“It’s grim up north.” I don’t know which wise old sage coined the phrase, but he or she seems to be spot on right now. Rain, drizzle, snow and sleet – the past week at The Riverside has seen it all. Whereas us in the squad, all we have seen is the indoor school, every inch of it. Every bloody inch.
The friendly against Durham UCCE was ruined by rain, so too were three separate friendlies against Yorkshire seconds which were supposed to be held somewhere in the region. Unfortunately a dry patch could not be found for even one of these fixtures. The outdoor nets have seen some action thankfully, and the glee at actually getting outside far outweighed the fact that they were spicy as hell! All good fun and all good practice I assure you.
All seriousness aside, I have been asked to pick a Cricinfo Fantasy Cricket side for this season’s Championship. I fully expect my team to flop, and any success will be greeted with great surprise. Here, then, is my motley crew:
Joe Denly – Kent – 95000
Francois du Plessis – Lancashire – 65000
Mark Ramprakash (trump card) – Surrey – 130000
Dale Benkenstein – Durham – 110000
Peter Trego – Somerset – 85000
Richard Pyrah – Yorkshire – 75000
Craig Kieswetter (wk) – Somerset – 95000
Chris Jordan – Surrey – 75000
Shane Bond – Hampshire – 130000
Mark Davies – Durham – 50000
Steven Finn – Middlesex – 75000
Certain names pick themselves (Ramprakash, Benkenstein and Bond). As for the rest, I have plumped for a number of youngsters who are more than capable of raising a few eyebrows this coming summer. Two dark horses (du Plessis – a class act, and Durham’s very own Mark Davies) will score heavily. Mark my words. Feel free to aim ridicule my way when I perform transfer after transfer. And I apologise now if by selecting any player in my team acts only as some kind of hex!
Comments
Posted by: Ram at April 27, 2008 2:40 PM
I am surprised. I thought you would pick yourself! I think you are missing Tresco. He is available the whole season and we all know how good he is.
Posted by: shafiq at April 28, 2008 10:07 AM
what abt Mushy?
Posted by: Will Smith at April 28, 2008 12:52 PM
Indeed he is a quality player, but couldn't fit him in to my strict budget. And as for Tresco...
Posted by: arth & nod at April 28, 2008 1:50 PM
Yeah Will, we miss you at Benwell Hill. Can we serenade you again with our guitars? Motley Crue...
Posted by: Phillip Dale at May 7, 2008 9:50 PM
What about Mark Dale? He has all the gears...Has been hitting it nicely recently. He also could take a few with his brisk medium pacers? Any thoughts? cheers B.Adger
Post your comment
The Contributors
James Foster was still a student for Durham University when he was called up to the England A squad in 2000-01, before progressing to full
international honours the following winter. However, he broke his arm in the nets early in the 2002 season which allowed Alec Stewart back into the side and he has played just one further Test, at Melbourne in 2002-03. But two strong seasons have put him back in the frame and he was part of the England Lions squad during the 2007-08 winter tour to India. He was appointed
Essex's vice captain in 2007.
Nick Compton, grandson of the legendary Denis, was raised in South Africa before moving to Harrow as a teenager. Like many young South Africans, he excelled at handball sports and, although he took some time to
cement his place, he's been a consistent and elegant batsman at the
top of the order for Middlesex ever since. This winter, instead of
spending it in the gym, he and Graham Napier trekked in the foothills
of Mount Everest to stage the world's highest ever cricket match.
Will Smith was 22 when he sparked Nottinghamshire's interest with a fine 156 for Durham Universities in 2005, and it was enough to earn him a
contract and three games with the county in their Championship-winning
season. A strong opening batsman, he had to wait until 2006 to hit his
maiden first-class hundred following a winter in which he had double
hernia and shoulder operations. He joined Durham in 2007 and has a
range of curious nicknames: Posh Kid, Smudge and Jiggy.
Web Feeds
