Random thought from last night's T20 at Lord's
How is it that Middlesex, who conceded 4 overthrows twice and 5 wides on another occasion, looked more efficient in the field than Kent during their win? It must be lovely to be able to set a 7-2 offside field in a game like that.
Times have changed with the plethora of T20 games. 2 years ago Dawid Malan was said to have arrived as a top player with his quarter final century against Lancashire; earlier this week Jason Roy made a terrific century for Surrey and the papers couldn't decide what his first name is (one at least had him down as Julian).
Finally I started to warm to Scott Newman, about whom I'd had my doubts - his enthusiasm whilst waiting to bat was like that of a club player, throwing up his hands when he thought a third run was available but declined and signalling to help the umpire decide whether a shot went for four or six. ( I'd warmed to Tom Smith about whom I'd also had doubts last week at Richmond).
3 comments:
So I've missed you twice at T20 games in the last 2 weeks - I was at Richmond when Smith picked up 4 wickets and at Lord's when he got 5. I was impressed on both occasions - sure, he got a few catches in the deep, but he seems to bowl at a nice pace, with decent flight and a fair bit of turn. This guy could have a good future.
Sussex presumably thought that Panesar was superior to Smith or he would still be at Sussex. I hope they were right!
Incidentally I fear that Scott Newman will never properly make it at County level, exactly because he's like a Club player, sadly. He's not a great fielder and for a top class player seems to have some shot selection issues, despite obvious talent. I feel a bit sorry for him as when he needed to challenge himself against the best he couldn't break into the Surrey 1st team that at the time was star-studded with the likes of Butcher, Ward, Thorpe, Ali Brown, Ramps etc. (and even Stewart when he was first looking to make his name).
Surrey got rid of people like him and James Benning who I guess they thought had become a little bit complacent and hadn't turned potential into consistent performances. Many would say that Surrey didn't do a lot to help them and were partly responsible for this themselves.
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