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Post by Admin on Apr 4, 2021 9:43:03 GMT
  So the 2021 season begins behind closed doors at Old Trafford as the weather starts to head towards winter again, the fixture has been reversed due to Sussex's issues with bugs in their ground No team news as yet unofficialsussexccc.freeforums.net/OTHER GAMES 11:00 am Emerald Headingley, Leeds LV= Insurance County Championship - Group 3 - 4 Day Yorkshire Glamorgan 11:00 am County Ground, Northampton, Northampton LV= Insurance County Championship - Group 3 - 4 Day Northamptonshire Kent 11:00 am Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester LV= Insurance County Championship - Group 2 - 4 Day Leicestershire Hampshire 11:00 am Lord's Cricket Ground, London LV= Insurance County Championship - Group 2 - 4 Day Middlesex Somerset 11:00 am The Bristol County Ground, Bristol LV= Insurance County Championship - Group 2 - 4 Day Gloucestershire Surrey |
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Post by Admin on Apr 6, 2021 7:44:30 GMT
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Post by lankymad on Apr 6, 2021 9:59:29 GMT
www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2643123Two different sources, two different forecasts!! Darned cold, but should be OK in the sun (in fact, if there were spectators, suntan required), if it's cloudy I pity the finger spinners!!
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Post by Admin on Apr 7, 2021 13:14:11 GMT
Championship title challengers and great rivals in the mid-noughties, these two famous old counties meet again with exactly the same goal.
Lancashire versus Sussex clashes have been few and far between in recent years, which adds to the excitement for this opening round affair switched to Emirates Old Trafford at the last minute due to a Daddy Long Legs infestation on the outfield at Hove. The return fixture on the South Coast will instead be later this month.
While Lancashire’s development has been stronger in four-day cricket in recent years, Sussex have some exciting up and comers at their disposal, who should not be underestimated.
The Red Rose start 2021 amongst the favourites for success and will hope for a strong campaign opener against a Sussex side under new management.
Of course, it is 10 years since Lancashire last won the County Championship. And that glorious summer of 2011 started with a home win against who? Sussex at Liverpool. Fingers crossed, a good omen.
Team news
Luke Wells misses out on an immediate meeting with the county he left last season having sustained a hamstring injury during winter training.
Lancashire’s new batting signing says he is “95 percent there”, so hopefully his return comes in time for him to face Sussex at Hove later this month.
Another Luke, Wood, missed last week’s final pre-season friendly against Derbyshire due to a minor knee strain. But the left-arm seamer has recovered and will be in contention this week.
Richard Gleeson’s recovery from a stress fracture in his back, suffered last summer, continues to be monitored by the county’s medical team.
Jimmy Anderson will not be available for this game on ECB orders, with his return to county action likely to be against Kent at Canterbury in the third round (April 22-25). That is the game earmarked as Australian seamer Jackson Bird’s debut.
Opponents
Sussex finished last season bottom of the South Group in the Bob Willis Trophy and were then beaten by Lancashire in the Vitality Blast quarter-finals. Safe to say, it was a frustrating end to Jason Gillespie’s three-year coaching tenure.
He has been replaced by former England leg-spinner Ian Salisbury, who will be assisted by ex-seamer James Kirtley.
Had this season started under a two-divisional structure, Sussex would be in Division Two, with their last success coming with back-to-back Championship titles in 2006 and 2007. Lancashire finished second and third in those summers.
Captained by wicketkeeper batsman Ben Brown, a University buddy of Dane Vilas’s, they have employed two batting overseas players. South African Stiaan van Zyl has switched from a Kolpak player, and starts the season, while Australian Travis Head joins from the end of April.
New ball seamer Ollie Robinson is on the fringes of England’s Test plans, and was in squads last summer, while Phil Salt (290 runs) and Irish off-spinner Jack Carson (15 wickets) led the way for them in the shortened 2020 BW Trophy.
Previous meeting
The two sides met only once in the 2019 County Championship, Lancashire’s promotion year from Division Two.
And the Red Rose came out on top in a mid-July clash at Emirates Old Trafford, winning by an innings and 51 runs on the way to the title.
Spinners Matt Parkinson, with a superb 6-23, and Glenn Maxwell (4-41) bowled Sussex, who elected to bat, out for just 127.
