Starting line-up for first game...

[SirChef26]

Khan was far too good for our batters. Our only chance was to get ahead of the rate early so we could just block him out. The openers started behind the rate and we never got ahead of it.

[Andy]

The t20 is our priority.

Ironically apparently a lack of faith in our young bowlers who are better than the overseas bowlers and more experienced batting. The loss of spoons indicates just how much he was the brains behind the success last year.

[JasonP]

The t20 is our priority.

Ironically apparently a lack of faith in our young bowlers who are better than the overseas bowlers and more experienced batting. The loss of spoons indicates just how much he was the brains behind the success last year.

If that was true we most certainly wouldn't have Neil Wagner as one of our overseas players.

We were pretty poor last year in t20.  We did have Amir, who was as good as any bowler in the competition.  Also the signing of Zampa only makes sense if we're prepared to leave out Harmer, which we don't seem prepared to do.

[Valentines Park]

The loss of spoons indicates just how much he was the brains behind the success last year.

Let's just hope if McGrath is a failure he doesn't get to hang around for a decade before he's binned.   

[nat]

Really muddled (i.e. bad) thinking in our overseas player recruitment.  Who has responsibility? No-one will own up as everything these days is 'shared'.

[SirChef26]

The t20 is our priority.

Ironically apparently a lack of faith in our young bowlers who are better than the overseas bowlers and more experienced batting. The loss of spoons indicates just how much he was the brains behind the success last year.

Sorry but that first sentence is utter rubbish. If T20 was our priority then we’d have grown a set of bollocks, told Neil Wagner that his services were not required for the T20 and signed a veteran in the format for good money. We bottled it and took the cheap option instead. Our priority is the CC but we still thought we could coast it without improving the squad after how we coasted it last season. That was a mistake.

[ytsejam]

The t20 is our priority.

Ironically apparently a lack of faith in our young bowlers who are better than the overseas bowlers and more experienced batting. The loss of spoons indicates just how much he was the brains behind the success last year.

Sorry but that first sentence is utter rubbish. If T20 was our priority then we’d have grown a set of bollocks, told Neil Wagner that his services were not required for the T20 and signed a veteran in the format for good money. We bottled it and took the cheap option instead. Our priority is the CC but we still thought we could coast it without improving the squad after how we coasted it last season. That was a mistake.

Agree with all that, however, I for one am glad we do seem to have prioritised the CC (despite, like you say, being far too complacent about it during last Winter) over the tinpot T20 rubbish.
To only have one overseas player in your side (and one at that who could be very much classed as a luxury too)  either confirms this or completely illustrates how the current coaching set up are very much lacking in "something"!!

[Valentines Park]

signed a veteran in the format for good money.

Chris Gayle is currently playing for Vancouver so I reckon any money might have got bang for buck.

[Niel01]

It is no secret that batters win T20 matches and rarely bowlers. So we have gone for three overseas bowlers to cover. On top of that our batting is fragile at best. All in all will be amazing if not a T20 "non event" this Season.  Although some say that they care not about T20 it brings in the money !!  If we are to become a poor T20 side tickets will not sell in subsequent years and the Clubs finances will suffer. This has already happened elsewhere with Counties seen as poor performers in the Competition.

[Valentines Park]

Northants have had a good T20 side in recent years but that hasn't translated to big crowds.

The boozers who rock up to Chelmsford after work will watch any old dross & frequently have done.

[nat]

Northants' crowds have increased significantly in recent years.

[essexfan548]

nat - what would be your team in batting order from the current personnel?

[nat]

Chopra, Coles, Wagner, Lawrence, Bopara, Westley, Wheater, RTD, Zaidi, Zampa, Cook jnr.

[pieinthesky]

Northants' crowds have increased significantly in recent years.

Can you give us some evidence on this?

[pieinthesky]

Northants have had a good T20 side in recent years but that hasn't translated to big crowds.

The boozers who rock up to Chelmsford after work will watch any old dross & frequently have done.

This is correct. What all those claiming a bad T20 side will lead to lack of ticket sales are completely missing is the fact that most sales for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights are either booze ups after work for a lot of city and local workers and or pre night out booze ups. I know as I’m part of the after work booze up crowd. The game is completely secondary and tickets would sell it even if it was a 2nd so playing so long as it was sold as a he t20 county completion. Same for oval and lords I’ve been to them as prt of work booze ups, that’s how they sell out on Fridays and Thursdays most people haven’t heard of most players and don’t care who wins or even if it’s a close game. The only cricket aspect that doesn’t go down well is lack of big hits. That’s the only cause for any consternation  from the crowd that goes to these games. They mostly dot watch but when they do look at the pitch they want to see big hits from either side.

Yes you still get your ‘proper’ fan in and kids too but majority are pissed up workers or pissed up louts...hence the reputation of Chelmsford in t20.