The fun that some of you go on holiday to avoid starts at Taunton this afternoon as we take on Warwickshire. Given the present weather it's probably god that we only want to play for three hours but it will be with a new team and some new stars in Albie Morkel and Richard Levi both of who featured in our warm ups against Gloucestershire over the last few days.....
v WARWICKSHIRE T20 @ Taunton Wednesday 13 June 2012
Captain Thomas leads his young men out against the might of the Bears with two new weapons in his locker. The hard batting of Richard Levi and the allround and substantial capabilities of Albie Morkel. He also has a number of new boys who may feature in the side. No Marcus Trescothick of course and we will lose Craig Kieswetter for part of the tournament on England duty. However Jos Buttler will still be here and we've pulled Steve Snell in once again should our younger keeper be asked to go and do some international stuff. There is also the O'Brian factor as Kevin joins the ranks
I have no idea what the makeup of the side will be but you would expect it to include the following players;
I am uncertain whether they will use Craig Kieswetter if he is not available for other games and one would assume that Jos will keep. The bowling will be put in the hands of Steve Kirby one would expect but this is not his field of expertise and I would also expect to see Craig Meschede brought in if he is back to fitness because this IS becoming his. The tight lines of the third Craig, Craig Overton would also be useful but T20 is a new format for him, as for others. Another possible is Arul Suppiah not as an opener but as a flexible batsman and extra slow man. Lewis Gregory is neither fit enough to bowl or the force he was last year presently and I doubt the opening skills of Alex Barrow or the pace of Gemaal Hussain are particularly suited to this for of the game. Max Waller would be another option for all round short game versatility but his time will come when George Dockrell leaves for U19 National captain's duty.
There will be more to come as I am at my first game should all go to plane this afternoon. See you there if you are.
We start on time under grey skies but Guy Lavender reckons the weather might be nice to us. Warwickshire win the toss and put Somerset in so Craig K and a very large unit called Richard Levi stroll out to do battle in very snazzy new grey helmets. Meanwhile The Bears have gone for the 'off brown' look (well cross between Yellow and brown I suppose). Quite a lot of swinging and missing as I type though Craig has already put two into the crowd and straight driven another for 4. It's a sparse crowd but the PA has improved!!
22 for 1 after 3 as Craig flips one to the leg fielder off Woakes, thinks he bump balled it... but he didn't and he's on his way.
An interesting side ....take the pace off the ball I say!!
More to come but as it's on the telly and it's the first one back please excuse me if it's a bit patchy tonight. Pete has joined Levi who has just nonchalently flipped one over the keepers head to the OP. 31 for 1 after 4.
Richard Levi may have the look of a little Cosgrove about him but he hits a ball a flaming long way and with some real confidence. He is a mna who willgo for his shots irrespective of the opposition and he certainly did tonight on an excellent crowd pleasing debut for his new county. With excellent support from Albie who then daftly ran himself out (I think he didn't run because he didn't think he'd played a shot) the big man murdered the Bears middle bowing and we put up 191 even the skipper glancing shots over the keeper. Good batting - but some silly shots still to be removed and a stiff total.
So on to the bowling - Max Waller man of the match and richly deserved 4 for 16 ripped the heart out of the side and took out the dangermen to boot. He so nearly got the hatrick!! Steve Kirby fire in the belly and took a very satisfying wicket after softening up Barker before skittling him. George should have had more but Albie put one down from him which he should have held and the skipper did his 'front and back' stuff with 3. Bowl them up front and then put the willies up the tail!! Albie looked in need of a bit more bowling but has an easy style and an excellent length ball. But Waller was the man tonight and richly deserved the award.
We looked confident and absolutely murderous in the second half. Had no doubt whatsoever that Warwickshire would get nowhere near this total. Good start to the T20 and better to come if people close a few holes and get their 'feel' for the conditions.
Well, I shall not be there because it is not a format of the game that pleases me one iota.
However, I shall be following the game and rooting for and wishing Somerset well, even though the team with a bunch of 'hired - hands' on board, will bear a totally different resemblance to any that has gone before it this year.
SCCC seem to be, perhaps, one of a diminishing group of teams that appear fully committed to always bringing in two overseas T20 players, if at all possible, for T20?
Warks haven't bothered at all in terms of bringing in anyone new from outside - just kept their existing CC player.
I wonder about the rest of the group?
I know Northants signed Cam - presumably they will also play Vaas?
Glamorgan signed Van Jaarsveld. Not sure if they have anyone else? Cosgrove again?
