Not yet ready
v Cambridge Uni (Uni) @ Fenners Wednesday 16 April 2008
A three day game may not give us a real sense of the one day outfit who will be taking the pitch at Taunton on Sunday to start the officially competitive stuff but the University game is always used to put the edge on players and take a final look at contenders at least. We expect Mr Caddick to turn his arm over although he may be kept back for Wednesday.
Who else? Well Ian Blackwell has been conspicious by his absence during the friendlies and it would be good to see that his groin strain is on the mend by seeing him take the field. it may be too early. Likewise Charl Willoughby who if fit would be expected to be part of the bowling line-up for Sunday even if he doesn't play in this next game. Alfonso Thomas is a Somersetian now and may get his first outing with his team-mates against the Cambridge intellignesia. Zander de Bruyn won't because his registration has not been finalised yet even though he seems to have signed on the dotted line. Will the skipper play? Probably not, does a man of Langer's stature needs to get his eye in?
I'd expect Neil Edwards to open with? Well John Francis could do with another run out after an interesting pre-season. Is he a real contender again after that 50? He still looks a little cautious but the luck seems to have found him again. Arul will probably get a chance to make a claim for a number 5 place and so will Wes. They may find themselves either side of James Hildreth if Marcus stays out of this one. Ian B will be in that front 6 if he is in consideration for Sunday and Omari Banks will be looking to cement his place in the selectors mind although there hasn't been that many fireworks up to now and we may have built him up too much based on the West Indian angle.
Craig K may relenquish the gloves for this one to give Carl some work before the season starts but I'd be very surprised if he wasn't behind the stumps for the Hampshire game. Peter Trego will hope to get an opportunity to show his worth given that another 2 seaming batsmen from the bottom of Africa are both eyeing up a spot in this side and as already said Alfonso may be in to get a feel for the early English conditions. Then there's the bowling machine who will need to get himself up to working speed with a few overs in a nice little 3 dayer. Please let's see Caddick play because it means he's ready. The last bowling spot? The agression of Steffan? The tight Phillips? The very speedy Turner? The two wicket Munday? Who the hell knows?
So...
Edwards, Francis(Trescothick), Suppiah(Langer), Hildreth,Banks(Blackwell),Trego,Gazzard,Durston(Munday)Thomas(Phillips),Jones(Willoughby), Caddick(Turner)
And you try and pick the starting line up for Sunday if half of the doubtful ones here play!! If everyone is fit the selection meetings are gong to be long and awful hard in all but maybe four place
Let's see where we are this time tomorrow and then we can decide whether this is a run out for the one day side or a warm-up for the four day probables.
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