G&C 196
GOOGLIES & CHINAMEN
An Occasional Cricketing Journal
Edition 196
April 2019
Caption Competition
1. Aaron Finch: What do you use to keep your cap on?
Mitchell Starc: Sandpaper.
2. Jonathan Agnew: Who will England’s openers be in the Ashes tests?
Trevor Bayliss: First test: Burns & Roy
Second test: Burns & Duckett
Third test: Duckett & Vince
Fourth test: Vince & Roy
Fifth test: Gubbins & Habeeb
3. Adil Rashid: Which hotels are you booking for the test matches?
Joe Root: Why do you need to know?
Out and About with the Professor
So, after the long wait, we are all ready in Yorkshire. We have a new President, my friend (and everyone else’s) Geoff Cope, a newly confirmed captain Steve Patterson, a new stand at the southern end of the ground, a new batting coach (much needed) and some new players. Everyone is “fit and raring to go”, have “wintered well” and are, of course, “looking good in the nets”. What can possibly go wrong.
Last year was a bit bumpy what with the captain resigning (stress) and the Chairman following (financial improprieties), some poor results, some dreadful batting, and relegation just seen off by a couple of good late results.
Geoff will do well, there is scarcely a nicer man in cricket (nor anywhere else come to that) and Patterson, the epitome of the honest county medium pacer, is said to “have the support of the dressing room”. I have no idea of Grayson’s credentials as a batting coach but one is certainly needed; and the new stand looks very fine indeed (compare the Carnegie Pavilion) and pretty much completes the ground. Someone who has not been to Headingley for a few years would find it much changed, with new east/west/north and south stands.
The new south stand to be completed this summer.
As for new players, a few are needed since several have left Yorkshire this season. Jack Brooks will be missed by the supporters, in particular his wicket celebrations – normally a charge all around the ground waving his arms; Liam Plunkett less so, mainly because of his limited availability. For me the saddest departure is Alex Lees who, two or three years’ ago looked to be on the edge of a fine career as the latest in the long line of great Yorkshire opening bats. Last year his form was awful and he has been transferred to Durham – let’s hope he does well.
Arriving at the headquarters of the north are two large South Africans: Pillans and Olivier. They, presumably with Patterson and Coad, will deliver the bulk of the quick bowling. Poysden has also been added, having been on loan last season. The Rashid situation is, as ever, fluid, and Poysden is presumably seen as back-up, although when I saw him bowl at Scarborough last year it was a bit all-over-the-place. Olivier’s decision to leave South Africa for three years at Yorkshire seemed, originally, a strange one. When it became clear that he hopes to qualify for England, the motivation appeared clearer although perhaps not necessarily wiser. Interesting to think that in three years’ time the England opening attack could be those two born and bred Englishmen: Duanne Olivier and Jofra Archer. That could raise the blood pressure of the odd Googlies correspondent.
Tatersall (up rather early) together with Kohler-Cadmore, Lyth and Leaning praying that the batsman won’t snick it.
Still our boys are off to a very good start. I looked in at the Leeds University ground on a freezing cold Sunday and the students were predictably struggling having, unpredictably, opted to bat. Imagine being a second year sociology student walking out to bat in the shivering cold, to see the 90 mph Olivier about to bowl. Good luck. The only thing on your side was that it was so cold, no one wanted to have a catch…certainly not in the slips.
There will be bigger challenges during the season…I wonder how things will go. Exciting isn’t it!
This & That
Early season double centurions include Ollie Pope, albeit in Dubai, and Ben Duckett both of whom will be looking for Ashes action this summer. Duckett’s move to Notts is significant and his progress as an opener there will be taken considerably more seriously than at Northants. Big runs will make him hard to ignore. The same can be said of James Vince who has decided to open for Hants this year and he sees it as his best route back to test cricket He also kicked off with a hundred this weekend. Lack of competition seems to have sealed Rory Burns place as senior opener which is extraordinary since his record is no better than Nick Compton’s, Adam Lyth’s or Sam Robson’s.
Surrey batsmen seem to have enjoyed Dubai in March. Will Jacks scored a century off just 25 balls in a pre-season 10-over game against Lancashire, in Dubai. It is thought to be the fastest hundred in a match with two professional sides. He hit Stephen Parry for six straight sixes, in an over that went for 37. Jacks finished on 105 off 30 deliveries after hitting 11 sixes and eight fours in Surrey's winning total of 176-3. Jacks' innings will not go into the official record books but he beats Glen Chapple and Mark Pettini who both made declaration assisted hundreds in 27 balls in county cricket.
Ireland’s progress in international cricket has been given a wakeup call by Afghanistan. Rashid Khan sorted them out in the limited overs stuff and in the test match Ireland were reduced to 85 for 9 before Tim Murtagh joined George Dockrell for the last wicket. They proceeded to add 87 with Murtagh ending 54 not out. Murtagh has become a serious batsman in his later years.
Australia seem to be sorting themselves out in India. I have not heard whether their miscreants will be welcomed back but maybe they will not be needed. In the ODI at Chandigarh Rohit and Dhawan added 193 for the first wicket which set India up for what you would expect would be a match winning total of 358. In reply Finch and Marsh S were dismissed for 12 but Khawaja and Handscombe added 192 before Ashton Turner saw them home with a couple of overs to spare. This is seriously good stuff which England would be making much of if they achieved it. Australia may not be the pushover this year that they might seem. But if it gets cloudy Jimmy and Stuart will probably roll them over.
Morgan Matters
The Great man gives us his final diary peek before resuming his residency in the Edrich stand
Grenada: Eoin went on to 103 off 88 with 6 sixes and Buttler to 150 off 77 with 13 fours and 12 sixes and the innings closed on 418 for 6, Eng's highest ODI score overseas. England's 24 sixes was a world record for ODIs, it was Eoin's 12th hundred in ODIs and he is the first England batsman to pass 6,000 ODI runs: shame he cannot get any for Middx really! WI managed 389 a/o (Rashid 5-85, Wood 4-60) and C Gayle hit 14 sixes in his 162 off 97, but he was just too slow and England won by 29! Gayle has now hit 500 sixes in international cricket and 10,000 runs in ODIs.
