Somerset
Hello 2015. 9-1, 8-1, 7-1
By Grockle et al
April 11 2015
OK so here we go. 2015 Good morning one and all (or good evening if you got this last night - time zones just do me no good). It's Durham, Its CC1 and it's possibly Marcus Trecothick's last chance to get that trophy in the cabinet at Taunton, the pennant on the flagpole and a jolly in Abu Dhabi that he proobably wouldn't be able to go to in 2016. Matthew Maynard expects but has he produced the squad that can deliver? Cricinfo think we have a good balance of youth and experience, some suppporters do not. Is the experience too long in the tooth and too set in its ways and is the youth too young? Welcome to when we find out. Havagudun one and all.
v Durham LVCC1 @ The County Ground TAUNTON Sunday 12 April 2015
Welcome to our 20th season one and all. Is that going to be auspicious? Who knows. Presently we are 9-1 to win the CC1, 8-1 in the one dayers and 7-1 for the T20. Those odds suggest a more aggressive batting line-up perhaps that people don't believe will hold its nerve in the four day stuff but may thrash about a bit in the 20 over competition. A view held by more than one on this site. Marcus Trescothick will lead the four day campaign - and we all hope the 39 year old will look to do that from the front. Alfonso Thomas will run the short order squad when he gets back from his mentoring of the IPL side on the 19th.
Maynard has got to have heard the message loud and clear. You want to have a statue in Taunton MM? Bring us the CC1. With Chris Jones finishing before he really started, Nick Compton going where his heart always really lay and Alviro Petersen not doing enough to make us really push for him, we have a new look to the side. Craig Kieswetter is fighting for his professional life against an eye injury and we all hope he is winning but he will be a bonus if we see him at any part of this summer. This has brought in new men and made some interesting opportunities available for those coming through.
There has been speculation about the openers but it seems pretty clear cut, at least at the start of the season. Marcus will captain from the front. How that pans out will be the first of many aspects of Somerset 2015 that will be discussed and analysed. We need him there, we need him scoring and we need him dominating the new ball. His partner will almost certainly be Johann Myburgh who moved into the role at the end of a season that started with 'Johann who?' and ended with more than gudging respect for the man from South Africa via Holland. Whether he will keep his place there or not depends on runs. Tom Abell will be back from college.Although Alex Barrow will wear the gloves, he won't be all that happy batting down the order after being mentioned in more than one preview as a Somerset man to watch. Lewis Gregory may also be looking for a top 5 berth.. At number 3 we welcome our first 'newbie' Tom Cooper who many hope is an Aussie Colin Ingram (and the friendlies suggest he might be). Solidity at number 3? Compo but with more gears? Hope are high.
At four, for now at least, the key IMO to our batting season. It isn't whether Banger puts on a show or whether Tom C solidifies the base. It's whether Hilda takes it on and puts the innings to bed in style. With Allenby arriving to bring the steel and Pete T taking on the CK role while Alex adds depth to the middle order, it is up to James to marshall it, nurture it and use it to put a game away. The vision I have may never have happened but its a 2010 Hildreth who walked out time and time again with confidence and supreme form and gave us a level of belief in our batting I've rarely felt before or since. The consistency he's almost never shown for just one season... pretty please.
So we are 'solid' to 7.... I'd say more 'solid' with the two new men but time will tell. Somerset batting collapses a thing of the past? Surely not I hear you say...and you may well be right. Another addition for the whole season (I believe) is the spinning talent of Abdur Rehman. Ignored by Pakistan and snapped up for more of his wickets at 14.odd in the CC1 of a couple of seasons ago by SCCC. Jack Leach is in as cover for him for tomorroww as AR has a slight twinge he picked up against Lancashire and will fitness test in the morning. One hopes he is up to bowl as he adds an attacking edge iin the spin department we lacked last year. Thomas is unavailable and probably unfit to start the campaign anyway so Pete Trego, Tim Groenewald (who bowled very well in the last friendly against decent opposition) and an Overton will be looking for wickets. Happy birthday to the twins by the way. Craig has recovered earlier than anticipated from his off season surgery but there is doubt whether he would be risked in a full match at the moment. If not, will the management go with the pace of his brother Jamie or the more measured line and length of Lewis Gregory. It may depend on Abdur's fitness whether we go with spin at all and they both turn out.
I have £50 sitting in my betting fund at the moment and I'm wondering how to spread it over the three competitions. The odds say put the largest wad on the T20 for the best chance of a return though at lower odds. But it's 2015, 20 years since we started. It's MT's 39th year, there may not be a 40th. It's a side with less stars but possibly more hunger because of that. There is less faith in the outcome but more hope of a change from the uninspiring Nosworthy to the more promising Maynard. Let's take a chance... let's go for the CC1. Another year without the trophy would not be unusual but what a year to win it.
After all #wearesomerset and it is the eve of the start of the English cricket season. I'm buying a ticket for the Trescothick Triumphant Trophy Train that is pulling out of Taunton tomorrow! Who is with me? All aboard for the ride of our lives? Well we can dream!
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Discussion started by Grockles.com , 11/04/2015 18:32
Grockles.com
11/04/2015 18:32
11/04/2015 18:32
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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:20:13:16:12 by Grockle.
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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:20:13:16:12 by Grockle.
I'd be very surprised, Grockle, re: the spiel above if there is any chance at all (unless there's an injury that we do not know about) of Lewis Gregory not being selected.
Good luck SCCC for the 2015 season.
By the time I log on tomorrow morning, it will be mid-afternoon at H.Q., so plenty of time for us to have got off to a magnificent start.
He said hopefully...........!
Grizzzly
By the time I log on tomorrow morning, it will be mid-afternoon at H.Q., so plenty of time for us to have got off to a magnificent start.
He said hopefully...........!
Grizzzly
I've no problem with Lewis playing and its good that we are looking at more people than places.
Trescothick
Myburgh
Cooper
Hildreth
Allenby
Trego
Barrow
Rehman/Leach
Groenewald
An Overton
Gregory
will do for me. The question was simply would we consider both Overtons. In that case the spinner or Lewis makes way. But I don't think they'll play both unless Overton C is struggling.
Trescothick
Myburgh
Cooper
Hildreth
Allenby
Trego
Barrow
Rehman/Leach
Groenewald
An Overton
Gregory
will do for me. The question was simply would we consider both Overtons. In that case the spinner or Lewis makes way. But I don't think they'll play both unless Overton C is struggling.
I'm pretty excited about this. Hope I can pick up the commentary on my crummy jungle internet. Good luck lads!
The team as reported by the BBC website;
Marcus Trescothick (C)
Johann Myburgh
Tom Cooper
James Hildreth
James Allenby
Alexander Barrow (W)
Peter Trego
Lewis Gregory
Timothy Groenewald
Abdur Rehman
Jamie Overton
Marcus Trescothick (C)
Johann Myburgh
Tom Cooper
James Hildreth
James Allenby
Alexander Barrow (W)
Peter Trego
Lewis Gregory
Timothy Groenewald
Abdur Rehman
Jamie Overton
Painstaking going so far.
Let's hope that Marcus's somewhat unusual decision to bat first at Taunton suggests that he feels that the Ground staff have succeeded in producing something dry enough to take increasing turn for Mr Rehman.
Let's hope that Marcus's somewhat unusual decision to bat first at Taunton suggests that he feels that the Ground staff have succeeded in producing something dry enough to take increasing turn for Mr Rehman.
Clouded over during lunch. Trying to decide if today will prove the easiest day of the match to bat, or the hardest.
It was forecast to become increasingly cloud as the day wore on. If that was taken into account by Marcus who nevertheless decided to bat anyway then it might be another pointer - hopefully - towards the notion that we have reason to believe the track will turn later.
Well played Johann!! First hundred and couldn't happen at a better time. Opening problem? Really?
Well played, indeed. I didn't think he had it in him - and am delighted to have been proved wrong.
James to 50 and then back to the Caddyshack. Shame. But 3 out of 4 over 50 is a decent way to start.
Hildreth's strike rate is near 90. As I said on another thread, I sometimes wish he would slow down a bit but at this stage of the season I'll not complain. Good knock from Myburgh against a useful attack but we shouldn't be too surprised. He has a higher 1st class average than Marcus!!
Batting line-up looked suspect on paper* and not looking great on grass on what the Beeb are claiming looks a pretty flat track either.
I'd say Rehman will have to bowl extremely well, otherwise we may be looking at the possibility of a pretty significant first innings deficit at this rate, especially with better weather forecast for the rest of the match.
* Only six of the XI selected have ever made a first-class century.
On top of that both Cooper and Allenby have, thus far in their careers, been 50 rather than ton merchants.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:12:16:03:21 by AGod.
I'd say Rehman will have to bowl extremely well, otherwise we may be looking at the possibility of a pretty significant first innings deficit at this rate, especially with better weather forecast for the rest of the match.
* Only six of the XI selected have ever made a first-class century.
On top of that both Cooper and Allenby have, thus far in their careers, been 50 rather than ton merchants.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:12:16:03:21 by AGod.
But the wickets have clattered a bit. Collingwood taking the wind out of the sails a bit. Allenby and Trego need to batten down and move towards 400. But Colly now gets Trigger.....oh dear Tea 223 for 2 to 249 for 6 in 7 overs!!
Nice early season test coming up. Let's see what the lower order is made of.
Let's hope the bowling is up for a scrap or is that predicted to be a shambles as well.
I thought Myburgh's innings was very reassuring. The dissappointment of the collapse is that from a position of strength with the hard work done, with set batsemen in, we lost key wickets to a 39 yr old part-time bowler. To miss the third batting point is also prettysad.
Lets see if the bowlers can do something to cheer us up!
Lets see if the bowlers can do something to cheer us up!
Yes a complete shambles, especially that part-time opener Myburgh and that new number 3 Cooper and then there was that disappointing start from Hildreth. All of who were predicted to be problems and how right the oracles of Grockles.com were.
Nothing to look positively on in that debacle at all.
Having said that with an ironic twinge (in case people didn't notice) the back end collapse was a bit of a bad one. I don't know how Allenby did but he as looking OK at Tea. I assume he threw it away almost immediately after the resumption.
Ahhh well our Shi'ite bowlers can muck it up even more now can't they before we lose in two days... or is the prediction that we will make it to the third before capitulating?
I'd not be all that embarrassed by losing your wicket to that particular part-time bowler, he's made a career out of doing it and he doesn't seem to be finished quite yet.
Nothing to look positively on in that debacle at all.
Having said that with an ironic twinge (in case people didn't notice) the back end collapse was a bit of a bad one. I don't know how Allenby did but he as looking OK at Tea. I assume he threw it away almost immediately after the resumption.
Ahhh well our Shi'ite bowlers can muck it up even more now can't they before we lose in two days... or is the prediction that we will make it to the third before capitulating?
I'd not be all that embarrassed by losing your wicket to that particular part-time bowler, he's made a career out of doing it and he doesn't seem to be finished quite yet.
We did present Collingwood with his best-ever bowling figures. So he certainly hand't been doing THAT well for a very long time indeed.
Allenby, as per the commentary, looked like he was just trying to hit the cover off every other ball.
As I said before the game, I think everybody from Hildreth on downwards is one place higher in the batting line-up than they should ideally be.
But as Alan Gibson rightly said there's nothing we can do about our "threadbare," batting line-up because we have no other options.
Gibson was talking about Maynard potentially having to scour the loan market for guys that can bat. I can't imagine he'll do that this soon, but if we continue to make a habit of embarrassing batting collapses (and, let's face it, it's something of a trademark of ours) then there won't be much else that Maynard could do in terms of personnel changes.
As I said at the start of the great batting throwaway, we'll have to hope that Rehman is really on-song or there's every chance of a significant first-innings deficit and unless the track becomes an absolute pancake there's no reason to expect our batting to turn things around if we do find ourselves with a significant first-innings deficit.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:12:18:38:03 by AGod.
Allenby, as per the commentary, looked like he was just trying to hit the cover off every other ball.
As I said before the game, I think everybody from Hildreth on downwards is one place higher in the batting line-up than they should ideally be.
But as Alan Gibson rightly said there's nothing we can do about our "threadbare," batting line-up because we have no other options.
Gibson was talking about Maynard potentially having to scour the loan market for guys that can bat. I can't imagine he'll do that this soon, but if we continue to make a habit of embarrassing batting collapses (and, let's face it, it's something of a trademark of ours) then there won't be much else that Maynard could do in terms of personnel changes.
As I said at the start of the great batting throwaway, we'll have to hope that Rehman is really on-song or there's every chance of a significant first-innings deficit and unless the track becomes an absolute pancake there's no reason to expect our batting to turn things around if we do find ourselves with a significant first-innings deficit.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:12:18:38:03 by AGod.
Rehman finally on. Not sure why we didn't bring him sooner with seamers leaking runs all over the shop.
Yes it is soooo 'threadbare' but now the emphasis seems to be on the back end of the line-up AG when you've been complaining about the front end for so long. Why is that?
I don't know..... so many players there out of position it seems. Though Allenby hasn't got a position for us as far as I know and Thomas of course isn't available, or Craig O. Neither of whom will, of course. improve our 'threadbare' batting line-up
Could everyone be one position up because Craig K is not there? Or even that Tom Abell is not available. Or is it just because Mr Gibson says it is the case? Who can tell on the basis of one innings aye?
