Middx at Lords

[nat]

Might as well get this giggle fest going.

Saw Ravi, Amir and Walter having a bowl today presumably in readiness for the slog fest. Together with Delport and the Aussie leggie whose name I can't remember, there will be a lot of changes from the CC team.

Something like;

Chopra
Delport
Westley
Lawrence
Ravi
RTD
Wheater
Walter
Harmer
Amir
Aussie Leggie

With a team like that we've got no chance.

[Slogger]

 Shame Harmer's been made captain. I'd want to rest him ahead of the Kent game.

[JasonP]

Not sure Wheater will be fit to play and I can't see Walter playing as the second best seamer.  If he plays it's as a batsman and 6th bowler.  If Porter is fit he'll play, if not Quinn or Beard probably will.
Having to pick Harmer automatically weakens the team.  His T20 bowling record for Essex is comfortably worse than Lawrences. 
From the yearbook Harmer 65 overs 15 wickets @39 economy 9.00, Lawrence 36 overs 14 wickets @ 18 economy 7.08.

[nat]

Nine 'bowlers' in my suggested team. Bowling won't be the issue as all bowlers can go around the park. Batting is the problem.

[JasonP]

Nine 'bowlers' in my suggested team. Bowling won't be the issue as all bowlers can go around the park. Batting is the problem.

One proper seamer.  Walter barely counts these days.  They're going to pick atleast one other seamer.

[Perov]

I agree with JasonP about Harmer. A great 4 day bowler, but ineffective in T/20.
Strange to make him captain.
I would play Beard, as a seamer, he fields well and is a useful bat.
If not Shane Snater, in front of Quinn.
He can hit sixes, in fact he hit 3 today at Coggeshall.

[SirChef26]

I’d play Beard as well. As said above he can bat and field. Assuming he’s fit to play, I’d push Wheater to open where he’s done well for us in white ball cricket. It’d be bloody typical of our luck if he’s out though, him being absent was a massive reason our 50 over campaign was a bust and it won’t be no different here. I’d go for this team but I’m well aware the batting order will be very different..

Chopra
Wheater
Delport
Lawrence
Tendo
Bopara
Westley
Harmer
Beard
Amir
Zampa

I’d like to see Tendo up the order, without the shackles of captaincy this will be a big campaign for him. If Wheater is injured then Pepper will have to go in at 7 and everyone else moves up a slot. It’d leave us with a woefully long tail, but what can you do...

[Perov]

Pepper is not even keeping for the seconds today, just playing as a batsman.

[nat]

Blimey Derbyshire have signed Darren Stevens on loan for the T20 competition. Would certainly have made our side stronger. Missed a trick there (unless of course K*nt wouldn't do business with us).

[Valentines Park]

Stevens batting is shot.

He comes in at 8 for Kent.

[Perov]

Snater released from the seconds at Coggeshall - had been called into the T20 squad, and travels to Lords.
Pepper is still recovering from a finger injury, so may be a while before he keeps wicket again.

[honkytonk]

Im pretty sure Harmer opened the bowling for his T20 franchis in SA during the winter.  With Zampa and Lawrence also, its an option

[mawallace]

Middx Squad for tonight:-

David Malan
Tom Barber
AB De Villiers
Stephen Eskinazi
Steven Finn
Nick Gubbins
James Harris
Tom Helm
Toby Roland-Jones
George Scott
John Simpson
Nathan Sowter
Paul Stirling
Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Looks rather strong to me!

[ytsejam1]

No Amir!......Visa problems apparently!!...

[Valentines Park]

McCullum was a big name signing & he was a severe disappointment.

De Villiers is semi retired so he might not come off.