Half-centuries for Keaton Jennings, Alex Davies, Maxwell and Rob Jones then supported Dane Vilas, who made 132 not out in 494-6 declared.
In reply, talented Bermuda-born left-hander Delray Rawlins hit 100. But Sussex were bowled out for 316, including 4-142 for Parkinson, to slip to a heavy defeat inside three days.
What they said
Captain Dane Vilas is hoping Lancashire can take advantage of back-to-back home games to start the campaign, with Northamptonshire also visiting Emirates Old Trafford next week.
Vilas says pre-season preparations have been excellent, despite certain Covid restrictions, admitting: “We’re as strong and as fit as we’ve ever been.
Lancashire and Roses rivals Yorkshire start the summer as the favourites to qualify out of the Championship Group Three and into the season-ending top group.
The top six teams will then fight it out for the Championship title and the right to play in the Bob Willis Trophy Lord’s final at the end of the summer.
“It’s always good to be back here,” said Vilas. “And we missed it a lot last year given we weren’t able to play as much cricket as we wanted at Emirates Old Trafford.
“We love playing here, so hopefully they are two good games at the start.”
He added: “We always want to compete in every format we play in. But this is the real important competition for us, and the guys are excited and keen to do well in it.
“We want to do as well as we can, and realistically we have a good chance. But it’s going to be tough because we have a couple of good teams in our group.
“Every player will tell you that this is the hardest competition to win or do well in.
“You have to play well for six months to do that. If you look back at the end of the summer and know that you’ve put a good stint in and you’re up there, it’s hugely rewarding and satisfactory.
“That’s the target for us, but we’re a long way away from that.
“First of all, we have five weeks of hard cricket to contend with.”
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Post by Admin on Apr 7, 2021 15:37:04 GMT
Head Coach Glen Chapple has named a 14-man squad for Lancashire’s first LV= Insurance County Championship match of the season against Sussex at Emirates Old Trafford.
Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson are both included and - if selected in the final 11 - will play their first red ball matches for Lancashire since September 2019.
George Balderson has been ruled out with an abdominal strain sustained during the pre-season friendly with Derbyshire, while Luke Wells misses out due to a hamstring injury picked up during winter training.
Richard Gleeson is continuing his rehabilitation after suffering a stress reaction in his back last summer and his progress will be monitored during the early part of the season by the Club's sports science and medical team.
Play will start at 11am and you will be able to watch all of the action from Emirates Old Trafford, via a live stream available for free on the Club website.
Lancashire Squad
Dane Vilas (c), Tom Bailey, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Alex Davies, Tom Hartley, Liam Hurt, Keaton Jennings, Rob Jones, Danny Lamb, George Lavelle, Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson, Luke Wood
OPPOSITION VIEW
Sussex travel to Emirates Old Trafford with a 12-man squad, plus two reserves, ahead of their opening match of this year’s LV= Insurance County Championship against Lancashire, which begins on Thursday.
Ollie Robinson will make his bow as Ben Brown’s deputy, having been announced as Sussex’s Championship vice-captain on Wednesday. Sean Hunt, signed from the Surrey Academy over the winter, is in with a chance a first-class debut, while Jack Carson and Henry Crocombe are in contention for their maiden Championship appearances, after making their first-class debuts in last summer’s Bob Willis Trophy. Will Beer and, new signing, Ali Orr make the trip north as cover for the main squad.
Phil Salt is unavailable having injured his right foot in a collision while riding his bicycle prior to Sussex's pre-season friendlies. An estimate of the time required for Phil to return to action will be made following further imaging and consultation with a specialist.
CHECK OUT THE ECB'S GUIDE TO THIS YEAR'S LV= INSURANCE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Ahead of his fist competitive match in charge, Sussex’s Championship and one-day head coach, Ian Salisbury said, “There’s nothing like the first game of a season. I’m hugely excited and genuinely optimistic about this group of players. I couldn’t have asked for more from the guys over the winter. There’s a great team ethic and lots of good conversations around the group as they look to help each other. James [Kirtley] and I have talked about winning off the pitch, and they’ve certainly been doing that. Now it is time to turn our attention to winning on the pitch as well.
“The signs from our pre-season games were really encouraging. We’d had fantastic net facilities in the marquee thanks to Ben Gibson and his team but hadn’t had the chance to practice in the middle, so to go straight from nets into those two matches and do well was brilliant. I remain humbled and honoured to be in the position I am in and absolutely can’t wait for the season to get underway.”
