| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread 10:53 - Jan 31 with 74120 views | Superhoops2808 |
https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/
I've started a new thread for the 2026 season, and I've started it now because the T20 World Cup starts a week today. (And in fact 2 months and we will be chatting county cricket red ball)
In a group with Italy, Nepal and Scotland and a pretty solid squad I expect that we will progress beyond the group stage. After that who knows and will depend on fitness. Curran and Salt played very well in the first game warm up game v Sri Lanka but tougher tests are ahead. Anyway, here is the squad for England (albeit still provisional).
Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.
Be relying on Archer to stay fit (as per usual) - But hope that Brook finally stands up as captain, and Banton and Jacks perfom like we know they can at county level. If all that clicks should be a good watch. |  | | |  |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 10:56 - Aug 6 with 2241 views | RBlock |
Christ. Underwhelming to say the least. Dan Lawrence returns as a the spinning all-rounder, with Rehan Ahmed overlooked again. Pope back in from the cold, with Rew dropped. Jordan Cox in at 3, with Bethell injured.
A hiding to nothing this test - win and nobody cares, you're expected to be Pakistan. Lose and you're getting pilloried.
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| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 11:07 - Aug 6 with 2168 views | Hunterhoop |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 10:56 - Aug 6 by RBlock |
Christ. Underwhelming to say the least. Dan Lawrence returns as a the spinning all-rounder, with Rehan Ahmed overlooked again. Pope back in from the cold, with Rew dropped. Jordan Cox in at 3, with Bethell injured.
A hiding to nothing this test - win and nobody cares, you're expected to be Pakistan. Lose and you're getting pilloried.
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Yeah, a very uninspiring selection.
Pope over Rew.
Lawrence over Ahmed.
Bashir over “anyone”.
Fisher still there over loads of better young prospects.
Same old… |  | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 11:16 - Aug 6 with 2148 views | oldmeadoniansR |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 21:34 - Jul 30 by Discodroids |
Got a couple of weeks off and fancied a day watching my beloved Middlesex. Can't remember the last time Middlesex played at home in a county championship match. In fact i cant recall when we last played any county championship match.
I may be wrong here seems to be wasteland of county championship cricket from late june until mid august.
I abhor the Hundred , royal London cup, T20 etc etc but understand its fiscal symbiotic relationship with the rack and pinion of English Cricket, The county championship.
Without these mutated free base crack cocaine versions of the great game, the county scene would perish.
Middlesex ccc had a great impact on my life as a child. no need to shovel old shit about my childhood but my fondest memories that shine from a fug of slow motion riot misery as a flat pack pisshole poverty stricken latchkey kid was being taken a couple of times a year by my grandad to lords to see Mike Brearley Middlesex in the early 80's.
Proper kuiper belt escapism for an east end esso blue parrafin cuddling kid who fell in love with Grahame Barlow , Roland Butcher , clive radley, paul downton, wilf slack , Wayne daniel, Norman cowans and the spin twins emburey and edmods. It's been carved on my soul ever since. Breaks my heart now to see the championship reduced to an appendix of the circus games of the 100 t20 etc etc.