Maybe we ought to see if the people who actually get paid to sort out these problems go about sorting out these problems. Or even wait until the match has actually gone further than one day before we give up on the batting as some kind of lost cause just because Anthony seems to have?
I don't know..... so many players there out of position it seems. Though Allenby hasn't got a position for us as far as I know and Thomas of course isn't available, or Craig O. Neither of whom will, of course. improve our 'threadbare' batting line-up
Could everyone be one position up because Craig K is not there? Or even that Tom Abell is not available. Or is it just because Mr Gibson says it is the case? Who can tell on the basis of one innings aye?
Maybe we ought to see if the people who actually get paid to sort out these problems go about sorting out these problems. Or even wait until the match has actually gone further than one day before we give up on the batting as some kind of lost cause just because Anthony seems to have?
My point all winter re: the batting has been that we are simply short, full-stop in all areas of any depth/competition for places on the batting front. It's never specifically been about any one position. If you are referring to the "gaping hole," discsused the other day what you may not have appreciated is that was never my term at all but was, according to the Bristol Post, a quote from Matthew Maynard, prior to his signing of Cooper.
The secondary point is that, without Tom Abell, I think we lack any real ballast in the batting - somebody who is suited, temperamentally to habitually batting for long periods of time. In an ideal world if he was available I'd have TA at 4 in between Cooper and Hildreth with the result that JH, JA, AB etc would each move down one place.
Myburgh managed to convert a start today in a way that he had seldom done previously and that represents very welcome progress from him. But whether he has the temperament to regularly bat for long periods of time remains in doubt, for me, until proven otherwise.
Cooper, today, did what his career record suggested he will probably do quite often - make a 50 (or thereabouts) and then get out without converting it. Yeah, I know it was 47 rather than 50.
I fervently hope that Matthew Maynard can "sort out these problems," but until TA becomes available again, he is out of options, really, from a personnel point of view. Which will presuambly place a very significant premium on the man's ability as batting coach, rather than as D of C. After all, DH was allowed to leave because MM said he could do that role himself.
I actually feel quite sorry for Maynard in some respects. It's not his fault that Compton, quite frankly, left us in the lurch. It's obviously not his fault that Kieswetter is not available either.
However, depending on how well Abdur Rehman acquits himself (which in turn may depend on how many runs we can actually give him to bowl at!), MM may regret, as I suggested at the time, not using the overseas player berth on a batsman, rather than a bowler. Even with the signings of Cooper and Allenby, it's still effectively a case of two in but three (currently) out with no Compton, CK or AP. Factor in the additional departures - over the preceding couple of years - of three other squad batsmen (Buttler, Suppiah and Jones) and it must surely have been obvious to MM that he was taking a significant gamble in passing up the chance to use that overseas slot on a batsman.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:12:19:36:42 by AGod.
The secondary point is that, without Tom Abell, I think we lack any real ballast in the batting - somebody who is suited, temperamentally to habitually batting for long periods of time. In an ideal world if he was available I'd have TA at 4 in between Cooper and Hildreth with the result that JH, JA, AB etc would each move down one place.
Myburgh managed to convert a start today in a way that he had seldom done previously and that represents very welcome progress from him. But whether he has the temperament to regularly bat for long periods of time remains in doubt, for me, until proven otherwise.
Cooper, today, did what his career record suggested he will probably do quite often - make a 50 (or thereabouts) and then get out without converting it. Yeah, I know it was 47 rather than 50.
I fervently hope that Matthew Maynard can "sort out these problems," but until TA becomes available again, he is out of options, really, from a personnel point of view. Which will presuambly place a very significant premium on the man's ability as batting coach, rather than as D of C. After all, DH was allowed to leave because MM said he could do that role himself.
I actually feel quite sorry for Maynard in some respects. It's not his fault that Compton, quite frankly, left us in the lurch. It's obviously not his fault that Kieswetter is not available either.
However, depending on how well Abdur Rehman acquits himself (which in turn may depend on how many runs we can actually give him to bowl at!), MM may regret, as I suggested at the time, not using the overseas player berth on a batsman, rather than a bowler. Even with the signings of Cooper and Allenby, it's still effectively a case of two in but three (currently) out with no Compton, CK or AP. Factor in the additional departures - over the preceding couple of years - of three other squad batsmen (Buttler, Suppiah and Jones) and it must surely have been obvious to MM that he was taking a significant gamble in passing up the chance to use that overseas slot on a batsman.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:12:19:36:42 by AGod.
It is only the first day of the County Championship I know, but on the basis of the end of last season, and the friendly game v. Lancashire last week, I wonder for how much longer Peter Trego can remain an 'automatic choice' for our CC games?
His batting is inconsistent and his bowling is IM0 on the wane. Also, this is his Benefit Year which many players in the past have found to be a distraction to their game.
Being classified as an "all rounder", he needs to turn in good figures for both batting and bowling soon.
I hope that very soon he will be able to do this, but in the meantime I would be more inclined to give him full rein in the one - day games.
His batting is inconsistent and his bowling is IM0 on the wane. Also, this is his Benefit Year which many players in the past have found to be a distraction to their game.
Being classified as an "all rounder", he needs to turn in good figures for both batting and bowling soon.
I hope that very soon he will be able to do this, but in the meantime I would be more inclined to give him full rein in the one - day games.
It certainly used to be the case that players would almost routinely be very poor during their benefit years.
However, in most cases I think that was due to players basically piling on the pounds and thus losing effectiveness. If there's one guy we can probably trust to NOT become fat and unfit, it should be the fitness fanatic that is Trego.
However, in most cases I think that was due to players basically piling on the pounds and thus losing effectiveness. If there's one guy we can probably trust to NOT become fat and unfit, it should be the fitness fanatic that is Trego.
Good honest stuff from Colly who isn't pretending that he bowled some kind of spell for the ages:
Collingwood said: "I'm as surprised as anyone to be standing here talking about taking five wickets on the opening day of the season. It was only my second five-for in first class cricket and my first for a decade.
"There were some good balls and some poor shots. We are pleased with our position, having remained positive throughout the day and can hopefully push on tomorrow."
Collingwood said: "I'm as surprised as anyone to be standing here talking about taking five wickets on the opening day of the season. It was only my second five-for in first class cricket and my first for a decade.
"There were some good balls and some poor shots. We are pleased with our position, having remained positive throughout the day and can hopefully push on tomorrow."
Well, amidst all the guff and waffle, there is some truth in that those from about Hildreth downwards appear to be a place too high. Abell's inclusion would help this, but other batting reserves would also be good. We do bat all way down - on a goo day, this could mean 300+ from 5-10; on a bad day, or against a good attack, maybe with a new ball and a green pitch, it could well be not much more than 30.
No rocket science here, I'm afraid. Also it seems from the Lancs friendly and today that the post-lunch period seems to be the toughest time to bat - or is that cloud-based coincidence.
Not a disastrous day today, but could do better. Congrats to Johann, Tom, James and Lewis. As always, big day tomorrow.
No rocket science here, I'm afraid. Also it seems from the Lancs friendly and today that the post-lunch period seems to be the toughest time to bat - or is that cloud-based coincidence.
Not a disastrous day today, but could do better. Congrats to Johann, Tom, James and Lewis. As always, big day tomorrow.
My understanding from the Lancs game was that it was most overcast at the start of the day?
Looking at the guys from Hildreth down, the one guy in there that perhaps has the temperament to actively set out to bat for some time and thus provide ballast is actually Alex Barrow, IMO. But, unfortunately, Alex never quite seems to make a sustained breakthrough in terms of a consistent run of scores.
Looking at the guys from Hildreth down, the one guy in there that perhaps has the temperament to actively set out to bat for some time and thus provide ballast is actually Alex Barrow, IMO. But, unfortunately, Alex never quite seems to make a sustained breakthrough in terms of a consistent run of scores.
Has Pete bowled a long spell in this game already to be identified as lacking so quickly in 2015? We ask a lot of him and he isn't getting any younger but 5 overs 1 maiden for 22 runs after tea on Day 1 of the season and he is no longer to be considered an 'allrounder'.
My we are going for it in a big way this season aren't we ladies and gents?
You're right Shepton, people are batting out of position. Some of our people who should be in those positions aren't there and the middle order needs to sort itself out in terms of who bats where and what kind of batting they indulge in it seems.
But I'm pretty happy with 2, 3 and 4 for the moment. I'd like to see 1 , 5 and 6, come to the party but after that, as you say we will get a mixed bag of stuff from game to game. Sorry to tell you guys but 7 to 11 are not going to win us any Championships with the bat. They may contribute to what 1 to 6 put up but the ball is where those players do their thing. So if you think we have batting issues then it's at the front end not the tail. The tail is a bonus and it doesn't always deliver.
My we are going for it in a big way this season aren't we ladies and gents?
You're right Shepton, people are batting out of position. Some of our people who should be in those positions aren't there and the middle order needs to sort itself out in terms of who bats where and what kind of batting they indulge in it seems.
But I'm pretty happy with 2, 3 and 4 for the moment. I'd like to see 1 , 5 and 6, come to the party but after that, as you say we will get a mixed bag of stuff from game to game. Sorry to tell you guys but 7 to 11 are not going to win us any Championships with the bat. They may contribute to what 1 to 6 put up but the ball is where those players do their thing. So if you think we have batting issues then it's at the front end not the tail. The tail is a bonus and it doesn't always deliver.
Asking Allenby to bat at five is quite a big ask for him, IMO.
He was a number six batsman down in Div Two, so asking him to simultaneously step up in both standard of cricket (Div ONe) and position in the batting order is something that will probably take some adjusting to for him.
With Cooper being new to English conditions and Abell not being available until later in the year, plus our overseas trump card being a spinner, it might be that the first half of the CC season is about hanging in there for Somerset with perhaps the promise of better things later in the year when TA is available, conditions may better suit Rehman and new players may have bedded in more.
He was a number six batsman down in Div Two, so asking him to simultaneously step up in both standard of cricket (Div ONe) and position in the batting order is something that will probably take some adjusting to for him.
With Cooper being new to English conditions and Abell not being available until later in the year, plus our overseas trump card being a spinner, it might be that the first half of the CC season is about hanging in there for Somerset with perhaps the promise of better things later in the year when TA is available, conditions may better suit Rehman and new players may have bedded in more.
Day one of the first class match photos of the season.
Others will describe the days play in more details than me only to say what a disappointment it was at the end of the days play.
It didn't help not having a scoreboard working for the Durham innings and sat on the Gimblett's Hill we couldn't hear any of the announcements being made.
A good time was seeing Tommy Cooper bat. 4 runs.
Marcus T playing this shot was his down fall.
Marcus was caught by Paul Collingwood off the bowling of Graham Onions.
I am trying to mix these photos up a bit, the good and the bad.
Mark Stoneman Caught James Hildreth low down, bowled by Lewis Gregory.
Keaton Jennings caught Alex Barrow bowled by Lewis Gregory.
After we took those two early wickets things went down hill from then on.
After a very good innings by Abdur Rehman he was caught by Paul Collingwood (you can't keep him out of it) bowled by Graham Onions.
Sad to see Alex Barrow go so early bowled by Paul Collingwood.
James Hildreth hitting 4 runs.
Johann Myburgh getting a hug for his hundred.
Johann Myburgh hitting four runs, a bright time of the day watching him bat.
Others will describe the days play in more details than me only to say what a disappointment it was at the end of the days play.
It didn't help not having a scoreboard working for the Durham innings and sat on the Gimblett's Hill we couldn't hear any of the announcements being made.
A good time was seeing Tommy Cooper bat. 4 runs.
Marcus T playing this shot was his down fall.
Marcus was caught by Paul Collingwood off the bowling of Graham Onions.
I am trying to mix these photos up a bit, the good and the bad.
Mark Stoneman Caught James Hildreth low down, bowled by Lewis Gregory.
Keaton Jennings caught Alex Barrow bowled by Lewis Gregory.
After we took those two early wickets things went down hill from then on.
After a very good innings by Abdur Rehman he was caught by Paul Collingwood (you can't keep him out of it) bowled by Graham Onions.
Sad to see Alex Barrow go so early bowled by Paul Collingwood.
James Hildreth hitting 4 runs.
Johann Myburgh getting a hug for his hundred.
Johann Myburgh hitting four runs, a bright time of the day watching him bat.
First 56 overs excellent, lovely sunny weather, great batting and 2 working scoreboards.
Next 40 overs very poor indeed, awful batting collapse, mixture of straight bowling and poor shots. We do bat down low but there is no fight/substance for me from position 4 down. Hildy, Jim, Tregs, Cove, Lewis all want to play shots, once a collapse starts it feels inevitable, nobody seems suitable to stop the rot.
Weather also turned, more cloud cover and rather chilly.
As for the scoreboards, what an absolute shambles. I really don't care what the excuse is this time, we are becoming a laughing stock. How can we possibly host international cricket when we have no working scoreboard. Both went dead for the Durham innings it's just not good enough.
If that happens in a 20-20 or worse still for club in an international how does that make us look to national media, tv, radio etc.
