Noticed it being discussed so thought id start a thread hope thats ok.

We start v Northants next Tuesday.

Barnard away, Hain with us.

Feel as though one of the younger batters is gonna be a little unlucky here and end up missing out due to the balance of the side. Yates bowled a lot in the ODC last season on dry pitches, can't see us relying on him to give us 10 every game though. Maybe we get 10 out of Yates and Jani combined? Feels fanciful. We got any top order batters in the academy who can bowl decent seam up?! How close is Garton to bowling?

More generally, i wouldn't be adverse to seeing someone from the academy get a game at some point, Charlie Taylor perhaps.

I've been thinking something like this. I would have had Garton up top but I don't think he can bowl, so I think he has to miss out. If he could he would be straight swap for Barnard in my fantasy selection, who frequently didn't bowl all ten overs last year (ie we only need 4-5 from Garton). Given fireworks yesterday I would say Jani but it is so tight with Malik could be either. Don't think they could rotate game by game but both should have a role. I think the seamers will definitely rotate and, as you say Andy, happy to see an academy seamer get a few games as well:

Yates
TBD, but development player
Hamza
Davies
Hain
Smith (w)
Wylie
Booth / OHD
Simmons / Gilchrist
Taz
TBD, but development seamer

Haven't picked a captain as really not sure. Davies included without gloves. I don't know how the other counties are but it does seem like we have quite a lot of potential first team players in the seconds and this works well for us in this competition.

Not sure playing two inexperienced spinners is the right move.

Sam Hain should be batting at 4, with Kai at 5 and keeping.

If Garton is going to give the club some value for the money spent, he can play as a batsman.

Not sure that any of Jani/Malik or Sheikh are really good enough to be a long term first team player, but Jani should be given the first chance.

I'd also be using Earl Bamber is some of the games, and possibly introduce Charlie Taylor for a game or two, provided we have several experienced bowlers in the team.

As I've said before, Davies is currently unselectable, his performances with the bat this year have been totally unacceptable for a specialist batsman, especially one with his experience.

Yates Malik Shaikh Hain Davies Jani Smith Booth Ali Bamber OHD?

Yates and Jani make the 6th bowling option.

Quite a few 2nd teamers have recently staked a claim for a place in the MBC. Obviously, Jani & Shaikh, but also Garton, who although is unable to bowl, hit an amazing 141 last week (as an opener) in a 50 over Friendly. A lot of 1st team regulars have already been mentioned, but one name no one has talked, is Keith Barker (I guess he's still injured, but I haven't heard any more).

One more consideration, it has been pointed out on the Second's Forum, that Jake Lintott is back from the Kent loan (he only went for the Blast and has posted goodbyes to them), so he could be available for the MBC. If he is, he has to be a starter

There is still one more 2nd team 50 over Friendly, against Notts on Thursday, I think that lineup and performances, could be significant for next week's MBC game.

it would be great to see jake back not least because, as has been suggested elsewhere, without him we seem to be light on experienced, front line spin options. He adds a solidity to the batting lineup nowadays too if he's at 8/9 in the order

cjav1874 wrote:

Yates Malik Shaikh Hain Davies Jani Smith Booth Ali Bamber OHD?

Yates and Jani make the 6th bowling option.

Still looks a bowler light to me?

Andy wrote:

cjav1874 wrote:

Yates Malik Shaikh Hain Davies Jani Smith Booth Ali Bamber OHD?

Yates and Jani make the 6th bowling option.

Still looks a bowler light to me?

As I pointed out (above) Lintott is a possibility, as is a fit (?) Barker.

CJAV did mention Booth, but as far as I know, he's still injured. And I can't see Malik playing - but I can see Garton (as a batsman). I think Gilchrist is likely to be in the mix, as well.

It will be very interesting to see the make up of the 2nds 50 over Friendly v Notts, tomorrow. The lineup and performances could be a real indication of a likely MBC team next Tuesday. Keep track of that game tomorrow (11.00 start).

Can't see Garton playing unless he can bowl or we have a spate of injuries to currently available batters.

Agree on your last point about tomorrow's friendly.

Fair to say Vansh has sealed his spot in the top order.

Yates Jani Davies Hain Malik Smith Booth(if fit?) Ali Bamber Gilchrist OHD

Looks about right, fair play to Vansh. Lintott in for a seamer if conditions dictate and he is actually available for us. The fact that he's leaving means we may just not select him and instead give gane time to people who will be here next season and potentially beyond.

