v Warwickshire 20/20 @ Edgbaston Monday 4 July 2005

Scorecard

What Next?

The big issue is what to do with the rest of this season.  Peter Anderson has stepped down. Richard Gould and Brian Rose have taken over.  Sanath Jayasuriya has returned to Test duty against the West Indies and there is only a month to go before Graeme Smith returns for treatment before South Africa’s next set of matches.  So where does all that leave us for the last third of the season?

As I write this, we are presently eighth in the Second Division of the County Championship with 62 points – 37 points behind Lancashire who sit in the third promotion position and 69 points behind Durham who are on top of the pile.  We ain’t going to win the Championship this year unless there is a miracle.

We are seventh in the ToteSport League Division 2 with 14 points.  That’s 10 points behind Durham (there they are again) who are on top of this pile as well.  What is more, we have played two more games than most of the teams above us (except Leicestershire) and three more than Yorkshire!  Our one day title hopes are slipping as well.

We are out of the C&G, in case you blinked and missed it.  So no silverware there then!

Present information is that we will be led by our fourth captain of the 2005 campaign (although it is likely to be one who has done one stint already this year - although that doesn't seem completely certain).

We have ‘terminated the contract’ of one of our experienced bowlers, Nixon McLean, in the past two weeks, because of injury issues and we have other important players in states of ‘crockedness’. 

I ran a poll a while ago asking what should be done after Smith’s departure.  39% went for the option of having faith in our young home-grown squad and saving the money.  That view runs alongside the professed policy of the Cricket Committee at the start of the year.  The employment of Charl Langeveldt was a bit of a surprise but we need something in the pace locker and this guy seems to be a wicket-taker, especially at the end of an innings.  He also looks like he may be a long term prospect if this pans out.  Our second international for 2006?

Let’s face it.  The long term supporter of this club is not particularly interested in the fate of the 20/20 competition.  A significant proportion of them will be having a two week holiday from the ground while the regional bit is going on. They are missing some interesting stuff – Woody’s innings on Thursday against Worcestershire was a revelation.  How can you not call that exciting cricket? 

The Championship however is the important bit of all this.  It shows you are a quality cricketing county.  That is the bit that makes the ‘big wigs’ at Lords sit up and take notice.  The First Division of the County Championship is the place to be if you want to feel you are playing in the elite of the sport.

It also happens to be the only competition where any slim hope still lives of some success.  But what resources do we have in the bank?

An opening partnership of Matt Wood and John Francis could be a good starting point. A right/left hand bat combination isn’t a bad start.  Mike Burns can provide experience at first change, a player who can push the pace or stand his ground.  There is a gap at number 4.  You could pull Ian Blackwell down a position or introduce Neil Edwards into the side in the first three – more Lefties!  Carl Gazzard may very well make an appearance in the Championship top five with the bat before the end of this campaign and why not Keith Parsons?

The middle order is packed with allrounders with prospects.  James Hildreth may be a bowling asset (if his 20/20 performances are anything to go by) as well as a batting talent that other counties would kill for.  Aaron Laraman could be our new ‘Graham Rose’ a tall, tight bowler with an aggressive bat.  If only we could keep the guy fit long enough to have a decent run in the side!

Slow ball support for Blackwell in the shape of Arul Suppiah or Wes Durston (although his chance this year may come in the one day format)?

The gloves will stay with the man likely to captain Somerset, unless things have changed (and there is something in the air that suggests there may be winds from a different direction).  Rob Turner will probably take the reins and will definitely maintain his position as our premier keeper because that is what he is.

Bowling has been the main problem for us in most formats.  Who will take wickets?  Andrew Caddick is still our main man and we need him fully fit.  Richard Johnson needs to find the touch that seems to have escaped him in 2005 – but getting him off the treatment table is most important.  With those two in form, we would look to Simon Francis to turn the screw at the other end.  Mike Parsons will make the grade but not quite yet.  If the other two are fit then the younger guys may find their noses out of place because Langeveldt will be expected to take the third berth.

176 points to play for in 8 Championship games.

5 at Taunton.

Most against sides above us.

Opportunity knocks, Mr Rose/Mr Garraway, tell your squad “play for us or make way” and in the words of Channel 4 - BRING IT ON!!

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