Sunday 21 August 2016

Well done to Northamptonshire

I am absolutely thrilled for Northamptonshire, who I spent yesterday supporting on finals day in the T20.

As the 'little' county of the four that participated, they were always going to get my support and they did all the little clubs in the country proud.

That one of their wins was against Nottinghamshire was especially good, a real David v Goliath battle. For all that Andre Russell had a good game, I think our East Midlands rivals erred in not selecting Imran Tahir, who is an especially effective bowler in this format.

Northamptonshire have some very good players, and let us not forget that they were missing Gleeson and Prasanna, two of their most effective bowlers in the competition.

Josh Cobb is a very good T20 cricketer, while Ben Duckett is a special talent who will doubtless play for England before too long. Alex Wakely played two important innings for them and handled his side competently and confidently in the field, aided by bowlers who kept good lines and fielders who held some blinding catches.

We're not that far away from them, on this year's evidence, but need to find, for another year, a means of producing our best more often, while getting greater and crucial input from the overseas role. In Richard Levi and Rory Kleinveldt, Northamptonshire have got two imports who contribute regularly and well. They win them matches, which, apart from a couple of games this summer, was something ours never did.

I hope that they can keep the predators at bay (unless we're chasing any of their players!) and continue to show that the little guys have a big right to be at cricket's top table.

Well done to everyone there.

6 comments:

  1. Now let's see, who is the Northamptonshire batting coach? Well, would you credit it, it's Steve Stubbings. Good on ya Stubbo! I'm delighted for you. A just reward for a good man

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tim, Chesterfield22 August 2016 at 16:14

    We need more fat players.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Made me laugh Tim!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Me too guys! Truth be told, Northants have some lads who would never be classed as whippets, but they held their catches. Cosgrove at Leicestershire gets a barrow load of runs every year too.

    One of those things that is no issue in success but becomes an easy target in failure...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes, and well done to Stubbo too. Good to see some Derbyshire success, sadly not in the manner we would wish...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks like david wainwright is playing for Hampshire? Hadn't realised he was there. Good luck to him shame he lost form we miss him.

    ReplyDelete

Please remember to add your name. Avoid personal comment at all times. Thanks!