Really don't know what we are doing to Jamie. The fields we give him are killing him, he often has 4 men on boundary and 2 or 3 slips, he has no hope of not going for runs as so few fielders saving 1. He is tall/fast I get that but Caddick never had that, he bowled off stump, short of a length but with 3 slips, gully, cover, mid on mid off, that's what we need to give him. If he cant bowl to it drop him. Setting these fields are killing him. He has so much potential but fir me we aren't helping him one bit.
Roll on tomorrow, few early wickets and we're right in this, anything around 330/340 and it's even with them batting last v Abdur.
Next 40 overs very poor indeed, awful batting collapse, mixture of straight bowling and poor shots. We do bat down low but there is no fight/substance for me from position 4 down. Hildy, Jim, Tregs, Cove, Lewis all want to play shots, once a collapse starts it feels inevitable, nobody seems suitable to stop the rot.
Weather also turned, more cloud cover and rather chilly.
As for the scoreboards, what an absolute shambles. I really don't care what the excuse is this time, we are becoming a laughing stock. How can we possibly host international cricket when we have no working scoreboard. Both went dead for the Durham innings it's just not good enough.
If that happens in a 20-20 or worse still for club in an international how does that make us look to national media, tv, radio etc.
Really don't know what we are doing to Jamie. The fields we give him are killing him, he often has 4 men on boundary and 2 or 3 slips, he has no hope of not going for runs as so few fielders saving 1. He is tall/fast I get that but Caddick never had that, he bowled off stump, short of a length but with 3 slips, gully, cover, mid on mid off, that's what we need to give him. If he cant bowl to it drop him. Setting these fields are killing him. He has so much potential but fir me we aren't helping him one bit.
Roll on tomorrow, few early wickets and we're right in this, anything around 330/340 and it's even with them batting last v Abdur.
A few thoughts regarding our batting line-up, our overseas recruitment policy, and recent postings thereon.
Tom Cooper's first-class career average is 38.69 (compared to Alviro's of 39.07). Not sure whether an average of 39 with a 50-100 conversion rate of 22% (implying consistency or, if you will, poor staying power) is better or worse than a near-identical average with a conversion rate of 40% (implying staying power or, if you will, inconsistency). Either way an average of 38 with a strike-rate of 56 in the toughest domestic competition there is, while not earth-shaking, seems to suggest some degree of both talent and adaptability.
Every time I’ve seen Tom on TV I’ve been distinctly impressed. The fact that this has always been in T20 doesn’t mean that’s the only way he can bat; it means they’re the only times he’s been televised.
JM is 34 and has 14 first-class centuries including a double, so maybe expecting too much more in the way of “progress” from him is not just unrealistic, but arguably slightly patronising. (His career average, incidentally, is higher than that of anyone else on the current staff including Marcus, so what he's been working with so far doesn’t seem have done too badly).
Craig K is still on our books so we are presumably paying his salary (I would certainly hope so), in which case it might have been quite difficult to hire an extra batsman in view of salary cap restrictions.
As to whether we should have spent Abdur’s salary on a batsman instead? Ever since the overseas players came in back in 1968 my view has been that Somerset's first priority - given the characteristics of the Taunton wicket, and indeed the very different ones of Bath and Weston back in the day - should have been a top-class spinner; a finger-spinner for preference. For all the wonderful overseas batsmen we have welcomed, we've always had pretty useful batsmen of our own and, for some (or no) reason, very few quality home-grown spinners. Jack Leach probably comes closest since Langford.
Abdur Rehman seems to me one of our best choices. I look forward to seeing him and Jack (or possibly George, though Jack surely has to be the front-runner at present) bowling in tandem on the drier late-season wickets - maybe even sooner.
I don’t agree that everyone from Hildreth down is one place too high. It’s true we have a lot of shot-playing all-rounders down the order and not a lot of stickability, but that doesn’t mean they’re too high, just that we have a lot of the same kind of player.
Do people really think we should have Pete at 8, Lewis 9 and CO/Tim/Abdur 10?
In which case, which bowler makes way? (Obviously not someone who bats above 10). And who moves into the top six? (Presumably the hypothetical batsman we would have hired if only we had).
And how do we fit Alfie back in?
It could be argued that, rather than being placed too high, our plethora of young all-rounders in recent years has led to Lewis, Craig O, Craig M (when we had him) et al being placed too low when a bit more responsibility might have benefited their growth as players.
Only slightly relevantly, I’d like to see Jamie O pushed up the order in T20 with licence to swing.
Tom Cooper's first-class career average is 38.69 (compared to Alviro's of 39.07). Not sure whether an average of 39 with a 50-100 conversion rate of 22% (implying consistency or, if you will, poor staying power) is better or worse than a near-identical average with a conversion rate of 40% (implying staying power or, if you will, inconsistency). Either way an average of 38 with a strike-rate of 56 in the toughest domestic competition there is, while not earth-shaking, seems to suggest some degree of both talent and adaptability.
Every time I’ve seen Tom on TV I’ve been distinctly impressed. The fact that this has always been in T20 doesn’t mean that’s the only way he can bat; it means they’re the only times he’s been televised.
JM is 34 and has 14 first-class centuries including a double, so maybe expecting too much more in the way of “progress” from him is not just unrealistic, but arguably slightly patronising. (His career average, incidentally, is higher than that of anyone else on the current staff including Marcus, so what he's been working with so far doesn’t seem have done too badly).
Craig K is still on our books so we are presumably paying his salary (I would certainly hope so), in which case it might have been quite difficult to hire an extra batsman in view of salary cap restrictions.
As to whether we should have spent Abdur’s salary on a batsman instead? Ever since the overseas players came in back in 1968 my view has been that Somerset's first priority - given the characteristics of the Taunton wicket, and indeed the very different ones of Bath and Weston back in the day - should have been a top-class spinner; a finger-spinner for preference. For all the wonderful overseas batsmen we have welcomed, we've always had pretty useful batsmen of our own and, for some (or no) reason, very few quality home-grown spinners. Jack Leach probably comes closest since Langford.
Abdur Rehman seems to me one of our best choices. I look forward to seeing him and Jack (or possibly George, though Jack surely has to be the front-runner at present) bowling in tandem on the drier late-season wickets - maybe even sooner.
I don’t agree that everyone from Hildreth down is one place too high. It’s true we have a lot of shot-playing all-rounders down the order and not a lot of stickability, but that doesn’t mean they’re too high, just that we have a lot of the same kind of player.
Do people really think we should have Pete at 8, Lewis 9 and CO/Tim/Abdur 10?
In which case, which bowler makes way? (Obviously not someone who bats above 10). And who moves into the top six? (Presumably the hypothetical batsman we would have hired if only we had).
And how do we fit Alfie back in?
It could be argued that, rather than being placed too high, our plethora of young all-rounders in recent years has led to Lewis, Craig O, Craig M (when we had him) et al being placed too low when a bit more responsibility might have benefited their growth as players.
Only slightly relevantly, I’d like to see Jamie O pushed up the order in T20 with licence to swing.
In reply to your 5th paragraph above it is my understanding that CK has voluntarily not taken up his salary for this summer, that is what I understand.
It was a big reason as to how we could afford Gayle too I believe.
It was a big reason as to how we could afford Gayle too I believe.
Seems to make sense Mike.
What is it about this ghost of Alviro Petersen about the place? The man made a few inpressive scores and then took himself off for things before coming back and acting like the ghost posters seem to crave. If he and Ingram had both been available would we have honestly given him another year given the loss if form? Cooper's an Ingram for me. Suppiah? Jones? Are you people serious? The same people who now seem to be mourning their loss wanted them dropped while they were playing and marginalised their value at the ends of their careers.
Where were all these top notch international batsmen who were going to come in and miraculously turn the threadbare into the plush Wilton? It sounds like we could pick from some huge catalogue and chose not to. Do you imagine MM ignored options? And if he did, who were they and would they have come?
Some devalue the statistical background of the batsmen we gave brought in and then also devalue the statistical background of the spinner we have. You can't use stats both ways people justcto justify your own argument. Rehman's English stats for our county are NOT unimpressive.
And in case its been lost on some. It is Day 2 of the first game of the 2015 season and that doesn't even start for 6 hours!! Chill out.
What is it about this ghost of Alviro Petersen about the place? The man made a few inpressive scores and then took himself off for things before coming back and acting like the ghost posters seem to crave. If he and Ingram had both been available would we have honestly given him another year given the loss if form? Cooper's an Ingram for me. Suppiah? Jones? Are you people serious? The same people who now seem to be mourning their loss wanted them dropped while they were playing and marginalised their value at the ends of their careers.
Where were all these top notch international batsmen who were going to come in and miraculously turn the threadbare into the plush Wilton? It sounds like we could pick from some huge catalogue and chose not to. Do you imagine MM ignored options? And if he did, who were they and would they have come?
Some devalue the statistical background of the batsmen we gave brought in and then also devalue the statistical background of the spinner we have. You can't use stats both ways people justcto justify your own argument. Rehman's English stats for our county are NOT unimpressive.
And in case its been lost on some. It is Day 2 of the first game of the 2015 season and that doesn't even start for 6 hours!! Chill out.
Somewhat surprised that nobody has mentioned or perhaps noticed the colour of the stumps for this Championship game.
Another breakaway from the old tradition.
Another breakaway from the old tradition.
If Matt Maynard does want to sign a Batsman on loan he doesn't have a lot of options.
there are only two players from Division 1 and they are Joe Gatting and Sean Terry (Hampshire) but neither have played regular first team cricket at Hampshire.
I would like to see Tom Abell in the first team soon!
there are only two players from Division 1 and they are Joe Gatting and Sean Terry (Hampshire) but neither have played regular first team cricket at Hampshire.
I would like to see Tom Abell in the first team soon!
Grockle - where, oh where, on this site did any poster "devalue the statistical background of the spinner we have"???
It isn't a question of any suggestion that Rehman cannot bowl. It's a question of whether we've deployed our lone available (official) overseas slot in the most prudent way, given all the potential holes in the batting. The last time that Somerset had a cracker-jack spinner (Mushtaq) playing in the same side for most or all of a season as a flakey Somerset batting line-up, I think we finished about 9th or something like that. 9th would not be a good place to finish this season!!! And we had the GREAT Andrew Richard Caddick in that side too!
This starting XI includes only six guys who have ever made a first-class century. With the exception of a Yorkshire absolutely ravaged by England call-ups, I would guess that would be the lowest figure for any Div One side playing yesterday - I suspect even Worcs probably had one more guy that's ever made a century in their side.
The reality is that Somerset have failed (over the past 4-5 years) to recruit from without batsmen in sufficient quantity and quality to compensate for:
a) Various departures of batsmen to other Counties (De Bruyn first of all, then Buttler, then Compton).
b) The retirement of a first-choice opener (Arul)
c) The fact that Tresco could not go on carrying the batting as he did most years between 2007-11 (2010 being an exception when Hildreth was the best batsman)
None of the group of young batsmen that first started playing four or so years ago has really emerged as any kind of force at first-team level with the bat in the CC Jones retired. Barrow still averages a lick over 20. Gregory still averages a lick under 20. Meschede averages about the same and has been farmed out to Glamorgan.
Ultimately, too much faith that has not been adequately repaid (from a batting stand-point, although Lewis is certainly a really good bowler and Craig M looked really good with the ball at the end of 2013) was invested in that group to the exclusion of outside recruitment.
As a result of the above and one single piece of bad luck (Kieswetter), the squad is now unbalanced with a greater strength in bowling than in batting. For example, I would argue that at least three of our four main all-rounders (Pete - IMO, these days), and Lewis G and Craig O (definitely in both cases) are better bowlers than they are batsmen. That would be less of a concern if we had more than four specialist batsmen in our current first XI, but we do not. How many other CC1 teams go into matches with only four guys who make their living chiefly as batsmen?
It is in that context, rather than any doubts (which nobody has suggested) about Rehman's quality as a bowler, that the decision re: the overseas slot should be seen, IMO.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:10:04:25 by AGod.
It isn't a question of any suggestion that Rehman cannot bowl. It's a question of whether we've deployed our lone available (official) overseas slot in the most prudent way, given all the potential holes in the batting. The last time that Somerset had a cracker-jack spinner (Mushtaq) playing in the same side for most or all of a season as a flakey Somerset batting line-up, I think we finished about 9th or something like that. 9th would not be a good place to finish this season!!! And we had the GREAT Andrew Richard Caddick in that side too!
This starting XI includes only six guys who have ever made a first-class century. With the exception of a Yorkshire absolutely ravaged by England call-ups, I would guess that would be the lowest figure for any Div One side playing yesterday - I suspect even Worcs probably had one more guy that's ever made a century in their side.
The reality is that Somerset have failed (over the past 4-5 years) to recruit from without batsmen in sufficient quantity and quality to compensate for:
a) Various departures of batsmen to other Counties (De Bruyn first of all, then Buttler, then Compton).
b) The retirement of a first-choice opener (Arul)
c) The fact that Tresco could not go on carrying the batting as he did most years between 2007-11 (2010 being an exception when Hildreth was the best batsman)
None of the group of young batsmen that first started playing four or so years ago has really emerged as any kind of force at first-team level with the bat in the CC Jones retired. Barrow still averages a lick over 20. Gregory still averages a lick under 20. Meschede averages about the same and has been farmed out to Glamorgan.
