Where's The Youth?

Is there really any need to use this sort of language? I'm no shrinking violet but let us have a message board without gutter language. I make no apologies for protesting about this.

And nor should you - he should at least put stars there, whoever the hell he is.  On that point, ignore him, he's a nutjob.  I was intrigued by the three responses already, until I saw them; two complaints and a frigging lunatic.   Oh well, at least they weren't complaints about me - the real me I mean.

Finch played. Shoare is playing for the Academy. The Academy put out a stronger team with eight of the first choice eleven playing. Why didn't Ludlow play? With Hudson-Prentice, Salt and Grant missing the batting looked a batsman short and he is next cab off the rank. The Academy won thanks to half centuries from Academy duo Ben Shoare and Leo Cammish and then eight wickets were shared between George Garton (5-40) and Elliott Hooper (3-47). Sam Grant scored 61.

My seven young cricketers to watch out for in 2014:

1) Joe Ludlow
2) Nick Oxley
3) Jonty Jenner
4) Daniel Doram
5) Ellen Burt
6) Ross Whyte
7) James Allen

Back on topic, while we've seen the likes of Brown, Wells and Machan holding down regular places this season, we really need to keep an eye on succession. We do have younger players pushing for places with their performances in the seconds, Hatchett for example has been pretty consistent so far. Given Liddle's loss of form, his chance surely cannot be far away. With Jordan away, our four front line bowlers in recent matches, have all been the wrong side of thirty, and that's a worry.

It's a problem, it's fair to say Hatchett has been turning in some pretty impressive performances for the seconds this season and we really do need to give him some opportunities in the firsts. As for the others, as you say, maybe they are not doing enough in the seconds. I can only go on what I read, and our coaching staff are the ones who actually see these guys perform on a daily basis. Given the age of key members of our squad, I was slightly surprised by our recruitment this winter. Also, was it wise to award the older players two year contracts? It's not a case of condemning players to the scrap heap but with so many players likely to be passing their peak together, we could have big problems. As I said, with everyone a year older next year, we have left ourselves very little room to manoeuvre, as far as bringing down the age of the squad goes.

As for Wells, we simply cannot afford to lose a player like him. I've always believed he'd be able to play one day cricket, he certainly can hit a ball a long way. He could certainly play all the 50 over games, with a view to getting into the T20 side. There may be nothing in it, but the last thing we need is disgruntled younger players leaving because they see their route into the first team blocked. Will Beer is obviously another one, his performances so far for the seconds, have perhaps been a little indifferent, well based on his figures anyway. However, he may be frustrated at losing his place as our main one day spin bowler to someone, who so far this season, has done absolutely nothing to warrant taking his place.

I know Finch was in the eleven, but where was he?  Why did a young batsman come in after two all-rounders, a wicky and a bowler?  Why not play him at three?  We know what Yardy can do, and his 11 off 25 was a good example of it.  Even if Finch had have scored nought off one it would have been better.  Simply, what's the point in playing a young batter if you're not gonna trust him as a batsman?  Especially in a tour match which is mainly about money.

JB's right, our succession plan is worrying, and it needn't be.  We have lots of good young players but they're not being used right.  Why didn't we give Jackson a game and rest Brown, or just play him as a bat.  These lads can't get a competative game for the firsts, so how are they learning? 

Of my list above, God knows where Hobden and Jackson were?  I can only presume Hatchett was injured, why else wouldn't he play?  Seems Shoare and H-P were playing for the Academy, fair enough, dunno about Sakande, and Whittingham is playing for a  Loughborough side that is giving Lancs something to think about today.  Realistically, I'm just talking about Jackson, Finch, Hatchett, Hobden and Beer - they have to play more if we think they can, for the sake of the future.  If we don't think they can, so long lads.  It's still a bit early for the H-Ps and the Shoares. 

One thing I should add, since I posted this before realising there was a second page, Wells has had 40 over chances - he did nothing.  You still have to warrent your place and I hope BM's mate is wrong about Wells cos he ain't really in a postion to be making demands.  He's done well in T20 2nd eleven cricket and I hope we give him another chance in the one-day stuff but we need something different in T20 right now - We're already carrying Yardy in the top six and Joyce is an issue too.