PRO50 CHAMPIONSHIP 2022-23

[Donald]

What is eddie byroms contract status with Glamorgan?

[Googly]

I think he's got another year before it's up for review.
He's a good player and likely to improve. So far predominantly red ball, which we don't play much of internationally. That's been a mistake on Somerset's and Glamorgan's part. He can play all formats. The problem is these teams have got damned good batters. You need to take your chance and do something bloody useful to cement a spot. He batted at 5/6 in T20 which he's not suited to, he needs to open, but when you see the guys he'd need to replace it's unlikely, but trust me he can lace a cricket ball. He's good enough, just needs the opportunity and needs to grab it, it's not easy

As we've always said he has the Irish option as well.
If PJ is knocking on the Irish door Byrom would burst it open. He's such a pleasure to watch when he's batting well, absolutely gifted technically and slowly but surely ironing out the mental side of his game. More time on the ball against quicks than anyone I've ever seen. He makes 140 look 120. Fact.

[secretzimbo]

I’m not sure Ireland is a much more attractive proposition than Zim at the moment. Obviously for quality of life and non-cricketing reasons yeah, it’s way ahead.
But they play even fewer Tests than us and absolutely zero domestic red ball. Their domestic season is (currently) shorter than ours even and their domestic contracts are poorly paid too.

If Dave is still around for the next couple of years and if the board carries on being relatively harmonious and decent then I think we remain a better a cricketing option at least.

Although I think his Dad may be over there now, last I heard?

Anyway it’s good that’s he’s here. I’m sure part of it is wanting to get form/fitness/boost his stats, but there must also be an element of networking and keeping his options open.

[zimfan1]

I just can't see where PJ fits into this Irish side. Tucker is the wk and a better batsman. Tector, Campher and Dockrell the middle order.

PJ has always averaged mid 20s with the bat wherever he has played in white ball cricket.

[zimfan1]

I read on an Irish forum that PJ is seen as the best glove man in Ireland which raised my eyebrows.

[Googly]

These overseas guys will shake their heads in bemusement at how some things operate here.
This Pro 50 has consisted of teams arriving at destination the day before, having questionable accommodation, playing a game, one day rest, playing the return fixture and that's that team done. Then 3 days off and go to the next venue and repeat. Three weeks later that's the 50 over season completed. They'll do the same for T20 but it will probably be done and dusted in 2 weeks. Basically 2 formats completed in just over a month. What other country does that? Plus there's not much going on in some of these places. If I had to spend 2 days in Byo or Masvingo I'd consider the easy way out
That's just a blatant ICC box ticking exercise.
It probably suits the overseas guys actually, but its not how to plan a season's cricket schedule.
Back to Ben Curran who's a decent player and had a shocker, he's almost watched a full season flash by in well under a month. Plenty of guys in the same boat, but they haven't moved countries. He will not be in a good place.

At least they're now topping up the number of games with club cricket that doesn't cost anywhere near as much to administrate but its not the same level of cricket. Plus now they're whining about having to administrate and pay for it when they deliberately engineered it that way. Plus a chunk of these franchise players don't bother with club. But the message being sent is "we promise we'll take a look at you in the cheap and nasty club cricket" but they don't really, it's just lip service.

They need to be playing a minimum of 14-16 games in each of these 2 formats and maybe 12 of red ball in order for it to benefit players. They need volume and they need to be able to recover from 3 shit games which is currently basically half their season gone. On top of that if you've got a rabid or incompetent umpire sticking you because he's a low life that's the year gone.

[Googly]

I just can't see where PJ fits into this Irish side. Tucker is the wk and a better batsman. Tector, Campher and Dockrell the middle order.

PJ has always averaged mid 20s with the bat wherever he has played in white ball cricket.

Ireland are strong. He's absolutely a better batsman than Delaney

[Googly]

Delaney offers something with the ball. Fastish skiddy offspin that doesn't turn and he's a one dimensional batter, hits it only down the ground. He did well with the ball the other day, but that won't be a regular thing

[secretzimbo]

Plus there's not much going on in some of these places. If I had to spend 2 days in Byo or Masvingo I'd consider the easy way out

Also in terms of fixtures, idk, plenty of other smaller full members have equally shit domestic seasons. How many games do the Windies play across formats? I don't think they even have a T20 comp at all outside of the CPL. They definitely play single digit number of FC and List A games. Ireland have fewer than us. England haven't had a proper 50-over comp for a couple of years and Strauss is planning to make it even shorter and play it in April when his restructure comes in in 2024. I'd like to see our T20 significantly longer and better but I'm kind of okay with the Pro50 and the Logan Cup. There are going to be extra North Vs South series games as well for the local players.

You're right about club cricket though. See Marumani dominating the club T10 but then being overlooked for the T20 squad

[Googly]

I’m not sure Ireland is a much more attractive proposition than Zim at the moment. Obviously for quality of life and non-cricketing reasons yeah, it’s way ahead.
But they play even fewer Tests than us and absolutely zero domestic red ball. Their domestic season is (currently) shorter than ours even and their domestic contracts are poorly paid too.

If Dave is still around for the next couple of years and if the board carries on being relatively harmonious and decent then I think we remain a better a cricketing option at least.

Although I think his Dad may be over there now, last I heard?

Anyway it’s good that’s he’s here. I’m sure part of it is wanting to get form/fitness/boost his stats, but there must also be an element of networking and keeping his options open.

Ya Glen is there in UK. The best sportswriter this country has ever seen. Oh how I miss going to the back two pages of the Herald and reading one of his fantastic articles.
I dunno about Ireland being a better life, you have to be amphibious. I go to UK regularly and can't wait to wheelspin back to the dirt, corruption and chaos of Zim. Its a nice break though, but your roots are your roots.
There are plenty of people praying ZC suddenly come right, but its like hoping we have free and fair elections
We've spent our lives hoping things improve, it's that frog in the pot scenario, before you know it you're 75 and eating sadza in Borrodaile Trust