Up the Middle and long live the county championship. The tesseract of the beautiful game. [Post edited 30 Jul 21:40]
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I also grew up with that Middlesex team. Loved Norman Cowans but my about favourite was Phil Edmunds. Left arm spin is magical always but he was mesmerising and also looked like he didn't give a cluck! Inspired me to.become a spinner and ay the ripe old age of 55 am still twirling in second team league cricket. For a boy brought up in Shep Bush cricket has given me so much. Sad to see it's decline in inner London. I am actually quite well known on the circuit for being hit into nearly all the tennis courts in London. Cricket pitch adjacent to tennis courts then invariably I will be deposited there. But, I can always get them next ball!! |  | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 11:37 - Aug 6 with 2107 views | ozexile |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 11:16 - Aug 6 by oldmeadoniansR |
I also grew up with that Middlesex team. Loved Norman Cowans but my about favourite was Phil Edmunds. Left arm spin is magical always but he was mesmerising and also looked like he didn't give a cluck! Inspired me to.become a spinner and ay the ripe old age of 55 am still twirling in second team league cricket. For a boy brought up in Shep Bush cricket has given me so much. Sad to see it's decline in inner London. I am actually quite well known on the circuit for being hit into nearly all the tennis courts in London. Cricket pitch adjacent to tennis courts then invariably I will be deposited there. But, I can always get them next ball!! |
I loved that Middlesex team too. Seemed to be in the final every year and win it. Cowans was awesome and Emburey. I also remember a young Angus Fraser coming through. Happy days. | | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 12:17 - Aug 6 with 2040 views | GaryBannister86 |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 11:07 - Aug 6 by Hunterhoop |
Yeah, a very uninspiring selection.
Pope over Rew.
Lawrence over Ahmed.
Bashir over “anyone”.
Fisher still there over loads of better young prospects.
Same old… |
Agreed such a poor selection. I thought North would give some fresh input but to go back to Pope and Lawrence is just bizarre. Scoring runs for the Surrey Globetrotters does not mean they are ripe for getting the Ashes back.
Where are Rehan Ahmed and Baker? These are guys that may give us a point of difference.
I'm finally done with Key after letting Fleming not start until after this series, ridiculous. [Post edited 6 Aug 12:29]
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| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 12:27 - Aug 6 with 2027 views | plasmahoop |
I just hope if they are going to play four seamers, they are Robinson, tongue, Atkinson and carse. I'm going to headingley for the first two days and the thought of no proper spinner combined with fisher and cook trundling in makes me think I'll be spending more time at the bar. Curran at 6 would have made more sense to me, then we could pick a proper spinner. I know the options aren't great, but I don't know how many times England have left the spinner out over the years and it never works. | | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 12:31 - Aug 6 with 2011 views | GaryBannister86 |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 12:27 - Aug 6 by plasmahoop |
I just hope if they are going to play four seamers, they are Robinson, tongue, Atkinson and carse. I'm going to headingley for the first two days and the thought of no proper spinner combined with fisher and cook trundling in makes me think I'll be spending more time at the bar. Curran at 6 would have made more sense to me, then we could pick a proper spinner. I know the options aren't great, but I don't know how many times England have left the spinner out over the years and it never works. |
Totally, Curran's a good player and he has real fight. Always think he is worth a place. | | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 12:59 - Aug 6 with 1958 views | RBlock |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 12:27 - Aug 6 by plasmahoop |
I just hope if they are going to play four seamers, they are Robinson, tongue, Atkinson and carse. I'm going to headingley for the first two days and the thought of no proper spinner combined with fisher and cook trundling in makes me think I'll be spending more time at the bar. Curran at 6 would have made more sense to me, then we could pick a proper spinner. I know the options aren't great, but I don't know how many times England have left the spinner out over the years and it never works. |
Don't fancy Jof? Definitely a case of rotating to keep them fresh and Carse certainly takes on a big portion of that workload. Curran has had injury/fitness issues which is why he's not been selected apparently. | | | |
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| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 13:18 - Aug 6 with 1907 views | TheChef |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 12:17 - Aug 6 by GaryBannister86 |
Agreed such a poor selection. I thought North would give some fresh input but to go back to Pope and Lawrence is just bizarre. Scoring runs for the Surrey Globetrotters does not mean they are ripe for getting the Ashes back.
Where are Rehan Ahmed and Baker? These are guys that may give us a point of difference.
I'm finally done with Key after letting Fleming not start until after this series, ridiculous. [Post edited 6 Aug 12:29]
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Are we sure McCullum has been sacked?
If Key is still in situ for the next Ashes I give up. |  |
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| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 14:21 - Aug 6 with 1823 views | numptydumpty |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 11:07 - Aug 6 by Hunterhoop |
Yeah, a very uninspiring selection.
