SEPTEMBER 2012
1) It could be another
exciting finish to the championship for Surrey, though maybe not in
circumstances we would wish. The final game against Lancashire could
be a 48-pointer (I guess that is the equivalent to a football
six-pointer, though never heard it used). I thought they were doomed
for some time, but the win against Middlesex has raised the optimism
level. With the washout summer, any victory is very important,
especially as the draw now has less value.
2) I'm not sure, in view
of the upsetting nature of his messages, that it was England's loss,
but it is certainly Surrey's gain to have KP available for the end
of season matches. Given the weakness of our batting order it's
almost like having two batsmen.
3) Andrew Strauss said it
would take a long time for KP to regain trust, but now that Strauss
has gone it may take no time at all. Strauss was beginning to
struggle with the bat at Test level, low scores saved by the
occasional hundred. Perhaps, after 100 Tests, ending with South
Africa at Lord's, it was the time to go. The fact that he has
retired completely means that he has something else lined up. I
guess all ex-England captains do, though hopefully not golf
interviews after rounds at the Masters! Who was the last England
Test captain to retire from test cricket but still play county
cricket I wonder. It will be interesting to see how Alaistair Cook
does. He seems a quieter character and a less natural captain than
some of his immediate predecessors.
4) It was a pity Ramps
retired halfway through the season. It has been difficult batting
conditions for everyone, but his experience would have only been a
bonus for the batting line-up. After the terrible football injury he
was, perhaps, never going to regain those great heights of the
century's first decade. It is very unlikely that anyone will beat
his championship record of the first decade in the next nine
decades.
5) Have Surrey ever
signed so many mid-30's from other clubs, than has occurred over the
last few years? I wonder whether supporters really want short term
survival. I'm not sure 30-plusses are going to bring you
championship success, or help develop young players. I know this may
not actually tie into some of the previous comments, but maybe we
should stop signing players, who, though they are totally committed,
are on their last contract. It does seem to be the case with a lot
of counties, that relatively good rates of pay and year-round
contracts are encouraging average county players to stay in the game
for longer.
6) I was thinking on one
of my unfortunately many drives to Wales recently (it's a lovely
place, just a long drive)… How did we ever get back from there on
away coach trips with a stop?! Llanelli is right at the end of the
M4. We were very lucky Ali Brown made a hundred in the second
innings of a Sunday game, as we could still be travelling back even
now. I'm trying to remember where we went on the Saturday [It was
Neath - Ed]. We also ran two full coaches to Cardiff in 1996 when
winning the Sunday league open the floodgates. Funny how so much has
changed in 15 years.
7) It must be rare for
any county squad to have to cope with the death of a player. I can't
actually recall any other county suffering this fate during the last
50 years, but perhaps it has happened. Surrey have lost three. The
extremely popular Graham Kersey, the brilliant young talent and
personality of Ben Hollioake and now another cricketing family has
been struck, by the loss of Tom Maynard. All not past their mid
twenties. All tragic accidents. Maynard's death in the middle of a
season, must have made it almost impossible for the players to
concentrate in the immediate games following the tragedy.
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