T Bayliss has stated that J Archer will get an opportunity to show his class (or otherwise) at international level before the WC squad is named, possibly in the six May ODIs (1 v Ireland and 5 v Pakistan).
Dehra Dan ODI: Afghan 256-8 (N Zadran 104*, T Murtagh 2-60); Ire 260-6 won by 4 wkts with Andy Balbirnie leading the way with 145* (why did we let him go?), G Dockrell 54, P Stirling 20, S Poynter 0.
England's poor batting in recent times has cost M Ramps his job as England batting coach.
Chris Stocks (are these agency blokes?) in St Kitts says that Surrey will be providing both openers for the Ashes this summer. He thinks Jennings has to go, but Burns will stay and he will be joined by J Roy at the top of the order.
Middlesex have appointed ex-Hants keeper Nic Pothas as assistant coach, he was S Law's assistant in WI.
The MCC World Cricket Council is proposing to introduce new rules in Test cricket to combat slow over rates and other time-wasting tactics, but I am baffled that they are calling this a "shot clock"!
Rs' dire form continued with a 1-2 home loss to struggling Rotherham, one of the worst teams in the division. Despite some awful results, I have always felt that we would stay up, but this is just too dire for words: how come they managed to beat Leeds?
"Middlesex Legend" Alan Moss has died aged 88.
A Martin says that Eng and Oz players' shirts will bear their name and number during this summer's Ashes Tests, a first in 142 years of Test cricket.
According to the potted scores in the G, Lancashire (221 a/o) lost to USA (222-4) by 6 wkts in Dubai. I cannot find any mention of it anywhere else. Next day: UAE (272-2) beat Surrey (209) by 66: could this be women? No, I do not think so, as I have just seen on the Beeb website that Surrey are in Dubai preparing for their match v MCC on Sunday.
I am now thinking that I got it wrong about Jos being the poofter: I now think it must be Denly. Sorry Jos... please do not sue!
Ball-scratcher C Bancroft is the new capt of Durham (though there is still speculation that he will make the Oz touring team), while team-mate M Renshaw has joined Kent "for the early part of the season".
Dubai: Sy 520 a/o (Pope 251, Smith 127); MCC 221-1 (W Rhodes 88, D Sibley 102*). All I have found out about "teenage debutant" Smith is that his name is Jamie and he is 18 years old. He becomes the fourth keeper in the Sy squad after Foakes, Pope and Burns... should be enough!
I felt compelled to write to the G today: Sirs - It was nice to see plenty of cricket in today's paper (27.3.19) including five separate items and four photographs (though two of them are of Sir A Cook), but there are no scorecards or even the potted scores for any of the six first class matches currently being played! This is ridiculous. - Jack Morgan
“What links Stuart Leary and Theresa May? They are both called "Lino". John Crace, the G's humorous parliamentary columnist, calls May the "Leader In Name Only".
Well, my rant to the G seems to have done some good: today we have scores from all six MCC University matches... not full scorecards, of course, but the potted scores are better than yesterday's non-effort. The only other cricket story is more about Ashwin's "Mankadding" of Jos B: MCC now says that it is "contrary to the spirit of the game": I agree.
Northwood: Middlesex were the only one of the 6 counties playing the universities not to win by a huge margin: the victories for the counties were by 568 runs, an innings and 220 runs, 296 runs, 336 runs and 286 runs. Should we panic urgently?
Rs had an absolutely dire result today, losing at home 1-2 to 23rd placed Bolton.
Who plays Where
Here are this year’s player moves to try to help explain the early season mystery batting line ups. Courtesy of the BBC website
DERBYSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Logan van Beek (New Zealand), Kane Richardson (Australia, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Sam Conners (YTH)
Ben Slater (Nottinghamshire)
Tom Lace (Middlesex, season-long loan)
Will Davis (Leicestershire)
Mark Watt (Lancashire)
Gary Wilson (REL)
Matthew Sonczak (REL)
Callum Brodrick (REL)
Hardus Viljoen (REL)
Duanne Olivier (Yorkshire, as KPK)
DURHAM
Overseas player 2019: Cameron Bancroft (Australia), D'Arcy Short (Australia, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Alex Lees (Yorkshire)
Paul Collingwood (RET)
Ben Raine (Leicestershire)
Barry McCarthy (REL)
Ross Greenwell (YTH)
Ryan Davies (REL)
ESSEX
Overseas player 2019: Peter Siddle (Australia); Adam Zampa (Australia, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Jack Plom (YTH)
James Foster (RET)
Cameron Delport (Leicestershire, UKP)
Ashar Zaidi (REL)
Callum Taylor (REL)
Matt Dixon (REL)
GLAMORGAN
Overseas player 2019: Shaun Marsh (Australia)
In
Out
Billy Root (Nottinghamshire)
Aneurin Donald (Hampshire)
Charlie Hemphrey (Queensland, UKP)
Joe Burns (Lancashire)
Callum Taylor (YTH)
Kazi Szymanski (YTH)
Jamie McIlroy (MCC Young Cricketers)
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Dan Worrall (Australia), Michael Klinger (Australia, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Stuart Whittingham (Sussex)
Liam Norwell (Warwickshire)
Craig Miles (Warwickshire)
Kieran Noema-Barnett (REL)
HAMPSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka, until mid-July)
In
Out
Aneurin Donald (Glamorgan)
Jimmy Adams (RET)
Keith Barker (Warwickshire)
Sean Ervine (RET)
James Fuller (Middlesex)
Reece Topley (REL)
Harry Came (YTH)
Calvin Dickinson (REL)
Asher Hart (REL)
Chris Sole (REL)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Middlesex)
KENT
Overseas player 2019: Matt Renshaw (Australia, early County Championship rounds and One-Day Cup), Adam Milne (New Zealand, for Twenty20); Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan, for first 11 Twenty20 games)
In
Out
Matt Milnes (Nottinghamshire)
