usalion
22 Apr 2006, 21:09
Good news for Ireland and Scotland to help them get ready for the World Cup by giving them more matches. But it is bad news for the minor counties who will not get to play against the big boys...
I found the highlighted paragraph funny, not from the standpoint of English failure in the one day game, but the decision to give more one day matches...don't they already have a Sunday League, plus the two knock out cups? Not to mention all the ODIs the English squad plays during a year. Hardly see where this will develop a better ODI team.
Here's the article....
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Trophy competition enters new era
Hampshire's Shaun Udal lifted the trophy last summer
After 43 years as a straight knockout competition, the C&G Trophy enters a new era on Sunday.
The 50-overs a side tournament features a new format, with the 18 county sides plus Ireland and Scotland split into North and South conferences.
They will play on a round robin basis, with the two divisional winners going through to the final on 26 August.
"The new group structure this year is sure to intensify the rivalry between teams," said Durham's Paul Collingwood.
Hampshire won the trophy last season, beating Warwickshire by 18 runs at Lord's, and they start their defence against Ireland at Clontarf - one of seven games which will launch this year's competition.
Skipper Shane Warne and England star Kevin Pietersen will not be involved, a fact which the Irish Cricket Union have described as "a major disappointment".
Ireland have recruited Pakistan pair Shahid Afridi and Saqlain Mushtaq as their two permitted overseas players and their addition to a squad which has qualified for next year's World Cup means it is likely they will pick up one or two county scalps along the way.
Whilst the change in format is good news for Ireland and Scotland, who do not play their first game against Warwickshire until 30 April, it is bad news for the Minor Counties, who have lost the chance to take on first-class opposition.
One reason for the change is that it will give players more experience of the 50-overs format, an important move at a time when England struggling in limited overs cricket, having lost in Pakistan and India over the winter.
Last summer Hampshire only had to play five games to win the trophy, this year the two finalists will double that number.
Sunday's opening matches:
ESSEX v GLAMORGAN
Trophy head to head:
Played 4, Essex wins 2, Glamorgan wins 2.
Essex add Grant Flower and Tim Phillips to their squad, Glamorgan will have England paceman Simon Jones in their side as he continues his comeback following knee surgery.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE v MIDDLESEX
Trophy head to head:
Played 4, Gloucs wins 1, Middlesex wins 3.
Gloucestershire, winners four times between 1999 and 2004, are still without overseas signings Shane Bond and Hamish Marshall. Johann Louw and Chris Silverwood feature in a strong Middlesex seam attack.
IRELAND v HAMPSHIRE
Trophy head to head: 1st meeting
Ireland must manage without Shahid Afridi, who will not arrive in time after a trip home to Pakistan because his daughter is ill. England seamer Chris Tremlett could make his seasonal debut for the visitors.
KENT v SOMERSET
Trophy head to head:
Played 9, Kent wins 3, Somerset wins 6
South Africans Andrew Hall and Justin Kemp are absent from the Kent side. Somerset are looking to bounce back from an innings defeat by Gloucestershire in the Championship and bring in veteran all-rounder Keith Parsons.
LANCASHIRE v LEICESTERSHIRE
Trophy head to head:
Played 3, Lancashire wins 2, Leics wins 1.
Lancashire may include paceman Sajid Mahmood, who returned from England's one-day series in India earlier this week. Pakistan's Mohammad Asif will play his first game for the Foxes.
NOTTS v WORCESTERSHIRE
Trophy head to head:
Played 9, Notts wins 4, Worcs wins 5.
New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns plays the first of three games for Notts as a temporary replacement for Stephen Fleming. Worcestershire will include India's Zaheer Khan, who took 18 wickets during the last World Cup.
YORKSHIRE v DERBYSHIRE
Trophy head to head:
Played 1, Yorkshire wins 1, Derbyshire wins 0
Australian paceman Jason Gillespie is set for his first Yorkshire appearance, just days after his astonishing double century against Bangladesh. He will face compatriot Travis Birt, who marked his Derbyshire debut with 99 against Surrey.
