The cricket thread (incorporating the Ashes)

[firehazard]

So welcome back to the County Championship, beginning today. Essex start today at what will be a freezing Chelmsford against Glaws. A time of fresh hopes and new dreams. Which I'd predict will be rudely shattered by approximately Saturday.

[Welshie]

Glam start at Lecisetershire today, and i do fancy them for some silverware this year. BBC Wales filmed them at the pre season fitness camp in Spain. Must say those boys look fit, Croft at 41 looks very lean! Sadly Harris is out for a month or two, i felt he was knocking on the CBE&W door but we'll have to wait a bit. A proper Welshman in charge with Mark Wallace as skipper, and who knows what Simon Jones can pull out of the bag this year. Lots to look forward to. Also S4C (The Welsh Language Channel) have got quite a few days of cricket this year, so will be able to enjoy a bit more sport from the armchair.
However a cold start but hell Summer can't be far off surely!
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Glam start at Lecisetershire today, and i do fancy them for some silverware this year...

Surprised that Essex were able to acquire Petersen from Glam. Only for a couple of months, but they do need a bit of reliability in the batting department. Don't like this chopping and changing of players during a season, though. Better in the old days when you'd have your overseas player for a whole season and get to know them...

[Welshie]

Glam start at Lecisetershire today, and i do fancy them for some silverware this year...

Surprised that Essex were able to acquire Petersen from Glam. Only for a couple of months, but they do need a bit of reliability in the batting department. Don't like this chopping and changing of players during a season, though. Better in the old days when you'd have your overseas player for a whole season and get to know them...

Totally agree with you FH, it also offers players an opportunity to get into the "team" ethic, Waquir, Kasper and Elliot were great additions to Glamorgan, but also really fitted in well as people and were well liked by the crowd "Waquir is a Welshman" will remain as one of my favourtite crowd chants of all time!
Good luck to Essex this year, they have taken over from Somerset as my 2nd county to support!
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Good luck to Essex this year, they have taken over from Somerset as my 2nd county to support!

Cheers... Essex seem to be starting with the traditional first-innings batting collapse.
Sensational first few overs of the new season for Glam's bowlers, by the look of it!

[Welshie]

Three ducks to start the season!
Not bad.
Cheers
Aled

[soulfinger]

Hard to bear what they're doing to Old Trafford. I know it was a dump....but it's turning into something from Flash Gordon

[Welshie]

And then Glamorgan close the day on 25 -5 bloody great!
Aled

[firehazard]

Hard to bear what they're doing to Old Trafford. I know it was a dump....but it's turning into something from Flash Gordon

And is now responsible for putting a Queen song in my head. Looking forward to a winged Brian Blessed and his hordes flying over the new media centre.

I know what you mean, SF. And the County Ground at Chelmsford is even more of a dump. But the current plans for its development make it look like a Poundland version of Shanghai...

[Welshie]

Glamorgan doing a great job with the bball and the top order batting then collapsing. If i was one of the bowlers i'd ask to bat first, they couldnt do any worse!!!!
AHGGGG!
Rant over.
Aled

[firehazard]

Glamorgan doing a great job with the bball and the top order batting then collapsing. If i was one of the bowlers i'd ask to bat first, they couldnt do any worse!!!!

Your batsmen do seem to be struggling, but I reckon Glam aren't alone in that. Trouble with cricket pitches in April...

[Welshie]

Happened again against Derbyshire, and i really though we may do something at the beginning of the season!
Essex got off to a winning start FH.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Plenty of time yet, Aled... it's very early days, and those April wickets can be tricky.

Yes, a good winning start for Essex in the CC, followed by two weeks off before the next match, thanks to the fixture list, so no chance to keep up any momentum. And I think the next match (Yorks at Headingley) may be a tad more difficult than Glaws at Chelmsford proved to be (sorry, Shaz!).

[Welshie]

Oh i hope so FH! Wickets do seem to have been falling with regularity all over the placec.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Essex off to Wales to play Glam tomorrow. Not sure what the prospects of play in that part of the country are, Aled?
The rain won't stop over here... the match at Chelmsford last week only managed one short session of play out of the four days.