Ultimately, too much faith that has not been adequately repaid (from a batting stand-point, although Lewis is certainly a really good bowler and Craig M looked really good with the ball at the end of 2013) was invested in that group to the exclusion of outside recruitment.
As a result of the above and one single piece of bad luck (Kieswetter), the squad is now unbalanced with a greater strength in bowling than in batting. For example, I would argue that at least three of our four main all-rounders (Pete - IMO, these days), and Lewis G and Craig O (definitely in both cases) are better bowlers than they are batsmen. That would be less of a concern if we had more than four specialist batsmen in our current first XI, but we do not. How many other CC1 teams go into matches with only four guys who make their living chiefly as batsmen?
It is in that context, rather than any doubts (which nobody has suggested) about Rehman's quality as a bowler, that the decision re: the overseas slot should be seen, IMO.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:10:04:25 by AGod.
WSM - I certainly share your concerns re: Jamie Overton.
I was never convinced that there was a coherent plan for him under the aegis of Nosworthy, D.
It is certainly to be hoped that Matt Maynard has a coherent plan as to how Jamie can best be deployed.
I would hope that the field for yesterday's very brief spell simply reflected the fact that those that had bowled before Jamie had already leaked plenty of runs and that it was the start of Jamie's spell so Marcus did not want his confidence dented with too many early boundaries.
I was never convinced that there was a coherent plan for him under the aegis of Nosworthy, D.
It is certainly to be hoped that Matt Maynard has a coherent plan as to how Jamie can best be deployed.
I would hope that the field for yesterday's very brief spell simply reflected the fact that those that had bowled before Jamie had already leaked plenty of runs and that it was the start of Jamie's spell so Marcus did not want his confidence dented with too many early boundaries.
Don't worry about the loan argument Andy. It's AG's perennial fallback strategy and we've hardly, if ever, used it. Though I for one would consider calling back a loanee from another county.
AG If you say we should have picked a batsman instead of a spinner and criticise the batsmen we have picked on the basis of their stats yet do not comment on the spinner's stats then surely you are devaluing the stats of the spinner because they are either seen as less important to the argument or irrelevant. Sorry can't have it both ways. Either the perfomance indicators are of the same value to the debate or all irrelevant.
The fact that they haven't been mentioned doesn't add weight to your side of the debate. I'd argue its the main reason we went for him and the lack of reference suggests that others in the debate know that too so avoided highlighting them for that very reason ie they are quite good and pretty relevant.
You'll disagree of course but there you go. There"s more which there's no reason to comment on becausr it's just more of the same and there's a real game of cricket about to start.
AG If you say we should have picked a batsman instead of a spinner and criticise the batsmen we have picked on the basis of their stats yet do not comment on the spinner's stats then surely you are devaluing the stats of the spinner because they are either seen as less important to the argument or irrelevant. Sorry can't have it both ways. Either the perfomance indicators are of the same value to the debate or all irrelevant.
The fact that they haven't been mentioned doesn't add weight to your side of the debate. I'd argue its the main reason we went for him and the lack of reference suggests that others in the debate know that too so avoided highlighting them for that very reason ie they are quite good and pretty relevant.
You'll disagree of course but there you go. There"s more which there's no reason to comment on becausr it's just more of the same and there's a real game of cricket about to start.
This isn't complicated, Grockle. We are most unlikely to score enough runs with a first XI that includes only four specialist batsmen.
Rehman has had a long and effective career as a slow bowler. But that doesn't alter the above appreciation.
Moreover, in terms of Rehman, it remains to be seen how many really dry tracks we can produce at Taunton to help maximise his potential to inflict serious harm on opponents.
But one thing that we can be reasonably certain of (given the paucity of spin bowling on the circuit as a whole) is that those Counties that Somerset visit in CC1 this season are most unlikely to obligingly produce a dry surface if they can possibly help it.
And what if it's a wet summer (hardly an unprecedented event in Blighty)?
That would:
a) Be likely to hinder Rehman
and
b) Almost certainly lead to extra struggles for us with the bat.
Rehman has had a long and effective career as a slow bowler. But that doesn't alter the above appreciation.
Moreover, in terms of Rehman, it remains to be seen how many really dry tracks we can produce at Taunton to help maximise his potential to inflict serious harm on opponents.
But one thing that we can be reasonably certain of (given the paucity of spin bowling on the circuit as a whole) is that those Counties that Somerset visit in CC1 this season are most unlikely to obligingly produce a dry surface if they can possibly help it.
And what if it's a wet summer (hardly an unprecedented event in Blighty)?
That would:
a) Be likely to hinder Rehman
and
b) Almost certainly lead to extra struggles for us with the bat.
One thing though. Still not naming all these quality international batsmen that were available to fill these holes. You wanna go back to De Bruyn? Really? And Buttler...again really? Their massive contribution to our CC performance left holes that have never been filled...really? ITB? Blacky? Harden? Bowler?
Rehman was a quality player available for a whole season and with a previous record of CC match winning performance for THIS county. You can score all the runs in the world...matters not one jot if you can't get the other side out twice.
I'm sure Lewis, Tom, Alex and all the Craig's appreciate your expressions of respect for their batting ability in Somerset shirts.... way to go AG
Rehman was a quality player available for a whole season and with a previous record of CC match winning performance for THIS county. You can score all the runs in the world...matters not one jot if you can't get the other side out twice.
I'm sure Lewis, Tom, Alex and all the Craig's appreciate your expressions of respect for their batting ability in Somerset shirts.... way to go AG
Yes, Grockle, I do not know any more than you do (I assume?) which batsmen were or were not willing to play for Somerset as potential signings for this season.
But let’s be clear about this – almost ANY Test batsman (and potentially some of those that have only played ODIs) that I can think of would strengthen our current flimsy looking batting line-up. And when I say any Test batsman, the rules are such that anyone from a full ICC Member that has played even just one Test during the past five years is eligible for a work permit under the rules. So the field would not only have been limited to current Test players.
As for "expressions of respect," sometimes people have to deal in facts. Averages of 20 do not batsmen make.
And Tom who? I didn't say anything about Abell. He looks richly promising. I was talking about the group that first appeared in the first team four or so years ago. That certainly doesn't include TA.
But let’s be clear about this – almost ANY Test batsman (and potentially some of those that have only played ODIs) that I can think of would strengthen our current flimsy looking batting line-up. And when I say any Test batsman, the rules are such that anyone from a full ICC Member that has played even just one Test during the past five years is eligible for a work permit under the rules. So the field would not only have been limited to current Test players.
As for "expressions of respect," sometimes people have to deal in facts. Averages of 20 do not batsmen make.
And Tom who? I didn't say anything about Abell. He looks richly promising. I was talking about the group that first appeared in the first team four or so years ago. That certainly doesn't include TA.
'Only 4 specialist batsmen' in your opinion. I assume you have revised your definition of batsman who are bit bowlers in CC matches from the one you used to use to argue that Arul was not a spinner. You are now defining Allenby and Barrow as 'CC allrounders' rather than batsmen and not including Abell in the equation because he is not available for this match and CK because his injury was ,I assume, taken into account in long term plans.
Hey whatever makes your argument read as more plausible. It isn't simple. It's far more complicated than you attempt to make it. Your analysis may be simplistic but that is something entirely different.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:10:47:13 by Grockle.
Hey whatever makes your argument read as more plausible. It isn't simple. It's far more complicated than you attempt to make it. Your analysis may be simplistic but that is something entirely different.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:10:47:13 by Grockle.
Okay, I'll play - talking about the current first XI, how many of them (and which ones) do you have as "specialist batsmen"?
And yes, Grockle, when I say current first XI, I mean the one that we are currently fielding, not least because, so far as I can see, we are stuck with it from a batting point of view, unless and until Tom A has finished with his French and his Sports Studies.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:10:54:59 by AGod.
And yes, Grockle, when I say current first XI, I mean the one that we are currently fielding, not least because, so far as I can see, we are stuck with it from a batting point of view, unless and until Tom A has finished with his French and his Sports Studies.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:10:54:59 by AGod.
Debate all very fascinating after 1 days play and I admit to disappointment from my high
of 220 for 2, but a little perspective doesn't come amiss. There are 4 games in play. The close of play scores for teams batting first were 299 ao 300 for 6 298 for 9 and 264 for 8.Only Sussex stands out there and they normally flatter to deceive in April. It's a long haul guys
of 220 for 2, but a little perspective doesn't come amiss. There are 4 games in play. The close of play scores for teams batting first were 299 ao 300 for 6 298 for 9 and 264 for 8.Only Sussex stands out there and they normally flatter to deceive in April. It's a long haul guys
Unfortunately, the score that matters is the one made in response to our score by Durham!
And that wicket that LG has just taken now needs to precipitate the sort of collapse which we contrived with the bat yesterday.
It's 173/3 and Rehmann has only bowled 2 overs. Come on Tres, give him a twirl.
Certainly won't have an impact if we don't bowl him!!
Sadly, one assumes that Rehman has not been bowling because we haven't managed to produce a track that looks like to take any real amount of turn. Otherwise, Tres would - surely to goodness, have him bowling?
Sadly, one assumes that Rehman has not been bowling because we haven't managed to produce a track that looks like to take any real amount of turn. Otherwise, Tres would - surely to goodness, have him bowling?
Regardless of the pitch, Rehman is an international class, wily bowler who is surely worth a go even if just to try and dry up the runs and create pressure. You can bet your life he'll have a long bowl this afternoon so why not give him a go in the morning before Durham get away from us? Gives the impression a bit of captaincy by numbers.
Too expensive, overall, as a bowling attack in this innings, with only Rehman and Allenby apparently offering any real control at all.
We surely need to aim to be tighter than that, particularly when defending an apparently underwhelming score.
We surely need to aim to be tighter than that, particularly when defending an apparently underwhelming score.
Not beng a groundsman, is it even possible to produce a pitch that likely to take any real amount of turn.
In April obviously
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:13:29:04 by Nailsea_Fizz.
In April obviously
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:13:29:04 by Nailsea_Fizz.
Given suitable weather, I'm sure anything is possible.
Whether the weather in TA1 has been suitably dry for long enough in this instance, I do not know.
Whether the weather in TA1 has been suitably dry for long enough in this instance, I do not know.
This stand, potentially the key one, with their most experienced batsman joined by their most aggressive one.
A bit surprised to see Rehman withdrawn from the attack after being hit for a couple of fours by "The Colonel."
I'd have thought that Mr Rehman would test Mr Mustard's patience and have a fair chance of getting him before too much longer.
Yes, we don't have many runs to play with, but it's hardly as though Tres is turning, instead, to seamers whose middle name has been 'parsimony.'
I'd have thought that Mr Rehman would test Mr Mustard's patience and have a fair chance of getting him before too much longer.
Yes, we don't have many runs to play with, but it's hardly as though Tres is turning, instead, to seamers whose middle name has been 'parsimony.'
Right, Mustard gone now.
Hastings pretty useful record.
Coughlin useful record from small sample size but won't have seen a spinner of Rehman's ilk. Presumably Rehman will get another go before we take the second new ball (if we do).
Hastings pretty useful record.
Coughlin useful record from small sample size but won't have seen a spinner of Rehman's ilk. Presumably Rehman will get another go before we take the second new ball (if we do).
Very good weather forecast for day three and four. If conditions are totally benign for batting - as they may well be if it's warm with unbroken sunshine - then we might just be able to make a fist of our second dig. Otherwise, the pressure of batting from behind (even if not a large deficit) would probably do for us if there's anything in it for the bowlers, I feel.
If we're lucky, perhaps tomorrow's warm sunshine might mean the track might turn a bit for the final couple of sessions of the match should we need to defend a total at the end of the match.
If we're lucky, perhaps tomorrow's warm sunshine might mean the track might turn a bit for the final couple of sessions of the match should we need to defend a total at the end of the match.
Well he seems to have decided to go on the offensive. Whether that's because the second new ball is not a million miles away and he thinks we may be able to eliminate his partners with it, I don't know.
Hopefully that's what he thinks and he will be proven right.
But it could be that they are now in the lead and that he's feeling very comfortable and is accelerating just because he can.
Hopefully that's what he thinks and he will be proven right.
But it could be that they are now in the lead and that he's feeling very comfortable and is accelerating just because he can.
Right, new ball did the trick. Only two genuine tail-enders left to partner Colly.
Can we swiftly dispose of them?
Can we swiftly dispose of them?
I know he's my hero, but that doesn't grant him licence to take five wickets and score a century against my county. But he really is a most admirable professional.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Collingwood has always been an under rated professional (except by LoL) Well done him
Well Somerset's players are presumably unlikely to under-rate his bowling for a second time in this match.
The question is can we find the discipline to bat for a long time against Durham's front-line seamers?
The question is can we find the discipline to bat for a long time against Durham's front-line seamers?
Let's already talk about the side as inferior to the Mighty Durham bowlers. It's going to be a really long season of disappointment for you as we already seem to have been classified as second best playing catch up with the opposition.
81 behind on your benign pitch and two days left - yet we seem to have no chance other than to survive against the hugely vaunted front line of Durham - who needed Collingwood to take most of our front line wickets in the first half.
Well I suppose we'll see how it goes.