Presume Gloucs are keeping Williamson - have they added anyone else?
Glamorgan have shaun marsh and marcus north as well as van jarsvald and could well be a good outside bet for this tournament IMO.They have them for all games too so none of this nipping home for a namby pamby, willy nilly, Hoitty toitty t20 tourney in Zimbabwe!!!
Shaun Marsh has, I think, a good record in the IPL.
I think that could be a pretty good shout, Ronnie, although either or both Australian (and MVJ) could all be stymied by sloath-paced surfaces at the Swalec.
yes no doubt our first 3 will be rained off and then when we have no Dockrell, Kieswetter, Buttler, Obrien, Morkel or Levi as well as no Trescothick the weather will brighten up for our games with Warks and Glamorgan who will be at full strength.
Im away to put a bet on that happens.could end up quite rich!!
Well, if Somerset choose to select foreign imports at the cost of Hildreth, who has always seemed an excellent T20 player to me, my ancient loyalty is going to be stretched somewhat.
The only consolation is that it is not real cricket.
After the T20 loss to Leics in last year's final, I had a look back at semi-finals and final games played by SCCC in both T20 and Pro 40 over the past few seasons.
It was noticeable that Hildreth had not really covered himself in glory - despite a good innings vs Warks. Moreover, he did not manage - over the games taken as a whole - to get ahead of the run-a-ball mark.
To my mind, in T20 and 40 over cricket, the difference makers are those guys that can make reasonably large scores at better than a run a ball.
Is Compton a great bet to do better than a run-a-ball?
Probably not. BUT.. if he ever is going to do it, it should be when he is in his current vein of form, I'd have thought?
If true that Hildreth is not playing then it might also explain (in part) why Brian had previously said that the captaincy would be reviewed "before the T20."
Without commenting on Hildreth's performance, I would like to mention that since the start of the 2005 season until today Hildreth had played in every one of Somerset's competitive T20 matches, exactly 100 matches in all.
A bit surprised that we've picked both Kirby and Max. I'd rather have more batting in the side and not sure that either those two or George will get many at the end, if required.
I think Somerset will walk this group, its pretty weak.
Warwickshire are built as a Championship team but look very weak as a bowling attack outside Woakes and no explosion in the batting.
In the CB40 they beat Derbyshire and Northants twice and got hammered by Kent by 10 wickets.
The rest of the group looks blah. Somerset will finish top with ease IMO.
In the knockouts it depends on who you draw. Somerset will look to outbat teams in the tradional Somerset way. Very strong batting, pretty average bowling.
You can come out now. We've won the T20; it's all over, with CC cricket resuming on Saturday, a three-day match, interrupted by a JPL match on Sunday, and then another three-day match starting on Wednesday.
AGod A bit surprised that we've picked both Kirby and Max. I'd rather have more batting in the side and not sure that either those two or George will get many at the end, if required.
I'd have picked Arul and Craig M instead.
not
Congratulations, AGod. You are hereby appointed to the Selection Panel (of Gloucestershire).
I am sure Hildreth would have done just as well as Compton did tonight.
Nearly a perfect performance today and great for Max who always seems to bowl well in the 20/20. My only criticism is the strange decision to see Compo coming in to bat ahead of O'Brien. We really should have scored 205+ at that point and it was the perfect time for a little cameo from O'Brien!!!
Bobstan I imagine ob will be fairly satisfied with this match.
Actually most supporters will, surely. Lovely for Max.
Absolutely delighted for Max - he has earnt a night in the limelight. Interestingly, and to be totally honest everytime he tried to bowl his googly, it landed halfway down the wicket, but none of the batters punished him.
Got held up in Southend so not enough time to get to gods own county but home in BS20 for our last five overs. Agree Compo was a bad decision but based on his innings on Monday I guess he was worth at least one try at 6. Sky commentators were a joke at suggesting 191 wasn't that good.
Simply different class in the field, Waller great with the ball but also buzzing in field and saved a couple of boundaries.
Good to get points on the board as tomorrow looks a nailed on wash out if the forecast is anything to go by.
Excellent performance, much more like what we are used to for a home one day effort.
Superb batting (answers on a postcard for why Compo played ahead of Arul, Hildy or even Meschede!?) Excellent player but just not suited to T20 and certainly not at number 6 with 4-5 overs to go!!!
" involved" -as in being the batsman at the other end while his partner ran himself out.