Will Gidman (RET)
Fred Klaassen (Netherlands, EUP)
James Tredwell (RET)
Jordan Cox (YTH)
Matt Hunn (RET)
Matt Renshaw (Somerset)
Mohammad Nabi (Leicestershire)
LANCASHIRE
Overseas player 2019: James Faulkner (Australia, for Twenty20), Joe Burns (Australia, for 10 County Championship games), Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
In
Out
Richard Gleeson (Northamptonshire)
Jordan Clark (Surrey)
George Lavelle (YTH)
Simon Kerrigan (REL)
George Balderson (YTH)
Karl Brown (REL)
Joe Burns (Glamorgan)
Arron Lilley (Leicestershire)
Tom Hartley (YTH)
Mark Watt (Derbyshire)
Jack Morley (YTH)
LEICESTERSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan)
In
Out
Chris Wright (Warwickshire)
Ben Raine (Durham)
Will Davis (Derbyshire)
Zak Chappell (Nottinghamshire)
Arron Lilley (Lancashire)
Ned Eckersley (REL)
Hasan Azad
Mark Pettini (REL)
Rob Sayer (REL)
Tom Wells (REL)
Richard Jones (REL)
Michael Carberry (REL)
Cameron Delport (Essex)
Mohammad Nabi (Kent)
MIDDLESEX
Overseas player 2019: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan, for Twenty20), AB de Villiers (South Africa, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Jack Davies (YTH)
Ravi Patel (REL)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Hampshire)
James Fuller (Hampshire)
Nick Compton (RET)
James Franklin (REL)
Tom Lace (Derbyshire, season-long loan)
Ashton Agar (Birmingham)
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Temba Bavuma (South Africa, Championship only, 14 May-17 July), Faheem Ashraf (Pakistan, for Twenty20), Jason Holder (West Indies, 5-29 April)
In
Out
Blessing Muzarabani (KPK)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Richard Gleeson (Lancashire)
Steven Crook (RET)
Gareth Wade (REL)
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Dan Christian (Australia, for Twenty20), James Pattinson (Australia, 19 April - 16 July)
In
Out
Ben Slater (Derbyshire)
Matt Milnes (Kent)
Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire)
Ben Kitt (REL)
Zak Chappell (Leicestershire)
Will Fraine (Yorkshire)
Joe Clarke (Worcestershire)
Riki Wessels (Worcestershire)
Billy Root (Glamorgan)
SOMERSET
Overseas player 2019: Azhar Ali (Pakistan, for Championship & One-Day Cup), Jerome Taylor (West Indies, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Jack Brooks (Yorkshire)
Johann Myburgh (RET)
Nathan Gilchrist (YTH)
Fin Trenouth (REL)
Matt Renshaw (Kent)
SURREY
Overseas player 2019: Aaron Finch (Australia, for Twenty20), Dean Elgar (South Africa, from end of April)
In
Out
Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)
Mathew Pillans (Yorkshire)
Jordan Clark (Lancashire)
SUSSEX
Overseas player 2019: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan, for Twenty20, first half of group stage), Mir Hamza (Pakistan, 20 May - 16 July)
In
Out
None
Stuart Whittingham (Gloucestershire)
WARWICKSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Jeetan Patel (New Zealand), Ashton Agar (Australia, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Liam Norwell (Gloucestershire)
Jonathan Trott (RET)
Craig Miles (Gloucestershire)
Grant Elliott (RET)
Rob Yates (YTH)
Chris Wright (Leicestershire)
Ashton Agar (Middlesex)
Josh Poysden (Yorkshire)
Keith Barker (Hampshire)
Andy Umeed (REL)
Sunny Singh (REL)
Boyd Rankin (REL)
WORCESTERSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Callum Ferguson (Australia); Martin Guptill (New Zealand, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Wayne Parnell (KPK)
Steve Magoffin (RET)
Adam Finch (YTH)
Joe Clarke (Nottinghamshire)
Riki Wessels (Nottinghamshire)
Alex Hepburn (REL)
YORKSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: TBC
In
Out
Josh Poysden (Warwickshire)
Andy Hodd (RET)
Mathew Pillans (Surrey)
Liam Plunkett (Surrey)
Will Fraine (Nottinghamshire)
Alex Lees (Durham)
Duanne Olivier (Derbyshire, KPK)
Jack Brooks (Somerset)
Azeem Rafiq (REL)
James Wainman (REL)
Ron Hooker
Bob Peach sent me this
Ron Hooker who died recently at the age of 84 will be remembered as an attacking Middlesex cricketing allrounder during one of the county’s most successful periods. Ron played 300 matches from 1956 to 1969 scoring 8000 runs including 5 centuries and took 500 wickets as a medium paced seam and swing bowler. He also made a major contribution with 300 catches mostly at short leg at a time when wickets rather than sledging was the prime objective.
Educated at Hendon County school Ron was a South Hampstead colt before his Middlesex career and continued to play for the club throughout the 1970’s. A tribute to his life was given by Ted Clark, a former Middlesex colleague and friend, at Ron’s funeral service on 21st March which was attended by a large number of family, cricketing. golfing and bridge colleagues and friends.
***
I first encountered Ron in the school holidays watching at Lord’s in the early sixties before I had heard of South Hampstead. Ron fielded at backward short leg to Alan Moss and made it look easy. It seemed a glamorous position until I tried it out and discovered quite how fast the ball travelled and invariably eluded me. In those days sixes were rare but in the Middlesex side you could normally reckon that the day would be brightened by one from Ron, Fred Titmus, Don Bennett or John Murray. Ron was initially a batting all-rounder but his bowling became increasingly important to his side and he was an accomplished exploiter of uncovered wickets.
I first met Ron at South Hampstead when we staged a Benefit Match for him in 1968. On a miserable day there was a high scoring match with Ron’s XI scoring 296 for 8 (Eric Russell 100, Peter Parfitt 74, Clive Radley 60) and the club making a creditable 270 for 7 in reply. Ron’s appearances for the County became rarer and his last season was 1969. By then he had started to turn out for South Hampstead and I found myself playing alongside one of my boyhood heroes.