81 behind on your benign pitch and two days left - yet we seem to have no chance other than to survive against the hugely vaunted front line of Durham - who needed Collingwood to take most of our front line wickets in the first half.
Well I suppose we'll see how it goes.
Grockle - we ARE playing catch-up with the opposition.
The scoreboard says so.
Sorry if this comes as a shock to you.
The scoreboard says so.
Sorry if this comes as a shock to you.
We thought we could collapse, Gloucestershire have just lost the last four wickets of their innings for nothing in seven deliveries, including a triple wicket maiden bowled by Willey.
David Willey can, however, swing the ball at a pretty high speed - unlike COlly who does so at military medium...
Abell was available.Playing for the seconds in a 3 day game.Josh Davey 4 wickets and a hundred today.Maybe time for change. Very quiet in the field yesterday afternoon and today.
Day two photos.
The match isn't over yet! I have a dentist appointment on Wednesday morning will I miss any cricket?
Not much in the way of photos today, I finished taking photos early because I have to walk around the ground to get home, it is either that or take a long walk up St. James St because they are not allowing people onto the outfield at the end of the days play, yet you are allowed on the outfield during the day.
What'a mistake'a to make'a – Marcus Trescothick leaving the ball alone giving a gift of a wicket to Chris Rushworth.
Peter Trego well and truly bowling Graham Onions.
A true all rounder Paul Collingwood hitting 4 runs to get to his 100
Paul Collingwood hitting a six.
Why are you all appealing Paul Collingwood is thinking I have just score four runs.
The pick of the bowler for us Lewis Gregory, lucky for Scott Borthwick he didn't hit this one.
The match isn't over yet! I have a dentist appointment on Wednesday morning will I miss any cricket?
Not much in the way of photos today, I finished taking photos early because I have to walk around the ground to get home, it is either that or take a long walk up St. James St because they are not allowing people onto the outfield at the end of the days play, yet you are allowed on the outfield during the day.
What'a mistake'a to make'a – Marcus Trescothick leaving the ball alone giving a gift of a wicket to Chris Rushworth.
Peter Trego well and truly bowling Graham Onions.
A true all rounder Paul Collingwood hitting 4 runs to get to his 100
Paul Collingwood hitting a six.
Why are you all appealing Paul Collingwood is thinking I have just score four runs.
The pick of the bowler for us Lewis Gregory, lucky for Scott Borthwick he didn't hit this one.
Quote:nelliec
Abell was available.Playing for the seconds in a 3 day game.Josh Davey 4 wickets and a hundred today.Maybe time for change. Very quiet in the field yesterday afternoon and today.
This is absolutely daft if he was just left out "on merit."
And if that was the case, then Mr Maynard will hopefully already have seen the folly of that decision.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:20:59:38 by AGod.
As for today's Somerset batting?
A quality new ball pair like Onions and Rushworth will have days when they will make significant early in-roads... which is PRECISELY why you cannot afford to throw away a very good start to the first innings such as 220 for 2 with a gormless display of batting against Paul Collingwood.... because it's not likely that you'll get through Onions and Rushworth twice in the same match!
According to Anthony Gibson yesterday, Mr Maynard had said that to win the CC you can afford no more than a couple of really poor sessions during a season.
I guess we've used up our quota then...
A quality new ball pair like Onions and Rushworth will have days when they will make significant early in-roads... which is PRECISELY why you cannot afford to throw away a very good start to the first innings such as 220 for 2 with a gormless display of batting against Paul Collingwood.... because it's not likely that you'll get through Onions and Rushworth twice in the same match!
According to Anthony Gibson yesterday, Mr Maynard had said that to win the CC you can afford no more than a couple of really poor sessions during a season.
I guess we've used up our quota then...
If Abell had been selected for this match, who would you have left out AG?
Oh dear.
What was all that close season training for ?
From afar, it continues to seem that we soooo need a new attitude.
Grizzzly
What was all that close season training for ?
From afar, it continues to seem that we soooo need a new attitude.
Grizzzly
AngellFace - I said it before the match started. I would have batted Tom Abell at four, in between Cooper and Hildreth. None of the top six playing in this match would have been left out. What I said I would have done is to have picked neither of the Overtons (purely for injury pre-caution reasons in the case of Craig).
That would still have left the team with four seamers, plus Rehman and the possibility of a few overs from JM.
In early season conditions, I always think it makes logical sense to have relatively more batting depth and that a team should need relatively fewer bowling options (because conditions are often helpful for the bowlers in early season). By high summer, if it's been a good summer, the balance of that calculation may have swung the other way.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:21:39:13 by AGod.
That would still have left the team with four seamers, plus Rehman and the possibility of a few overs from JM.
In early season conditions, I always think it makes logical sense to have relatively more batting depth and that a team should need relatively fewer bowling options (because conditions are often helpful for the bowlers in early season). By high summer, if it's been a good summer, the balance of that calculation may have swung the other way.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:21:39:13 by AGod.
Grizzly - speaking of a new "attitude," I note that Lewis G said that "There was more pace and bounce in this track than for the past couple of seasons which kept us more interested."
I can see why the tracks of the past couple of seasons may not have been particularly fascinating for a young bowler with pace, but still..
On a more serious note, my assumption was that Jamie O had been preferred to Craig O purely because we were taking it easy with Craig with having come off the injury. However, perhaps Marcus T had correctly divined that there would be more pace than usual in this track, and perhaps that was the main driver behind Jamie being preferred?
I can see why the tracks of the past couple of seasons may not have been particularly fascinating for a young bowler with pace, but still..
On a more serious note, my assumption was that Jamie O had been preferred to Craig O purely because we were taking it easy with Craig with having come off the injury. However, perhaps Marcus T had correctly divined that there would be more pace than usual in this track, and perhaps that was the main driver behind Jamie being preferred?
I do wonder if our budget for the CC has now been completely used up.
Other than the fact that we could have opted for a batsman as our overseas player, the other thing that we could have done (at least theoretically) would have been to have signed a Kolpak batsman. We could have Kolpakked Petersen, potentially, or Ingram. There may still be others to whom that could apply - other South Africans who, like those two, would be prepared to give up on SA.
I think Tom Cooper came here on an EU passport, which I think would mean the Kolpak slot would still be a theoretical option, if anybody suitable could be found.
If we cannot bring a Kolpak into strengthen and IF (which is entirely unproven at the minute) we've decided not to pick TA in the first-team prior to his exams, then there's certainly no cavalry on the horizon from a batting stand-point.
We can hope to improve with the ball as and when Craig O and Alf are restored, IMO. And hopefully Rehman will find many surfaces more helpful to him than this one seems to have been (plus he may not be fully fit anyway).
Other than the fact that we could have opted for a batsman as our overseas player, the other thing that we could have done (at least theoretically) would have been to have signed a Kolpak batsman. We could have Kolpakked Petersen, potentially, or Ingram. There may still be others to whom that could apply - other South Africans who, like those two, would be prepared to give up on SA.
I think Tom Cooper came here on an EU passport, which I think would mean the Kolpak slot would still be a theoretical option, if anybody suitable could be found.
If we cannot bring a Kolpak into strengthen and IF (which is entirely unproven at the minute) we've decided not to pick TA in the first-team prior to his exams, then there's certainly no cavalry on the horizon from a batting stand-point.
We can hope to improve with the ball as and when Craig O and Alf are restored, IMO. And hopefully Rehman will find many surfaces more helpful to him than this one seems to have been (plus he may not be fully fit anyway).
Josh Davey`s 4-44 and unbeaten 129, against a strong-looking Hampshire Seconds at Taunton Vale today, must surely put him in the frame for the next championship match against Middlesex. We can`t go on ignoring the second highest wicket-taker at the World Cup, and a consistent Second XI performer for ever.
Adam Hose, a young batsman on the MCC ground staff, also contributed a useful 52, with Somerset leading by 119 with six wickets left.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:22:16:23 by cricketjerry-mouse.
Adam Hose, a young batsman on the MCC ground staff, also contributed a useful 52, with Somerset leading by 119 with six wickets left.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:13:22:16:23 by cricketjerry-mouse.
Not a good start. But Durham are a far better team/squad than Somerset.along with half a dozen others
Sandhills. Some don't find that easy to do when you get performances like yesterday and it confirms pre season opinions, fears and concerns.
It has to be said. I don't see a lot of change in the general tone of Somerset's game. In fact, unfortunately an awful lot of the same. Inevitably we come back to the form and status of the greatest servant to our cricket (England and Somerset). Marcus over the last 20+ years has been Somerset cricket, and the pleasure of seeing him in full flow with the bat, is an unsurpassed pleasure for me. The problem is that we have ALL put him on this huge pedestal, virtually making him untouchable. For whatever reason he has now come to be using that as a shield against any criticism. Interestingly Anthony Gibson summed up the situation when he suggested that MT appears to work out a plan in the morning for his captaincy and very rarely deviates from it. Compare that with his similarly situated opposition skipper.
I, personally wish that someone could persuade MT that batting at five or six (where we could continue to get the pleasure of his stroke play) AND handing over the leadership would be in his own best interests and the teams!! Again unfortunately, I feel that when age and eyesight finally persuades him that opening is not his best option now, he will call it a day.
Having said all that, next match his batting may come back to satisfy his own standards, but his CC captaincy is unlikely to improve.
Old Boy!!
Kartik is a ???
I, personally wish that someone could persuade MT that batting at five or six (where we could continue to get the pleasure of his stroke play) AND handing over the leadership would be in his own best interests and the teams!! Again unfortunately, I feel that when age and eyesight finally persuades him that opening is not his best option now, he will call it a day.
Having said all that, next match his batting may come back to satisfy his own standards, but his CC captaincy is unlikely to improve.
Old Boy!!
Kartik is a ???
MT was never a captain.tactically "no idea"
Honest opinion not blind loyalty
Honest opinion not blind loyalty
Clearly, maybe the posters should try and back the player at least into May! Not much to ask for? Talk them up.
I believe that when we eventually lose this game as we surely will (whether it's late on today or early tomorrow after a brave fight, or meekly this morning) this will mark the 8th successive occasion (all of them since returning to Div One) that Somerset have failed to get a running start to their CC1 season, by dint of winning their first game.
There have been quite a few defeats in our opening fixture, as well as a smattering of draws.
I also think (but might be wrong) that Somerset have also failed to win any of our second CC fixtures of the season since returning to Div One?
Other CC1 Counties DO - sometimes- manage to win CC matches at the start of the season.
So why can't we do it?
Do we lack any kind of true motivational presence at the helm? Bear in mind this situation has persisted through two different Captains and we're now onto our third different Director of Cricket over that time period.
Is our preparation insufficiently good? I've said before that we usually seem to play our rehearsals against Div Two teams which has never struck me as a particularly sound idea.
Does anyone have an explanation that doesn't involve clichés about "sleepy Somerset," for why we regularly seem to start the season in sleep-walking mode - especially with the bat?
Whilst last season's "losing draw," against Yorkshire with which we opened the season wasn't particularly inspiring, it was better than our usual efforts where we are almost always found wanting with the bat. Is it, I wonder, a co-incidence that the Yorkshire game was the only one (I believe?) of the eight played in which Somerset had in their employ a dedicated full-time batting Coach who could help to prepare our batsmen for the opening match/season ahead?
I know Matthew Maynard said we didn't need DH because he is going to coach the batsmen himself, but there's no way that our DoC can count as either a dedicated (in the sense of that's the only thing he does) of full-time batting coach - not when he has the DoC hat to wear as well.
p.s. And let's be clear about this. On a glorious weather day, then unless Durham bowl out of their skins there can be no excuse for us to go quickly today. What we need is for Allenby, Barrow and Trego in particular to get some runs, form and momentum behind them to take into the second CC fixture. If Lewis Gregory can do likewise, so much the better.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:10:16:00 by AGod.
There have been quite a few defeats in our opening fixture, as well as a smattering of draws.
I also think (but might be wrong) that Somerset have also failed to win any of our second CC fixtures of the season since returning to Div One?
Other CC1 Counties DO - sometimes- manage to win CC matches at the start of the season.
So why can't we do it?
Do we lack any kind of true motivational presence at the helm? Bear in mind this situation has persisted through two different Captains and we're now onto our third different Director of Cricket over that time period.
Is our preparation insufficiently good? I've said before that we usually seem to play our rehearsals against Div Two teams which has never struck me as a particularly sound idea.
Does anyone have an explanation that doesn't involve clichés about "sleepy Somerset," for why we regularly seem to start the season in sleep-walking mode - especially with the bat?
Whilst last season's "losing draw," against Yorkshire with which we opened the season wasn't particularly inspiring, it was better than our usual efforts where we are almost always found wanting with the bat. Is it, I wonder, a co-incidence that the Yorkshire game was the only one (I believe?) of the eight played in which Somerset had in their employ a dedicated full-time batting Coach who could help to prepare our batsmen for the opening match/season ahead?
I know Matthew Maynard said we didn't need DH because he is going to coach the batsmen himself, but there's no way that our DoC can count as either a dedicated (in the sense of that's the only thing he does) of full-time batting coach - not when he has the DoC hat to wear as well.
p.s. And let's be clear about this. On a glorious weather day, then unless Durham bowl out of their skins there can be no excuse for us to go quickly today. What we need is for Allenby, Barrow and Trego in particular to get some runs, form and momentum behind them to take into the second CC fixture. If Lewis Gregory can do likewise, so much the better.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:10:16:00 by AGod.