On Phil Salt’s injury, Salisbury added, “We wish Phil a speedy recovery. As an important part of our line-up, he will be missed, but the situation presents an opportunity for someone to come in and contribute.”
Tom Haines was the leading run-scorer from Sussex’s two pre-season friendlies, scoring a century against Surrey and 72 against Hampshire. Ben Brown made a half-century in each match, and Tom Clark scored 73 at the Kia Oval. Jack Carson, Henry Crocombe and George Garton each took four wickets across the two fixtures.
Tom Haines
Tom Haines impressed during Sussex's pre-season friendlies
Sussex Squad
Ben Brown (capt.), Ollie Robinson (vice capt.), Jack Carson, Tom Clark, Henry Crocombe, George Garton, Tom Haines, Sean Hunt, Stuart Meaker, Delray Rawlins, Aaron Thomason, Stiaan van Zyl
Cover: Will Beer, Ali Orr
Opposition
Lancashire finished third in the North Group of last summer’s Bob Willis Trophy, with wins against Derbyshire and Durham, draws against Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire and a defeat at the hands of Leicestershire. Under head coach, Glen Chapple, they adopted a similar approach to Sussex in offering opportunities to a number of homegrown young players. Over the winter, they recruited Luke Wells and Jack Blatherwick after they were released by Sussex and Nottinghamshire respectively. Wells will not have the opportunity to face his former county in the opening round of the Championship, however, after being ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Rob Jones
Rob Jones was Lancashire's top-performer with the bat during pre-season
The red rose county’s pre-season preparations included two two-day friendlies against Essex and a four-day match against Derbyshire. Saqib Mahmood took seven wickets in the two matches he played in, Rob Jones scored a century against Essex and a fifty against Derbyshire, while there was a first-innings hundred for Alex Davies in that trans-Peak District affair.
Squad: Dane Vilas (c), Tom Bailey, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Alex Davies, Tom Hartley, Liam Hurt, Keaton Jennings, Rob Jones, Danny Lamb, George Lavelle, Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson, Luke Wood
Match Information
Play is scheduled to start at 11am on all four days. As per government guidelines, the match will be played behind closed doors.
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Post by lancsdes on Apr 7, 2021 19:15:17 GMT
If it was a good omen that we started at home against Sussex in 2011, I should also point out that we started at home against Sussex in 2012 as well. At least we can’t get relegated this time
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Post by hariseldon on Apr 7, 2021 22:35:32 GMT
If it was a good omen that we started at home against Sussex in 2011, I should also point out that we started at home against Sussex in 2012 as well. At least we can’t get relegated this time .......and the club forgot to bring the county championship pennant on the first day. |
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Post by man in the stand on Apr 8, 2021 9:17:49 GMT
"Jimmy Anderson will not be available for this game on ECB orders, with his return to county action likely to be against Kent at Canterbury in the third round (April 22-25)."
My newspaper saying that Jimmy (& Stuart Broad) is expected to play three fixtures in the BWT after missing the first two...
Liam Livingstone still in the IPL I presume....
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Post by Admin on Apr 8, 2021 9:38:08 GMT
Sussex win toss bat
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Post by lankymad on Apr 8, 2021 11:26:55 GMT
After a great start by Lancs the batsmen now look on top - but the live stream is having all sorts of issues r/e the commentary; started distorted, then cleared up, now no commentary at all.
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Post by lankymad on Apr 8, 2021 11:35:03 GMT
And back comes the front-line bowler Bailey and the fourth falls.
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Post by Admin on Apr 8, 2021 11:51:03 GMT
After a great start by Lancs the batsmen now look on top - but the live stream is having all sorts of issues r/e the commentary; started distorted, then cleared up, now no commentary at all. Sound issues to be looked at according to County Twitter site |
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Post by Admin on Apr 8, 2021 13:12:12 GMT
Decent recovery by our visitors
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Post by chris on Apr 8, 2021 13:47:39 GMT
Decent recovery by our visitors |
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Post by Admin on Apr 8, 2021 14:01:58 GMT
Decent recovery by our visitors And now runnng out of partners but still in with a chance of scoring one of the first centuries of the season |
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