• From: Oxford
  • Registered: 17-09-2008
  • Posts: 2,971

Re: ECB Unicorns vs Sussex 23rd May

Maybe a change of emphasis now Tucker is not going to be around. I'd like to see three seamers and two spinners with Rayner given Tuckers all rounder role.

  • Registered: 08-04-2007
  • Posts: 4,102

Re: ECB Unicorns vs Sussex 23rd May

jonboy wrote:

Maybe a change of emphasis now Tucker is not going to be around. I'd like to see three seamers and two spinners with Rayner given Tuckers all rounder role.

This is certainly going to need to be the case when Wright is with England.

SLP - I didn't see your message before as you managed to post between reading BP's post and submitting my own later post. These four are no worse than Aga or Liddle and are just as likely to do in a decent job in the first team as them. They are six years younger too! I would say Thorpe is the closest but it is unlikely they will play this year as Robbo prefers experienced players.

  • From: Stockwell
  • Registered: 15-09-2008
  • Posts: 538

Re: ECB Unicorns vs Sussex 23rd May

Thanks for that, Sharkey. Sounds promising. It's a shame about Liddle and his injuries though. I saw him bowl in one game at Hove a couple of years back. I think it might have been against Worcestershire. He bowled tidily without looking particularly dangerous and he scored a 50 as well. I thought that he looked quite promising but I am no expert. Is he just unlucky with his fitness at the moment or is there a more serious question mark against his long-term physical condition? Do you think he could still make the grade if was able to get a good run of matches, initially in the second XI? It would be good to have the variation of a left arm seamer again after Jason's retirement, wouldn't it?

  • Registered: 24-04-2007
  • Posts: 918

Re: ECB Unicorns vs Sussex 23rd May

jonboy wrote:

Maybe a change of emphasis now Tucker is not going to be around. I'd like to see three seamers and two spinners with Rayner given Tuckers all rounder role.

I agree.  RMJ is a massive loss and yesterday was just another case of him stepping up when Sussex lacked runs.  Ollie can't be expected to fully replicate RMJ's runs and shore up the lower order straight away.  However, with RMJ retiring in July, hopefully we can encourage having 2 regular spinners at Hove in the 2nd half of the season and promoting a spinner's pitch similar to the wicket at the end of last season.  Ollie has been the most consistent bowler in the 2nd XI over recent years and can achieve so much more with the bat.  I'd rather see him given an extended run than see an inferior like for like seamer replacement for RMJ.

  • Registered: 08-04-2007
  • Posts: 4,102

Re: ECB Unicorns vs Sussex 23rd May

SLP - Given Liddle's injury record I would rather see Lewis Hatchett here next season than Liddle if it came down to a straight choice between the two. The fact Lewry was still playing at 38 says it all! We need a seam bowling clearout (Kirtley, Keegan, Aga and Liddle) and give the youngsters (Adkin, Thorpe, Hatchett and Rollings) a chance.

I would rather see Ollie given a run of games in the firsts as opposed to an inferior quality seamer.

  • Registered: 17-08-2009
  • Posts: 1,242

Re: ECB Unicorns vs Sussex 23rd May

Sharkey wrote:

SLP - Given Liddle's injury record I would rather see Lewis Hatchett here next season than Liddle if it came down to a straight choice between the two. The fact Lewry was still playing at 38 says it all! We need a seam bowling clearout (Kirtley, Keegan, Aga and Liddle) and give the youngsters (Adkin, Thorpe, Hatchett and Rollings) a chance.

I would rather see Ollie given a run of games in the firsts as opposed to an inferior quality seamer.

Whilst I agree with you about Ollie being given a run of games I think it is unfair to not give Aga a run of games, perhaps as a replacement for RMJ.

I find the constant negativity about Aga and Liddle tedious.

  • Registered: 08-04-2007
  • Posts: 4,102

Re: ECB Unicorns vs Sussex 23rd May

ASDF - Has Aga produced level of performances in the second team to warrant first team selection? Players should be selected for the firsts based on merit. Ollie took five wickets in his one championship appearence to date and got dropped! How is that fair? As for Aga and Liddle I think the fact Robbo signed Anyon and Keegan shows how little he rates these two. At 25/26 these two should be playing first team cricket if not at Sussex then elsewhere.

Last edited by Sharkey (27-05-2010 09:48:14)

  • Registered: 15-04-2007
  • Posts: 1,260

Re: ECB Unicorns vs Sussex 23rd May

Selected for the firsts based on merit ?  I thought they merely had to be homegrown and young and they should be given a chance.