But Maynard went out of his way to say that he's 'absolutely love to bring Jos back,' so I wonder if that wasn't just a thrown away comment on the wind, but something said because he actually intends to do so/it's been discussed etc.

I see SD and Banton as red herrings in that debate.

But, to be honest, unless Jos is giving up the IPL (and why would he?) then there'd be little point in bringing him back, as he'd almost never play for us anyway, IMO.

Tom Seymour is absolutely on the button about the discipline shown by our attack.

To my mind, that has become our hallmark - disciplined bowling.

No, we don't have a 90mph world class quick, or a world-class wrist spinner (these days, no county side does) but we have good, accurate, clever bowlers who give no quarter whatsoever and they have been a credit to the club this season and, indeed, last season too, IMO.

I think this started to happen from early in the Rogers tenure as skipper last season. Whether it was because of him or a product of the natural maturation of some younger players, I'm not 100% sure. However, I think he had a hand in it, because Tim G was always somebody who wouldn't sustain pressure (prior to last season he'd spoil 4 or 5 good balls with 1 or 2 inaccurate ones) and yet he has become very accurate too (and no spring chicken, him - so doubt it was just natural maturation in his case).

I wonder if Tom's decision to make Lancs bat again shows a measure of self-awareness along the lines of 'If we were to bat again, I might be too conservative and it might cost us,' or whether it is more reflective of the fact that we think the track may get better rather than worse?

I don't think it can just be a questionable forecast because that seemed to be all but ignored when it came to the calculations about when to declare at Edgbaston (unless, perhaps Tom had access to a special forecast that was highly trusted and not publicly available which said that the final day would be largely fine).

Forecast is for a full day's play at Uxbridge tomorrow but, if the Met Office are right for once, then Middx might lose the final few hours on Friday...

As someone who succumbed to appointments today, thank you to all the posters particularly from 3.28pm onwards who captured the excitement so well. Something to read again on a long winter's evening. Hopefully Farmer managed to close his appointments yesterday as I am really looking forward to read more about this final session in his highlights package. Jack Leach - first choice

Quote:

Loyal of Lhasa
a man still only in the early autumn of your life.

LoL

Firstly thank you for your kind comments on my Day 1 report. But regarding the above I would point out I am only 23, my grey hair and drawn features entirely due to following Somerset all my life.

Farmer

... and I'm the King of Antigua![u][/u]

---

LoL

Seventy Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Jack has confirmed that the follow-on was NOT enforced, primarily due to the fear that the track will improve as the match progresses.

Obviously, the implication, there, is that if we do have to chase some runs on the final day we may not be that worried because it might be a pancake as on the final day vs Essex.

Most of our top six have also found some form recently, which might have factored into it.

I assume that the Brown Caps are intent on producing another worthless pitch for our game there next week....so pray, pray, pray, that the weather stays away and we can polish Lancs off as the chance of a result at the Oval may be somewhat akin to the chances of Mrs May winning personality of the year.

Posters who pooh-poohed recent reports on Grockles that there is a league table doing the rounds on the county circuit of umpires who stay in the pavilion, with their feet up, for as long as possible after rain delays, should have been at Taunton this afternoon.

The loud ring of cynical laughter that circled the ground, after the PA announcer, Donald Trump-like, had put out the fake news that the umpires (veteran Nick Cook and newcomer Billy Taylor) had done everything humanly possible to get play started again as soon as possible, told its own story. So, too, did the ironic applause that greeted their belated return to duty

If it had been a 20/20 encounter, they would have been out in bright sunshine 45 minutes to an hour earlier.

And mr cook is one of the worst offenders I believe c-j-m

Mr LoL, you are not the king of Antigua. Antigua has joint kings, Anderson Roberts and Vivian Richards.

What a day!
Superb all round bowling display.
Jack is without any doubt the best english spin bowler on the county circuit.
Despite the ecb trying to muck him up he has 103 wickets in 2 seasons with still 5 innings to go.
100% the right decision to follow on this time.
Well done Matt. Well done Tom.
All over tomorrow would do nicely.
Can see no way they get anywhere near the 350 to even cause us a minor concern.
Far more likely for me we win by tea by an innings.
Fantastic 2 days, lets just finish this off for 22pts

Quote:

Bobstan
Mr LoL, you are not the king of Antigua. Antigua has joint kings, Anderson Roberts and Vivian Richards.

We Three Kings of Antigua are - and so am I.

---

LoL

Seventy Seasons a Somerset Supporter



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 13/09/2017 21:54 by Loyal of Lhasa.

Can't see this track flattering out much, it's very dry as you could see from the clouds of dust brought up by the wind on occasions today. It should continue to help the spinners who will wrap this up tomorrow. This is the same wicket that was used for the U19 international.

The last three words of your post are superfluous Ronnie!

Yes John you are correct

Another day which went better than we could have had hopes for. I was catching up on paperwork while watching Warwick v Essex (with one eye and cricinfo with the other)and Sky had the sense to show the fall of wickets at Taunton nearly as soon as they happened.
Splendid bowling from the 4 main men with a very useful contribution from PT.
Roll on tomorrow.

Agod has commented earlier on this thread about the very weak Hampshire batting line-up for their key match against Middlesex at Uxbridge.

It is true that they agreed to release Australian George Bailey for the International XI visiting Pakistan for the first time since the terror bombings; have Liam Dawson away on England ODI duty; and have loaned Michael Carberry to Leicestershire for the remainder of the season (is this the end of his South Coast career?)

But captain James Vince was a victim, like quite a few before him, of that high risk activity - the pre-game warm-up football match, during which he pulled a hamstring. As a Daily Mail feature writer would say - Why? Oh Why?

I may have to start a second thread for this tomorrow morning because this must be getting a little large for our mobile users. If so I'll shut this one down and ask people to move to the new one if that is OK. At around 150 to 200 posts the mobile version of the site starts to crash for people trying to up load.

---