I found the highlighted paragraph funny, not from the standpoint of English failure in the one day game, but the decision to give more one day matches...don't they already have a Sunday League, plus the two knock out cups? Not to mention all the ODIs the English squad plays during a year. Hardly see where this will develop a better ODI team.
Here's the article....
***************************
Trophy competition enters new era
Hampshire's Shaun Udal lifted the trophy last summer
After 43 years as a straight knockout competition, the C&G Trophy enters a new era on Sunday.
The 50-overs a side tournament features a new format, with the 18 county sides plus Ireland and Scotland split into North and South conferences.
They will play on a round robin basis, with the two divisional winners going through to the final on 26 August.
"The new group structure this year is sure to intensify the rivalry between teams," said Durham's Paul Collingwood.
Hampshire won the trophy last season, beating Warwickshire by 18 runs at Lord's, and they start their defence against Ireland at Clontarf - one of seven games which will launch this year's competition.
Skipper Shane Warne and England star Kevin Pietersen will not be involved, a fact which the Irish Cricket Union have described as "a major disappointment".
Ireland have recruited Pakistan pair Shahid Afridi and Saqlain Mushtaq as their two permitted overseas players and their addition to a squad which has qualified for next year's World Cup means it is likely they will pick up one or two county scalps along the way.
Whilst the change in format is good news for Ireland and Scotland, who do not play their first game against Warwickshire until 30 April, it is bad news for the Minor Counties, who have lost the chance to take on first-class opposition.
One reason for the change is that it will give players more experience of the 50-overs format, an important move at a time when England struggling in limited overs cricket, having lost in Pakistan and India over the winter.
Last summer Hampshire only had to play five games to win the trophy, this year the two finalists will double that number.
Sunday's opening matches:
ESSEX v GLAMORGAN
Trophy head to head:
Played 4, Essex wins 2, Glamorgan wins 2.
Essex add Grant Flower and Tim Phillips to their squad, Glamorgan will have England paceman Simon Jones in their side as he continues his comeback following knee surgery.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE v MIDDLESEX
Trophy head to head:
Played 4, Gloucs wins 1, Middlesex wins 3.
Gloucestershire, winners four times between 1999 and 2004, are still without overseas signings Shane Bond and Hamish Marshall. Johann Louw and Chris Silverwood feature in a strong Middlesex seam attack.
IRELAND v HAMPSHIRE
Trophy head to head: 1st meeting
Ireland must manage without Shahid Afridi, who will not arrive in time after a trip home to Pakistan because his daughter is ill. England seamer Chris Tremlett could make his seasonal debut for the visitors.
KENT v SOMERSET
Trophy head to head:
Played 9, Kent wins 3, Somerset wins 6
South Africans Andrew Hall and Justin Kemp are absent from the Kent side. Somerset are looking to bounce back from an innings defeat by Gloucestershire in the Championship and bring in veteran all-rounder Keith Parsons.
LANCASHIRE v LEICESTERSHIRE
Trophy head to head:
Played 3, Lancashire wins 2, Leics wins 1.
Lancashire may include paceman Sajid Mahmood, who returned from England's one-day series in India earlier this week. Pakistan's Mohammad Asif will play his first game for the Foxes.
NOTTS v WORCESTERSHIRE
Trophy head to head:
Played 9, Notts wins 4, Worcs wins 5.
New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns plays the first of three games for Notts as a temporary replacement for Stephen Fleming. Worcestershire will include India's Zaheer Khan, who took 18 wickets during the last World Cup.
YORKSHIRE v DERBYSHIRE
Trophy head to head:
Played 1, Yorkshire wins 1, Derbyshire wins 0
Australian paceman Jason Gillespie is set for his first Yorkshire appearance, just days after his astonishing double century against Bangladesh. He will face compatriot Travis Birt, who marked his Derbyshire debut with 99 against Surrey.