Pope over Rew.
Lawrence over Ahmed.
Bashir over “anyone”.
Fisher still there over loads of better young prospects.
Same old… |
i totally agree with you on all four of thoss selections.
Would not choose Pope or Lawrence or indeed Jamie Smith either and i am a Surrey fan. Two have had their chances and never done enough and the other is simply not international standard.
Very dull selections, indeed.
[Post edited 8 Aug 2:31]
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| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 15:09 - Aug 6 with 1752 views | RBlock |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 13:18 - Aug 6 by TheChef |
Are we sure McCullum has been sacked?
If Key is still in situ for the next Ashes I give up. |
Dunno, if McCullum was still in place, I reckon we would have seen more leftfield solutions like Ben McKinney or James Coles, rather than back to Dan Lawrence or Pope. | | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 16:36 - Aug 6 with 1667 views | GaryBannister86 |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 15:09 - Aug 6 by RBlock |
Dunno, if McCullum was still in place, I reckon we would have seen more leftfield solutions like Ben McKinney or James Coles, rather than back to Dan Lawrence or Pope. |
Yeah Baz got a lot of criticism, but boring selections was not an issue!
Pleased to see North come out and say Curran is in the frame for selection for the third test as he isn't fit, good he is on the radar. | | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 18:32 - Aug 6 with 1583 views | derbyhoop |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 11:37 - Aug 6 by ozexile |
I loved that Middlesex team too. Seemed to be in the final every year and win it. Cowans was awesome and Emburey. I also remember a young Angus Fraser coming through. Happy days. |
A lad I knew was batting 4 for our 1st team in Derby at the age of 16; He went to Oxford but only got as far as 2nd team. Then Middlesex League. He told me that Alastair was quicker, but Angus was harder to get away. 200+ Test wickets tends to have that. |  |
| "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky |
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| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 20:43 - Aug 6 with 1505 views | Superhoops2808 |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 11:07 - Aug 6 by Hunterhoop |
Yeah, a very uninspiring selection.
Pope over Rew.
Lawrence over Ahmed.
Bashir over “anyone”.
Fisher still there over loads of better young prospects.
Same old… |
As RBlock said, this is a free hit against Pakistan
So, give new talent a chance to prove themselves
Have to have Rew and Ahmed, its a no brainer for me - I appreciate that Lawrence has been in the runs this season but they had their go, time to look for the future
Also, which Curran are we talking about? Because I have said Sam should be in the squad for ages, even before the Ashes and if he is not fit, why is he playing in the 100 | | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 08:58 - Aug 7 with 1330 views | TheChef |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 20:43 - Aug 6 by Superhoops2808 |
As RBlock said, this is a free hit against Pakistan
So, give new talent a chance to prove themselves
Have to have Rew and Ahmed, its a no brainer for me - I appreciate that Lawrence has been in the runs this season but they had their go, time to look for the future
Also, which Curran are we talking about? Because I have said Sam should be in the squad for ages, even before the Ashes and if he is not fit, why is he playing in the 100 |
Well definitely Sam over Tom - and even if he's by all accounts not the nicest guy off the pitch he's definitely a competitor.
Although he does have an odd bowling action, no leap in his delivery stride, he just kind of scuttles through! | |
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| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 09:03 - Aug 7 with 1321 views | GaryBannister86 |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 08:58 - Aug 7 by TheChef |
Well definitely Sam over Tom - and even if he's by all accounts not the nicest guy off the pitch he's definitely a competitor.
