The Googly

Cricket Snapshot: The next big thing?

Billy Godleman flicks into the leg side (wearing a very silly jumper)

Grass roots cricket is the place to be

This is my farewell piece here for the Googly and it's hard to know where to begin or what to write.  With only one piece left, I wondered whether to continue with the off-stage antics of Shane Warne - thinking the tram-crash fest in Melbourne last week - or whether to write about something closer to home.

I've chosen home because I'm sure you all know about the other thing! So last weekend I went to our season opener. A triangualar tournament of Twenty/20s between Lossie, Elgin and Fochabers. What a day to open the cricket season. Minus about 10, no-one there but me and the prettiest ground in the north-east looking dreadful because all the trees are still in full winter mode.

A ground that delights in being situated beside the Spey and lined on all sides by lovely trees was left looking like a 12 year-old's football playground at the side of the A96!

It didn't matter - my team hammered the opposition to win their matches and to my surprise, enchanted with some damn fine cricket. The match I'd been to before this had been Australia v India at the MCG. Sitting in the sun there, I had been entranced at the sight of Ishant Sharma befooling the Aussies with his magnificant bowling, and equally been impressed by Gilchrist walking when palpably not out. Last weekend, everyone out walked before the umpires even gave them out. It was cricket as I know it.

There could be no greater contrast between freezing to death at Fochabers, and having to leave the MCG because it was too hot. Amateurs playing for nothing but the love of the game - professionals earning their livings, but there was something that made these two experiences the same. I was the fan at both matches. I cared. In fact I probably applauded my mate Dave with more enthusiasm when he got a wicket than I did Ishant.

This may be the end of The Googly, but it won't be the end of fans wanting to have a voice.

It's been great fun being part of this and I hope all readers will find their way to other sites. Here at The Googly we have directed readers to check out many up and coming England cricketers - so follow our stars. Last year Toots and I brought you all the news of the County Cricket and hopefully you enjoyed that. Keep the faith. County Cricket is not dead. Outside the Counties, not just here in Scotland, cricket is a fine place to be. See this little song from someone in Oxford:

If you go down to the Parks tomorrow, you’re sure of a big surprise,

If you go down to the Parks tomorrow, you’d better go down in whites,

For ev’ry fan that ever there was, will gather there for certain, because

Tomorrow’s the day the Oxford UCCE play Nottinghamshire

Ev’ry cricket fan who’s been good, Is sure to see 3

England

players,

Including a leading wicket taker, and lots of runs beside

Beneath the spires where nobody works, they’ll bat and field as long as they please,

Cos that the way the cricketers have their innings.

All the best to my readers. Follow the links and you'll find me elsewhere.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig}

Cricket Snapshot: The glorious British Spring..

Really cheers you up, does it not?

Cricket Snapshot: The youngster

Lancashire's young prospect Oliver Newby displays a unique delivery stride.  It didn't really help though as Surrey reached 537-5 at a packed Oval (!), with centuries for Ramps, Butcher and Usman.

Somerset will win everything

So says Andrew Caddick, but that's not really why his words have caught the ear today. Never one to miss an opportunity, Caddick has weighed into the Harmison debate with his incisive review of Steve's recent performances in New Zealand.

"The standard he is playing right now, he is not viable in the side."

Caddick, of course, is not the only one to have doubts about Harmison's form - Michael Vaughan recently revealed that he had doubts before and during the tour of New Zealand, and the BBC's Jonathan Agnew expressed his fears some while back.

What makes Caddick's comments in an interview today of interest, is that is not often that we hear such naked bitterness. "He took over my spot ... He frustrates me ... I didn't get a chance to retire ... I was told I wasn't going to play again [for England]." Examples of how deep the hurt went in 2003.

Caddick was never an easy cricketer to enjoy - when playing for England he could be incredibly destructive on one day and then come out as a journeyman club bowler next time. Described again and again in his international career by journalists, coaches and fans as "frustrating", there is an irony in his choice of this word when speaking of Steve Harmison.

While I realise that by writing this piece I am giving Mr Caddick the oxygen of publicity for his views, I think it's a shame that he used his interview to spend time talking about Steve Harmison when he could well have taken the chance to give Somerset a resoundingly positive send-off for the season.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

The continuing adventures of Shane Warne

Not so very long ago, The Googly's Australian correspondent reported on Shane Warne's decision to spend his precious time not with Hampshire (to whom he was contracted and had PROMISED to return to this summer), but earning a few much needed dollars playing for the IPL and of course the poker.

While musing on Shane's betrayal of his Hampshire fans, I stumbled (thanks to a message from a much-respected Australian cricket writer who I couldn't possibly name, because then I'd have to kill you all!), on a show that said journalist had just been to see in Melbourne. Yes! Shane Warne: The Musical.

Now, while this might sound fairly mad, I found it utterly believable having been in Melbourne just a few short weeks ago and found a show on called "Paul Keating: The Musical". On investigation I find that this Warne show has been in the making for several years. Its instigator, Eddie Perfect (the man behind "Paul Keating"), felt that Shane's extra-curricular activities were just the thing for a comedy musical. Well, it's hard to argue with that. Text messages of a lewd nature obviously lend themselves to song and dance.

