Does the average points per game set up now because of Derbyshire help or hinder us?

So, I have a question for you (apologies I’m assuming you’re South African by the name). I’ve spent large amounts of time in South Africa. I love the country, I hate what it’s doing to itself currently in Gauteng and KZN.
I’ve always thought the biggest loser in all this is South African cricket. If you look at the talent drain, and the national teams performance vs South African qualified talent spread around the world.
Can you see it being fixed from the South African side any time soon, or is it so political, that CSA stands no chance?

First things first, despite what anyone says, having a British passport simply means that player has the right to work in Britain. It doesn’t mean they have a right to equal opportunity or access to the clubs resources. That’s an active choice the club makes. The club could equally choose to not play anyone who has failed in SA and come over here because they have that right.
I would argue, that choice, means the club contributed to the club failing to meet its corporate social responsibilities and obligations to the community, and those who have grown up locally, and have invested time in the clubs infrastructure. Which many would argue is almost as big a purpose of the club as winning, especially considering it’s recent poor history of producing talent and it’s inability to maximise the talent within Birmingham. You could also point out that the club after all, does receive funding in part to produce local talent, which this process jeopardises.

Secondly, it seems to be an ever increasing phenomenon, of young South African players moving elsewhere. It’s become a matter of scale and what is reasonable. Again it’s nothing against them personally, but their presence removes opportunity for others. And the issue is that it’s a one way street, citizenship or overseas rules elsewhere mean that British players can’t go elsewhere. This is their only option.
Now 1 or 2 every couple of years given a chance, no issue. Those players you’ve mentioned, 7 over a 30+ year period. But as I said it’s a matter of scale, it would be 3 or 4 that have played for the twos this year alone, and seem in line to play in the RLODC. I wouldn’t be surprised if every other county has similar numbers in second teams and potentially playing in the RLODC. Then another 3 or 4 next year?
Just physically how can a 16 year old compete for an opportunity with an 18/19 year old, so their development is stunted, potentially permanently, because of an easy short term option.
And for the record yes, I was hugely against KOLPAKs, I thought it was absolute nonsense, created an attitude and a group of mercenary players willing to play for the highest bidder, that actually often had little to no long term benefit to a club. It was a system far too easy to abuse, and yes blocked opportunities for young British players. There are of course exceptions, and some were wonderful servants to clubs. But on the whole it was a legal loop hole, that was manipulated by players and clubs to get ready made players cheaper than investing long term in their own youngsters. Clubs have a responsibility not just to themselves but the game as a whole, and these sort of short term decisions endanger the growth and sustainability of the game in this country.

Highveld wrote:

If a player qualifies for a British passport they are British, regardless of where they lived as a child.

Think this is true to an extent. But when those players have failed to make it as a pro in SA, one even captaining the SA U19’s I believe, that’s a different story than pitching up here because their parents moved.
I appreciate there are some serious political barriers to many of these players, but when did Warwickshire, or even county cricket become a charity to support young South African cricketers and address those issues?
What can’t be denied is that if these players are picked, local Warwickshire or English players who have lived their whole lives in this country lose out. Which undermines the academy system.
You might have a real gem on your hands; but you don’t know what players you have until you give them an opportunity, but that’s impossible to know if that opportunity is blocked.
And whether it’s a cliche or not, that opportunity should be prioritised for the player that’s come through the academy since he was 9 and has dreamed of this, not a player that would be just as happy at any of the other 17 counties, and is just as likely to walk away if he gets a better offer elsewhere.

When I saw Notts, Essex, Durham and Worcestershire, I wasn’t particularly optimistic.
But they got more wins in these first 10 matches than in the previous 2 seasons combined. So that’s a massive step forward.
Hopefully they can get Bresnan and OHD fit by September. Briggs back too. Get Malan re-signed and back in this form.
And anything can happen in just 4 matches and some momentum.

paulbear wrote:

How wonderful that yet again, the games will feature hardly any weekend cricket and a final that goes into October from Tuesday-Friday. Shows how much value is put on first-class cricket.

But look what happens when England get pumped in the Ashes down under. Everyone will be looking for an answer. It’ll be obvious, it’s on the ECB for mismanaging first class cricket, or the players for not performing.
But the ECB and their lap dogs like Root and Silverwood will come out and blame the counties and county cricket. They’re shameless.