Although he does have an odd bowling action, no leap in his delivery stride, he just kind of scuttles through! |
I may be wrong, and the Surrey fans will be more accurate, but I always thought Sam was a decent guy and his brother a bit of a tool. Sam is also ten times the cricketer. | | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 09:29 - Aug 7 with 1287 views | RBlock |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 20:43 - Aug 6 by Superhoops2808 |
As RBlock said, this is a free hit against Pakistan
So, give new talent a chance to prove themselves
Have to have Rew and Ahmed, its a no brainer for me - I appreciate that Lawrence has been in the runs this season but they had their go, time to look for the future
Also, which Curran are we talking about? Because I have said Sam should be in the squad for ages, even before the Ashes and if he is not fit, why is he playing in the 100 |
Why is anyone playing the 100? | | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 12:09 - Aug 7 with 1210 views | plasmahoop |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 12:59 - Aug 6 by RBlock |
Don't fancy Jof? Definitely a case of rotating to keep them fresh and Carse certainly takes on a big portion of that workload. Curran has had injury/fitness issues which is why he's not been selected apparently. |
Yes I forgot about jof | | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 02:44 - Aug 8 with 1095 views | numptydumpty |
It was always going to be a time of transition when we lost Broad and Anderson, but with other under rated bowlers coming to the end of their careers such as Woakes and Wood too, the changing of the guard was always going to take time.
But the batting line up has been completely decimated.
Crawley and Pope - both look and play shots like classic and stylish batsmen, but how many times can you get out, playing a stupid shot, when you get to thirty runs, and still keep getting selected. Seen as they have reselected Pope and Lawrence, when will Crawley return.
We need a complete clean sweep.
But some of the younger talent needs to have its day and give them a series, not a random test, here and there.
Making Joe Root captain, is more a case of no one is a standout candidate to take over and being captain was the least of Joe's considerable skills, but when Joe finally bows out too, where will we be.
It was definitely a chance to blood in the younger talented players and the hierarchy have chosen to default back in time.
Uninspiring is one word [Post edited 8 Aug 2:46]
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| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 02:47 - Aug 8 with 1086 views | numptydumpty |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 09:29 - Aug 7 by RBlock |
Why is anyone playing the 100? |
Money | |
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| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 02:50 - Aug 8 with 1081 views | ozexile |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 02:44 - Aug 8 by numptydumpty |
It was always going to be a time of transition when we lost Broad and Anderson, but with other under rated bowlers coming to the end of their careers such as Woakes and Wood too, the changing of the guard was always going to take time.
But the batting line up has been completely decimated.
Crawley and Pope - both look and play shots like classic and stylish batsmen, but how many times can you get out, playing a stupid shot, when you get to thirty runs, and still keep getting selected. Seen as they have reselected Pope and Lawrence, when will Crawley return.
We need a complete clean sweep.
But some of the younger talent needs to have its day and give them a series, not a random test, here and there.
Making Joe Root captain, is more a case of no one is a standout candidate to take over and being captain was the least of Joe's considerable skills, but when Joe finally bows out too, where will we be.
It was definitely a chance to blood in the younger talented players and the hierarchy have chosen to default back in time.
Uninspiring is one word [Post edited 8 Aug 2:46]
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Spot on. No idea why they've called in Pope. Test cricket is a mess at the moment and the ECB seem in no rush to do anything about whilst the awful hundred tournament makes them cash. | | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 06:48 - Aug 8 with 1026 views | MedwayR |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 02:44 - Aug 8 by numptydumpty |
It was always going to be a time of transition when we lost Broad and Anderson, but with other under rated bowlers coming to the end of their careers such as Woakes and Wood too, the changing of the guard was always going to take time.
But the batting line up has been completely decimated.
Crawley and Pope - both look and play shots like classic and stylish batsmen, but how many times can you get out, playing a stupid shot, when you get to thirty runs, and still keep getting selected. Seen as they have reselected Pope and Lawrence, when will Crawley return.
We need a complete clean sweep.
But some of the younger talent needs to have its day and give them a series, not a random test, here and there.
Making Joe Root captain, is more a case of no one is a standout candidate to take over and being captain was the least of Joe's considerable skills, but when Joe finally bows out too, where will we be.
