How long Oh Lord How long
So....2010 then
How long Oh Lord How long
By Grockle
January 5 2010
A new captain, a new top three batsman, a new international player who is a new spinner, a new possible England player and at least three new possible Academy entrants into the first team pool. Just another cricket season then?
How long Oh Lord How long
January 5 2010
A new captain, a new top three batsman, a new international player who is a new spinner, a new possible England player and at least three new possible Academy entrants into the first team pool. Just another cricket season then?
I have yet to get my TV face in gear and finish off my assessment of last year...maybe that little move into audio-visual stuff was a step too far for me? Who knows.
However we have moved into the New Year with exciting aspects of the county worthy of predicitive debate as well as harping back to the season that has gone.
A number of issues are worth thinking (and therefore talking) about;
Marcus Trescothick; A captain awaiting his opportunity or the only option in a sparse group of candidates?
Nick Compton; The solution (or part of it) to our Number 3 batting conundrum. Is he Somerset's missing link?
Did we see a new Arul Suppiah last season or did he have a Piran Holloway of a season? Will he open and with whom?
Murali Kartik; 'Mushy' for the 'Teenies' or another forlorn hope to get something more out of a dead pitch that is a graveyard for pace bowlers?
Craig Kieswetter; Is he really such an obvious replacement for Matt Prior (who is having a very decent South African tour) in the England setup and if he is, will Jos Buttler be a good enough replacement for our first team.
James Hildreth; After that mighty 300 early in 2009, how patient were we with his form and how patient should we be in the summer? Is he an integral part of our batting line-up and if not? Who will be pushing him for a place....Chris Jones?
Zander the Middle Man; What is his role in the Somerset machine and does it fit all forms of the game?
Max Waller; A partner for Kartik? An alternative? A season of waiting ahead?
Turner, Stiff, Haggett, Thomas, Phillips, Willoughby; Is there a new ball solution in there now we are Caddick-less? Are there three/four men we can rely on. Are there three/four men we can get on the pitch each week?
Peter Trego; An England allrounder? A county allrounder? A batsman who bowls a bit?
Are there loose canons or dark horses in our playing midst that we have missed or got wrong in our assessments?
The Pitch; Well...will it be better? Will it make any difference to some if it is? Will it be seen as a sea anchor around the county's neck if it isn't? Is it a problem at all?
The Long Room; Well the CA has been gutted so it will be replaced with something. Is it going to be a Caddyshack 'carbuncle' or a shining area of light and sun for those who invest in its glory?
Supporter Facilities; Supportive? Lacking concern for the paying punters? Improving? Too corporate? Oh what a can of worms...
So there we go...stuff and nonsense for the dark days of winter. Comments and other debating points welcomed people.
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So....2010 then
Posted by: Grockles.com (IP Logged)
Date: 05/01/2010 18:28
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:17:19:12:39 by Grockle.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:17:19:12:39 by Grockle.
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Clarence Parker (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 11:22
About 38 different questions there, Grockle.
I can't provide answers to all, but perhaps someone out there can?
I can't provide answers to all, but perhaps someone out there can?
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Mike BOS (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 11:32
A lot of questions!
The season will give us the answers.
The long room! It is only for those who are willing to pay the extra, as I understand it those who pay the extra will have a reserved seat.
How they are going to cope when the white sheeting is covering-up part of the left-hand side for some of the matches for the sightscreen time will tell.
The season will give us the answers.
The long room! It is only for those who are willing to pay the extra, as I understand it those who pay the extra will have a reserved seat.
How they are going to cope when the white sheeting is covering-up part of the left-hand side for some of the matches for the sightscreen time will tell.
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: BristolRob (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 12:21
It will become The Short Room.
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Grockle (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 13:26
I'm not sure that is going to be a problem Mike. the discussion was that along the lines that the front would be one way and therefore the need for a screen would be decreased but who knows. Anyway we rarely have a screen issue in front of the CA.
ref the 38 questions. Well that's about 2 and a bit days a question before the start of the season.
ref the 38 questions. Well that's about 2 and a bit days a question before the start of the season.
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Bath Bob (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 14:18
As regards the Long Room, I don't think it's purely a question of paying extra for a reserved seat. The reserved seat is only for T20 games (which have the greatest overall demand).
As I understand it, a Championship membership of the LOng room is much less than Platinum and still includes all County Championship and 40 over games. For 38 days of cricket in the new facility, that's pretty good value at £7 odd per day if the LR ends up being quality.