Eddie said about the show before it opened: "The musical is about the big issues of success and failure, the pressure of public scrutiny, over-indulgence, being an Australian male and the heartbreak that comes with falling short of getting everything one wants."

Australian playwright Toby Schmitz has co-written the script and Mr Perfect has bagged the role of Shane for himself.

We have no inside information on what Shane thinks of this extravaganza, but according to my Aussie journalist friend, it was FAB and will be heading to this year's Edinburgh Festival. YES!! No Warnie at The Rosebowl but great laughs to be had in Scotland.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Can you hit a cricket ball hard? Then Glamorgan want you..

Glamorgan are not only looking for an overseas player for this coming season, they are looking for one that can knock the skin off the ball.  Having had their approach for Adam Gilchrist rebuffed last week, the men with the money in Cardiff are now chasing Shahid “37 ball century“ Afridi.

Glamorgan cricket manager Matthew Maynard revealed: “We want a top-class player who will win us matches and also drag people through the gate and Afridi is someone who fits the bill.”

How I wish that were taken literally.  I would love to see Shahid, all wild-eyed and bearded, grabbing people as they walk down Cathedral Road and dragging them into Sophia Gardens before walking to the crease and tonking the ball into the RiverTaff.

John "I like money" Emburey leaves Middlesex

After a one-county career that has lasted for something like 57 years, 124-year-old John Emburey has finally left Middlesex.  Apparently he wasn't happy with the Director of Cricket role at the club as it involved too much paparwork and not enough opportunity to breach international sporting protocol to line his own pockets.  And hands on coaching as well.

The great Apartheid denier said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time here, but I want to continue my career in a direct coaching role. I believe I leave the club in great shape and look forward to the club’s success in the future”. 

[Image: Getty]

My Cricket Year: mimitig

Player of the Year: Mahela Jayawardene (pictured right with definitely not PotY Michael Vaughan), not only captained Sri Lanka brilliantly in the recent Test series but was also nominated for the ICC awards as Captain of the Year. He lost out to Ricky Ponting, but he's my favourite (as Brucie would say).

Champagne Moment: cheating a bit but I have two. The first being Paul Collingwood raising the Commonwealth Bank Series Trophy after an absolutely horrendous tour downunder for the England team, and the second being Somerset's promotion to Division One. They (both teams) earned it.

Worst Moment: in the larger picture, it can't be anything other than Bob Woolmer's death. Domestically, the realisation that Fred Flintoff's best days are over was pretty tough.

One to watch in 2008: Glamorgan's James Harris proved that not only can teenage dreams come true, but that there is life in Glamorgan post Simon Jones. Harris hit the headlines when he took 13 wickets against Gloucestershire at Bristol - in just his second game for the first XI. He's been in Chennai with the Academy and is due to fly out to Sri Lanka with England Under 19s next month. Not bad for a boy who hasn't done his A-Levels yet.

If I could change one thing about the game in 2008: no more Malcolm Speed at the ICC, and not replaced by another lawyer.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Ian Bell is still my hero

With less than 24 hours to go before our brave boys fly back out to Sri Lanka for the Test tour, I felt it was time, again, to nail my colours to the mast and publicly declare that Ian Bell will be our top scorer. I gather from my readings that the Boy is relishing the opportunity to bat at three - his favoured position, and of course he enters this series off the back of being top-scorer in the NatWest Series against India.

Bell has always had his critics alongside his fans. He is routinely described as "little Ian", which I think is a tad unfair as he does stand 5 ft 10 in his stocking feet. Admittedly he is a strawberry blond (with highlights, sometimes) and as such is mocked as "ginger-haired". Neither of these remarks about his appearance bear any relation to his ability as a world-class batsman. He has even been mocked for saying that he aspires to bat like Ricky Ponting. Well, I said it before and I'll say it again, what on earth is wrong with aiming to equal the best in the world?

It sometimes seems that Ian has been around for a very long time - after all Dayle Hadlee did describe him as "the best 16-year old I've ever seen" back in the 1990s and Ian made his debut for England when drafted into the side in New Zealand during the 2001-02 tour. In those early days, he was often compared to Michael Atherton - not just for the expectations that were heaped on his shoulders but also because he seemed to have the mental strength to survive in the piranha-pool of Test cricket. His reputation took a battering as the Australian greats Warne and McGrath reduced him to just 171 in 10 innings, but they did that to lots of batsmen.

For all that Ian has been around the international scene for nigh on six years now, it would behove critics to remember that he only celebrated his 25th birthday in April this year. I may object to descriptions of him as "little Ian", but for sure "young Ian" is apt and one would be wise to recall that the Australian giants who pulverised him had more than a decade of age on this talented and exceptional striker of the ball.