And yes, Old Boy, I continue to think that there is zero chance that MT would agree to drop down the order.
And on a number of those occasions AG am I right in saying we then almost won the CC or came high up the final rankings?
So although the stat may be correct, it doesn't always have much influence in the final reckoning? I think in a couple of cases we may have lost more than our first game but still gained position money in the competition.
You're right about Cooper (who is Dutch I think according to the passport).
You no evidence for your TA assumption that we chose not to pick him even though he was available but you keep on putting it forward as if it ought to be accepted - the implied poor judgment on the part of the management has no proof whatsoever
You also still keep talking about this certainly questionable assumption that we saw any value in re-employing AP, again as if it is accepted as some kind of unimpeachable logic. AP was not available/contracted elsewhere as was Ingram I believe if we were interested in Alviro at all.
The other assumptions are that a) there were Kolpaks sitting out there twiddling their thumbs who would have improved our position and b) we have funds left in the salary budget to pay for them.
The question about MM coaching the batsmen is certainly worth the comment but the rest is opinion whether you write it as if it ought to be 'fact' or not.
We are going down in this one as well. I'll take that opinion as probably nearly fact and it's going to be ignominious with the side at 71 for 7 as Lewis gets a first ball duck.
Certainly some questions about how to play fast bowlers when they have sky high confidence.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:11:36:01 by Grockle.
So although the stat may be correct, it doesn't always have much influence in the final reckoning? I think in a couple of cases we may have lost more than our first game but still gained position money in the competition.
You're right about Cooper (who is Dutch I think according to the passport).
You no evidence for your TA assumption that we chose not to pick him even though he was available but you keep on putting it forward as if it ought to be accepted - the implied poor judgment on the part of the management has no proof whatsoever
You also still keep talking about this certainly questionable assumption that we saw any value in re-employing AP, again as if it is accepted as some kind of unimpeachable logic. AP was not available/contracted elsewhere as was Ingram I believe if we were interested in Alviro at all.
The other assumptions are that a) there were Kolpaks sitting out there twiddling their thumbs who would have improved our position and b) we have funds left in the salary budget to pay for them.
The question about MM coaching the batsmen is certainly worth the comment but the rest is opinion whether you write it as if it ought to be 'fact' or not.
We are going down in this one as well. I'll take that opinion as probably nearly fact and it's going to be ignominious with the side at 71 for 7 as Lewis gets a first ball duck.
Certainly some questions about how to play fast bowlers when they have sky high confidence.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:11:36:01 by Grockle.
We "almost," won the CC once - in 2010. The question isn't about whether a bad start is fatal. It's the obvious point that no team would wish to start badly and yet we seem to manage to do it very regularly. Maynard apparently said you can only afford a couple of really poor sessions in a season if you are going to win the CC. Yet we routinely serve up at least a couple of said really poor sessions in our first couple of CC matches, if not the first one itself!
I'm not presenting any opinion about TA as fact.
Only two facts are known:
1) He wasn't in the side vs Durham.
2) He did play second XI games at exactly the same time that the first XI was playing against Durham.
Anything else is supposition - including the counter-claim on here that we "may have decided not to pick TA at first-team level until his exams are over because it would be too distracting for him," or what have you.
For example, Roger Ivanhoe informed us the other day that TA "Would play a one-day game on Sunday, then back to his studies on Monday."
And you responded to this post as if it were fact saying to me "There you go AG."
Well... unless the umpires were:
a) Fluent in French
and
b) Happy to coach Tom in between his deliveries, then said statement clearly wasn't fact either...
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:12:28:56 by AGod.
I'm not presenting any opinion about TA as fact.
Only two facts are known:
1) He wasn't in the side vs Durham.
2) He did play second XI games at exactly the same time that the first XI was playing against Durham.
Anything else is supposition - including the counter-claim on here that we "may have decided not to pick TA at first-team level until his exams are over because it would be too distracting for him," or what have you.
For example, Roger Ivanhoe informed us the other day that TA "Would play a one-day game on Sunday, then back to his studies on Monday."
And you responded to this post as if it were fact saying to me "There you go AG."
Well... unless the umpires were:
a) Fluent in French
and
b) Happy to coach Tom in between his deliveries, then said statement clearly wasn't fact either...
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:12:28:56 by AGod.
Given the weather, this looks another absolutely horrendous showing with the bat today.
Shades of 2013 all over again.
Shades of 2013 all over again.
As one not to trawl over previous seasions stats, what happenned in 2013.
Just so as i know what to expect of the season you understand
Just so as i know what to expect of the season you understand
Quote:Clarence Parker
It is only the first day of the County Championship I know, but on the basis of the end of last season, and the friendly game v. Lancashire last week, I wonder for how much longer Peter Trego can remain an 'automatic choice' for our CC games?
His batting is inconsistent and his bowling is IM0 on the wane. Also, this is his Benefit Year which many players in the past have found to be a distraction to their game.
Being classified as an "all rounder", he needs to turn in good figures for both batting and bowling soon.
I hope that very soon he will be able to do this, but in the meantime I would be more inclined to give him full rein in the one - day games.
Hopefully Pete read your post before going out to bat today. Not sure his innings will be enough to give the bowlers something to bowl at, but at least it's added some respectability to the scorecars
Nailsea - you don't need to know any specific stat. By shades of 2013, I mean a season in which we batted horrendously on a regular basis, including the debacle at Horsham before managing to save ourselves at the last with good contributions from Chawla and Meschede, amongst others, in a key win at Lord's and then comfortably beating the loathsome Brown Caps at Taunton (either side of the narrow reverse to Derbyshire which was the game where we conceded about 800 byes as Chawla turned it square past CK)
Incidentally, one assumes that the awful batting in the 2013 season contributed to Dave Nosworthy's decision to employ a full-time batting coach for 2014.
If this debacle is a portent of things to come this season, then maybe we will again be employing a full-time batting coach for 2016...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:13:40:28 by AGod.
Incidentally, one assumes that the awful batting in the 2013 season contributed to Dave Nosworthy's decision to employ a full-time batting coach for 2014.
If this debacle is a portent of things to come this season, then maybe we will again be employing a full-time batting coach for 2016...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:13:40:28 by AGod.
I'll help you out Nailsea. In 2013 we lost the first match v. Durham by 48 runs, drew the second v. Surrey and drew the third v. Warks- a match we would have won if Umpire Cook had had his glasses on. Pretty disastrous if you ask me.
Now all we need to do is make sure that the front end of the batting order bats as they did in the first innings, the back end of the batting order bats as they did in the second innings and we've got the championship sewn up. Can Pete and Abdur do same with ball as with bat
I wasn't referring, AngellFace, to the 2013 season start alone, but to the season as a whole, which was marked -- indeed marred -- by quite appalling Somerset batting.
p.s. As to the Warks match. Yes, their no.11 who managed to bat out the final hour with a fractured fore-arm should have been given out caught behind off Jamie Overton. HOWEVER, if you want to play that game, Nick Cook (who is inept) had earlier given out two Warwickshire batsman for no good reason in the same innings! Bottom line? Having been massively ahead in that game vs Warks, we failed to finish them off.
Oh, and we were also very much second best in the Surrey game, one great knock from AP apart.
That Warks match was followed, not long afterward ( I forget if they were actually the immediate next games), by a humiliating home defeat by Middx and, of course, the disgraceful performance at Horsham.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:14:55:19 by AGod.
p.s. As to the Warks match. Yes, their no.11 who managed to bat out the final hour with a fractured fore-arm should have been given out caught behind off Jamie Overton. HOWEVER, if you want to play that game, Nick Cook (who is inept) had earlier given out two Warwickshire batsman for no good reason in the same innings! Bottom line? Having been massively ahead in that game vs Warks, we failed to finish them off.
Oh, and we were also very much second best in the Surrey game, one great knock from AP apart.
That Warks match was followed, not long afterward ( I forget if they were actually the immediate next games), by a humiliating home defeat by Middx and, of course, the disgraceful performance at Horsham.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:14:55:19 by AGod.
It would be nice, Nellie, but unless the pitch has magically morphed into a Bunsen, it would seem massively unlikely.
And the Durham innings is putting pristine batting conditions swiftly into perspective.
Need Craig O and Alf back ASAP from a bowling stand-point.
Need to start praying from a batting stand-point.
This is our worst opening reversal since the goddawful one against Warks at the start of (I think) the 2012 season - might have been 2011?
Need Craig O and Alf back ASAP from a bowling stand-point.
Need to start praying from a batting stand-point.
This is our worst opening reversal since the goddawful one against Warks at the start of (I think) the 2012 season - might have been 2011?
Might as well fetch Rehman on (unless he's feeling his hip) - what is there to lose?
If nothing else, provided he's not feeling the hip, then it's more bowling for him to hopefully get him into synch/rhythm etc.
If nothing else, provided he's not feeling the hip, then it's more bowling for him to hopefully get him into synch/rhythm etc.
Well played Durham. Congrats to them. From about 2:30pm onwards on day one, they totally dominated us.
Pretty wretched stuff from us, with only Myburgh and Gregory really emerging from the game with reputations enhanced, IMO.
Yeah, Cooper, Hildreth and Trego made some runs but if you aggregate their runs across the match they managed about 60 runs each in the match, i.e. about 30 per innings, nothing to write home about, especially not in the cases of the two specialist batsmen.
And nobody other than Lewis G took many wickets in the match.
p.s. incidentally, when was the last time that Somerset showed enough verve and fight to win a match in which the opposition were, at one time, 200+ for 2 in the first innings of the match?
I think it's that character rather than quote unquote "talent," which is arguably the biggest difference between sides with a good chance of challenging at the top and those - such as Somerset - that are, IMO, far less likely to do so.
By the same token, once Durham had got on top in this match, with a first innings lead of 80 or so, then - at least in theory - Somerset weren't out of it. In practice, when was the last time that Somerset WON a match from a position in which we faced a significant first-innings deficit?
For these purposes let's define significant as a deficit equal to 25% or more of our own first innings total.
I think the answer to the above question would be the home game with Warwickshire back in, I think, the 2012 season (the game in which CK made about 150 batting last).
So the above may reveal why I was pretty convinced that a Somerset fight-back to WIN the match was extremely unlikely.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:17:26:49 by AGod.
Pretty wretched stuff from us, with only Myburgh and Gregory really emerging from the game with reputations enhanced, IMO.
Yeah, Cooper, Hildreth and Trego made some runs but if you aggregate their runs across the match they managed about 60 runs each in the match, i.e. about 30 per innings, nothing to write home about, especially not in the cases of the two specialist batsmen.
And nobody other than Lewis G took many wickets in the match.
p.s. incidentally, when was the last time that Somerset showed enough verve and fight to win a match in which the opposition were, at one time, 200+ for 2 in the first innings of the match?
I think it's that character rather than quote unquote "talent," which is arguably the biggest difference between sides with a good chance of challenging at the top and those - such as Somerset - that are, IMO, far less likely to do so.
By the same token, once Durham had got on top in this match, with a first innings lead of 80 or so, then - at least in theory - Somerset weren't out of it. In practice, when was the last time that Somerset WON a match from a position in which we faced a significant first-innings deficit?
For these purposes let's define significant as a deficit equal to 25% or more of our own first innings total.
I think the answer to the above question would be the home game with Warwickshire back in, I think, the 2012 season (the game in which CK made about 150 batting last).
So the above may reveal why I was pretty convinced that a Somerset fight-back to WIN the match was extremely unlikely.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:17:26:49 by AGod.
Quote:AGod
We "almost," won the CC once - in 2010.
And 'placed' in other seasons I think I also pointed out.
Quote:AGod
I'm not presenting any opinion about TA as fact.
Didn't said you did just that you keep presenting it over and over again as if it was
Quote:AGod
Only two facts are known:
1) He wasn't in the side vs Durham.
2) He did play second XI games at exactly the same time that the first XI was playing against Durham.
Anything else is supposition
Yep no argument from me - doesn't suggest he was not picked while being 'available' for the CC game.
Quote:AGod
....including the counter-claim on here that we "may have decided not to pick TA at first-team level until his exams are over because it would be too distracting for him," or what have you.
(Are you once again inferring that this is a daft reason for him not playing?)
For example, Roger Ivanhoe informed us the other day that TA "Would play a one-day game on Sunday, then back to his studies on Monday."
And you responded to this post as if it were fact saying to me "There you go AG."
Nope my response was to Roger's statement and all it said was - "here's some other opinion".
How was that stating it as a fact - "there ya go AG? " Have you been drinking or something?. I responded ONCE - haven't mentioned it anywhere else.... so no idea what you are on about.
You sir have been on about this Abell thing since before the beginning of the game and have implied that he has been effectively not picked more than once as if it seems obviously the reason.
Just because you post this stuff doesn't make it fact either
Well done to Pete and Adbur for giving this second innings performance some smallaspect of respectability.
Wasn't 2013 the major injury year where every injury thing that could go wrong did go wrong or was that 2012?