I soon discovered that Ron was a great theorist on the game and an inveterate talker at second slip. Bill Hart always reminds me of the Wills Trophy Quarter Final at Finchley in 1970. We batted first and made 222 for 6 in our 45 overs. At the beginning of Finchley’s reply Hart, Jerman and Wallis bowled economically before Dick Boothroyd ripped out the middle order to reduce them to 145 for 8. Ron had a theory that their number 10 Wishart couldn’t play off his legs and so fed him a series of half volleys in that direction to prove his point. Wishart repeatedly flicked him over the trees and onto the roof of the indoor school to the exasperation of us all. Ron eventually got his man but conceded 69 runs from his nine overs. The game went the full distance and we won by just four runs. When I mentioned this to Bob Peach he had no hesitation in blaming Henry Malcolm for being an early influence on Ron.
Ron rarely bowled after that but reverted to being a high quality batsman and played magnificent innings against the best opposition. It must have been truly daunting to turn up as a member of the opposition in those days and find that you had to bowl at both Cordaroy and Hooker.
I last saw Ron a couple of years ago at Bob Cozens’ funeral. I asked him if he had entered the IPL auction and he then embarked on a treatise of how to bowl to restrict runs which included how he had kept Boycott quiet all afternoon at Headingley before dismissing him. He had looked trim and fit that day and it was a great shock to hear that he had died recently.
Ron was always kind to me and it was an honour to play with and know him through his latter career.
John Williams sent me this
Just heard the sad news of Ron's passing. I played one season for Bucks in 1972 with Ron. We reached the 2nd Round of the Gillette cup by beating Cambridgeshire at Fenner's by 183 runs. We batted first and made 224 for 7. Ron run out 19; JMW c Ponder b Wing 0.Ray Bond and Fred Harris bowled them out for 41 so neither I nor Ron got a bowl. Terry Jenner, Warney's mentor batted 5 but didn't like it up him and was caught behind for 5.
The 2nd Round was at Amersham v Glamorgan - their line up included Alan Jones, Roy Fredericks, Majid Khan, Tony Lewis, Peter Walker, Malcolm Nash and Don Shepherd. Unfortunately, I was 12th man but because Ron pulled a fetlock halfway through their innings I did take part for 28 overs. In those days 12 men didn't have to wear silly yellow jackets and run on the field about every 2 or 3 minutes. Glamorgan were bowled out for 174. Bucks were going really well Ron and John Turner putting on 88 for the 3rd wicket to take the score to 122 for 3. Ron was still in but unfortunately at the drinks interval - one per innings in 1972 - Ron, who had been batting for half an hour with a broken knuckle, thought it would be in the team’s best interests if he retired hurt. Unfortunately, a collapse followed and when the 9th wicket fell at 158 Ron reappeared. 13 were needed off the last over. Ron and Ray Bond managed 8 off 5 balls. A 4 off the last ball would have brought the scores level and a win for Bucks having lost fewer wickets. Ray Bond missed it so Bucks lost by 4 runs. They would have been the first Minor County to beat a County in the Gillette Cup. An heroic effort by Ron.
Contemplating with the Professor
The Professor makes his annual prediction
The long wait is over and soon – very soon in some counties – there will be live county cricket to watch again. The fat little yellow house brick is about to hit the doormats and so it is time to have the annual tilt at guessing who the editor will choose as the Wisden “Five Cricketers of the Year”.
The rules are the same as before: no one (with a couple of famous exceptions) can get the accolade twice; and the decision is largely based on the English domestic season.
Traditionally attention has focused on Test players who had a particularly memorable home series, including, quite often, the captain or a principal player from visiting countries, together with county players who have topped the batting or bowling in the previous season or otherwise had a remarkable season. The additional difficulty (in guessing that is) is that since 2009, Wisden editors have selected women among the Five (Claire Taylor, in that case), and last year chose women for three of the five spots.
Another problem is that the question is not who should be in the list but rather who does the editor of Wisden think should be in the list. What weight will be given to Tests as against ODIs, Championship (Div. 1 and 2) against T20 and so on. Also there is the PCA “Player of the Year” (Denly) – an award which may sway the decision. Burns, Bell and Hildreth made lots of county runs and Henry, Bailey, Robinson and Morkel the most wickets (the last at 14 apiece). Do Second Division runs/wickets count as much as First; do limited overs runs weigh as heavily…even that world record 481? All very difficult.
So…lots to look at.
This is a mug’s game I know, but my long list includes the English men:
Buttler – breakthrough year in many ways, including move from one-day specialist to Test regular
Curran S – Player of the Series against India
Rashid – key role in limited overs cricket, most ODI wickets against India
Burns – weight of county runs, Championship win, England call-up
Foakes – stunning Test debut…just a touch outside the “domestic” season
Visiting opponents:
Mohammad Abbas – Player of the Series against Pakistan
Kohli – rather surprised to learn he had not already been selected
Plus Morkel – key to the Championship win and also surprisingly not already named
Women cricketers:
Another big success for the women in the Tri-nations. Heather Knights, the captain, has already been chosen together with some other senior players leaving Tammy Beaumont as the most likely contender (most runs, including a hundred, in that series – part of the world record 250 in a T20).
So, nine into five.
I think Buttler and Burns have to be there…and Curran. Kohli must be selected because, well, he’s Kohli. The final slot comes down to, in my view, Rashid or Beaumont. The fact that three women were chosen last year shouldn’t make a difference, but perhaps it may. It seems to have been the start of a period where Rashid has moved from indulgent luxury to first one on the (limited overs) teamsheet.
So…(fingers crossed): Buttler, Burns, Curran, Kholi, Rashid.
In memoriam
I heard from Roy Dodson that Wally Barratt had died recently. Wally was one of the third eleven skippers when I joined the club and I hadn’t appreciated until recently what an Illustrious career he had had as an opening bowler in second eleven cricket. He had also held the pivotal post of Club Honorary Secretary for several years before recruiting Roy Dodson to succeed him in the early sixties. Wally was a mild mannered man and always the perfect gentleman.
Googlies Website
All the back editions of Googlies can be found on the G&C website. There are also many photographs most of which have never appeared in Googlies.
www.googliesandchinamen.com
Googlies and Chinamen
is produced by
James Sharp
Broad Lee House
Combs
High Peak
SK23 9XA
tiksha@btinternet.com
An Occasional Cricketing Journal
Edition 196
April 2019
Caption Competition
1. Aaron Finch: What do you use to keep your cap on?
Mitchell Starc: Sandpaper.