This is the nonsense that the hundred created.
What the ECB fails to notice, acknowledge or god forbid correct, is that none of the other franchise competitions around the world endangers their own domestic FC or List A competitions.

I’ve even seen the ECB trying to take credit for the Pakistan series win, by saying it’s the culture. No, it’s counties producing world class players, playing in strong competitions.
How can they expect to win the World Cup again, when players won’t even be playing the format.

I think he and Rashid are similar in regards to being more effective in white ball, but for different reasons.
Rashid lacks patience, he can’t bowl 3 or 4 overs on the same spot with his stock ball. He wants to try things.
I think Lintott lacks the control to do so, which is just part of being a wrist spinner, but you can get away with it more in whit ball because as you say, players can’t wait, they just go at everything.

Agree Lamb and Yates have been good. Though I think we’re seeing why Lintott might be a white ball only phenomenon.

Briggs absence is definitely telling. Lintott in this match has just struggled to keep it tight enough for long enough to build the pressure necessary to take wickets in red ball cricket.
However, you’d think considering the state of the Durham game, the bonus points achieved here, and the growing likelihood of a draw, considering there’s going to be at least the best part of 2 innings needed in 1 day, on a pitch that’s had almost 600 runs for 16 wickets; division 1 seems to have been secured.
And that is a huge step forward, and I hope the many naysayers that regularly appear on Facebook and Twitter acknowledge that.

Seems the first day and the new ball are the best time to bat. It’s when Malan and Sibley, and Rhodes and Lamb did well. Mitchell and Libby looked set there too.
Now suddenly Libby got one that kept seriously low, and Yates turned one enough to get Fell.
I wonder if we’ll see any Sibley leg spin.

Let’s hope Lintott, and perhaps the occasional spin of Lamb, Sibley and Yates can do the job here.
It clearly started really turning for Sodhi, all but 2 wickets fell to spin.
Burgess got an absolute jaffer, pitched well outside leg, hit middle and off. Then balls later Lamb got one that did nothing. Hard to score big on a wicket like that, which means that great start, and batting first could be huge.

For Essex, I think it was all mathematical anyway. They needed a full bonus point win, plus both Durham and ourselves to only get 3 or 4 points each.
I can’t see them being awarded the win either. As in last year’s abandoned matches each side received 8 points for a draw plus any bonus points acquired.
In my mind, it’s now a case of matching Durhams points to qualify.

I assumed he’d been signed for the whole summer. Surely you sign him and say if you want to go back to SA during the 50 over comp then fine. But make sure you’re back ready to go for the red ball again in September.

Is this….is this what a top order partnership feels like? It’s been so very long, I can’t remember.

When you watch this, I start to think that our previous tactic of getting 4 down for 50 runs before lunch and hoping 5/6/7 can dig us out might have been misguided.

If one of these 2 could bat the day, and get 140+ that goes a long way to getting the result needed to get into group 1.

Derbyshire, unfortunately, look like they’re not going to put up much of a fight against Essex, However Notts haven’t got off to great start either.

For most of the players playing now that’s definitely true.

But as with all things the experts change their minds every couple of years, and now in the last few years the trend seems far more to be sticking to academy matches, school matches and men’s club cricket. Then slowly introduce them to second team cricket more gradually, when they’re around 16/17/18.
Otherwise it is literally men against boys, which I believe the most recent wisdom says is bad for development.

Anyone know what Mayers bowling is like?
If it’s on a par with Brathwaite then he can be counted as a bowler. If it’s more part time, they might have to drop Yates or Lamb to ensure they have 6 bowling options.

I feel like if they do get any play, with the amount of bowling injuries and absences we have, and the fact this is definitely going to be a draw. It would be better to declare, and let Lintott have a bowl. Potentially get Ethan Brookes back in too. Maybe even see if they’ll be allowed Bethell to come in and bowl.
Because they’ll need a spinner or 2 in the T20 and Chanpionship, so the more practice in match conditions the better. Plus Brookes seems to be the next man in line seam bowling wise.

So this comes down to getting a draw and then the bonus points now.
I think I’m right in saying that a draw and 6 bonus points is enough in basically every scenario.