Sorry I get all our "appalling" seasons in the last 8 years mixed up
Wasn't 2013 the major injury year where every injury thing that could go wrong did go wrong or was that 2012?
Sorry I get all our "appalling" seasons in the last 8 years mixed up
The injury year was 2012. That was the year when we were down to just 11 fit players for one game (which I think was the away game with Durham).
The 2012 season, given those circumstances, was a perfectly reasonable one. It was the one where Compton averaged 99.
2013 was the first year that we'd had, since promotion, when absolutely nobody stepped forward to carry the batting.
Realistically, Tresco carried it in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Tresco also had a very good year in 2010, but Hildreth had a superlative one.
2012 Compton carried the batting which was particularly valuable given the huge amount of bowling injuries.
Since 2012 not one player has really been to the fore.
We kind of managed to do okay with the bat in 2014 even though nobody could really be said to have carried the batting in a major way last season either.
The 2012 season, given those circumstances, was a perfectly reasonable one. It was the one where Compton averaged 99.
2013 was the first year that we'd had, since promotion, when absolutely nobody stepped forward to carry the batting.
Realistically, Tresco carried it in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Tresco also had a very good year in 2010, but Hildreth had a superlative one.
2012 Compton carried the batting which was particularly valuable given the huge amount of bowling injuries.
Since 2012 not one player has really been to the fore.
We kind of managed to do okay with the bat in 2014 even though nobody could really be said to have carried the batting in a major way last season either.
I see Maynard was full of praise for the Ground staff and the track prepared.
That makes a welcome change from what we used to have in the past with guys like Rose and Langer moaning about it.
I guess Maynard's comments re-inforce what Lewis Gregory said - namely that we managed to get more pace into this track.
IF (which might be a big if) we can also keep that pace in drier tracks later on then that could be big for Rehman because a spinner would obviously prefer that the ball turn relatively quickly rather than slowly.
That makes a welcome change from what we used to have in the past with guys like Rose and Langer moaning about it.
I guess Maynard's comments re-inforce what Lewis Gregory said - namely that we managed to get more pace into this track.
IF (which might be a big if) we can also keep that pace in drier tracks later on then that could be big for Rehman because a spinner would obviously prefer that the ball turn relatively quickly rather than slowly.
Poorly led, we appear to be a team lacking in enough grit, fight and determination to be able to seriously challenge for honours in the CC.
I see nothing new in this personal perception despite two changes in the Director of Cricket post in the last couple of years.
Not much to look forward to IMO unless dramatic changes are made.
I see nothing new in this personal perception despite two changes in the Director of Cricket post in the last couple of years.
Not much to look forward to IMO unless dramatic changes are made.
The third and what turned out to be the final day's photos.
We needed the overnight pair to stay in for a while this morning unfortunately it wasn't to be, Alex Barrow was the first to go bowled Chris Rushwood.
Peter Trego showed some true grit (good film) today, we must say it was a positive on a disappointing day.
Abdur Rehman scoring four runs to bring up his fifty.
Paul Collingwood came on to bowl quite late in the innings, just in time to bowl Jamie Overton.
The catch of the day by Jim Allenby to dismiss Keaton Jennings off the bowling of Abdur Rehman
That's your lot.
We needed the overnight pair to stay in for a while this morning unfortunately it wasn't to be, Alex Barrow was the first to go bowled Chris Rushwood.
Peter Trego showed some true grit (good film) today, we must say it was a positive on a disappointing day.
Abdur Rehman scoring four runs to bring up his fifty.
Paul Collingwood came on to bowl quite late in the innings, just in time to bowl Jamie Overton.
The catch of the day by Jim Allenby to dismiss Keaton Jennings off the bowling of Abdur Rehman
That's your lot.
Thanks, Mike.
Any idea what happened with the Barrow dismissal? His body position in the picture makes it look as though the ball might have grubbed?
Presumably not though, otherwise Maynard would probably not have been full of praise for the track.
Any idea what happened with the Barrow dismissal? His body position in the picture makes it look as though the ball might have grubbed?
Presumably not though, otherwise Maynard would probably not have been full of praise for the track.
By the action of the batsman AB it look like the ball did keep low, saying that it was a good pitch can mean a good batting track, that it was.
The bowlers could get some movement, I wouldn't say it gave the bowlers much help you just had to bowl well on it.
The bowlers could get some movement, I wouldn't say it gave the bowlers much help you just had to bowl well on it.
I do hope Mr. Maynard isn't going to lapse into "management speak". "We didn't execute our skills for long enough in this game." I assume he means that we didn't bat,bowl and field well enough to win the match.
Well said AF.
What MM no doubt meant was, "we played poorly, and have to do a darn site better" .
I think OB's 8.10 post hits the nail squarely on the head.
I'd love to be proved wrong, but really think we have a huge elephant in the room.
(And I'm not talking about his waistline !).
Grizzzly
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:21:11:43 by Grizzzly.
What MM no doubt meant was, "we played poorly, and have to do a darn site better" .
I think OB's 8.10 post hits the nail squarely on the head.
I'd love to be proved wrong, but really think we have a huge elephant in the room.
(And I'm not talking about his waistline !).
Grizzzly
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:21:11:43 by Grizzzly.
Crikey, 8 sessions into the season and we are doomed, seriously!
A poor start yes but we aren't relegated quite yet.
There is nothing we can do anyway, talk of loan signings if pie in the sky. One it happens very rarely, who was our last, Saj Mahmood!!! And the nature of people going on loan is that they are often unwanted by their own county, why would we want them!?
I agree we look short in batting depth/quality but that's where we are, Abell and Davey only realistic batting options other than what played in this game. Regan doesn't seem in favour and please don't tell me Max or George are top 6 options!!!
I read the other day we have won our opening match once since 1993, and to my knowledge we are still to ever be relegated from division 1 yet despite that.
We had good batting displays from Myburgh, Cooper, Hildy, Tregs and Rehman.
Gregory was very good with the ball and Jamie showed good signs too of what's to come.
We had 2 shocking collapses in each innings and a VERY costly drop from Alex when Colly was in 40/50's.
Amazing how knowledgable some seem to be sat miles away behind a keyboard (cue lots of abuse!)
Maynard has had plenty of praise over past few months yet now after 3 days we has lost the plot.
As supporters I'd much prefer to support than criticise, yes we were poor but there were some good signs in this match, we were just beaten by the better team.
1 game down 15 to go, Middlesex home then Worcester away coming up, i'll be at both cheering us on.
A poor start yes but we aren't relegated quite yet.
There is nothing we can do anyway, talk of loan signings if pie in the sky. One it happens very rarely, who was our last, Saj Mahmood!!! And the nature of people going on loan is that they are often unwanted by their own county, why would we want them!?
I agree we look short in batting depth/quality but that's where we are, Abell and Davey only realistic batting options other than what played in this game. Regan doesn't seem in favour and please don't tell me Max or George are top 6 options!!!
I read the other day we have won our opening match once since 1993, and to my knowledge we are still to ever be relegated from division 1 yet despite that.
We had good batting displays from Myburgh, Cooper, Hildy, Tregs and Rehman.
Gregory was very good with the ball and Jamie showed good signs too of what's to come.
We had 2 shocking collapses in each innings and a VERY costly drop from Alex when Colly was in 40/50's.
Amazing how knowledgable some seem to be sat miles away behind a keyboard (cue lots of abuse!)
Maynard has had plenty of praise over past few months yet now after 3 days we has lost the plot.
As supporters I'd much prefer to support than criticise, yes we were poor but there were some good signs in this match, we were just beaten by the better team.
1 game down 15 to go, Middlesex home then Worcester away coming up, i'll be at both cheering us on.
Well said WSM, let's get behind the team and turnout to watch them. Get behind the bowlers and clap every run scored and saved in the field. Lets be a 12th man with our support.
WSM - not really sure what you meant in your last post, but you will recall that we had to hire Justin Langer as Captain to turn around what had become a desperate situation in Division Two (we came last in that league).
We didn't get into Div Two by never having been relegated from Div ONe!
I knew the opening record was bad in recent times (since getting promoted back to Div ONe) but had no idea that it stretched all the way back to 1993. Ye Gods!
As for the "good batting displays," in this match... Taking the match as a whole, only Myburgh and Rehman can be pleased with their aggregate run-scoring in the match. Trego's aggregate is satisfactory for a number 7. When only 3 of your 11 players put up aggregate scores that are good, relative to their positions in the batting order, then one has a big problem!
Our numbers three and four have to manage better match aggregates in a game played on a decent batting track than the 60 or so runs that each of Cooper and Hildreth put up. Now, obviously, their aggregate scores look great compared to those put up by our numbers one and five, but that doesn't change the fact that our numbers 3 and 4 need to average more than 30 runs per innings. Realistically, those two needed to convert their 50ish scores to more substantial scores in our first dig.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:22:22:16 by AGod.
We didn't get into Div Two by never having been relegated from Div ONe!
I knew the opening record was bad in recent times (since getting promoted back to Div ONe) but had no idea that it stretched all the way back to 1993. Ye Gods!
As for the "good batting displays," in this match... Taking the match as a whole, only Myburgh and Rehman can be pleased with their aggregate run-scoring in the match. Trego's aggregate is satisfactory for a number 7. When only 3 of your 11 players put up aggregate scores that are good, relative to their positions in the batting order, then one has a big problem!
Our numbers three and four have to manage better match aggregates in a game played on a decent batting track than the 60 or so runs that each of Cooper and Hildreth put up. Now, obviously, their aggregate scores look great compared to those put up by our numbers one and five, but that doesn't change the fact that our numbers 3 and 4 need to average more than 30 runs per innings. Realistically, those two needed to convert their 50ish scores to more substantial scores in our first dig.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:14:22:22:16 by AGod.
AF - I think what Maynard meant by "not executing for long enough," is pretty much that we failed to show the necessary concentration and discipline with both bat and ball.
Failed to concentrate bat with discipline after about 2:30pm in the first innings.
And from what has been said about our bowling, put some balls in the right place but didn't have the discipline to consistently plug away in the right areas and thus failed to apply pressure in the field.
Failed to concentrate bat with discipline after about 2:30pm in the first innings.
And from what has been said about our bowling, put some balls in the right place but didn't have the discipline to consistently plug away in the right areas and thus failed to apply pressure in the field.
The next two games - MIddx and Worcs may be seen (in hindsight) as very important games if we are going to struggle this season because those two teams are also, very much, candidates to struggle.
I wonder if Worcs will be bold enough to try to prepare a turning track for Senanayake when we go to New Road?
Their groundsman has plenty of recent experience of producing turning tracks for Ajmal.
I wonder if Worcs will be bold enough to try to prepare a turning track for Senanayake when we go to New Road?
Their groundsman has plenty of recent experience of producing turning tracks for Ajmal.
Don't tell me the next two games have turned into relegation battles already, Are you including Hampshire in this relegation dogfight.
We are doomed , doomed. Don't panic Mr Manering, sorry Maynard
. Come on gents we batted badly or did they bowl well?
. Come on gents we batted badly or did they bowl well?
That's the problem on here in the main and at the ground.
If we lose we have batted or bowled poorly.
If we win it's because the opposition have played poorly.
It is far more fun to complain, criticise than it is to praise.
Everybody knows better than Trescothick and Maynard, 40/50 years combined county and international experience is nothing on looking at scorecards on a computer screen you know!
Maybe I've gone over the top slightly but let's be fair. None of our players go out to perform badly (or they better not), all the plans we put in place are well thought through, we don't make mistakes on purpose, chose to bat when we think pitch will do all sorts etc.
The players I am 99.9% sure are far more upset with the last 3 days than we are, it's their job and their responsibility.
We are all entitled to our opinions but lets not write us off after 3 days of the season, and as I said earlier, there is very little we can do about it given our options.....
If we lose we have batted or bowled poorly.
If we win it's because the opposition have played poorly.
It is far more fun to complain, criticise than it is to praise.
Everybody knows better than Trescothick and Maynard, 40/50 years combined county and international experience is nothing on looking at scorecards on a computer screen you know!
Maybe I've gone over the top slightly but let's be fair. None of our players go out to perform badly (or they better not), all the plans we put in place are well thought through, we don't make mistakes on purpose, chose to bat when we think pitch will do all sorts etc.
The players I am 99.9% sure are far more upset with the last 3 days than we are, it's their job and their responsibility.
We are all entitled to our opinions but lets not write us off after 3 days of the season, and as I said earlier, there is very little we can do about it given our options.....
Quite right wsm, agree with both your posts above. It's only one game, of which most of us have not seen a single ball. They'll know better than us what went wrong and what has to go right.
Sandhills:
1) I would imagine that what people - whether here or at the ground were most upset about was the abject manner of the first-innings collapse. IMO, it was that that landed us in the soup in that match. It did NOT sound from any of the commentary as though Durham/Collingwood bowled particularly well to "engineer," that collapse. Collingwood himself sounded bemused at how much success he found. No, we shot ourselves in the foot, collapsing from 200 + for 2 to a final total that was the small matter of 160 runs shy of the target that Matthew Maynard had set the team.
2) Yes, Onions and Rushworth by all accounts bowled good spells in the second innings. But you we have to expect guys like that to bowl well. And them bowling well does not exclude the possibility that we could have batted well in response. As it is, if not for the dire first-innings collapse, we might very well have been able to survive being 40 odd for 4 in our second dig - especially if we had got anywhere near the first innings target that MM had set.
