year.
Expect more County Players to Watch - coming later on...
2011 County Players To Watch - County Championship
Check the average tables at the end of the season. These guys will be leading them. The players who will rip it up in the whites this season.
Owais Shah - Essex: It sort of annoys me to be writing about Shah doing well for a county other than Middlesex, but the simple fact of the matter is that were he still turning out for the Middle, he wouldn't have made this list. After England hopes were dashed once and for all, complacency (which was never far away) set in, and a very ordinary season with little application followed. However, after it was announced that he wasn't getting his contract renewed, Shah pulled an "F-You" century out of the bag, solely so he could turn his back on the pavilion when he made it. With a new county to impress (and more importantly, an old one to stick two fingers up to) expect plenty more defiant centuries from a batsman with oodles of talent.
Samit Patel - Nottinghamshire: Poor old Samit. No matter how many runs he scores (ample, just like his portion size) and how many wickets he chips in with (lol, chips) his unwillingness to shed the poundage means he won't get another international chance, unless he changes his ways. But England's loss is Notts' gain, and if he fires them to another County Championship, they'll give him all of the pies he can eat. Which is probably more then you could even imagine.
Joe Denly - Kent: Speaking of fat batsmen... No too obvious? OK, I'll go for his opening partner. Denly is clinically underrated - in fact I'd find space for him in any England side. While Kent didn't have the greatest of years last time up, in Division Two, Denly should regain the form that saw him into the England side in the first place. Whether he opens, or bats at three behind Key and Northeast, my unwavering faith in Joe Denly makes him a sure selection for my CC players to watch.
Come back later for some more of my county players to watch...
Owais Shah - Essex: It sort of annoys me to be writing about Shah doing well for a county other than Middlesex, but the simple fact of the matter is that were he still turning out for the Middle, he wouldn't have made this list. After England hopes were dashed once and for all, complacency (which was never far away) set in, and a very ordinary season with little application followed. However, after it was announced that he wasn't getting his contract renewed, Shah pulled an "F-You" century out of the bag, solely so he could turn his back on the pavilion when he made it. With a new county to impress (and more importantly, an old one to stick two fingers up to) expect plenty more defiant centuries from a batsman with oodles of talent.
Samit Patel - Nottinghamshire: Poor old Samit. No matter how many runs he scores (ample, just like his portion size) and how many wickets he chips in with (lol, chips) his unwillingness to shed the poundage means he won't get another international chance, unless he changes his ways. But England's loss is Notts' gain, and if he fires them to another County Championship, they'll give him all of the pies he can eat. Which is probably more then you could even imagine.
Joe Denly - Kent: Speaking of fat batsmen... No too obvious? OK, I'll go for his opening partner. Denly is clinically underrated - in fact I'd find space for him in any England side. While Kent didn't have the greatest of years last time up, in Division Two, Denly should regain the form that saw him into the England side in the first place. Whether he opens, or bats at three behind Key and Northeast, my unwavering faith in Joe Denly makes him a sure selection for my CC players to watch.
Come back later for some more of my county players to watch...
2011 County Players To Watch - Knocking On England's Door
The County Championship gets going on Friday, and after I named my three young bucks ready to make their mark, I've now picked three others who have been consistently at the top of their games over the past few years, and will all be clamouring for international honours should the chance arise...
Knocking on England's Door
James Hildreth - Somerset: After a season last year where he scored a ridiculous amount of runs, as well as scoring well for the Lions, Hildreth can't be far away from getting a call up. Helped by the handy batting conditions down at Taunton (as well as the freedom that being in a successful side gives to batting), don't count out Hildreth being called upon to fill Paul Collingwood's vacant spot in the test team if he sets off the county season at a good pace...
Jimmy Adams - Hampshire: 30 years old Jimmy Adams has certainly left his push for England recognition late, but could yet be a surprise pick. After a frankly ridiculous pair of T20 tons pushed him into the spotlight, Adams may be a dark horse to come in at the top of England's ODI order if there is a re-think in the summer. It may be unlikely, and one good summer does not a good player make, but Adams certainly isn't completely out of the running for one final shot at international glory.
Jade Dernbach - Surrey: It may be an obvious one to pick the guy who got called into the World Cup squad, but Dernbach really does tick the boxes for an ODI bowler. Keeps it tight, check. Good slower ball, check. Pretty nippy, check. South African, check. Jade seems to have the full package, and has improved leaps and bounds in the last few years, and must certainly be on the radar after excelling for the Lions and being called into the World Cup squad. And for a much better view of Jade, read Surrey Cricket Blog's thoughts on him. He's much more qualified to speak about Jade.
Check back later for some more county players to watch...
Knocking on England's Door
James Hildreth - Somerset: After a season last year where he scored a ridiculous amount of runs, as well as scoring well for the Lions, Hildreth can't be far away from getting a call up. Helped by the handy batting conditions down at Taunton (as well as the freedom that being in a successful side gives to batting), don't count out Hildreth being called upon to fill Paul Collingwood's vacant spot in the test team if he sets off the county season at a good pace...
Jimmy Adams - Hampshire: 30 years old Jimmy Adams has certainly left his push for England recognition late, but could yet be a surprise pick. After a frankly ridiculous pair of T20 tons pushed him into the spotlight, Adams may be a dark horse to come in at the top of England's ODI order if there is a re-think in the summer. It may be unlikely, and one good summer does not a good player make, but Adams certainly isn't completely out of the running for one final shot at international glory.
