English Youngsters

[hourn]

Just going through the English county stats and looking at a few of the pommie guys who had good seasons. can some of you english fella's tell us how these guys go.


first question i have though, is how can you pick a test team when some players are playing in a division 2 competition against weaker teams. How do you adjust to say, well he's getting runs buts its against division 2 bowlers. if you get what i mean.


but anyway, to some of the Pommie guys doing well this season:
Jamie Troughton - Warwickshire: 1052 runs at 55 from 13 matches. 3 tons 6 50's. born in 1979.

Nick Nights - Warwickshire: 1520 runs at 95.00. 5 tons 5 50's. any chance of a recall? Perhaps maybe it says the standard when he averages 23 in tests.

Rikki Clarke - Surrey: 580 runs at 44.61. 1 ton 5 50's. born in 1981 and had a great start to his career - 711 runs at 50.78 from 11 matches. useful medium pacer as well.

Scott Newman - Surrey: 324 runs at 64.40. 1 ton 1 50. born in 1979. played 3 games (presumadly late in the season) and we're the first 3 of his career. how he's go??

Robin Martin-Jenkins - Sussex: 1008 runs at 42.00 1 ton 5 50's. 41 wkts at 36.02. 2 5inns 0 10mtchs. a bit older, born in '75. useful all rounder, who has been around for a while. career average of 30 (batting) and 31 (bowling).

Martin Saggers - Kent: 79 wkts at 21.54. 6 5inns 0 10mtchs. born in 1972 so he's pretty old, but he's had a great career. nearly 250 FC wkts at 22. Must be reasonably good?? has he ever been talked about for the test team??

Robert Kirtley - Sussex: 50 wkts 23.04. 4 5inns 1 10mtch. born in '74 and has had a pretty good career as well. 403 FC wkts at 24. like Saggers, has he ever been close to a test spot. He's played 1 ODI.

James Anderson - Lancashire: 46 wkts at 20.30. Born in 1982, very young and picked up lots of wicket at a great average. Quick bowler, must have caught the eye of a few people this season?


any of the English lads care to tell us how these guys go and what the future may hold for them in terms of test cricket, and any other guys i didn't pick up.

I didn't go into the division 2 competition at all, these 9 or so players were all from division 1.

 

[dr nick]

is nick nights the same guy as Nick Knight?? if not ive never heard of him

 

[Dipper]

OK firstly to answer the 2 division thing, it hasn't been going long n#wnough & there isn't as yet a transfer system like English football so at the moment it doesn't necassarily mean that the quality is that different, 3 teams get relegated & promoted every year.In time I reckon it will make more of a difference, plus you've still got top quality overseas players in both divisions.

Plus as has been proved county cricket doesn't show who will make the grade at Test level, someone like Crawley averages more at county level than Atherton,Stewart,Thorpe but struggles at Test level whilst Trescothick & Vaughn both average in the 30s but average in the 40s at Test level.

Of the guys you've mentioned I reckon Troughton will make it he's a left hander & looks pretty good, he's related to a former Dr Who (no relevance to his cricketing ability ) he's got a stress fracture at the moment so he wouldn't ahve got picked anyway.

Nick Nights is Nick Knight & he won't ever be a Test player.

Rikki Clarke is an attacking batsman who can also bowl pretty well but he hasn't been used that much as he still has those sort of growing pains that young fast bowlers(he's 20) get but I have high hopes for him.

I don't know Newman & the next 3 i don't believe are up to it but Anderson is over here at the 'England' academy in Adelaide & there was talk of him being called up if the injury problems continued.He's young & last season was his first full season but a lot of people rate him & they reckon he's the quickest about but then they say that about Jones & Harmisson depending on who you beleive but from what I read he could be good.


Other players:

Theres Ian Bell at Warwckshire who is a teamate of Troughton & most people thought he'd get a Test last summer but his form was poor & Troughton outplayed him in the middle order most of the year(plus he's a leftie which helps).

There's no spinners knocking the door down, a few batsmen who seem to do well for a season & then flag whilst someone else comes along, we need to take a punt on someone like we did with Tresco/Vaughn but the pace bowling looks good & gives the most hope for the future(both long & short term)