2. Jonathan Agnew: Who will England’s openers be in the Ashes tests?
Trevor Bayliss: First test: Burns & Roy
Second test: Burns & Duckett
Third test: Duckett & Vince
Fourth test: Vince & Roy
Fifth test: Gubbins & Habeeb
3. Adil Rashid: Which hotels are you booking for the test matches?
Joe Root: Why do you need to know?
Out and About with the Professor
So, after the long wait, we are all ready in Yorkshire. We have a new President, my friend (and everyone else’s) Geoff Cope, a newly confirmed captain Steve Patterson, a new stand at the southern end of the ground, a new batting coach (much needed) and some new players. Everyone is “fit and raring to go”, have “wintered well” and are, of course, “looking good in the nets”. What can possibly go wrong.
Last year was a bit bumpy what with the captain resigning (stress) and the Chairman following (financial improprieties), some poor results, some dreadful batting, and relegation just seen off by a couple of good late results.
Geoff will do well, there is scarcely a nicer man in cricket (nor anywhere else come to that) and Patterson, the epitome of the honest county medium pacer, is said to “have the support of the dressing room”. I have no idea of Grayson’s credentials as a batting coach but one is certainly needed; and the new stand looks very fine indeed (compare the Carnegie Pavilion) and pretty much completes the ground. Someone who has not been to Headingley for a few years would find it much changed, with new east/west/north and south stands.
The new south stand to be completed this summer.
As for new players, a few are needed since several have left Yorkshire this season. Jack Brooks will be missed by the supporters, in particular his wicket celebrations – normally a charge all around the ground waving his arms; Liam Plunkett less so, mainly because of his limited availability. For me the saddest departure is Alex Lees who, two or three years’ ago looked to be on the edge of a fine career as the latest in the long line of great Yorkshire opening bats. Last year his form was awful and he has been transferred to Durham – let’s hope he does well.
Arriving at the headquarters of the north are two large South Africans: Pillans and Olivier. They, presumably with Patterson and Coad, will deliver the bulk of the quick bowling. Poysden has also been added, having been on loan last season. The Rashid situation is, as ever, fluid, and Poysden is presumably seen as back-up, although when I saw him bowl at Scarborough last year it was a bit all-over-the-place. Olivier’s decision to leave South Africa for three years at Yorkshire seemed, originally, a strange one. When it became clear that he hopes to qualify for England, the motivation appeared clearer although perhaps not necessarily wiser. Interesting to think that in three years’ time the England opening attack could be those two born and bred Englishmen: Duanne Olivier and Jofra Archer. That could raise the blood pressure of the odd Googlies correspondent.
Tatersall (up rather early) together with Kohler-Cadmore, Lyth and Leaning praying that the batsman won’t snick it.
Still our boys are off to a very good start. I looked in at the Leeds University ground on a freezing cold Sunday and the students were predictably struggling having, unpredictably, opted to bat. Imagine being a second year sociology student walking out to bat in the shivering cold, to see the 90 mph Olivier about to bowl. Good luck. The only thing on your side was that it was so cold, no one wanted to have a catch…certainly not in the slips.
There will be bigger challenges during the season…I wonder how things will go. Exciting isn’t it!
This & That
Early season double centurions include Ollie Pope, albeit in Dubai, and Ben Duckett both of whom will be looking for Ashes action this summer. Duckett’s move to Notts is significant and his progress as an opener there will be taken considerably more seriously than at Northants. Big runs will make him hard to ignore. The same can be said of James Vince who has decided to open for Hants this year and he sees it as his best route back to test cricket He also kicked off with a hundred this weekend. Lack of competition seems to have sealed Rory Burns place as senior opener which is extraordinary since his record is no better than Nick Compton’s, Adam Lyth’s or Sam Robson’s.
Surrey batsmen seem to have enjoyed Dubai in March. Will Jacks scored a century off just 25 balls in a pre-season 10-over game against Lancashire, in Dubai. It is thought to be the fastest hundred in a match with two professional sides. He hit Stephen Parry for six straight sixes, in an over that went for 37. Jacks finished on 105 off 30 deliveries after hitting 11 sixes and eight fours in Surrey's winning total of 176-3. Jacks' innings will not go into the official record books but he beats Glen Chapple and Mark Pettini who both made declaration assisted hundreds in 27 balls in county cricket.
Ireland’s progress in international cricket has been given a wakeup call by Afghanistan. Rashid Khan sorted them out in the limited overs stuff and in the test match Ireland were reduced to 85 for 9 before Tim Murtagh joined George Dockrell for the last wicket. They proceeded to add 87 with Murtagh ending 54 not out. Murtagh has become a serious batsman in his later years.
Australia seem to be sorting themselves out in India. I have not heard whether their miscreants will be welcomed back but maybe they will not be needed. In the ODI at Chandigarh Rohit and Dhawan added 193 for the first wicket which set India up for what you would expect would be a match winning total of 358. In reply Finch and Marsh S were dismissed for 12 but Khawaja and Handscombe added 192 before Ashton Turner saw them home with a couple of overs to spare. This is seriously good stuff which England would be making much of if they achieved it. Australia may not be the pushover this year that they might seem. But if it gets cloudy Jimmy and Stuart will probably roll them over.
Morgan Matters
The Great man gives us his final diary peek before resuming his residency in the Edrich stand
Grenada: Eoin went on to 103 off 88 with 6 sixes and Buttler to 150 off 77 with 13 fours and 12 sixes and the innings closed on 418 for 6, Eng's highest ODI score overseas. England's 24 sixes was a world record for ODIs, it was Eoin's 12th hundred in ODIs and he is the first England batsman to pass 6,000 ODI runs: shame he cannot get any for Middx really! WI managed 389 a/o (Rashid 5-85, Wood 4-60) and C Gayle hit 14 sixes in his 162 off 97, but he was just too slow and England won by 29! Gayle has now hit 500 sixes in international cricket and 10,000 runs in ODIs.
