England League and Cup Discussion

[wolfberries]

wolfberries Pedagogs
Batting - Top Order 7,308 5,632
Batting - Middle Order 4,904 5,188
Batting - Tail 2,998 3,871
Bowling - Seam 7,328 (8) 6,173 (16)
Bowling - Spin 7,085 (12) 6,800 (4)
Fielding/Keeping 8,526 7,444
Overall 119,334 108,718

Result: wolfberries won by 7 wickets

Decent enough start to the new season, should hopefully be able to avoid relegation this season.

[Atko]

This season I'll break with tradition and report on the T20s - it's not like I've got anything else to do

So, we managed to stay up last season, despite a much weakened side due to promotees buggering off to seniors during the first few weeks. The team has started to climb out of the trough, but our bowling still remains a liability, although has picked up a tad now that form's been reset. Last season, my two weakest bowlers were further hobbled by having ordinary and average form.

Anyhow, todays match -

The Raging Speed Horns vs Vivi
League Youth Twenty20 2.2

Weather Humid
Pitch Dry

RESULT : Vivi won by 35 runs

Match Ratings
The Raging Speed Horns Vivi
Batting - Top Order 5,586 7,762
Batting - Middle Order 5,666 5,244
Batting - Tail 3,875 3,631
Bowling - Seam 5,946 (6) 6,487 (16)
Bowling - Spin 6,666 (14) 5,708 (4)
Fielding/Keeping 7,788 7,903
Overall 112,249 118,282

They decided to bat, scored 162 runs, then bowled us out for 127 - their FOUR rf's doing the main damage with 8 wickets - I guess humid trumps dry, since my slightly better spin attack (with good variation - RWS, LWS, LFS and RFS were fairly toothless (would have been curious to see the game repeated with windy weather).

I don't expect much this season; the primary goal is to stay up, but -

St. Marks Hill Strollers      114,313
Fiery's XI            120,661
The Raging Speed Horns     112,249
Vivi              118,282
Zippys Rainbow Destroyers    109,190
Sledgingshire          127,287
YorkshireTykes         126,432
Bathaloner           111,307

- we're currently 6th on ratings. The volatile nature of youth team ratings over time gives me some hope, and my mob will certainly pick up circa 15k by season end, but getting in the prize money might be challenging

[Atko]

South Hill Slammers vs The Raging Speed Horns
League Twenty20 3.3

Weather Humid
Pitch Crumbling

Playing at The South Hill Slammers' ground today. Senior T20 is where I try to get some xp into the youngsters. Well, at least until the latter stages of the season, by which time we're usually staring down the barrel of relegation. That's when I bring in a few of, or - if the situation's desperate - the full 1st team. Of course, and referencing the discussion above about fielding weakened sides, this can put a crimp in my opponent's plans when my side jumps from 170k to 250k for the last few matches. But, I tend to agree that we play this game to develop our teams in the best way possible, and considering the paucity of xp opportunities for homegrown units' up and coming players, then this is the way it shall be done.

Anyway, the kids are playing today, and - by golly - we're not doing bad. The oppo won the toss and decided to bat -

End of over 5 (8 runs) - South Hill Slammers(34-3) RR 6.80

3 wickets for my rf, Vinnie Saxon, in one over

Blimey - unexpected start - although he is knocking on the door of the senior team, so...

[Atko]

Normal service resumed -

Result: South Hill Slammers won by 84 runs

We got skittled for 50 runs. The batsmen all did poorly, which is going to crimp their form, although the coming MKMC match this Saturday is against a bot, and this lot will be taking the field again, so I'm hoping that will redress the balance.

The numbers -

Match Ratings
South Hill Slammers The Raging Speed Horns
Batting - Top Order 13,418 11,070
Batting - Middle Order 9,437 7,441
Batting - Tail 5,402 5,412
Bowling - Seam 12,361 (8) 11,015 (16)
Bowling - Spin 11,710 (12) 10,839 (4)
Fielding/Keeping 13,882 14,848
Overall 209,125 189,725

Only 20k in it - the kids are improving

Hmmm -

Vivi                   187,594
The Middle Stump Lubricators       195,956
Two Star CC               204,152
Goondiwindi               233,446
marks marvels              206,146
Middlesex Gurus             211,853
South Hill Slammers            209,125
The Raging Speed Horns          189,725

We're not actually bottom of the heap, nor are we grossly adrift - could be a few points to be nicked before bringing in the big guns...

[spark]

Ruff Royals won by 9 runs

Egham Town CC Ruff Royals
Batting - Top Order 14,743 14,513
Batting - Middle Order 12,267 12,296
Batting - Tail 5,383 4,863
Bowling - Seam 14,657 (8) 13,027 (12)
Bowling - Spin 14,088 (12) 14,075 (8)
Fielding/Keeping 17,715 17,637
Overall 248,921 241,973

We're in the bottom two in terms of match ratings but we're within 10k of all but the top rated side Ffoh so it's going to be an interesting battle (in the first instance to avoid relegation but who knows).

I'm happy with the ratings considering I undertook a bit of a cull of the oldest seniors by selling medium allrounder Schneider and elite medium pacer Rush. I retired Seam Specialist Mills despite him still being world class. I also sold Chance Schwartz, who went for a bargain 11k, (especially considering he was an exceptional/exceptional bat with skilled tech, exceptional fielding and capable power at 24 and 9 weeks although experience was only reliable) as I was struggling to give him games. So I've not got anyone over 30 and have significantly cut the wages.

In this game, we struggled with the bat as we crawled our way to 112 on a dry pitch. We were excellent with the ball though, taking two early wickets and then keeping it really tight. Zondeki had the best figures (3-19) and seems determined to show that his fast bowling is going to prove more important than Rush's elite medium pace did.

