Username
Password
How good was it? II

So it wasn't him
By Grockle January 14 2008
So it wasn't all Langer and his new captaincy. It wasn't just the return of Banger for a whole season So what was it? We had a front end to die for and it produced what we hadn't had for a number of years but did it send us into the upper strata of the crficketing world?

With Cameron White, Ian Blackwell and James Hildreth in our  middle order, not only could we set a base for a great innings but we could build on it and set sides a real mountina to climb in their first visit to the crease. But Cameron didn't have a huge season in the Championship and his bowling was neverf going to set the spin world alight.  Ian seemed slightly off his game, we wondered whether the shoulder was an issue but his bowling was solid and dependable - even though it took a while for his captain to actually frealise what a slow ball asset he actually was.

It was Hildreth who came of age and established himself as a batsman who could lead rather than the supporter of another man's innings.  Like neil Edwards he started to fashion his own path through a game. It didn't stop at number 6 either.  Craig Keiswetter ended last season as a name we heard and a possible addition to the squad.  Within a very few games he was the first choice behind the stumps and an attracking batsman of no little flair.  Sam Spurway found himself out of a position and eventually out of a squad although Carl Gazzard spent the whole summer with the seconds.  It'll be a long way back I'm afraid.

Well we had the batting it seemed but could we take sides out twice and could we do that at home as welll as away?  Our home form haad been poor in 2006 and our away form didn't make up for it.  Bowling a side out twice was a problem, the back ends of the opposition made us pay more than once.  Why? We had no second wave of bowlers.  Now we had people fighting to get into the second wave.  Peter Trego suddenly decided to become a true allrounder.  He made runs and he took wickets.  He made the number 8 spot his and started to create a reputation that supporters hope will develop into a legend!!

Bookmark or share this story with: