Hampshire Squad

[Perov]

Chopra is out of form, be it dropping Ravi is a strange one. Disciplinary or because he is going elsewhere soon?

Or injured again?

Very much doubt it.
He was fit on Monday for the seconds, bowling well, getting into the 90's batting and taking a great catch.

[Valentines Park]

When are we going to get some sort of statement re whether Bopara and Chopra are available for the rest of the CC ?

Who cares if Chopra is available.

[nat]

Wheels coming off already.

[nat]

That's what you get with Cameron Delport. Lots of failures with the occasional big innings.

[Reddevil]

Looks like normal service has been resumed.

I was so pleased to access streaming via YouTube and even more pleased to see Westley and  Wheater rollicking  along at 9 an over, reaching 82.

A loose shot by Westley and the bubble burst in the biggest cloudburst I have seen by Essex in a long time. It had looked as if Hampshire’s dire record at Chelmsford would continue.

Even after we had capitulated and fallen in a very undignified heap, we managed to miss a big trick.

With such a small total to defend, Hampshire had to be bowled out. We got a near perfect start with our premium overseas player Amur, bowling Donald second ball to bring Vince and Roussow together, The powerhouse of Hampshire batting.

Our only chance was to at least bowl Amir for a second over and try to dismiss both Vince and Roussow.

But no!!!

Inexplicably Amir  did not bowl again until the obvious defeat was staring the team in the face and it was far too late.

Depressingly predictable.

Far more interesting was the the discussion by the commentators over Bopara’s omission yet again, with the suggestion that his imminent appearance in the Euro T20 League was the reason, he was not playing.

Any truth in this?

Where do the team go from here - probably on a long journey to lose to Gloucester.

At least Siddle showed his true worth today, even it was for the Aussies. Well played Sir.

[JasonP]

That was embarrassing.  How do you pick a team with only five and a half batsmen when all 10 outfielders are able to bowl?  They have no idea how to set up a t20 side.  Delport is a lot more miss than hit and Westley, Wheater and Lawrence are all 30s and 40s type batsmen.

[Tennyson]

I can't help thinking they just pick a side based on giving everyone a game! Just does not look they really want to win but can't moan too much being as we are top Division 1

[ytsejam1]

Utterly embarrassing! It seems like everyone bar the Essex captain and selectors were baffled and worried before the match about the ridiculously weak batting line chosen for this match and all our fears came true.....in spades!
It’s hard to see where the team go from here if they are not going to even try to pick six proper batsmen! IF Bopara has been dropped because he is buggering off soon, then I doubt he will ever play for the club again as I can’t see him taking too kindly to that decision.
Still, does the club care too much when they keep selling out the home matches?!!

Only bright spots were that at least Walter did well and will play in the next match for sure and that I doubt we will ever see Snater again, as he’s clearly completely out of his depth. Oh and the “freaker” of course!

[JasonP]

Another thing.  People are quick to criticise teams who fill their teams with overseas players.  We had seven tonight!

[IlfordEagle]

How embarrassing was that, very, how do you collapse from 81-1 & going well, or from 101-3 to 109-8 with some extremely poor shots. Only the 3 W's did anything with the bat, without them we wouldn't have made 50! Agree with Reddevil re Amir who surely could have been bowled out to try to get 2/3 more wickets & give us a chance, I couldn't believe the streaker was allowed to run around so much & got within a foot or two of Amir (good job he didn't have a weapon or say something racist), but the Stewards were very slow to react, if they did at all.
Unless we win at Bristol we can forget this season's chances already, there were a fair few empty seats tonight & carry on like this & we certainly won't sell out in future as we are not even competitive at present, people will get tired of watching us continually lose which we will unless there are changes & we become more competitive.

[nat]

Another thing.  People are quick to criticise teams who fill their teams with overseas players.  We had seven tonight!

Yep agree. A disgrace.

[stewyww]

Another thing.  People are quick to criticise teams who fill their teams with overseas players.  We had seven tonight!

Indeed. And those seven players contributed the princely total of NINE runs between them!!

[LeedsExile]

My concern is that a lamentable 20/20 campaign could spill over to the remaining Championship games. Since we beat Warwickshire Cook has not lifted a bat in anger, Browne has played poorly in various second eleven games, Bopara has gone awol and we have lost our overseas bowler. Not looking promising is it?

[SirChef26]

My concern is that a lamentable 20/20 campaign could spill over to the remaining Championship games. Since we beat Warwickshire Cook has not lifted a bat in anger, Browne has played poorly in various second eleven games, Bopara has gone awol and we have lost our overseas bowler. Not looking promising is it?

Same. Very worrying. I’d have Cook batting in the T20. We’re not going to get our the group so let’s give our fans some value for money, everyone would enjoy seeing him try to play T20.

[Valentines Park]

everyone would enjoy seeing him try to play T20.

.
Chef's T20 stats are comparable to Chopra's but I'm just glad we get to see him play at all.

Most ex England captains head straight to Sky.