[casperj]

Crestfallen Sidekicks Bathaloner
Batting - Top Order 13,732 13,696
Batting - Middle Order 12,538 11,674
Batting - Tail 5,769 9,310
Bowling - Seam 13,003 (16) 11,370 (16)
Bowling - Spin 14,678 (4) 13,649 (4)
Fielding/Keeping 16,441 15,713
Overall 238,403 235,682

Bathaloner won by 6 wickets

On the plus side I rated higher than everyone else in the league. On the downside, collapsed from 70-0 after 9 overs to 129 all out, so lost substantially. Second home defeat against the ratings out of two matches this season.

[wolfberries]

Snakey's Kent Stars wolfberries
Batting - Top Order 14,038 14,274
Batting - Middle Order 12,610 11,693
Batting - Tail 6,720 4,572
Bowling - Seam 13,270 (8) 12,403 (20)
Bowling - Spin 13,571 (12) 0 (0)
Fielding/Keeping 16,875 16,880
Overall 244,630 230,245

Result: wolfberries won by 6 wickets

Happy enough with today's win, I think the humid weather counted against our opponents spinners.

[Atko]

The Raging Speed Horns vs South Hill Slammers
League Youth 2.1

Weather Humid
Pitch Dry

Playing the Slammers again this week, after they trounced us in senior T20. Looks like they rate about the same as us here in youths. They won the toss and decided to bat. And it's going swimmingly for them -

End of over 18 (maiden) - South Hill Slammers(88-1) RR 4.89

... I think the humid weather counted against our opponents spinners.

Yeah, I wish the humid weather would eff off - it's not exactly helping my four spinners!

[spark]

R. Colegrave (rfs) 8-1-50-1, H. Verhoeven 12 (12b), J. Vasquez 9 (8b)
End of over 40 (3 runs) - Ruff Royals(168-6) RR 4.20

We really batted slowly on an uneven pitch. Macrow got 56 from 97 ball. Foot was quicker with 64 from 76 but I think we must be at least 40 runs short and probably 60+ short.

[Atko]

End of over 40 (4 runs) - South Hill Slammers(208-3) RR 5.20

Pffft. Think I'll swap back to sticky - the dry pitch has done Fanny Adams for my spinners - the two wristies are accomplished summary and managed 2-83 between them - the rest of the bowling ranges from meh to bleugh, so I need those guys to fire. The Slammers have four seamers who don't look too scary on paper, but this blasted humid weather might tip the balance

[casperj]

End of over 40 (4 runs) - South Hill Slammers(208-3) RR 5.20

Pffft. Think I'll swap back to sticky - the dry pitch has done Fanny Adams for my spinners - the two wristies are accomplished summary and managed 2-83 between them - the rest of the bowling ranges from meh to bleugh, so I need those guys to fire. The Slammers have four seamers who don't look too scary on paper, but this blasted humid weather might tip the balance

In my experience Dry wickets do very little for spinners, unless combined with spin-friendly weather conditions (and even then it's not guaranteed). You'd need to go Crumbling to get a noticeable benefit for spinners

[Atko]

End of over 40 (4 runs) - South Hill Slammers(208-3) RR 5.20

Pffft. Think I'll swap back to sticky - the dry pitch has done Fanny Adams for my spinners - the two wristies are accomplished summary and managed 2-83 between them - the rest of the bowling ranges from meh to bleugh, so I need those guys to fire. The Slammers have four seamers who don't look too scary on paper, but this blasted humid weather might tip the balance

In my experience Dry wickets do very little for spinners, unless combined with spin-friendly weather conditions (and even then it's not guaranteed). You'd need to go Crumbling to get a noticeable benefit for spinners

Yeah, you're probably right - I was trying to generally hobble the oppo's seamers when they visited, on account of only usually bowling 12 overs of seam with my 1 and a 1/2 pacemen - that didn't pan out so well

[Atko]

Ah well, looks like half the plan may have worked - my batsmen look to be bringing it home -

R. Deane (lfm) 5-0-25-1, L. Loveless 49 (52b), R. McSpank 26 (25b)
End of over 34 (6 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(171-4). 38 runs required from 6 overs. RR 5.03 RRR 6.33

[Atko]

Excellent -

R. Deane (lfm) 6.5-0-39-1, L. Loveless 59 (60b), R. McSpank 54 (40b)
End of over 38 (8 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(209-4) RR 5.50

The Raging Speed Horns won by 6 wickets

- after two losses to kick off the season, that is a most welcome win.

Good partnership between McSpank and Loveless to see us over the line.

Match Ratings
The Raging Speed Horns South Hill Slammers
Batting - Top Order 5,699 6,971
Batting - Middle Order 5,805 5,322
Batting - Tail 3,939 3,279
Bowling - Seam 5,989 (12) 5,405 (32)
Bowling - Spin 6,736 (28) 4,993 (8)
Fielding/Keeping 7,837 7,887
Overall 113,907 109,290

Those ratings can only improve, and with no youths going up to seniors this season, the progression should be delightfully steep and smooth

Postscript : Just checked the other teams ratings - looks like The Slammers and ourselves are bottom of the heap

[casperj]

Crestfallen Sidekicks Buffalos
Batting - Top Order 4,908 5,868
Batting - Middle Order 4,887 4,053
Batting - Tail 2,691 3,212
Bowling - Seam 5,430 (24) 5,889 (40)
Bowling - Spin 4,625 (16) 0 (0)
Fielding/Keeping 6,698 5,887
Overall 92,888 96,428

Crestfallen Sidekicks won by 7 runs

First win of the season. As I don't have any youths promoting this year, have an outside chance of promotion if we can snatch a few results like this in the first half of the season. Should be one of the stronger teams once others start to lose players as the season continues,