As I understand it, a Championship membership of the LOng room is much less than Platinum and still includes all County Championship and 40 over games. For 38 days of cricket in the new facility, that's pretty good value at £7 odd per day if the LR ends up being quality.
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Mike BOS (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 14:47
Thanks for correcting me on the reserved seating Bath Rob.
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Loyal of Lhasa. (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 15:10
I've just read your leading article, Grockle, and note there is no mention of Munday; nor does he appear on your list of potential players of the season. Have I missed something? He is still on the staff, isn't he? I predict he has his best spinning days ahead of him.
LoL
Sixty-one Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-one Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Grockle (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 15:15
Hope so LoL. I also noted that I hadn't included Max in the poll.
He's got a long way to pull himself back into contention as our wicket taking spinner with Karthik (does it have an 'h'?) in the frame for next year.
I'd also like to see it but I personally wanted to see it two years ago and he seemed to put his career in reverse.
I suppose time will tell and I'll happily eat these words by September if he has 30+ wickets in his bag.
He's got a long way to pull himself back into contention as our wicket taking spinner with Karthik (does it have an 'h'?) in the frame for next year.
I'd also like to see it but I personally wanted to see it two years ago and he seemed to put his career in reverse.
I suppose time will tell and I'll happily eat these words by September if he has 30+ wickets in his bag.
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Clarence Parker (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 15:24
So do I, Loyal of Lhasa.
Much will depend on the new captain's thoughts re. selection of course, along with those of Head Coach, Andy Hurry.
Sadly, I do have some apprehension about the future of Michael Munday with Somerset.
In my opinion, he will be more likely to take County Championship wickets than his erstwhile colleague, Max Waller.
Much will depend on the new captain's thoughts re. selection of course, along with those of Head Coach, Andy Hurry.
Sadly, I do have some apprehension about the future of Michael Munday with Somerset.
In my opinion, he will be more likely to take County Championship wickets than his erstwhile colleague, Max Waller.
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Grockle (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 15:30
He's done little to indicate that though. He hasn't taken his opportunities and he hasn't particularly shone in the seconds either.
Indications at the end of the season suggested a crisis of confidence and a possible belief that the game wasn't for him. But he has stayed and hopefully will not be satisfied with just making up the second team numbers so we'll see a newly invigorated MM in 2010
Indications at the end of the season suggested a crisis of confidence and a possible belief that the game wasn't for him. But he has stayed and hopefully will not be satisfied with just making up the second team numbers so we'll see a newly invigorated MM in 2010
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Loyal of Lhasa. (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 15:38
Does anybody know where he is spending this winter? Yes, he and his mum do... but will somebody tell the rest of us.
LoL
Sixty-one Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-one Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Kentish Townie (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 16:16
It became clear at the end of the season that the club was not prepared to risk MM even in a situation where there were going out and out for victory at home.
We can only hope that playing with Kartik and the pitch changes give him confidence although I can't see them playing in the same team.
Taunton is not an easy ground for spinners where even a mishit can clear the boundary and this can't help.
Though Waller has better control, we're yet to see him really take wickets as Munday has in the past.
We can only hope that playing with Kartik and the pitch changes give him confidence although I can't see them playing in the same team.
Taunton is not an easy ground for spinners where even a mishit can clear the boundary and this can't help.
Though Waller has better control, we're yet to see him really take wickets as Munday has in the past.
Re: So....2010 then
Posted by: Grockle (IP Logged)
Date: 06/01/2010 20:58
As Munday has ONCE in first team performances KT.
Not good enough I'm afraid although he has had limited opportunities to show anything else.
Now is that because a lack of faith in his consistency?
A lack of personal confidence in his own ability?
A lack of real ability above the second team level?
His face not fitting in the last regime?
It's gonna be a big job for him to re-surface and that will prove he has the will AND the ability and could be the making of the man.
Or it will be...bye Michael
He also needs to wrk on his other "arrows" batting and fielding...he was seen as a one trick pony in his previous incarnation and Max has ability in the field and as a solid tail end batsman.
Not good enough I'm afraid although he has had limited opportunities to show anything else.
Now is that because a lack of faith in his consistency?
A lack of personal confidence in his own ability?
A lack of real ability above the second team level?
His face not fitting in the last regime?
It's gonna be a big job for him to re-surface and that will prove he has the will AND the ability and could be the making of the man.
Or it will be...bye Michael
He also needs to wrk on his other "arrows" batting and fielding...he was seen as a one trick pony in his previous incarnation and Max has ability in the field and as a solid tail end batsman.
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