T Bayliss has stated that J Archer will get an opportunity to show his class (or otherwise) at international level before the WC squad is named, possibly in the six May ODIs (1 v Ireland and 5 v Pakistan).
Dehra Dan ODI: Afghan 256-8 (N Zadran 104*, T Murtagh 2-60); Ire 260-6 won by 4 wkts with Andy Balbirnie leading the way with 145* (why did we let him go?), G Dockrell 54, P Stirling 20, S Poynter 0.
England's poor batting in recent times has cost M Ramps his job as England batting coach.
Chris Stocks (are these agency blokes?) in St Kitts says that Surrey will be providing both openers for the Ashes this summer. He thinks Jennings has to go, but Burns will stay and he will be joined by J Roy at the top of the order.
Middlesex have appointed ex-Hants keeper Nic Pothas as assistant coach, he was S Law's assistant in WI.
The MCC World Cricket Council is proposing to introduce new rules in Test cricket to combat slow over rates and other time-wasting tactics, but I am baffled that they are calling this a "shot clock"!
Rs' dire form continued with a 1-2 home loss to struggling Rotherham, one of the worst teams in the division. Despite some awful results, I have always felt that we would stay up, but this is just too dire for words: how come they managed to beat Leeds?
"Middlesex Legend" Alan Moss has died aged 88.
A Martin says that Eng and Oz players' shirts will bear their name and number during this summer's Ashes Tests, a first in 142 years of Test cricket.
According to the potted scores in the G, Lancashire (221 a/o) lost to USA (222-4) by 6 wkts in Dubai. I cannot find any mention of it anywhere else. Next day: UAE (272-2) beat Surrey (209) by 66: could this be women? No, I do not think so, as I have just seen on the Beeb website that Surrey are in Dubai preparing for their match v MCC on Sunday.
I am now thinking that I got it wrong about Jos being the poofter: I now think it must be Denly. Sorry Jos... please do not sue!
Ball-scratcher C Bancroft is the new capt of Durham (though there is still speculation that he will make the Oz touring team), while team-mate M Renshaw has joined Kent "for the early part of the season".
Dubai: Sy 520 a/o (Pope 251, Smith 127); MCC 221-1 (W Rhodes 88, D Sibley 102*). All I have found out about "teenage debutant" Smith is that his name is Jamie and he is 18 years old. He becomes the fourth keeper in the Sy squad after Foakes, Pope and Burns... should be enough!
I felt compelled to write to the G today: Sirs - It was nice to see plenty of cricket in today's paper (27.3.19) including five separate items and four photographs (though two of them are of Sir A Cook), but there are no scorecards or even the potted scores for any of the six first class matches currently being played! This is ridiculous. - Jack Morgan
“What links Stuart Leary and Theresa May? They are both called "Lino". John Crace, the G's humorous parliamentary columnist, calls May the "Leader In Name Only".
Well, my rant to the G seems to have done some good: today we have scores from all six MCC University matches... not full scorecards, of course, but the potted scores are better than yesterday's non-effort. The only other cricket story is more about Ashwin's "Mankadding" of Jos B: MCC now says that it is "contrary to the spirit of the game": I agree.
Northwood: Middlesex were the only one of the 6 counties playing the universities not to win by a huge margin: the victories for the counties were by 568 runs, an innings and 220 runs, 296 runs, 336 runs and 286 runs. Should we panic urgently?
Rs had an absolutely dire result today, losing at home 1-2 to 23rd placed Bolton.
Who plays Where
Here are this year’s player moves to try to help explain the early season mystery batting line ups. Courtesy of the BBC website
DERBYSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Logan van Beek (New Zealand), Kane Richardson (Australia, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Sam Conners (YTH)
Ben Slater (Nottinghamshire)
Tom Lace (Middlesex, season-long loan)
Will Davis (Leicestershire)
Mark Watt (Lancashire)
Gary Wilson (REL)
Matthew Sonczak (REL)
Callum Brodrick (REL)
Hardus Viljoen (REL)
Duanne Olivier (Yorkshire, as KPK)
DURHAM
Overseas player 2019: Cameron Bancroft (Australia), D'Arcy Short (Australia, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Alex Lees (Yorkshire)
Paul Collingwood (RET)
Ben Raine (Leicestershire)
Barry McCarthy (REL)
Ross Greenwell (YTH)
Ryan Davies (REL)
ESSEX
Overseas player 2019: Peter Siddle (Australia); Adam Zampa (Australia, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Jack Plom (YTH)
James Foster (RET)
Cameron Delport (Leicestershire, UKP)
Ashar Zaidi (REL)
Callum Taylor (REL)
Matt Dixon (REL)
GLAMORGAN
Overseas player 2019: Shaun Marsh (Australia)
In
Out
Billy Root (Nottinghamshire)
Aneurin Donald (Hampshire)
Charlie Hemphrey (Queensland, UKP)
Joe Burns (Lancashire)
Callum Taylor (YTH)
Kazi Szymanski (YTH)
Jamie McIlroy (MCC Young Cricketers)
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Dan Worrall (Australia), Michael Klinger (Australia, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Stuart Whittingham (Sussex)
Liam Norwell (Warwickshire)
Craig Miles (Warwickshire)
Kieran Noema-Barnett (REL)
HAMPSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka, until mid-July)
In
Out
Aneurin Donald (Glamorgan)
Jimmy Adams (RET)
Keith Barker (Warwickshire)
Sean Ervine (RET)
James Fuller (Middlesex)
Reece Topley (REL)
Harry Came (YTH)
Calvin Dickinson (REL)
Asher Hart (REL)
Chris Sole (REL)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Middlesex)
KENT
Overseas player 2019: Matt Renshaw (Australia, early County Championship rounds and One-Day Cup), Adam Milne (New Zealand, for Twenty20); Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan, for first 11 Twenty20 games)
In
Out