Despite being dropped by his own club - Warwickshire - during the summer, Ian ended the season in fine spirits and heads off to Sri Lanka with stats of 2035 runs from 30 Tests (average 42.39) and couldn't be more confident.

In other matters, I, like all readers of this site I'm sure, abhor the detention of Imran Khan, currently under house arrest in Pakistan.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Cricket Snapshot: The glorious British Spring..

Really cheers you up, does it not?

Cricket Snapshot: The youngster

Lancashire's young prospect Oliver Newby displays a unique delivery stride.  It didn't really help though as Surrey reached 537-5 at a packed Oval (!), with centuries for Ramps, Butcher and Usman.

Somerset will win everything

So says Andrew Caddick, but that's not really why his words have caught the ear today. Never one to miss an opportunity, Caddick has weighed into the Harmison debate with his incisive review of Steve's recent performances in New Zealand.

"The standard he is playing right now, he is not viable in the side."

Caddick, of course, is not the only one to have doubts about Harmison's form - Michael Vaughan recently revealed that he had doubts before and during the tour of New Zealand, and the BBC's Jonathan Agnew expressed his fears some while back.

What makes Caddick's comments in an interview today of interest, is that is not often that we hear such naked bitterness. "He took over my spot ... He frustrates me ... I didn't get a chance to retire ... I was told I wasn't going to play again [for England]." Examples of how deep the hurt went in 2003.

Caddick was never an easy cricketer to enjoy - when playing for England he could be incredibly destructive on one day and then come out as a journeyman club bowler next time. Described again and again in his international career by journalists, coaches and fans as "frustrating", there is an irony in his choice of this word when speaking of Steve Harmison.

While I realise that by writing this piece I am giving Mr Caddick the oxygen of publicity for his views, I think it's a shame that he used his interview to spend time talking about Steve Harmison when he could well have taken the chance to give Somerset a resoundingly positive send-off for the season.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

The continuing adventures of Shane Warne

Not so very long ago, The Googly's Australian correspondent reported on Shane Warne's decision to spend his precious time not with Hampshire (to whom he was contracted and had PROMISED to return to this summer), but earning a few much needed dollars playing for the IPL and of course the poker.

While musing on Shane's betrayal of his Hampshire fans, I stumbled (thanks to a message from a much-respected Australian cricket writer who I couldn't possibly name, because then I'd have to kill you all!), on a show that said journalist had just been to see in Melbourne. Yes! Shane Warne: The Musical.

Now, while this might sound fairly mad, I found it utterly believable having been in Melbourne just a few short weeks ago and found a show on called "Paul Keating: The Musical". On investigation I find that this Warne show has been in the making for several years. Its instigator, Eddie Perfect (the man behind "Paul Keating"), felt that Shane's extra-curricular activities were just the thing for a comedy musical. Well, it's hard to argue with that. Text messages of a lewd nature obviously lend themselves to song and dance.

Eddie said about the show before it opened: "The musical is about the big issues of success and failure, the pressure of public scrutiny, over-indulgence, being an Australian male and the heartbreak that comes with falling short of getting everything one wants."

Australian playwright Toby Schmitz has co-written the script and Mr Perfect has bagged the role of Shane for himself.

We have no inside information on what Shane thinks of this extravaganza, but according to my Aussie journalist friend, it was FAB and will be heading to this year's Edinburgh Festival. YES!! No Warnie at The Rosebowl but great laughs to be had in Scotland.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Can you hit a cricket ball hard? Then Glamorgan want you..

Glamorgan are not only looking for an overseas player for this coming season, they are looking for one that can knock the skin off the ball.  Having had their approach for Adam Gilchrist rebuffed last week, the men with the money in Cardiff are now chasing Shahid “37 ball century“ Afridi.

Glamorgan cricket manager Matthew Maynard revealed: “We want a top-class player who will win us matches and also drag people through the gate and Afridi is someone who fits the bill.”

How I wish that were taken literally.  I would love to see Shahid, all wild-eyed and bearded, grabbing people as they walk down Cathedral Road and dragging them into Sophia Gardens before walking to the crease and tonking the ball into the RiverTaff.

John "I like money" Emburey leaves Middlesex

After a one-county career that has lasted for something like 57 years, 124-year-old John Emburey has finally left Middlesex.  Apparently he wasn't happy with the Director of Cricket role at the club as it involved too much paparwork and not enough opportunity to breach international sporting protocol to line his own pockets.  And hands on coaching as well.

The great Apartheid denier said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time here, but I want to continue my career in a direct coaching role. I believe I leave the club in great shape and look forward to the club’s success in the future”. 

[Image: Getty]

My Cricket Year: mimitig

Player of the Year: Mahela Jayawardene (pictured right with definitely not PotY Michael Vaughan), not only captained Sri Lanka brilliantly in the recent Test series but was also nominated for the ICC awards as Captain of the Year. He lost out to Ricky Ponting, but he's my favourite (as Brucie would say).

Champagne Moment: cheating a bit but I have two. The first being Paul Collingwood raising the Commonwealth Bank Series Trophy after an absolutely horrendous tour downunder for the England team, and the second being Somerset's promotion to Division One. They (both teams) earned it.

