County Cricket Discussion Thread

[FearlessRoar]

Worcestershire have been promoted back to Division One of the County Championship - for a record seventh time.

Aided by skipper Brett D'Oliveira completing his century, Alan Richardson's side passed 300 against Yorkshire at Headingley to pick up the second batting bonus point they needed to edge out third-placed Leicestershire.

Alongside already crowned Division Two champions Durham, the Pears will be back playing top flight cricket again next season for the first time since being relegated for a sixth time also a record in 2018.

 

[FearlessRoar]

SURREY ARE DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONS

https://twitter.com/x/status/1707356386995163345

 

[FearlessRoar]

Wicket!!! Alastair Cook is out caught behind for 6. Essex 7-2 (trail by 151 runs, following on)

 

[FearlessRoar]

Wicket, Dan Lawrence is out caught in the slips for 4. Essex 13-5 (trail by 145 runs, following on)

 

[FearlessRoar]

Another fantastic innings from James Coles, his third century of the season

 

[FearlessRoar]

Bad light stops play between Somerset vs Warwickshire.

 

[hassan918]

County Championship Scores Update at the end of Day 3.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

 

[Cricket Warrior]

 

[BouncerGuy]

Derbyshire have signed experienced all-rounder, Samit Patel, on a two-year contract.

Patel has enjoyed a stellar county career in the East Midlands with Nottinghamshire, scoring more than 25,000 all-formats runs and claiming more than 900 wickets, while he has also picked up 60 England caps.

A tricky left-arm spinner, Patel has the second-most Vitality Blast wickets in history, with 208 at an average of 26.34 and an economy of 7.35, while his 4,217 runs put him in the top ten for all-time run-scorers in the competition.

As well as an impressive individual record, Patel has established himself as a proven winner, having lifted the County Championship twice, the Vitality Blast twice and One Day Cup twice. He also remains a sought-after player around the world, having recently played in the Caribbean Premier League and winning The Men’s Hundred with the Trent Rockets in 2022.

Patel, 38, will remain at The Incora County Ground until the end of the 2025 season, and will be available for all formats.

Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur, said: “Samit is one of the most decorated players in England and he’s a proven match-winner. He’s a winner and that’s exactly the mentality we want to bring into our dressing room.

“The experience he will bring, not just from his long career, but from those big games he’s played in and made a difference in, will be a huge asset for us primarily in the Blast but also when needed as another option in the County Championship.”

Patel added: “I’ve spent many years playing against Derbyshire and in the last couple of seasons, you can really see what Mickey is trying to do with the Club. I think I can come in and help with that.

“I’m a proud professional, I’m someone who wants to win and I wouldn’t have come to Derbyshire at this stage in my career if I didn’t think we could do something special.”

 

[hassan918]

Steven Mullaney: Former Nottinghamshire captain takes new player-coach role​

Former Nottinghamshire captain Steven Mullaney has agreed a three-year deal with the club as a player-coach.

The 37-year-old will captain the second XI but will remain available for first-team selection when required.

Mullaney stepped down as skipper in October after six years in the role, to be replaced by Haseeb Hameed (red-ball and One-Day Cup) and Joe Clarke (T20).

He has scored more than 14,000 runs and taken 377 wickets in all formats of the game since his Notts debut in 2010.

"His leadership qualities will help the young players in our second team as we look to give them the opportunities to progress," said head coach Peter Moores.

"Peter Trego adopted a similar role a few years ago, and we saw how successful that was in terms of maturing players and preparing them for first-team cricket - you can look at the likes of Calvin Harrison, Matthew Montgomery and Toby Pettman for examples of that.

"He adds real value to the coaching team as someone who has been at the coalface of first-team action for several years here."

Mullaney will work with developing players on a one-to-one basis over the winter.

"I hope I can pass on some of my experience in the game, whether by having direct conversations or them just picking up the way I go about things," he said.

"In doing so we can help bridge the gap between the first and second team so that players feel prepared, confident, and know what to expect when they make the step up."

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

He has been with the club for more than a decade and knows all the players in the team very well, expecting him to do a very good job with this dual role.

 

[hassan918]

Chris Tremain: Northamptonshire re-sign Australian paceman for start of 2024 season​

Northamptonshire have re-signed pace bowler Chris Tremain for the start of the 2024 County Championship.