Matt Milnes (Nottinghamshire)
Will Gidman (RET)
Fred Klaassen (Netherlands, EUP)
James Tredwell (RET)
Jordan Cox (YTH)
Matt Hunn (RET)
Matt Renshaw (Somerset)
Mohammad Nabi (Leicestershire)
LANCASHIRE
Overseas player 2019: James Faulkner (Australia, for Twenty20), Joe Burns (Australia, for 10 County Championship games), Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
In
Out
Richard Gleeson (Northamptonshire)
Jordan Clark (Surrey)
George Lavelle (YTH)
Simon Kerrigan (REL)
George Balderson (YTH)
Karl Brown (REL)
Joe Burns (Glamorgan)
Arron Lilley (Leicestershire)
Tom Hartley (YTH)
Mark Watt (Derbyshire)
Jack Morley (YTH)
LEICESTERSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan)
In
Out
Chris Wright (Warwickshire)
Ben Raine (Durham)
Will Davis (Derbyshire)
Zak Chappell (Nottinghamshire)
Arron Lilley (Lancashire)
Ned Eckersley (REL)
Hasan Azad
Mark Pettini (REL)
Rob Sayer (REL)
Tom Wells (REL)
Richard Jones (REL)
Michael Carberry (REL)
Cameron Delport (Essex)
Mohammad Nabi (Kent)
MIDDLESEX
Overseas player 2019: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan, for Twenty20), AB de Villiers (South Africa, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Jack Davies (YTH)
Ravi Patel (REL)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Hampshire)
James Fuller (Hampshire)
Nick Compton (RET)
James Franklin (REL)
Tom Lace (Derbyshire, season-long loan)
Ashton Agar (Birmingham)
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Temba Bavuma (South Africa, Championship only, 14 May-17 July), Faheem Ashraf (Pakistan, for Twenty20), Jason Holder (West Indies, 5-29 April)
In
Out
Blessing Muzarabani (KPK)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Richard Gleeson (Lancashire)
Steven Crook (RET)
Gareth Wade (REL)
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Dan Christian (Australia, for Twenty20), James Pattinson (Australia, 19 April - 16 July)
In
Out
Ben Slater (Derbyshire)
Matt Milnes (Kent)
Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire)
Ben Kitt (REL)
Zak Chappell (Leicestershire)
Will Fraine (Yorkshire)
Joe Clarke (Worcestershire)
Riki Wessels (Worcestershire)
Billy Root (Glamorgan)
SOMERSET
Overseas player 2019: Azhar Ali (Pakistan, for Championship & One-Day Cup), Jerome Taylor (West Indies, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Jack Brooks (Yorkshire)
Johann Myburgh (RET)
Nathan Gilchrist (YTH)
Fin Trenouth (REL)
Matt Renshaw (Kent)
SURREY
Overseas player 2019: Aaron Finch (Australia, for Twenty20), Dean Elgar (South Africa, from end of April)
In
Out
Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)
Mathew Pillans (Yorkshire)
Jordan Clark (Lancashire)
SUSSEX
Overseas player 2019: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan, for Twenty20, first half of group stage), Mir Hamza (Pakistan, 20 May - 16 July)
In
Out
None
Stuart Whittingham (Gloucestershire)
WARWICKSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Jeetan Patel (New Zealand), Ashton Agar (Australia, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Liam Norwell (Gloucestershire)
Jonathan Trott (RET)
Craig Miles (Gloucestershire)
Grant Elliott (RET)
Rob Yates (YTH)
Chris Wright (Leicestershire)
Ashton Agar (Middlesex)
Josh Poysden (Yorkshire)
Keith Barker (Hampshire)
Andy Umeed (REL)
Sunny Singh (REL)
Boyd Rankin (REL)
WORCESTERSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: Callum Ferguson (Australia); Martin Guptill (New Zealand, for Twenty20)
In
Out
Wayne Parnell (KPK)
Steve Magoffin (RET)
Adam Finch (YTH)
Joe Clarke (Nottinghamshire)
Riki Wessels (Nottinghamshire)
Alex Hepburn (REL)
YORKSHIRE
Overseas player 2019: TBC
In
Out
Josh Poysden (Warwickshire)
Andy Hodd (RET)
Mathew Pillans (Surrey)
Liam Plunkett (Surrey)
Will Fraine (Nottinghamshire)
Alex Lees (Durham)
Duanne Olivier (Derbyshire, KPK)
Jack Brooks (Somerset)
Azeem Rafiq (REL)
James Wainman (REL)
Ron Hooker
Bob Peach sent me this
Ron Hooker who died recently at the age of 84 will be remembered as an attacking Middlesex cricketing allrounder during one of the county’s most successful periods. Ron played 300 matches from 1956 to 1969 scoring 8000 runs including 5 centuries and took 500 wickets as a medium paced seam and swing bowler. He also made a major contribution with 300 catches mostly at short leg at a time when wickets rather than sledging was the prime objective.
Educated at Hendon County school Ron was a South Hampstead colt before his Middlesex career and continued to play for the club throughout the 1970’s. A tribute to his life was given by Ted Clark, a former Middlesex colleague and friend, at Ron’s funeral service on 21st March which was attended by a large number of family, cricketing. golfing and bridge colleagues and friends.
***
I first encountered Ron in the school holidays watching at Lord’s in the early sixties before I had heard of South Hampstead. Ron fielded at backward short leg to Alan Moss and made it look easy. It seemed a glamorous position until I tried it out and discovered quite how fast the ball travelled and invariably eluded me. In those days sixes were rare but in the Middlesex side you could normally reckon that the day would be brightened by one from Ron, Fred Titmus, Don Bennett or John Murray. Ron was initially a batting all-rounder but his bowling became increasingly important to his side and he was an accomplished exploiter of uncovered wickets.
I first met Ron at South Hampstead when we staged a Benefit Match for him in 1968. On a miserable day there was a high scoring match with Ron’s XI scoring 296 for 8 (Eric Russell 100, Peter Parfitt 74, Clive Radley 60) and the club making a creditable 270 for 7 in reply. Ron’s appearances for the County became rarer and his last season was 1969. By then he had started to turn out for South Hampstead and I found myself playing alongside one of my boyhood heroes.