It was definitely a chance to blood in the younger talented players and the hierarchy have chosen to default back in time.
Uninspiring is one word [Post edited 8 Aug 2:46]
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The frustration with Crawley is that he was called up to England to bat at 3, did such a good job that they moved him up the order to open and gradually destroyed him. So now we’re scratching around looking for options at 3 when we had a perfectly good one all along. |  |
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| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 07:35 - Aug 8 with 1005 views | Hunterhoop |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 06:48 - Aug 8 by MedwayR |
The frustration with Crawley is that he was called up to England to bat at 3, did such a good job that they moved him up the order to open and gradually destroyed him. So now we’re scratching around looking for options at 3 when we had a perfectly good one all along. |
Crawley’s county record means he shouldn’t have been called up in the first place and certainly shouldn’t be recalled. The only reason he was called up and retained for so long is that Bob Key is his godfather. | | | |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 08:24 - Aug 8 with 969 views | GaryBannister86 |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 07:35 - Aug 8 by Hunterhoop |
Crawley’s county record means he shouldn’t have been called up in the first place and certainly shouldn’t be recalled. The only reason he was called up and retained for so long is that Bob Key is his godfather. |
This revisionism of Crawley, although he was totally useless and Key only called him up because of mates / Kent / golf is such rubbish. Just because someone doesn't play for Surrey doesn't mean they have to have naked pictures of the selectors to get called up. That the vilification of him continuing long after he has been dropped - yes, of course too late - and his career and confidence are now almost zero is pretty distasteful.
Let's all ignore the huge double ton against Pakistan, or the fact that a couple of seasons ago he was our best and most consistent batter across the whole year, or he did that thing that oh so many English batsmen do - score 180+ in a meaningful Ashes test against one of the best attacks of all time?
Yes, he ended up with a very disappointing average, was far too loose overall (although was he batting to orders?) and should have been dropped about a year earlier. But he certainly deserved a call up, with many judges declaring him the best young bat around - and he certainly achieved some things.
I'm not sure why this means he has to be crucified for the rest of his career. [Post edited 8 Aug 8:33]
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| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 19:46 - Aug 9 with 765 views | Hunterhoop |
| Cricket 2026 County/International Thread on 08:24 - Aug 8 by GaryBannister86 |
This revisionism of Crawley, although he was totally useless and Key only called him up because of mates / Kent / golf is such rubbish. Just because someone doesn't play for Surrey doesn't mean they have to have naked pictures of the selectors to get called up. That the vilification of him continuing long after he has been dropped - yes, of course too late - and his career and confidence are now almost zero is pretty distasteful.
Let's all ignore the huge double ton against Pakistan, or the fact that a couple of seasons ago he was our best and most consistent batter across the whole year, or he did that thing that oh so many English batsmen do - score 180+ in a meaningful Ashes test against one of the best attacks of all time?
Yes, he ended up with a very disappointing average, was far too loose overall (although was he batting to orders?) and should have been dropped about a year earlier. But he certainly deserved a call up, with many judges declaring him the best young bat around - and he certainly achieved some things.
I'm not sure why this means he has to be crucified for the rest of his career. [Post edited 8 Aug 8:33]
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I hate Surrey.
Crawley’s record in first class cricket did not warrant the call up in the first place. There is no revisionism at all. He averaged 31 in FC cricket when called up. Mostly in div 2. He was highly spoken off precisely because of who his dad and godfather are. He was within the game so was promoted. His record never justified the hype.
I follow county cricket closely. He did not deserve to be called up. He did not deserve to be retained for so long. And he does not deserve to be re-selected now. His record this year is dreadful.
This isn’t revisionism; it’s Kent fans getting ever so defensive.
He’s an okay FC opener. He’s talented but he has never converted that talent into having anything better than an okay record. FC average of 31.5 and List A average of 32.7. Compare to the other 17 counties’ openers. He does not stand out at all. [Post edited 9 Aug 19:49]
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