Bits and pieces...

Sorry its been a little quiet over recent days but a potent combination of family commitments and little news has created a brief hiatus.


Chris Benham, a batsman of some talent, has opted to leave Hampshire for opportunities elsewhere. He could find that opportunity at Gloucestershire, who would appear to be short of players, but a first class average of 28 at the age of 27 doesn’t suggest that competition will be fierce for potential employers. Useful a player as he may be, he doesn’t strike me as substantially better than what we have and I told you my thoughts on that last week.

Those keeping an eye on the scene overseas will have noted that Glamorgan’s Mark Cosgrove made an impressive 150 for Tasmania, while the latest in a long line of young batting talents in South Africa have taken to international cricket like ducks to water. Both David Miller and Colin Ingram have shown themselves unfazed by the demands of the game and the pressures of tight finishes. Miller, at 21, looks a real talent with impressive averages in all forms of the one day game though slightly less in the longer format. The powerfully built Ingram, four years older, appears to be even more impressive, with the added benefit of experience. Both players are racking up international one-day matches and I have a feeling that we could see one or both in the county game next summer.

Both have a tough job in breaking through to the first choice, full-strength South African side. With Smith, Amla, de Villiers, Kallis, Prince and Duminy ahead of them, they will surely want to increase their experience and build their reputations in a different environment. The county game would be an ideal opportunity and I have a feeling that a discerning county cricket chief would make a shrewd move in picking up such versatile young players, who would theoretically be available for most, if not all of the summer.

Indeed, Ingram also has useful leg spin to offer, with career best figures of 4-16 at a reasonable average. Unless personal circumstances dictated otherwise, I would be very surprised if someone didn’t make a move for his services in 2011.

Elsewhere, Paul Nixon has signed for another year at Leicestershire. Since Shaun Udal’s retirement he must surely be the oldest player in the county game. He has been a good servant to them and will doubtless continue to lend experience to a youthful and talented batting lineup.

Finally tonight, news today that Bon Jovi are set to play Old Trafford on June 24, which is more than the county plan to do next season. There’s something quirky about a band who sprang to prominence with Livin’ On a Prayer playing on the ground of a team who have been praying for Championship success since the 1930’s…