Worst Moment: in the larger picture, it can't be anything other than Bob Woolmer's death. Domestically, the realisation that Fred Flintoff's best days are over was pretty tough.

One to watch in 2008: Glamorgan's James Harris proved that not only can teenage dreams come true, but that there is life in Glamorgan post Simon Jones. Harris hit the headlines when he took 13 wickets against Gloucestershire at Bristol - in just his second game for the first XI. He's been in Chennai with the Academy and is due to fly out to Sri Lanka with England Under 19s next month. Not bad for a boy who hasn't done his A-Levels yet.

If I could change one thing about the game in 2008: no more Malcolm Speed at the ICC, and not replaced by another lawyer.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Ian Bell is still my hero

With less than 24 hours to go before our brave boys fly back out to Sri Lanka for the Test tour, I felt it was time, again, to nail my colours to the mast and publicly declare that Ian Bell will be our top scorer. I gather from my readings that the Boy is relishing the opportunity to bat at three - his favoured position, and of course he enters this series off the back of being top-scorer in the NatWest Series against India.

Bell has always had his critics alongside his fans. He is routinely described as "little Ian", which I think is a tad unfair as he does stand 5 ft 10 in his stocking feet. Admittedly he is a strawberry blond (with highlights, sometimes) and as such is mocked as "ginger-haired". Neither of these remarks about his appearance bear any relation to his ability as a world-class batsman. He has even been mocked for saying that he aspires to bat like Ricky Ponting. Well, I said it before and I'll say it again, what on earth is wrong with aiming to equal the best in the world?

It sometimes seems that Ian has been around for a very long time - after all Dayle Hadlee did describe him as "the best 16-year old I've ever seen" back in the 1990s and Ian made his debut for England when drafted into the side in New Zealand during the 2001-02 tour. In those early days, he was often compared to Michael Atherton - not just for the expectations that were heaped on his shoulders but also because he seemed to have the mental strength to survive in the piranha-pool of Test cricket. His reputation took a battering as the Australian greats Warne and McGrath reduced him to just 171 in 10 innings, but they did that to lots of batsmen.

For all that Ian has been around the international scene for nigh on six years now, it would behove critics to remember that he only celebrated his 25th birthday in April this year. I may object to descriptions of him as "little Ian", but for sure "young Ian" is apt and one would be wise to recall that the Australian giants who pulverised him had more than a decade of age on this talented and exceptional striker of the ball.

Despite being dropped by his own club - Warwickshire - during the summer, Ian ended the season in fine spirits and heads off to Sri Lanka with stats of 2035 runs from 30 Tests (average 42.39) and couldn't be more confident.

In other matters, I, like all readers of this site I'm sure, abhor the detention of Imran Khan, currently under house arrest in Pakistan.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Performance of the Day: Ian Bell

There are many who think that Ian Bell can only turn it on when it doesn't really matter. I have never been one of those who doubt the Boy. A rough trot earlier this summer saw him not only not selected for England's ICC Twenty20 Tournament campaign (a triumph,not) but also left out of his own Warwickshire side.

Picked to join England's tour of Sri Lanka, Ian answered his critics with his bat. 131 not out in the first match with 12 fours and four sixes, he was in commanding form. He will never be the imposing physical presence at the crease of such as the muscular Australian Matthew Hayden and as long as he peppers his post-match interviews with "I'm sorry", I doubt the world's best bowlers will fear him.

However, for all his meekness, I do think his performances tell a different story. Ian is coming of age, and stuff the lot of you, Ian is a force to be reckoned with.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig}

Phil is keen as Mustard

I know, I know. That's the cheesiest headline I've written since "Snape's on a plane" but at least I didn't fall for the cutting it joke (it has been done elsewhere, believe me). But there are some serious points to be made about Phil Mustard's selection for the current England One-day side touring Sri Lanka. It's a well-known fact that England have struggled to find a wicket-keeper over the past few years, let alone a keeper/batsman and while Mustard's first showing for his country today did not set the world alight (17 with the bat and two catches), it was by no means a disaster. Until the tour is played out, we won't know whether a certain Australian has called it correctly in naming Phil as "a class act, the best wicket-keeper/batsman in England".

Mustard is a north-easterner - born in Sunderland, cut from the same cloth as his captain Paul Collingwood. Nearly 25 years-old, this is the first time he has had the opportunity of representing his country at senior international level although he did play for England Under-19s. His first-class career has been with Durham and this season he scored nearly 1000 runs. Why he zoomed so quickly into the picture was a lot to do with his performances in the Pro40 (409 runs at an average of 58.42) and the Friends Provident Trophy where he averaged 43.50. And this is where my favourite Australian comes into the picture. Durham went to Lord's to play Hampshire. Warne had earlier said that Phil was a pretty good player and compared him to Adam Gilchrist, and his exact words were:

"He has the same high grip, hits the ball from backward point to widish mid-off, plays the short ball pretty well and has that effective shot to cow corner."