The 32-year-old Australian will be available for the first four rounds of games, but cannot stay longer because of visa restrictions.

Tremain is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Sheffield Shield with 34 victims at an average of just 15 each.

"I enjoyed every moment I spent with the group last season," he told the Northamptonshire website.

"I hope I can make an impact for the time I'm there and help set the tone for the remainder of the County Championship."

Tremain took 13 wickets in three games for Northants in early 2023 but the club were eventually relegated from Division One.

Head coach John Sadler said: "His style of bowling is very well suited to English conditions so to have him locked in for those first four games is fantastic.

"He was only with us for a short stint last season but made a huge impact at the club on and off the field."

Northants will begin the new season with a game against Sussex at Hove, starting on 5 April.

They have also re-signed India batter Prithvi Shaw for part of next season - he will be available from June onwards.

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

He is a really good red ball bowler and should make a good impact like he did in the previous season.

 

[hassan918]

Hampshire: England prospect John Turner among four players given new contracts​

England white-ball squad member John Turner is one of four young Hampshire players to sign new multi-year deals to stay with with the county.

Fletcha Middleton, Tom Prest and Toby Albert, who, like Turner, came through the club's player pathway system, have also agreed contract extensions.

Director of Cricket Giles White said: "They are an exciting group. We look forward to watching them grow.

"We feel they have the attributes to help take the team to the next level."

Last summer was a breakout season for 22-year-old fast bowler Turner, who took 21 wickets at an average of under 12 in his maiden T20 Blast campaign and also made his County Championship debut.

He was rewarded with an ECB Development Contract, before being called up for England's T20 series against New Zealand in August only to be ruled out through injury.

Turner was then named in the squad for this month's white-ball tour of the Caribbean.

"After an amazing couple years it was an easy decision to extend my time at the club. Since making the step up to the first XI, I've really enjoyed my time on and off the pitch," Turner said.

"Hampshire have played a massive role in the development of my cricket and I couldn't thank everyone at the club enough. I am extremely excited for the next few years and hopefully I can help contribute to more success on the pitch."

Middleton, 21, was ever present in Hampshire's County Championship and One-Day Cup sides in 2023, opening the batting in both and scoring 480 runs in the 50-overs competition including a first professional century against Middlesex.

He said: "Hampshire is a very special club to me so I am absolutely thrilled to have signed a new deal. I am very grateful for the backing and opportunity they have given me so far. I look forward to continuing my development here and repaying the faith they have shown in me with silverware."

Batting all-rounder Prest, 20, has become a key member of both the white-ball squads since making his debut in 2021 and helped the Hawks win the Blast in 2022.

The former England Under-19 captain also played five County Championship matches in 2023, recording his maiden first-class century against Essex at Chelmsford.

Middle-order batter Albert, 22, made his professional debut in the 2021 Blast and has represented Hampshire in all three formats since, making his County Championship towards the end of last season.

Source: BBC

 

[hassan918]

Harry Finch: Kent wicketkeeper extends contract until 2025​

Kent wicketkeeper Harry Finch has extended his contract until the end of the 2025 season.

The 28-year-old former Sussex player moved to Canterbury on a short-term deal in 2021.

Finch was signed on another short-term contract in 2022 before signing a two-year deal at the end of that season.

"I've loved my first full season at Kent and I'm really pleased to be able to extend my contract at the club," Finch told the club website.

Finch's Kent debut came against his former county Sussex, having been released the previous season.

The right-handed batter was recruited by Kent for the game due to a shortage of available players caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He scored a century in that match and the following season was brought back as part of the Kent side that beat Lancashire in the final of the One-Day Cup.

"Winning the One-Day Cup in 2022 is one of the highlights of my career and hopefully we can add to that in the coming years," Finch added.

"Getting into the Championship team and playing an important role with bat and gloves was really pleasing for me and I can't wait to get back out there and help the team win games and trophies.

"We've got a really exciting squad of players that are only going to get better - it's a great place to be."

Kent avoided relegation from Division One of the County Championship on the final day of the 2023 season with a draw against Lancashire.

Source: BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Somerset fast bowler Josh Davey has signed a one-year contract extension to stay at the club until the end of 2025.

The 33-year-old has taken 267 wickets in 127 matches since arriving at Taunton in 2014.

The Scotland international has 62 caps for his country and last featured at the T20 World Cup in 2022.



BBC