I think that the depth of our bowling attack is more of an issue than overseas recruitment to be honest. An overseas is probably only going to be around for half the season in most cases these days anyway. But this is the second or third season in a row where half our bowling attack has been injured at one time. Either we're just incredibly unlucky with injuries, or our physios/training plans aren't working, or we haven't recruited players that can last a whole season. I suspect that it's the latter, especially given the age of our seamers. I do think we've been unlucky with our overseas players as it sounds as though we had someone lined up which then fell through, and the Hassan situation is also not ideal, but we should have had other players that could step in if needed. I also wouldn't write off Jamal just yet, but he needs to start performing in the Essex game.

To be fair I think we have developed that relationship with Hassan, he seems to love it here. And it is bad luck that someone else in Pakistan’s squad got injured, meaning that he got called up to sit on the bench, whichever way you look at it.

The injury to Miles could have cost us 100 runs in their first innings

Another question could be whether OHD, Jamal, Rhodes and Barnard offer adequate seam options without the need for Miles. The advantage of including Briggs is that we’re not asking Yates, Mousley and Bethell to potentially bat for hours at the top of the order and then giving them a heavy workload on the field (especially given Bethell’s injuries last season)

Hain returns - should hopefully put all the rumours to bed.

Ed Barnard
Jacob Bethell
Danny Briggs
Michael Burgess (WK)
Alex Davies (C)
Sam Hain
Olly Hannon-Dalby
Aamir Jamal
Craig Miles
Dan Mousley
Will Rhodes
Rob Yates

I wonder if he’ll be picked up at the next IPL and beyond, given he hasn’t played this time around and is now out of the England squad as well?

Well the good news is that we haven’t lost a game yet. The bad news is that we haven’t won either. Still a pretty solid start to the season, I’d say.

I wouldn’t put it past the ECB to deny him the opportunity to play for us and then expect him to go into the test squad fully firing.

If that was the case then I don’t know why he would have agreed to play as a sub in the last game.

Much more likely that it’s a family issue for Sam.

Given that he's played test cricket recently (in Australia) and made a big impact, I'd definitely say that he's an upgrade on Miles. For one thing, I assume that he's got a lot more pace/bounce than Miles?

BristolBear wrote:

I’m starting to find the Hain situation a bit odd.
I assume him playing in this is to get some match play in after 3 weeks off.
I’ve heard various rumours of why he’s not playing, none substantiatee, but do find it odd he’s been off for so long, but has been around to sub field, play second xi etc.

Maybe whatever the issue is/was meant that he wasn’t able to commit to being available for a full four day game (if he needed to be on call for something, for example) but that still meant that he could be in and around the matchday squad

The Hampshire stream isn’t very good is it? Poor camera angles from one end, commentary ahead of the picture, scoreboard updating slowly.

Shame about the late wickets but still an excellent day. Hopefully we can push on tomorrow morning and get to 400 for the fourth batting point at least. 110 runs in 14 overs for maximum bonus points is probably a stretch too far!

Seems like it was a pretty good effort to take 16 wickets on that pitch with the Kookaburra ball?

We’re 2nd in the table after that round of matches, despite all the doom and gloom around our squad I’d say that’s a pretty solid start and with Hassan and Hain to come in for the next game as well. Hopefully Rushworth will be ok as it’s back to the Dukes ball (I think?), didn’t he skittle Hampshire last season at the Rose Bowl?

We’ve had worse days!

Pleased for Davies, he’s had a lot of criticism since he joined us, some deserved, some undeserved, so great to see him get a big score.

Streetly_Bear wrote:

This opening stand must be winding up Highveld.

Beat me to it! 🤣

Quite a nice scoreline to wake up to

Any news of Hassan Ali?

I seem to remember seeing images online of drainage work at Edgbaston that took place during the winter, so hopefully that will improve things.

Josh Cobb has signed for Worcestershire

I’m sure he wouldn’t have been everyone’s choice but I just hope that everyone can get behind him and not get on his back from day 1.