Phil said: " I've got my own style and if people want to call me the next Adam Gilchrist then that's fine. But me, personally, I just go out there and do my own thing."

I don't think Mustard will be overwhelmed by this first call-up to the England side. I think he knows what he's getting into, and England could be the huge winners here, finding a skilled and non-gobby man with the gloves.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Andrew Strauss: where to from here?

Back in the dim and distant past, when we were all happy children playing, some of us stick cricket in the backyard, others, playing cattie and doggie with sharpened sticks trying to take out the streetlights, young Andrew Strauss was a name to be mentioned in hushed tones of admiration. Or perhaps I should say, two years ago (when we were all way past playground games), Straussy was England's double centurion in the Ashes and FEC was written all over him. Golden boy, captain elect, a sunny media-friendly chap. His future was looking so good.

So what the hell has happened? The triumph of the 2005 Ashes left all thinking that talented Radley schoolboy and Middlesex star Strauss had come of age. He was ready for the next step - yes, with the loss of Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff through injury in 2006, Strauss stood up. Humiliated by Sri Lanka, he led the team to victory over Pakistan.

But then captaincy was given back to Flintoff as the England team went Downunder. Strauss performed badly with the bat and was dropped. He was sent back to his county and for this fan, there were echoes from an non-cricketing world.

In 1981 a politician, David Steel, then leader of the UK's Liberal Party spoke at Conference and left words that ring in our ears now: "Go back to your constituencies and prepare for government." That is just about what the ECB said to Andrew: "Go back to your county and prepare for England selection". And who would have argued with that a few months ago? Dammit, Tres was out of selection and hitting the ball all over the park for Somerset. Surely a return to Middlesex would give Andrew the confidence to regain form and put himself back in the frame?

It hasn't happened. If you look at the county stats, Andrew is not there. Go look at his own county and he's back in sixth with a mere 426 runs and an average of 35.50. Both his county Eds - Smith and Joyce are ahead, and Owais Shah, young Billy Godleman and David Nash - they are all well ahead of Andrew. The man who tops the county stats is, naturellement, our fab dancer, Mark Ramprakash with a total of 2026 and an average of 101.30.

What is this all about, one wonders? Mark is a star, no doubt about it, but Andrew should be a star and yet the season has gone all wrong. I don't think, despite the stats and figures, that we will ever see Ramps called up again by the England management. Sadly, I am coming to the conclusion that we won't see wunderkid Straussy back in the side either.

So is that how this season ends? One fading star going out with the most resounding of bangs, and a still young star, blown out, descending into nothing? Was Andrew summoned by his country too soon, did he only have one season of blazing performance in him? Is going back to the Counties and waiting for the call a good thing?

I welcome thoughts and insights because I simply don't know.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

New ECB boss Giles Clarke talks tough

There are several ways that the new boss of the ECB, Giles Clarke, might have chosen to begin his tenure. Some discussion about England's actual form in playing cricket might have cropped up, or perhaps a comment or two on the state of county cricket and the changes that are being brought in next year.

But no, the newly-elected big cheese thought it best to go on record (at the press conference and on Radio 5 Live) with a statement about discipline in the ranks. Apparently both Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff face bans should either transgress (or perhaps that should read, be caught transgressing) the disciplinary rules.

Clarke said: "I see no reason why they shouldn't be [banned]... I'm confident everyone will understand that with privilege and money comes responsibility."

Maybe I'm alone in thinking that with much cricket on the horizon for the next few months, dwelling on a couple of high-profile, admittedly, but done and dusted misdeeds is not the most positive way forward.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Website of the week - The PCA Rankings

The PCA (Professional Cricketers Association) was once described as the only union whose members were more right-wing than their employers. Well I don't know about that, but I do know that the PCA cranked its profile a notch higher with its awards dinner held earlier this week, with the gongs based on its rankings. Perhaps only a computer could have placed Danish Kaneria ahead of Mark Ramprakash, but the site is to be commended for troubling to provide such a good source of pub conversation starters. For example, here's the Trumpet's County Championship Division One Team of the Year with their PCA Ranking in brackets (Division One only): Key (19); Carberry (40); Ramprakash (5); Adams (27); Goodwin (42); Pothas (43); Martin-Jenkins (22); Gibson (1); Ali (14); Naved-ul-Hasan (7); Mushtaq Ahmed (2).

For the record, the PCA Team of the Year for Division One (picking a balanced XI) would read: Di Venuto; Maddy; Ramps; Law; Benkenstein; Mustard; Rashid; Chapple; Gibson; Naved-ul-Hasan; Mushtaq Ahmed. It would be a good match.

[The Tooting Trumpet]

County Championship Division One - Team of the Year

Chris Adams called it the greatest ever Championship, but it wasn't - it might have been the greatest ever finish, with the outcome in doubt until Dominic Cork lost his wicket and the chance to tell the story of How He Won The Title at thousands of after-dinner speaking engagements (so every cloud does indeed have that silver lining).

