Quantcast

GROCKLES welcomes you all to the world of Somerset Cricket.

WELCOME to the 30th summer of Grockles and discussions about the life of Somerset County Cricket Club. We officially start the 2024 season in Kent in...

Days or Hours or Minutes or Seconds

Old Pavilion Gimblett Hill General View Somerset Stand Stand Trescothick Stand
Ondaatje Pavilion Scoreboard Stand squad Colin Atkinson Pavilion Botham Stand
County Championship Info FPT20 Info CB40 Info Somerset Official Website Somerset Video Library Somerset Match Scorecard SCCC Ball by Ball

Goto Page: 12Next
Current Page: 1 of 2
Dangerous talk
Discussion started by Grizzers , 12 January, 2014 14:02
Dangerous talk
Grizzers 12 January, 2014 14:02
Oh dear:

[www.bbc.com]

Grizzzly

Re: Dangerous talk
AGod 12 January, 2014 14:11
Predictable and tiresome.

Re: Dangerous talk
nelliec 12 January, 2014 14:33
So the set in stone that there will be no changes in the next three years is not quite set in stone.

Re: Dangerous talk
chunkyinargyll 12 January, 2014 14:37
Lord Maclaurin's little boy Neil (now aged 47) was on the Middlesex staff for a couple of years.

[en.wikipedia.org]

Nowhere near good enough to be a fist class cricketer- but even then daddy was influential enough that it probably seemed a good idea to keep the good Lord onside.

Why didn't daddy say, 'Let's be honest. He isn't good enough' But no- he was happy for his boy to be on the staff.

Even the lesser counties are useful. Leicestershire gave Stuart Broad and James Taylor their break- even though it's hard to imagine them ever winning the championship again.

The Lord moves in mysterious ways.

Edit to add- Neil Maclaurin's Middlesex 2nd XI ave (1988) from page 830 of 1989 Wisden- 12 matches 295 runs HS 51, average 16.38 (batted number 3 most matches.

Previous year (1987) 12 matches 362 runs HS 75, ave 25.65

Only ever got a contract because daddy was so influential.

Even a quarter of a century later it still winds me up.

By some distance the poorest player to ever get a pro contract at Middle!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2014 15:06 by chunkyinargyll.

Re: Dangerous talk
SheptonPaul 12 January, 2014 15:15
Methinks MacLaurin is actually very out of touch now, and has been gone to for a standard rent-a-quote. At least, I hope that's the case.

As I've said many times before, if counties are to be merged, the two most obvious to be first in line are Middlesex and Surrey - geographically, they couldn't be closer, the two combined still make up a coherent geographic unit and neither have been great in the last 5-10 yrs. Propose that, and see how many influential lords and knights are harrumphing into their city-wine-bar gin-and-tonics.

Re: Dangerous talk
AGod 12 January, 2014 15:38
Yep, spot on - MacLaurin has zero influence or clout.

He's just a blow-hard mouthing off.

Re: Dangerous talk
Loyal of Lhasa. 12 January, 2014 16:26
I propose merging Durham, the county of my birth, with neighbouring Somerset, the county of my upbringing.

We could also merge all the counties Marcus North has played for, as it would make it so much easier for the dear boy to check the performance of his former colleagues.

You know it makes perfect sense...



LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Re: Dangerous talk
Mike TA1 12 January, 2014 16:40
What crap.

Amalgamation wouldn't work anyway, doing away with some counties is the only way to reduce the total numbers of counties.

I don't see them shouting to reduce the number of football clubs, England have had a rubbish team for years.

Stick him in the House of Lords or become an MP he would feel at home with his opinions they are so out of touch with the grass roots.

He is another one that like to see his name in print.

Edit - silly me he is already a Lord so what do we expect.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2014 16:55 by Mike TA1.

Re: Dangerous talk
Loyal of Lhasa. 12 January, 2014 16:59
And let's stick Lord Mike in there as well to bring some sense to the proceedings.



LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Re: Dangerous talk
Angell Face 12 January, 2014 18:23
Quote "We are not producing Test cricketers". While acknowledging that the current tour is a shambles, who the hell does the noble Lord think has been playing for England in the past 3/4 relatively successful years? The man's a buffoon.

Re: Dangerous talk
Grockle 12 January, 2014 19:09
If McLaurin is tedious and predictable, does that mean I can call myself a Lord?



(Sm72)

Re: Dangerous talk
Ajay 12 January, 2014 21:02
You have always been a Lord around this parish Grockle.

Re: Dangerous talk
Roger Sweet 12 January, 2014 21:58
Since the split into 2 divisions, the difference between the standards in the 1st and 2nd divisions has widened in the last few years. Unfortunately, the selectors have not recognised this.

Once they start showing some form of competency and pick Compo ahead of Carberry, then perhaps we might see the advantages of having a bigger pool of first class cricketers and recognise that there is a big difference between the 2 divisions.

A few years ago, Shane Warne said that the 1st Division was as good as the Sheffield Shield. Really, he meant that we were slightly better!!! And each year, the quality in the 1st Division continues to improve.

That means that our selectors can choose test players from 9 top counties compared to Austaralia selecting from 6 State teams only!!! And they can still look at a host of good cricketers playing in the 2nd Division and maybe encourage them to move into a 1st division county if their county has no chance of being promoted!!!

I do trust that Giles can tell Lord McLaurin (more politely than me) where he can "park" his Tesco's butcher's apron!!!

