Thetownend.com

.....starts on the 10th.

   Thought I'd get in early, but I'm quite excited by the thought.  I've had enough of football,  need a break from the greed league and the watching the Town is not much fun at the moment.

   I always used to enjoy reading about  the pointless University matches, which managed to retain first class status, despite the fact the players clearly  weren't as good as they once were.

  Then getting the Playfair annual and Wisden to paw through, and find out all sorts of pointless data.  

  :?:  Whatever happened to Jon Ayling (Hants), who got out D.A. Polkinghorne (Oxford University) with his first ball in first class cricket?

We got James Lawson, the windies chucker. And Boeta Dippenaar  8)  Nixons buggering off to india though, so i don't know whats going on with him. And we got rid of John Maunders which is a little odd, he had some decent knocks last season.

I reckon we can win everything this season  8)

is that really true though? doubtful

dave - it's jermaine lawson and nixon is fine and will be playing for leics this season

We are the Re, we are the Re, we are, we are we are the Re.

(We'll also lose to Lancs in the opener, bah!)

Yippee. Though i can see him playing less and less, with New playing more and more.

he's captain - he'll play every game

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The bowlers holding...the batsmans willy....is that in wisden reg!

well i cant see sussex winning it this year, will be lucky to avoid relegation me thinks. have a young squad coming through and yet again the smallest squad in the country.

 In the obituary for Brian Johnston.

  The Wisden obituaries are ace....eg did you know that Syed Mubarack Ali was no-balled for throwing 29 times in an innings playing for Trinidad v Barbados in 1942? Thought not.  He was forced to bowl underarm and then took a wicket.

Ace! And I thought I was shit at bowling! :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Matches involving Oxford and Cambridge Universities were the only ones that had first class status despite the fact that in the 80's and 90's Durham University produced far more players that went on to play county cricket.

I wish Wiltshire CCC weren't just a minor organisation.

If they ever got the chance to throw their lot in with the big boys, I'd gladly sever all my ties with Somerset and start supporting them instead.

Who was the biggest ever cricketing name to play at the County Ground? (In the cricketing sense, I hasten to add).

Fred Trueman?

WG Grace. Though that might have been the big park at the end of faringdon road

Yes DAVE...and legend has it he smacked a six through a window of the Grapes pub.

  I watched Alan Border trying to ping sixes through the as was then, Rendevous  Club window, just as well he missed as I don't think we could have afforded to replace it.

 Imran Khan, came and fielded just in front of me....my oldest was about 8 months old and crawling about by the boundary rope.  I was hoping Imran didn't trip over him.

  I'll own up to a frisson of excitement....Khan seemed a descendent of Genghis, via a few Moghuls, a prince among men.  Had  I been a bird think the knickerage might have got a bit wet.

I'm expecting the usual rubbish from Middlesex this year.Well in the CC 2nd divison,20/20 stuff and the FP trophy at least,didn't do bad in the 40 over game has to be admitted.  Although as we've gone up a league it'll mean we'll be fighting relegation from the start.

Ah well can't beat sitting at Lords when the sun is shining,even if you are watching your team lose in 30 overs  :)

Plus i'm off to watch England play an odi at Headingley :D hoping it won't rain this time though!

I was looking at ticket prices for the England ODI internationals and the robbing bastards want £50+ for tickets!.....fuck that, the sooner people stop going then the greedy ECB may put the price down to a more affordable level.

£30 for mine.It is up North though  :wink:  Prices for the London ones are way too much.Maybe try and get a test ticket,might be a bit cheaper?

Anyone excited about the new addidas England kit?Its obviously so ultra modern and stylish that they aren't even showing any pictures of it yet  :roll: Know i can wait for it  :wink:

http://store.ecb.co.uk/stores/ecb/products/kit_selector.aspx?selector=190

maybe going to see England vs RSA at Cardiff in september. just sorting out the money side.

Leicestershire look like they might actually win a game!!! As long as it dont rain

Trouble is, while they're selling out, there's no incentive to drop prices. God knows what they'll be charging for Ashes tickets next year.

I like the new one day kit - more professional - like a blue Aussie one

Somerset made a good start yesterday - good old Blackwell

and i see Straussy is in top form for the Pink brigade at Middlesex! Larwood will be happy

 It's always good when you've no expectations so are pleasantly surprised..

You a bit bored today Reg  ;)  Middlesex have been utter pants with bells on since the 20/20 competition started so being winners this year has come as a shock to every Middlesex fan.Also we went into the quarter and semi finals as the underdogs and came through both of them so it isn't just the Middlesex fans who've been surprised.

But yes,it has been nice to be proved wrong :)

I'm hoping your being in the Merlin prior to the portsmouth game is going to become a regular thing Reg,would be nice to sit and have a good old cricket chat with yourself [and the others of course] every match day.