Notwithstanding the inexorable march of Twenty20 towards the promised land of global sporting riches, there was some excellent cricket played over the last five months in England fuelled, alas, primarily by overseas players and Kolpaks, to whom young English players should look for an example. Inevitably such players are well represented in the Trumpet's Team of the Year over the jump. 

1. Rob Key. Still only 28, he led his young Kent team well and formed an outstanding opening partnership with Joe Denly. With Tresco out of the picture and Strauss finding domestic cricket as difficult as the international game, England could do a lot worse than return to a man with a Test double-century to his name.

2. Michael Carberry. Have bat will travel opener who appears settled now at Hampshire under Warne's tutelage. Not yet 27, his package of reliable scoring and athletic fielding ought to be catching the selectors' eye, but I'm prepared to bet that he'll be ignored all winter.

3. Mark Ramprakash. Would he have the hunger after twenty years on the treadmill and a winter on the dance floor? 2026 runs at 101 answers that!

4. Chris Adams (Captain). Could he re-focus after his crazy few days at Yorkshire? He could. Ten seasons ago, his big money move South raised eyebrows - he was cheap at twice the price.

5. Murray Goodwin. Who scores more runs when most needed? And he has done it for years.

6. Nic Pothas. Probably the best combination on the circuit, but young Hodd at Sussex doesn't need to improve either discipline much to be the outstanding candidate for the gloves.

7. Robin Martin-Jenkins. The definition of the solid county pro. A slot that could have gone to Glen Chapple, who is probably a better player in all aspects of the game, but R M-J has three titles and Glen none.

8. Ottis Gibson. Player of the Year - 10 wickets in a innings, 80 at 21 in the season to go with over 500 runs.

9. Kabir Ali. A shining light in a nightmare season for Worcestershire. His figures don't tell the whole story of a man carrying an attack.

10. Naved-ul-Hasan. Consistency and penetration. Throw him the ball and you get 100% in return. The Trumpet wishes him a swift recovery from his late season injury.

11. Mustaq Ahmed. The best bowler in English cricket yet again.

What do Googlyers think?

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

County Championship Division One Round-Up and Performance of the day

Back on the 18th April, Dominic Cork ran in and bowled Lancashire's first ball of a new County Championship season. At 6.00pm on the 22nd September, the same man was facing up with the Championship still in the balance. And then it was gone.

So congratulations to the experienced heads of Sussex, with the indefatiguable Mushtaq Ahmed to the fore, but hats off to Lancashire who made 464 of the 489 they needed in a heartstopping sunlit finale to a wet season - skipper Chilton (right) must be wondering how his batsmen scored 898 runs in the match and still lost. Lancashire will try again in 2008, 74 years on from their last outright title - for now,  well played lads and here's a consolation PotD.

The Trumpet will be back with his Division One Team of the Season tomorrow.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Performance of the Day - Mike Munday

Taunton is a batsmen's paradise, so it's a brave man who attempts to build a career there in cricket's most difficult of arts - leg spin. That is the road that lies before Mike Munday (right), a 22 year-old product of Cornwall and Oxford University. There will be plenty of days ahead when a rueful scratch at the chin and a philosophical look are the only sensible response to deal with the lot of the English wristie, but there will be days when it comes out just so and the notorious vulnerability of English batsmen to leg spin will deliver results.

Today was one of those days, as Munday added eight Nottinghamshire second innings wickets to his two in the first knock to win the match for the divisional champions and a PotD for himself. Match figures of 20 - 2 - 65 - 10 will have caught the eye of the England selectors, who may well be digging out Justin Langer's phone number to ask his opinion of the young man's suitability for a A Tour. Having stood at short leg to a wristie for a 100 or so Tests, Munday's captain knows about a bit about legspinners.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Performance of the Day - Sussex batsmen

With the title on the line, Chris Adams will have reminded his team of how they have won the Championship twice in the last five years - tough cricket and team contributions. Having won the toss at Hove yesterday, he will have told his batters to get 500 to set up Mushy for yet another hurrah. 130 overs later, six of his batsmen delivered 50 or more (with the admirable Robin Martin-Jenkins top-scoring with 99) to drive Sussex to 532 and the PotD.

At The Oval, Lancashire conceded a first innings lead of nearly 200 to Surrey. Knowing how to win really counts in this game of ours.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Performance of the Day - Mark Ramprakash

Today's last round of County Championship matches started on the first Autumn day with a real snap of winter in its still, thick South London air. It's all a long way from mid-April, when Mark Ramprakash launched his first post-Strictly Come Dancing season with a century to show that celebrity status had not slaked his thirst for runs. Today, as Ramps closes that season, he again walked from the crease with a century under his belt and power to add tomorrow. His season average stands at a Bradmanesque 98.94 and the Trumpet is proud to salute his professionalism and work ethic.

Brief postscript - Surrey lost that first match (to Yorkshire): us Lanky fans must hope for the same result.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

County Championship Division One - the Endgame

On one side of the world, cricket's newest competition is exciting its newest fans: on the other side of the world, cricket's oldest competition is exciting its oldest fans. After a season blighted by rains, even floods, the destiny of the title will be determined by the last round of matches.

