Geoffrey Bunting is back with a lovely piece that makes the case for Sam Northeast. Is there room in England’s test team for a more experienced player who has done the hard yards on the county circuit? Joe Clarke is poised on ninety-seven – on the verge of twin hundreds in his first game for Nottinghamshire – when his captain, Steven Mullaney, robs him with an overnight declaration. At the time, it’s a wise call, giving the team as much time as possible to bowl an ailing Yorkshire out on...
County Preview: Essex
Here’s new writer Tasneem-Summer Khan (who some of you might know from Guerilla Cricket) with her preview of Essex’s season. Can the 2017 Champions reclaim their title? Good to have you onboard, Tasneem. Promoted into Division 1 in 2017, going on to win the title in their first year, Essex were the only thorn in Surrey’s side in the 2018 season, preventing the Champions from having an unbeaten run to mirror their own triumph only the year before. The match up between the previous...
County Preview: Worcestershire
I had very mixed emotions at the end of the 2018 season. Winning the T20 Blast for the very first time was absolutely superb. It brought back memories of our glory days in the 1980s when trophies flowed like wine at a wedding. But our subsequent relegation to division two, and Joe Clarke’s decision to jump ship at the first opportunity – it was the first time his contract was up since becoming established in the first team – were two very bitter pills to swallow. And all this while the Alex...
Seven Young English Batsmen (Who Will Definitely Save Our Test Team)
You know it. I know it. I’m still not sure if they know it, but England just aren’t very good at batting. We’ve picked young English batsmen based on form, picked based on averages, but none of the county players who have been called up really cut the mustard. Most of us can agree on what the perfect first-class batsman looks like. Yes they need the technique to combat the best bowlers, but that alone is not enough. They also need adaptability to changing conditions, and the skill to deal with...
County Preview: Kent
Today Marco previews Kent’s season. Can they avoid relegation whilst making the same excellent progress in white ball competitions? If you’d like to write something about the county you support – either a preview or just an update as the season progresses – please feel free to email james@thefulltoss.com. I’d love to do more of this kind of thing. “There was all of summer in a stroke from Woolley,” it says on a sign on the back of the stand that bears his name and...
Championship Roundup – Joe Clarke shines, Ryan ten Doeschate Does A Nasser
Championship cricket in April usually means one thing: ball dominates bat. The fielding captain tosses the ball to Darren Stevens (or a Darren Stevens clone) and the pitch does the rest. “Use the facilities” is the cry behind the wicket as the prototypical English seamer ambles to the crease with seven slips and two gullies in position. But it was a very different story at Nottingham this week. It turned into an early season run fest with Joe Clarke, a young man who can’t seem...
