By Grockle
March 12 2005

Simon Francis has been assessed as only 'promising' with the new ball. Well, taking his opportunity today, bowling with the new ball, the old ball and any other he was offered, he took 8 for 66 defeating Derbyshire in the penultimate over after Jamie Cox had put us in the driving seat earlier.

So we come to the first cup game of the season and there are a lot of fans who will be praying that it won't be the last because of the weather.  We used to have nightmare B&H early rounds because you qualified, as long as you could get on the pitch.  If the weather in Taunton is mirrored in Derby, there'll be no chance of play tomorrow or on the reserve day.

Peter Bowler heads the batting averages at the moment with an average of 170+...he won't play tomorrow.  Rogers, the Derbyshire Australian, is just behind him although he failed against us in the Championship match...he will play.  Mike Burns needs to keep up his form with the bat for his side in order to give us the platform for our bowling attack to get Derbyshire wobbling.  Richard Johnson  may be doubtful and has yet to make an impact on his club's bowling averages...they are being led at the moment by Keith Dutch after his Essex heroics.

Derbyshire come off an awful one day performance against Leicestershire who stuffed them in 20 overs after bowling them out for 98 in 19.  BUT they beat Durham on the weekend and are unpredictable on the Derby wicket, which can be unpredictable itself.  Rogers, Gait, Bassano and Adnan can all give us trouble and we have yet to see our main attack 'strike'.  Aaron Laraman needs to keep up his impressive start to this season. He really has looked aggressive and speedy!

John Francis, will be looking to turn one of those little cameos into a substantial innings and Matt Wood may come in for Neil Edwards who has unluckily gone down with Glandular fever. With  Cox looking to start HIS season and Parsons and Gazzard wanting to cement a one day place, we should be too strong for the home sidde in the batting department. 

If it comes down to a bowl out, I am not so sure but let's hope that doesn't happen and we get a game of some kind....BUT please....not decided by flaming Duckworth and his crony...please!

The Game

Well we have play on time with a side that has similarities to the Essex CC2 side.  The additions are - Carl Gazzard - once more in (for Bowler) as a specialist early batsman, Keith Parsons (couldn't leave him out after his stabalisation role in the first one dayer - in for Matt Wood) and Simon Francis who starts his 2004 season as a replacement for the fragile Johnson.  We are 70 for 2 after an hour with John Francis and the aforementioned Gazzard both going cheaply (3 and 8 respectively).  Burns (opening again) and Mr Cox are steadying the ship...hopefully building to a massive run soaked crescendo before the heavens open!

I'll assess the implications of the result and the performances later but someone is going to have to make way for Francis Senior on this form.  8 for 66 is none too bad for his first run out this season is it?