After a rush of late season points, Lancashire travel to The Oval with a six point advantage for a match against an opposition with nothing to play for. Lanky are in pole position, but with 73 years experience of failing to get over the line (even their last shared title was 57 years ago), this Red Rose supporter doesn't have the Boddingtons on ice just yet. Sussex are second and must be a shoo-in to defeat rock-bottom Worcestershire at Hove, which is certainly how Lancashire will be thinking. Third place Durham have probably picked up enough trophies for one season, but will fancy their chances at Canterbury should Lanky and Sussex blow it. There are few more positive cricketers than Darren Gough and Shane Warne whose sides meet at Headingley, but even they will know that their horses have bolted.

So an intriguing finish in prospect - check in here for a season round-up next week.

[The Tooting Trumpet]

Luke is having a shocker

Back in June I wrote that Luke Wright was playing well enough in county cricket, showing enough character and class, to earn a chance to move up to the international stage. I think I may have been wrong. Unfortunately, and it may simply be that England are not as clever as they thought about international Twenty20, Luke has struggled mightily in South Africa. As I write he has the grand total of three runs to his name, all in the losing cause against Australia, and his appearances against Zimbabwe and South Africa have seen him walking away with big fat blobs.

It's not only his batting that has gone to pot. His fielding, particularly against South Africa when he dropped Mark Boucher, has not shown the class that we were expecting.

I often make excuses for England boys on grounds of their youth (and Luke is still only 22 years-old), but in the current ICC Twenty20 Tournament, we are seeing younger ones from Zimbabwe and Bangladesh performing far better.

Now, we know Luke has been named in the One-day squad to tour Sri Lanka starting later this month with the first One-day International on 1st October. I hope his poor form in South Africa, so far, will not damage his chances of selection for this tour. After all, how can good young county players take the next step without exposure to the best the world has to offer?

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Performance of the Day - Jamie Dalrymple

Attention is pretty much focussed on South Africa at the moment and the ICC World Twenty20 Championship/Tournament/World Cup but PotD has chosen to stick with the tail end of the county season. And not much was happening today. There was no action in Division One - all matches wrapped up yesterday, and only minimal in Division Two. So for being mentioned by Ian Chappell (guesting on Test Match Special at Cape Town - Ian wondered where Jamie was these days) and for dismissing Leicestershire's openers Claude Henderson and David Masters, Jamie Dalrymple gets today's PotD.

So answering Ian's question: Jamie has been labouring away for Middlesex, with a not particularly stellar average with the bat of just 21.84, and 12 wickets taken.

Monty probably should have got the accolade today, but I've already praised and pictured him in the County round-up.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

County Championship Division Two round-up

So back again with County games - while it is exciting following the ICC World Twenty20, some of England's finest are not there, instead providing their counties with sterling service. One such being Monty Panesar, who rose to his challenge and with David Wigley reduced Glamorgan to six for 68 in the second innings when the Welshmen were already trailing by 101. Northamptonshire won by 10 wickets, with a day in hand.

Middlesex were in action against Leicestershire, and they also wrapped up the match a day early, winning by 38 runs. The outstanding performances at Wantage Road were from Middlesex batsmen Ed Joyce (74 in the first innings) and Ed Smith (134 in the second innings).

Although Leicestershire had taken a small lead of 14 runs after their first innings (solid work from their openers Tom New and John Maunders), they simply couldn't manage the 318 they needed when batting again.

The final matches in the Championship begin on the 19th September and with Middlesex and Nottinghamshire both in action, there is still a bit of tension as today's win leaves Middlesex in with a chance of promotion.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Cricket Snap of the Day: Worcestershire victorious

Worcestershire celebarate winning the Pro40 Comedy League Division One.  Look at the clip of that blonde bloke's barnet in the middle of the front row!

Performance of the Day - Kent

Although Warwickshire were very much authors of their own fate as they failed to win any of their last 13 Championship games(!) to tumble down to Division Two, Kent didn't know that three days ago, as they lined up to face title-chasing Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Kent batted first and were led (as so often) by van Jaarsveld with 112, supported by Rob Key's 84, Geraint Jones' 63, James Tredwell's 62, Joe Denly's 54 and some useful knocks from the others. The bowlers took over to dismiss Hampshire twice in 164 overs, with the admirable Tredwell bagging eight wickets, supported by the seamers and the occasional spin of van Jaarsveld and Denly. A ten wicket win for a team who can now claim a very good season - conversely, Hampshire's season appears to have run out of steam at just the wrong time.

[The Tooting Trumpet]

ECB rejig one-day cricket competitions

Never mind all this imagination capturing, dreamland evoking stuff that we are seeing in South Africa, let's get back to what makes cricket great: administrators reorganising competitions for unfathomable reasons.