Jade Dernbach - Surrey: It may be an obvious one to pick the guy who got called into the World Cup squad, but Dernbach really does tick the boxes for an ODI bowler. Keeps it tight, check. Good slower ball, check. Pretty nippy, check. South African, check. Jade seems to have the full package, and has improved leaps and bounds in the last few years, and must certainly be on the radar after excelling for the Lions and being called into the World Cup squad. And for a much better view of Jade, read Surrey Cricket Blog's thoughts on him. He's much more qualified to speak about Jade.
Check back later for some more county players to watch...
2011 County Players To Watch - Young Talent
On Friday, the County Season gets going again after what seemed like an age of international cricket in the meantime. Every year, bloggers come out and put forward some names of some people who they think will rip it up in the domestic leagues, and more often then not they get it right. Well, not this year, as I'm sticking my oar in. Who have I gone for? Well, read on...
Young Talent
These boys haven't played a lot of cricket, but have done pretty well in what they've done so far. Keep an eye out for these kids, they could go a long way...
Toby Roland-Jones - Middlesex: Toblerone had a phenominal end to last year, as he helped to keep Middlesex in the doldrums of Division Two. Making his FC debut mid-season, young fast bowler TRJ came from nowhere to end the season with a sub-20 bowling average, with the highlight a 5/41 against Surrey where he blew their middle order away in the space of only a few overs. While Toby doesn't have the pace or bounce of previous Middlesex fast bowling protegee Steven Finn, Roland-Jones gets a very appreciable movement from the seam, and given the right conditions, a bit of hoopy swing as well. Roland-Jones had been Middlesex's little secret, but after excelling after being selected in the MCC Champions Game in Abu Dhabi this is no longer the case. While there may be a "second season syndrome", I still back Roland-Jones to go on and take just as many wickets this year, especially given the Division Two opposition.
Jos Buttler - Somerset: Buttler rose to prominence in the T20 as a big-hitting slogger, but he's more then that. Yes, he can hit the ball a long way, but Buttler will want to prove that he is suited to the longer format as well. A top CC score of 144 at an ever-increasing average of 33 (from only 14 matches) suggests he has his head switched on for four-day cricket, and while he may not keep wicket thanks to Craig Kieswetter, Buttler has that string to his bow as well. While he will want to prove himself in the CC, his One Day and T20 stats can't be argued with, and with 4 fifties at an average of 49 in List A cricket (with an astonishing strike rate of 159), it won't be long before Buttler is knocking on the door of national recognition. Could be a big year for the 20 year old from Taunton.
Danny Briggs - Hampshire: Like Buttler, Briggs came to wider attention thanks to his exploits in winning the T20 last year for Hampshire. Only 19, Briggs has spent the winter away with the England Lions, and the left-arm spinner will hope to make his mark in the First Class arena. The stats look good - already sub 30 with the ball, and with a best bowling of 6/45, Briggs can certainly play. The only concern is that Imran Tahir will be playing for Hampshire this year, which may leave Briggs out of the team. I can only hope he gets enough games, because this lad can bowl.
Keep an eye out for the other categories...
Young Talent
These boys haven't played a lot of cricket, but have done pretty well in what they've done so far. Keep an eye out for these kids, they could go a long way...
Toby Roland-Jones - Middlesex: Toblerone had a phenominal end to last year, as he helped to keep Middlesex in the doldrums of Division Two. Making his FC debut mid-season, young fast bowler TRJ came from nowhere to end the season with a sub-20 bowling average, with the highlight a 5/41 against Surrey where he blew their middle order away in the space of only a few overs. While Toby doesn't have the pace or bounce of previous Middlesex fast bowling protegee Steven Finn, Roland-Jones gets a very appreciable movement from the seam, and given the right conditions, a bit of hoopy swing as well. Roland-Jones had been Middlesex's little secret, but after excelling after being selected in the MCC Champions Game in Abu Dhabi this is no longer the case. While there may be a "second season syndrome", I still back Roland-Jones to go on and take just as many wickets this year, especially given the Division Two opposition.
Jos Buttler - Somerset: Buttler rose to prominence in the T20 as a big-hitting slogger, but he's more then that. Yes, he can hit the ball a long way, but Buttler will want to prove that he is suited to the longer format as well. A top CC score of 144 at an ever-increasing average of 33 (from only 14 matches) suggests he has his head switched on for four-day cricket, and while he may not keep wicket thanks to Craig Kieswetter, Buttler has that string to his bow as well. While he will want to prove himself in the CC, his One Day and T20 stats can't be argued with, and with 4 fifties at an average of 49 in List A cricket (with an astonishing strike rate of 159), it won't be long before Buttler is knocking on the door of national recognition. Could be a big year for the 20 year old from Taunton.
Danny Briggs - Hampshire: Like Buttler, Briggs came to wider attention thanks to his exploits in winning the T20 last year for Hampshire. Only 19, Briggs has spent the winter away with the England Lions, and the left-arm spinner will hope to make his mark in the First Class arena. The stats look good - already sub 30 with the ball, and with a best bowling of 6/45, Briggs can certainly play. The only concern is that Imran Tahir will be playing for Hampshire this year, which may leave Briggs out of the team. I can only hope he gets enough games, because this lad can bowl.
Keep an eye out for the other categories...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)