3) Nailsea - teams that struggle to score runs tend to struggle in the table (unless of course they are phenomenal with the ball as Durham were for their first two CC1 title wins). Therefore, if we continue to struggle for runs (and MM's options for change are distinctly limited) then you must concede that we will probably then struggle in the table. And yes, Hants are a good bet to struggle too, with a suspect bowling attack, IMO.
4) WSM - If all our plans are 'well thought through,' why do they almost never seem to work at the start of a season? If a club keeps getting the same sort of outcome in any given scenario that suggests that something is wanting in their thinking around that scenario to me...
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:15:09:42:43 by AGod.
1) I would imagine that what people - whether here or at the ground were most upset about was the abject manner of the first-innings collapse. IMO, it was that that landed us in the soup in that match. It did NOT sound from any of the commentary as though Durham/Collingwood bowled particularly well to "engineer," that collapse. Collingwood himself sounded bemused at how much success he found. No, we shot ourselves in the foot, collapsing from 200 + for 2 to a final total that was the small matter of 160 runs shy of the target that Matthew Maynard had set the team.
2) Yes, Onions and Rushworth by all accounts bowled good spells in the second innings. But you we have to expect guys like that to bowl well. And them bowling well does not exclude the possibility that we could have batted well in response. As it is, if not for the dire first-innings collapse, we might very well have been able to survive being 40 odd for 4 in our second dig - especially if we had got anywhere near the first innings target that MM had set.
3) Nailsea - teams that struggle to score runs tend to struggle in the table (unless of course they are phenomenal with the ball as Durham were for their first two CC1 title wins). Therefore, if we continue to struggle for runs (and MM's options for change are distinctly limited) then you must concede that we will probably then struggle in the table. And yes, Hants are a good bet to struggle too, with a suspect bowling attack, IMO.
4) WSM - If all our plans are 'well thought through,' why do they almost never seem to work at the start of a season? If a club keeps getting the same sort of outcome in any given scenario that suggests that something is wanting in their thinking around that scenario to me...
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:15:09:42:43 by AGod.
I am very happy to identify with wsm's recent postings.
In my opinion if Abell is available, the man to make way for his is Allenby. His bowling is not so good that he has to be included and I suggest that TA is already a better batsman.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
In my opinion if Abell is available, the man to make way for his is Allenby. His bowling is not so good that he has to be included and I suggest that TA is already a better batsman.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I would think that MM would be most unlikely to drop JA, given his strong links to the player, the role that MM presumably played in persuading JA to break his contract at Glamorgan etc.
Or, at least, said change would not happen unless and until JA had experienced a very large number of CC1 batting failures indeed. I'd guess that it would take at least six or seven matches worth of very poor form before he'd drop a guy that he's personally decided to invest the club's money in.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:15:12:03:50 by AGod.
Or, at least, said change would not happen unless and until JA had experienced a very large number of CC1 batting failures indeed. I'd guess that it would take at least six or seven matches worth of very poor form before he'd drop a guy that he's personally decided to invest the club's money in.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:15:12:03:50 by AGod.
I guess now may not be the best time to highlight Craig Meschede's excellent all-round contribution for Glamorgan in the current game. 30 in the first dig, 33 not out second time around and 3/68 in Leicestershire's first innings.
However, it's far too early to write off Allenby. Wish we had both, though......
However, it's far too early to write off Allenby. Wish we had both, though......
So i'm led to beleive from this forum, 9BD, some think Div 2 cricket is of a lower standard and therefore not much of a guide.
It is obviously of a lower standard. All one has to do to divine that is to look at the "before," and "after," batting and bowling averages of players on teams that get promoted to Div One. Invariably the vast majority of guys have better batting and bowling averages (often by some distance) in Div Two than they subsequently manage in Div ONe.
However, in respect of Craig M the pertinent thing is that he has already demonstrated, at the end of the 2013 season, that he IS capable of being a dangerous bowler at Div ONe level. Indeed, but for Craig M's contributions with the ball at the end of that 2013 season, we might well have been relegated. If he can get lots of wkts with Glam to regain full confidence in his bowling, then so much the better.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:15:16:09:03 by AGod.
However, in respect of Craig M the pertinent thing is that he has already demonstrated, at the end of the 2013 season, that he IS capable of being a dangerous bowler at Div ONe level. Indeed, but for Craig M's contributions with the ball at the end of that 2013 season, we might well have been relegated. If he can get lots of wkts with Glam to regain full confidence in his bowling, then so much the better.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:04:15:16:09:03 by AGod.
On that basis then, if he hits form, he should out perform his 2013 averages by someway. If he doesn't is that considered a failure and would we take if back if that was the case.
Loaning out 1st Div cricketers is very rare is it not, it's a odd situation to me.
Loaning out 1st Div cricketers is very rare is it not, it's a odd situation to me.
Losing the first game of the season has not been a problem in the past and it doesn't have to be a problem in the future BUT it is an opportunity for MM to show how he is different to RN.
He needs to get a handle on this as Director and batting coach in the extra week and get the team's head in the game. Somerset live or die on confidence. They always have. We are lucky to have a week and we need to come back a different unit.
He needs to get a handle on this as Director and batting coach in the extra week and get the team's head in the game. Somerset live or die on confidence. They always have. We are lucky to have a week and we need to come back a different unit.
Quote:AGod
Sandhills:
1) I would imagine that what people - whether here or at the ground were most upset about was the abject manner of the first-innings collapse. IMO, it was that that landed us in the soup in that match. It did NOT sound from any of the commentary as though Durham/Collingwood bowled particularly well to "engineer," that collapse. Collingwood himself sounded bemused at how much success he found. No, we shot ourselves in the foot, collapsing from 200 + for 2 to a final total that was the small matter of 160 runs shy of the target that Matthew Maynard had set the team.
2) Yes, Onions and Rushworth by all accounts bowled good spells in the second innings. But you we have to expect guys like that to bowl well. And them bowling well does not exclude the possibility that we could have batted well in response. As it is, if not for the dire first-innings collapse, we might very well have been able to survive being 40 odd for 4 in our second dig - especially if we had got anywhere near the first innings target that MM had set.
3) Nailsea - teams that struggle to score runs tend to struggle in the table (unless of course they are phenomenal with the ball as Durham were for their first two CC1 title wins). Therefore, if we continue to struggle for runs (and MM's options for change are distinctly limited) then you must concede that we will probably then struggle in the table. And yes, Hants are a good bet to struggle too, with a suspect bowling attack, IMO.
4) WSM - If all our plans are 'well thought through,' why do they almost never seem to work at the start of a season? If a club keeps getting the same sort of outcome in any given scenario that suggests that something is wanting in their thinking around that scenario to me...
Good morning, Sandhills.
I was absent on Sunday. Thankfully for me, I was also absent on the occasion of the Dieppe raid.
However, following careful consideration of multiple sources, I have concluded that the raid was badly planned even in theory and that, tragically, the event itself proved a fiasco with massive loss of Allied lives.
I followed a very similar process re: Sunday, considering the following sources:
a) The commentary to which I was listening.
b) “Live updates,” from my Dad and his friend who were at the game on Sunday.
c) Posts made on this board by other people that were there on Sunday. As you may have noticed, not one person that posts on this board and that has posted about Sunday’s events has said anything about the second half of the day other than it was “poor,” “very disappointing,” or variants thereof. No poster that was there on Sunday has suggested that brilliant Durham bowling was behind the collapse.
d) Mr Collingwood himself isn’t even pretending that he bowled especially well, professing himself bewildered that he took so many wicket and saying, simply “There were some good balls – and some poor shots.”
Is it your genuine and honestly held opinion, Sandhills, that the second half of Sunday was not, in any way, poor on Somerset’s part?
If that’s your honestly held opinion then you are as entitled to it as I am to my view to the contrary.
If, however, you simply believe that we should always state on a board that the opposition did well rather than suggest that we did badly as some sort of ‘device’ to ensure we never criticise our own team then, well, I’m sorry, but there’s a bird native to Africa that is renowned for engaging in a certain type of behaviour....
I was absent on Sunday. Thankfully for me, I was also absent on the occasion of the Dieppe raid.
However, following careful consideration of multiple sources, I have concluded that the raid was badly planned even in theory and that, tragically, the event itself proved a fiasco with massive loss of Allied lives.
I followed a very similar process re: Sunday, considering the following sources:
a) The commentary to which I was listening.
b) “Live updates,” from my Dad and his friend who were at the game on Sunday.
c) Posts made on this board by other people that were there on Sunday. As you may have noticed, not one person that posts on this board and that has posted about Sunday’s events has said anything about the second half of the day other than it was “poor,” “very disappointing,” or variants thereof. No poster that was there on Sunday has suggested that brilliant Durham bowling was behind the collapse.
d) Mr Collingwood himself isn’t even pretending that he bowled especially well, professing himself bewildered that he took so many wicket and saying, simply “There were some good balls – and some poor shots.”
Is it your genuine and honestly held opinion, Sandhills, that the second half of Sunday was not, in any way, poor on Somerset’s part?
If that’s your honestly held opinion then you are as entitled to it as I am to my view to the contrary.
If, however, you simply believe that we should always state on a board that the opposition did well rather than suggest that we did badly as some sort of ‘device’ to ensure we never criticise our own team then, well, I’m sorry, but there’s a bird native to Africa that is renowned for engaging in a certain type of behaviour....
See...... The problems come when analysis of the sources accessed start to question the eye witness accounts of those who were there. Not in this case I might add but it hasn't always been so clear cut.
And, of course, these sources are always secondary sources and are based on the opinions and perceptions of those who are telling you what is happening and not on the evidence of your own eyes.
Sometimes it isn't as definite as the desk researchers think it is.....
But sometimes there is no choice, it's the only sources available.
Maybe a more questioning manner rather than statements of almost certainty is the way to comment on such evidence, especially if the comments are read by those who are there.
And, of course, these sources are always secondary sources and are based on the opinions and perceptions of those who are telling you what is happening and not on the evidence of your own eyes.
Sometimes it isn't as definite as the desk researchers think it is.....
But sometimes there is no choice, it's the only sources available.
Maybe a more questioning manner rather than statements of almost certainty is the way to comment on such evidence, especially if the comments are read by those who are there.
I will make one point, Grockle.
It's in respect of the "evidence of your own eyes."
Studies that have been done into eyewitness testimony have, as I understand it, shown that there is a huge natural variance in the accounts about it that folks that have witnessed an event will give to, for example, the police.
In other words, even if I was sat there using the evidence of my own eyes, I might still have come to a rather different conclusion to somebody else that was also there.
It's in respect of the "evidence of your own eyes."
Studies that have been done into eyewitness testimony have, as I understand it, shown that there is a huge natural variance in the accounts about it that folks that have witnessed an event will give to, for example, the police.
In other words, even if I was sat there using the evidence of my own eyes, I might still have come to a rather different conclusion to somebody else that was also there.
Getting beaten inside three days by seven wickets is not good, (no matter how far away the reader is from Taunton !).
Grizzzly
Grizzzly
Yes... but whatever 'it' is' It is the evidence of YOUR eyes and not a secondary explanation of the evidence of someone else's.
Sorry but the inference that a non attender sometimes has a better 'view' is very very rarely the case unless you are talking about the backwards and forwards analysis of instant replay
Sorry but the inference that a non attender sometimes has a better 'view' is very very rarely the case unless you are talking about the backwards and forwards analysis of instant replay
It was not my intention to imply that the non-attender necessarily has a "better view," but rather to suggest that there shouldn't be absolute faith based on so-called "primary," sources because two people can see the same "thing," unfold with their own eyes but come to quite different conclusions as to what happened, why it happened etc
Using your own analogy. I know a lot about the Zulu Wars but would never suggest I knew more about what it was like to face 4000 Zulu's charging at me even if I was discussing with two people who were there but had differing views of what it was like (a bit difficult nowadays of course).
I might suggest, I might question but I'd never infer that their view was wrong in relation to mine or that I knew more about it than they did because I had read about it. I certainly would not attempt to patronise them if they did not agree with my secondary view so I'm glad you never have the intention to do that.
I rarely read "absolute faith" here - well at least not from people who are eye witnesses to a game because they rarely profess opinions of what is going to happen that smack of some kind of certainty.
I might suggest, I might question but I'd never infer that their view was wrong in relation to mine or that I knew more about it than they did because I had read about it. I certainly would not attempt to patronise them if they did not agree with my secondary view so I'm glad you never have the intention to do that.
I rarely read "absolute faith" here - well at least not from people who are eye witnesses to a game because they rarely profess opinions of what is going to happen that smack of some kind of certainty.
Well, at least we are not bottom of the league (even just just taking account of the teams who played this week) although we most likely will be next week. Let's hope Middlesex and Hampshire draw their game.
Onwards and upwards.
Onwards and upwards.
Very much so CH. Tomorrow is another day and we have 7 days to get this glitch sorted (if its a glitch)
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- Blast Finals Day Semi 1 - It's Northants Again!!
- RIP the GREAT Gary Sobers
- Metro50 NOT "Developmental" by choice
- Blast Quarter Final Here We Go at Headingley