The ECB are to fragment the Friends Provident Trophy even further next year.  The initial stages will be changed to four groups of five teams comprising the 18 first-class counties as well as Ireland and Scotland.   Each team will play the other four teams in the group twice throughout the competition – home and away and the top two teams from each group will then qualify for the quarter-finals, with the winners of each group earning a home draw. 

Still awake?  Twenty20 re-shuffle news is after the jump.

It says here: "In the Twenty20 Cup, the group stages will change to a symmetrical format of five home and five away games. The groups will remain regional-based with three groups of six first-class counties."

Got that?  Good.

Performance of the Day - VVS Laxman

Many thoughts about today's choice for PotD, but in the end it had to go to one of the coolest men in cricket. VVS Laxman. It's fair to say that Lancashire were always favourites to hammer poor old Warwickshire (why isn't Bell playing?), but the stylish Laxman really made his presence felt with 103 runs. The only other real contenders were Steven (or is he a "ph", no doubt readers will correct me) Peters thrashing desperate non-hopers Glamorgan all around the park and the medical crew up at the Riverside who tended to Rana Naved.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Robin Martin-Jenkins: a cricketer catching the eye

Robin Simon Christopher Martin-Jenkins. What a name to conjure with and how many names does a man need? Not that it's Robin's fault he's lumbered with a five initial monicker. For that the responsibility lies at his parents' door and it hasn't stopped him being a fine cricketer.

The son of The Times newspaper cricket correspondent and Test Match Special commentator, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Robin has long been touted as a future Test allrounder. It is possibly too late for Robin to throw his hat into the selection ring for England, but he has been enjoying an absolutely wonderful season for Sussex this summer.

Back in the day as a mere stripling, Robin played for his school - Radley - alongside Andrew Strauss and Ben Hutton and signed up by Sussex won the NBC Denis Compton Award for three years running (1998, 99 and 2000). A key figure in Sussex's Championship success in 2003, a call up to the England squad could have been expected. It never came, but at 31 years-old, there may be a chance (injury to the England players could play a hand), and Robin's performances over the last couple of days at the Riverside must be alerting someone, somewhere, to his talent. Batting yesterday he ended on 77 not out, today he took three for 33.

Martin-Jenkins may not be riding high in the overall county tables, but his figures (in first-class matches) of 28.50 with the bat, and 34 wickets at an economy of 2.48 are not too dusty.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Serious injury stops play

A serious injury to Rana Naved suspended play for 45 minutes in Sussex's Division One match against Durham at the Riverside on Wednesday.

He injured himself diving to try to stop a boundary, when Durham were 233-2 in reply to Sussex's 291.

"Chasing full tilt along the rope, Rana dived for the ball and landed extremely awkwardly," said a statement on Sussex's website.

"Due to the nature of the injury, the outstretched arm was unable to be moved and a large ambulance was called for. This added to the delay which eventually totalled around 45 minutes.

"At this early stage - without medical confirmation - it would seem there is a dislocation and fracture to the shoulder, but it is unclear as to how this has affected the collar bone and surrounding area."

Everyone at Googly Dungeon hopes Rana will get well soon. [Carrie Dunn] [Image: Getty]

Performance of the Day - Tresco

Hands up all the left-handed opening bats who can play like Crystal Gayle? Gilly, Hayden and that man there: Somerset's, but not England's, Marcus Trescothick. His very fine 124 off 101 balls for his county at The Oval in a Pro40 game is a great knock, but he wouldn't be human if he didn't look at an extraordinary game at The Wanderers and wonder if he's doing the right thing, foregoing his England place.

I guess Tresco is more at ease with himself than he has been for some time, so that's good, but it could be so much more.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Graeme Swann - seven years in the wilderness ended

The England One-day squad to tour Sri Lanka was announced to the public yesterday but Graeme Swann had known since Saturday night that he was included in the 15 names on the list. The call "came out of the blue" he told Sky Sports News yesterday, and perhaps because he does seem such a genuinely nice guy, this remark did not come across as disingenuous.

His delight at being included was clear to see, but looking at the season he's had, and thinking of Peter Moores's public committment to examining performances across the county game, Swann is a fairly obvious choice.

In the Pro40 Championship (Nottinghamshire are sitting third in the Division One table), Graeme has taken 11 wickets at 11.18. In the Twenty20 version of the game, he ended with 10 wickets at 12.10 (economy of 6.05) and his batting average was more than respectable at 25.60. Although primarily selected this time as a spin bowler, his figures this season suggest that Wisden were not hugely wide of the mark when (back in 1998 after Graeme had toured South Africa and Zimbabwe with the England A team) the comment was made that he had the potential to become a genuine all-rounder.

Should he be selected to play in Sri Lanka, we will see if the years between his One-day debut in 2000 and now have been as well spent in the counties as we are all hoping. Graeme has very publicly - not least in the weekly slot he had on Radio 5 Live's Saturday morning sports show - praised the coaches, players and whole set-up at Nottingham for bringing him back to form, and confidence.

No doubt all of Graeme's 315 Facebook friends will be wishing him well.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]