After that 2nd team win against Notts today, Vansh is a nailed on cert for opening on Tuesday (and probably every MBC game) - 217NO (28x4's, 10x6's in 151 balls!). And Malik (55 off 48 balls) & Davies (52 off 49 balls) contributed enough, to pretty much guarantee their places. Only Smith missed out (11). Obviously, without batting, the jury will be out on Garton, so I see it a toss up between him and Kai - especially with Shaikh going.

My bet for the starting XI on Tuesday:-
Yates
Jani
Hain
Malik
Davies
Garton / Smith
Booth / Barker (obviously depending who is fit - if neither are, one of the 2nd team seamers, could be Taylor, or Miller, or Simmons - though he is probably out as well)
Lintott / Ali
Bamber
Gilchrist
OHD

I'd be stunned if Garton gets picked as a specialist batter instead of Smith, would be a terrible move.

Are Barker and Booth injured, does anyone know?

My main quandry now is who will captain in the absence of Barnard. I notice that Jani skippered both of the 2nd XI sides that have played in the past couple of days.

Yates is definitely part of the “leadership group” so I’d imagine it’ll be him.

Sam Hain has been appointed captain for this campaign, just announced.

Rob Yates, vice captain.

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Andy wrote:

cjav1874 wrote:

Yates Malik Shaikh Hain Davies Jani Smith Booth Ali Bamber OHD?

Yates and Jani make the 6th bowling option.

Still looks a bowler light to me?

As I pointed out (above) Lintott is a possibility, as is a fit (?) Barker.

CJAV did mention Booth, but as far as I know, he's still injured. And I can't see Malik playing - but I can see Garton (as a batsman). I think Gilchrist is likely to be in the mix, as well.

It will be very interesting to see the make up of the 2nds 50 over Friendly v Notts, tomorrow. The lineup and performances could be a real indication of a likely MBC team next Tuesday. Keep track of that game tomorrow (11.00 start).

why not Malik, out of interest? it seems the perfect opportunity to give him the chance to capitalise on the successful breakthrough season in T20 for him, seems weird to replace him with a left field choice who's never batted in the top 6 in first team cricket, am i missing something?

I cant believe anyone would advocate picking Garton as a specialist batter over any of the actual, you know, specialist batters.

ITE7376 wrote:

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Andy wrote:

cjav1874 wrote:

Yates Malik Shaikh Hain Davies Jani Smith Booth Ali Bamber OHD?

Yates and Jani make the 6th bowling option.

Still looks a bowler light to me?

As I pointed out (above) Lintott is a possibility, as is a fit (?) Barker.

CJAV did mention Booth, but as far as I know, he's still injured. And I can't see Malik playing - but I can see Garton (as a batsman). I think Gilchrist is likely to be in the mix, as well.

It will be very interesting to see the make up of the 2nds 50 over Friendly v Notts, tomorrow. The lineup and performances could be a real indication of a likely MBC team next Tuesday. Keep track of that game tomorrow (11.00 start).

---

why not Malik, out of interest? it seems the perfect opportunity to give him the chance to capitalise on the successful breakthrough season in T20 for him, seems weird to replace him with a left field choice who's never batted in the top 6 in first team cricket, am i missing something?

Despite what Andy says, I still think Garton has a chance of being picked for the MBC (certainly in the squad for Tuesday, if not in the starting lineup), but with the departure of Shaikh, I now think Malik will be playing. I think he did enough, with his 55, in the 2nds game with Notts yesterday.

jeez its a tough crowd on here! Malik got 99 in a t20 only weeks ago and had a pretty good T20 campaign overall, has a brilliant match-winning first class century in a record chase to his name, and it was only a 50 the other day that (finally) qualified him for another look this tournament? will he be considered to have finally broken through and proven himself when England call him up, I wonder?! (joke)

Andy wrote:

I cant believe anyone would advocate picking Garton as a specialist batter over any of the actual, you know, specialist batters.

on current evidence i definitely feel like there is space to think about him in the potential 'attacking T20 opener' role in the future, i think it would suit his mentality well**** and he can definitely strike a cricket ball, he wouldn't be the first left handed big hitting all rounder to have success for us in that role.... like you say I'm not sure I'd indulge my curiosity to the extent of picking him over people who are already somewhat proven and need the top level overs at the crease under their belt, or to increase their confidence, like jani or malik. if i was picking him there I might even have him instead of Yates who is a known quantity and whose inclusion we won't learn anything much from, albeit that would potentially sacrifice success in the comp for an experiment.

*** to clarify: he seems mentally frail and sending him out up top to just have a go without consequences would possibly free him up. malik definitely seems to have benefitted from being given that role.