Re: Dangerous talk
AGod 12 January, 2014 22:42
Yep, selectors do not appear to notice the gap in quality betwixt the two divisions.

Re: Dangerous talk
SheptonPaul 12 January, 2014 23:02
I'm sure that the current and most recent chairs of selectors being Whitaker (Leics) and Miller (Derbs) is entirely coincidental; and wasn't the previous one Graveney (Glos), or have I missed somebody?

Re: Dangerous talk
geordie moonraker 13 January, 2014 00:36
So, those next to each other.

Lancashire and Yorkshire
Surrey and Middlesex
Kent and Sussex
Notts and Derby
Gloster and Worcester
Warwick and Northants.

plus Durham, Somerset Hants Glamorgan Leicester Essex.

And if that is ever the suggestion I'll eat my hat. I do despair that he way to play good 5 day cricket is to concentrate preparation on one day stuff

Re: Dangerous talk
Grockle 13 January, 2014 03:10
The reason the selectors haven't noticed the difference between the divisions is because most of the London counties they would love to pick from are in the lower tier



(Sm72)

Re: Dangerous talk
Tractor 13 January, 2014 08:16
The BBC always bring out repeats around this time of year.

Re: Dangerous talk
Loyal of Lhasa. 13 January, 2014 09:45
Quote:
Tractor
The BBC always bring out repeats around this time of year.

Tractor: I am sure you made an identical post exactly twelve months ago.



LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Re: Dangerous talk
Clarence Parker 13 January, 2014 12:44
If Somerset and Glamorgan should merge, they could be known as 'The Dragons', play some matches at Weston - super - Mare, and then perhaps the old paddle steamers could once again operate across the Bristol Channel.

What fun!

(Sm91)

Re: Dangerous talk
57deacon 13 January, 2014 16:38
Two comments from me on this nonsense.

1. It must follow therefore when England are next no 1 in test cricket there will be siren calls for the number of Counties to be increased from 18.

2. Same logic also tells us where we're going wrong in soccer. England need Man Utd to merge with City, Liverpool with Everton, Arsenal and Spurs etc.

Enough said.

And a belated very Happy New Year to all Grockles - I hope to see many of you at our AGM.

Re: Dangerous talk
Loyal of Lhasa. 13 January, 2014 16:57
Quote:
Clarence Parker
If Somerset and Glamorgan should merge, they could be known as 'The Dragons', play some matches at Weston - super - Mare, and then perhaps the old paddle steamers could once again operate across the Bristol Channel.
What fun!

(Sm91)

That's a very parochial view, CP. I propose the new Glamerset County Ground should be located on Flatholme.

Re: Dangerous talk
Grockle 13 January, 2014 16:57
Yeah can't wait for that to happen. What a glorious move forward that will be in the progress of county cricket.

(The merger with the Welsh, not the dreams of going back to playing in a WSM park)



(Sm72)

Re: Dangerous talk
SheptonPaul 13 January, 2014 18:59
[www.espncricinfo.com]

Brilliant - couldn't have put it better myself!

David Hopps, a champion of the county game - but not a one-eyed one.

Re: Dangerous talk
Clarence Parker 13 January, 2014 19:26
Quote:
Loyal of Lhasa.
That's a very parochial view, CP. I propose the new Glamerset County Ground should be located on Flatholme.

Could be somewhat problematical, LoL.

Flat Holm is a part of Glamorgan, whereas Steep Holm is a part of the historical county of Somersetshire.

Perhaps the team could play on both islands - provided of course that there is sufficient flat space on Steep Holm to create a cricket ground.

Re: Dangerous talk
Mike TA1 13 January, 2014 19:31
From SP link above.

One of many examples last season of Team England running roughshod over the county cricket structure it clearly does not view as excellent came when Jamie Overton, the most promising young fast bowler around, was withdrawn from Somerset's relegation fight because sitting around with England's ODI squad in the series against Australia was regarded as more useful for him, even if he did not play.

Re: Dangerous talk
Grockle 14 January, 2014 06:23
To be honest Mike I'm rather glad they did because they'd already foxtrotted up his radar so much it will take most of the winter to put it back together again.



(Sm72)

Re: Dangerous talk
AGod 14 January, 2014 11:50
It always drives me mad when players are taken out of meaningful cricket of a decent standard to just "be around", an international squad.

Re: Dangerous talk
Grockle 14 January, 2014 11:54
It's so they can learn the Nixon lessons of being a 'geezer' in the dressing room. I've heard he's going on an international tour to promote this vital skill in cricket.

If only that was true I'd probably stump up for his ticket as long as he had to leave his writing jobs to do it.

Silly me... missed out the important word in his not so humble opinion.



(Sm72)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 14/01/2014 11:56 by Grockle.

Re: Dangerous talk
Loyal of Lhasa. 14 January, 2014 15:34
Quote:
Clarence Parker

Flat Holm is a part of Glamorgan, whereas Steep Holm is a part of the historical county of Somersetshire.

Perhaps the team could play on both islands - provided of course that there is sufficient flat space on Steep Holm to create a cricket ground.

Many thanks, CP, for the geoganraphy lesson. I propose we send Tractor out into the channel, perhaps floating on a barrel, to lay claim to Flat Holm on behalf of SCCC. He should stay the night and then, as would be his right as a resident, he should be allowed to vote in a referendum as to where the island should be affiliated.



LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 14/01/2014 15:52 by Loyal of Lhasa..

Goto Page: 12Next
Current Page: 1 of 2

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net