The Secret of Success in the County Championship

[Kev]

What's the secret of success in the county championship for 2008? Is it an emerging young talent like Jordan at Surrey? Is it a batsman who gets runs in abundance like Ramps? Is it a scary paceman like Harmison? Is it a team of all rounders like Kent have? Is it just a good allround team like Durham have? No. Its a world class Spinner like Warne, Murali or Mushy. Its no surprise that the top teams for 2007 all had one, Durham being the only exception (they've got there by playing agressive cricket, they've lost as many matches as the teams at the bottom of the league but haven't drawn many matches). With only 1 oversea's player being allowed next year (I dont know if its 1 for the whole season or if you can replace the player) a world class spinner will be even more important next season. Yes snorting pace bowlers can win you matches on many occasions but its so useful to have someone like Warne or Mushy tieing up one end and taking wickets to boot, allowing you to keep your seamers fresh at the other end. With Warne and Mushy staying with their respective clubs (I dont know Murali's situation, but for the sake of argument let's say he's staying where he is) who would you sign as your overseas's player for next year? It's a tough choice, do you go for a full blooded international and just live with the fact he's going to be away for a large proportion of games? Do you opt for someone just on the edge of their international squad? Do you sign a relative unknown (in England at least)? Do you go for a Seamer for the first half of the season and then a spinner for the second? Or do you think I'm talking rubbish and go for a batsman? So come on, who's available and who would you want?

 

[Sureshot]

I love how you slide Kent into the mix with the real title contenders, Kev!

I think this season's CC has been excellent, 3 very good teams (Yorkshire came quite close too). I think you have to have at least 2 very solid and consistent batsman, a spinner is a great help though not vital (Durham) and a good opening bowling partnership. We've been fortunate this year with the form of RMJ, who's taken 36 wickets at 21 and got a few hundred runs at about mid 30s. We've had 3 batsman score over 300 wickets and I think Mushy has taken 90 odd wickets.

http://stats.cricinfo.com/countycri...er.html?class=4;id=2007;team=1422;type=season

http://stats.cricinfo.com/countycri...er.html?class=4;id=2007;team=1422;type=season

Only 13 hundreds this season.

Lancs:

http://stats.cricinfo.com/countycri...er.html?class=4;id=2007;team=1167;type=season

Only 2 batsman past the 1,000 run mark and the next highest (Chilton) only score 600.

http://stats.cricinfo.com/countycri...er.html?class=4;id=2007;team=1167;type=season

Chapple and Murali have been excellent, no one else averages under 30.

Durham -

http://stats.cricinfo.com/countycri...eer.html?class=4;id=2007;team=975;type=season

Yeh, Di Venuto and Benkenstein (Neither England eligible btw) have done well, only Coetzer and Shiv average over 30 aswell though.

http://stats.cricinfo.com/countycri...eer.html?class=4;id=2007;team=975;type=season

Impressive bowling stats, with 6 bowlers taking over 10 wickets, only Onions averages over 30. Gibson has been stunning, 3 10 wicket hauls.

So to sum up I think you have to have balance in all areas. No use having great bowlers if your batsman are poor, or vice versa. I know I'm biassed but I think we have the best balance....

 

[evertonfan]

I think you need to have the best of the weather!

Good young talent is a must. Just look at Lancs.

 

[Almost_Austwick]

It has to be a combination of things not just the mix of the team but luck and the behind the scenes support.

For the ideal team I feel you need 2 batsman to score over a 1000 runs, a competent keeper who can chip in with a few, a semi-decent all rounder (or even a Gibson or RMJ), a main strike bowler and that all important spinner. Basically, as SS said, its all about having a balanced team and all players have to be able to chip in at some point during the season.

A good side will be able to mix experience with youthful enthusiasm as well as a good background team and support.

You also need luck with the weather, pitch conditions and not losing too many players to international duties.

 

[Kev]

I love how you slide Kent into the mix with the real title contenders, Kev!

I never suggested that Kent were championship material, infact just the opposite (I also used 2 Surrey examples if you looked)

Of course you need a balanced side, but there's no denying it, if you didn't have Mushy you wouldn't have won the championship. There are loads of sides out there with a good balance but having Mushy gave you that edge that sides like Kent didn't have. We had 2 batsmen who scored over 1000 CCh runs, we had a keeper who contributed with the bat a fair bit this season, we had some damn fine allrounders (McLaren definitely my Kent player of the season), what we didn't have was someone who you could stick on to bowl and take big wickets and lots of them.

Matt - Young talent is important but I can't remember the last time a young player was instrumental in winning matches.

Yes you need balance, you need a bit of luck, you need good weather, you need a good team work ethic, etc, etc, etc but to rise above everyone else you need 1 match winner.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Spinners are doing well currently, but a strong medium pacer capable of bowling long spells would do just as well. Stick a green pitch, overcast conditions, and you've got one end set.
But since those are rare and quality spinners aren't, spinners are the way to go.

 

[Sureshot]

I never suggested that Kent were championship material, infact just the opposite (I also used 2 Surrey examples if you looked)

Of course you need a balanced side, but there's no denying it, if you didn't have Mushy you wouldn't have won the championship. There are loads of sides out there with a good balance but having Mushy gave you that edge that sides like Kent didn't have. We had 2 batsmen who scored over 1000 CCh runs, we had a keeper who contributed with the bat a fair bit this season, we had some damn fine allrounders (McLaren definitely my Kent player of the season), what we didn't have was someone who you could stick on to bowl and take big wickets and lots of them.

and...

Likewise with Lancs when they had Murali, of course Murali>Mushy, how many of the 8 games he played did Lancs win?

Mushy is a huge player for us, also something not mentioned is the captain. I personally think Grizzly is the best in the county circuit, captain's are huge to succesful teams. Maybe Chilts isn't quite good enough?

 

[Kev]

and...

My point was to get people to suggest cracking potential overseas signings

 

[King Pietersen]

Di Venuto
Tresco
Key
Ramprakash
C. Adams
Prior/Mustard
Rashid
Warne
Gibson
Caddick
J.Anderson

I feel that this provides a near perfect balance. You have the high scoring batsmen, with Trecothick, Di Venuto, Key, Ramprakash, an influencal leader in Adams, a top keeper in either Prior or Mustard, 2 spinning all-rounders, the 2 wicket taking medium-fasts and the explosive and ever improving James Anderson. I feel that that would be a pretty safe bet for a top side next year.

 

[Sureshot]

How can you leave out Mushy? He's had a better season than Warne. Anderson? Didn't do a mass amount at Lancs this season, maybe Rana?

 

[King Pietersen]

Anderson didnt do much for Lancs but was one of the better bowlers of the summer imo. In the games that he did play for Lancs he bowled very well, bowled long wicket taking spells and always looked dangerous. As for the Warne-Mushy-Murali comparison, i went for Warne, mainly for his wicket-taking abilities but also for his leadership, batting and slip catching. I feel that Warne provides the best balance for the side. I'm happy with the team.

 

[sd92]

I think Lancs will do well next year. They have a good side, with some nice youth talent. Surrey too. Jordan is looking smart, and Ramps will be awesome as usual and get his 100th first class century pretty early on.

 

[RoboRocks]

I'm going to make an article soon about the young players in the county championship and whether they can go on to play for England.

 

[King Pietersen]

Gonna be one long article, some cracking youngsters in the CC:
- Denly
- Wright
- Godleman
- Rashid
- Wainwright
- Jordan

Gonna be one cracking list. England definetly have a top top future.