I soon discovered that Ron was a great theorist on the game and an inveterate talker at second slip. Bill Hart always reminds me of the Wills Trophy Quarter Final at Finchley in 1970. We batted first and made 222 for 6 in our 45 overs. At the beginning of Finchley’s reply Hart, Jerman and Wallis bowled economically before Dick Boothroyd ripped out the middle order to reduce them to 145 for 8. Ron had a theory that their number 10 Wishart couldn’t play off his legs and so fed him a series of half volleys in that direction to prove his point. Wishart repeatedly flicked him over the trees and onto the roof of the indoor school to the exasperation of us all. Ron eventually got his man but conceded 69 runs from his nine overs. The game went the full distance and we won by just four runs. When I mentioned this to Bob Peach he had no hesitation in blaming Henry Malcolm for being an early influence on Ron.
Ron rarely bowled after that but reverted to being a high quality batsman and played magnificent innings against the best opposition. It must have been truly daunting to turn up as a member of the opposition in those days and find that you had to bowl at both Cordaroy and Hooker.
I last saw Ron a couple of years ago at Bob Cozens’ funeral. I asked him if he had entered the IPL auction and he then embarked on a treatise of how to bowl to restrict runs which included how he had kept Boycott quiet all afternoon at Headingley before dismissing him. He had looked trim and fit that day and it was a great shock to hear that he had died recently.
Ron was always kind to me and it was an honour to play with and know him through his latter career.
John Williams sent me this
Just heard the sad news of Ron's passing. I played one season for Bucks in 1972 with Ron. We reached the 2nd Round of the Gillette cup by beating Cambridgeshire at Fenner's by 183 runs. We batted first and made 224 for 7. Ron run out 19; JMW c Ponder b Wing 0.Ray Bond and Fred Harris bowled them out for 41 so neither I nor Ron got a bowl. Terry Jenner, Warney's mentor batted 5 but didn't like it up him and was caught behind for 5.
The 2nd Round was at Amersham v Glamorgan - their line up included Alan Jones, Roy Fredericks, Majid Khan, Tony Lewis, Peter Walker, Malcolm Nash and Don Shepherd. Unfortunately, I was 12th man but because Ron pulled a fetlock halfway through their innings I did take part for 28 overs. In those days 12 men didn't have to wear silly yellow jackets and run on the field about every 2 or 3 minutes. Glamorgan were bowled out for 174. Bucks were going really well Ron and John Turner putting on 88 for the 3rd wicket to take the score to 122 for 3. Ron was still in but unfortunately at the drinks interval - one per innings in 1972 - Ron, who had been batting for half an hour with a broken knuckle, thought it would be in the team’s best interests if he retired hurt. Unfortunately, a collapse followed and when the 9th wicket fell at 158 Ron reappeared. 13 were needed off the last over. Ron and Ray Bond managed 8 off 5 balls. A 4 off the last ball would have brought the scores level and a win for Bucks having lost fewer wickets. Ray Bond missed it so Bucks lost by 4 runs. They would have been the first Minor County to beat a County in the Gillette Cup. An heroic effort by Ron.
Contemplating with the Professor
The Professor makes his annual prediction
The long wait is over and soon – very soon in some counties – there will be live county cricket to watch again. The fat little yellow house brick is about to hit the doormats and so it is time to have the annual tilt at guessing who the editor will choose as the Wisden “Five Cricketers of the Year”.
The rules are the same as before: no one (with a couple of famous exceptions) can get the accolade twice; and the decision is largely based on the English domestic season.
Traditionally attention has focused on Test players who had a particularly memorable home series, including, quite often, the captain or a principal player from visiting countries, together with county players who have topped the batting or bowling in the previous season or otherwise had a remarkable season. The additional difficulty (in guessing that is) is that since 2009, Wisden editors have selected women among the Five (Claire Taylor, in that case), and last year chose women for three of the five spots.
Another problem is that the question is not who should be in the list but rather who does the editor of Wisden think should be in the list. What weight will be given to Tests as against ODIs, Championship (Div. 1 and 2) against T20 and so on. Also there is the PCA “Player of the Year” (Denly) – an award which may sway the decision. Burns, Bell and Hildreth made lots of county runs and Henry, Bailey, Robinson and Morkel the most wickets (the last at 14 apiece). Do Second Division runs/wickets count as much as First; do limited overs runs weigh as heavily…even that world record 481? All very difficult.
So…lots to look at.
This is a mug’s game I know, but my long list includes the English men:
Buttler – breakthrough year in many ways, including move from one-day specialist to Test regular
Curran S – Player of the Series against India
Rashid – key role in limited overs cricket, most ODI wickets against India
Burns – weight of county runs, Championship win, England call-up
Foakes – stunning Test debut…just a touch outside the “domestic” season
Visiting opponents:
Mohammad Abbas – Player of the Series against Pakistan
Kohli – rather surprised to learn he had not already been selected
Plus Morkel – key to the Championship win and also surprisingly not already named
Women cricketers:
Another big success for the women in the Tri-nations. Heather Knights, the captain, has already been chosen together with some other senior players leaving Tammy Beaumont as the most likely contender (most runs, including a hundred, in that series – part of the world record 250 in a T20).
So, nine into five.
I think Buttler and Burns have to be there…and Curran. Kohli must be selected because, well, he’s Kohli. The final slot comes down to, in my view, Rashid or Beaumont. The fact that three women were chosen last year shouldn’t make a difference, but perhaps it may. It seems to have been the start of a period where Rashid has moved from indulgent luxury to first one on the (limited overs) teamsheet.
So…(fingers crossed): Buttler, Burns, Curran, Kholi, Rashid.
In memoriam
I heard from Roy Dodson that Wally Barratt had died recently. Wally was one of the third eleven skippers when I joined the club and I hadn’t appreciated until recently what an Illustrious career he had had as an opening bowler in second eleven cricket. He had also held the pivotal post of Club Honorary Secretary for several years before recruiting Roy Dodson to succeed him in the early sixties. Wally was a mild mannered man and always the perfect gentleman.
Googlies Website
All the back editions of Googlies can be found on the G&C website. There are also many photographs most of which have never appeared in Googlies.
www.googliesandchinamen.com
Googlies and Chinamen
is produced by
James Sharp
Broad Lee House
Combs
High Peak
SK23 9XA
tiksha@btinternet.com