I can see the logic in picking Compton. If there is an early clatter of wickets then a steady run a ball man can right the ship. If there isn't- and there wasn't tonight- then he comes in if necessary at 9 or 10. or doesn't bat.If O Brien had come in where he should in front of Compton then probably he wouldn't have batted so it doesn't matter whether it was him or Hildreth.
Don't forget that we will start to lose players soon.
I have some sympathy with those who look askance at imports but I remember Pollard/Kartik...White/Langer etc and realise that it's not so different. Are we likely to get any play tonight?
At the start of the match, Radio 5 Live said they would be interviewing Andy Nash during the evening, specifically about Murali's comments on T20 and merging Somerset and Gloucs. They were saying it jokingly, as in "we'll light the blue touchpaper and run away".
Did anyone hear the interview and what AN had to say?
SheptonPaul At the start of the match, Radio 5 Live said they would be interviewing Andy Nash during the evening, specifically about Murali's comments on T20 and merging Somerset and Gloucs. They were saying it jokingly, as in "we'll light the blue touchpaper and run away".
Did anyone hear the interview and what AN had to say?
Yes I did as I was still pludering down the M4 at this point with fading hopes of making it to Taunton for some of the game.
He basically said he respected Murali's comments but thought they were completely wrong and basically said that completely disagreed. Pointed out that the likes of the IPL are solely funded by the TV revenues and that fans are given tickets. Suggested that there isn't much wrong with T20 in this country other than finally settling on a schedule and that it was all about the fans and getting bums on seats (mentioned how Surrey had sold 26k tickets for their two matches)
Tumbles It'll be a miracle if we get a 5 over a side game tonight looking at the forecast.
It always seems to rain in this fixture, Glos must be gutted it wasn't last night as they'd probably got a near full house.
Botham The logic in picking Compo, is that he is bang in form, did well in the practice matches and so it would be a knock on his confidence not to!
In reality Compton is probably no worse in T20 than any of the Warks' batting line-up.
In the sort of team that we field for T20 he tends to stick out like a sore thumb, though.
Never mind Hildreth, I don't really understand why we don't pick Suppiah ahead of Compton (and Hildreth for that matter)?
I certainly think he's more of a six-hitter than Compton or Hildreth (has been in the CC this year). There's nothing in it, really, fielding wise between the three of them, but only one of them bowls to an acceptable standard
.
There may have been a case for picking Compton based on his overall form and those warm-up games. But if he still cannot push the score along even when he IS bang in form, then I'd suggest that last night has undermined the case for his inclusion, overall.
Plus there's the ever-present increased (compared to when any of our other players are batting) danger of a run-out to factor into the equation.
Sources have informed me (it's so good to have 'sources' again) that the situation was explained to Compo as "...show you should be picked for T20 in the parctice games and we'll pick you..."
Well, fair enough, Grockle. If they've said that and he's then outperformed everybody else in the warm-up game then you could not then turn around and not pick him (at least not without looking as if they'd lied to him.)
But there's still the issue of IF you are going to pick him, where do you put him?
To my mind it would be odd to have somebody that does not bowl at all coming in miles down the order at 7 or 8? It would be as though they were a spare part - a specialist batsman at 7 or 8?
I guess this might be - in part - why he came in ahead of Kevin O'Brien - a move which seems to have mystified some?
I can see why they may be reluctant to have him up at the top of the order, in terms of maximising the power-play.
But then teams usually also like to finish their innings with a flourish.
Do you put him in the middle of the order somewhere i.e. at 4?
Realistically, with all the impending absences, I suppose we will soon have a situation where all three of Arul, Hildreth and Compton are playing in the same T20 team anyway.
I would certainly have Meschede in my T20 side but he may not be fully fit yet.
Nick certainly came out to make runs on Wednesday. Whether he is one of our best eleven T20 players however is another thing and open to debate I suppose.
I can understand why Compton was picked - to give the other batsmen someone to play around. Almost in a Zander DB type role.
We should deploy him flexibly, depending on how wickets are falling.
On Wednesday, I didn't think we needed him when he came in and O'Brian should have come in above him, and kept the momentum going.
However, If the game has played out differently, with Somerset collapsing, then having NC to come in to steady the ship could have looked like a shrewd move.
belgraviaboy I can understand why Compton was picked - to give the other batsmen someone to play around. Almost in a Zander DB type role.
We should deploy him flexibly, depending on how wickets are falling.
On Wednesday, I didn't think we needed him when he came in and O'Brian should have come in above him, and kept the momentum going.
However, If the game has played out differently, with Somerset collapsing, then having NC to come in to steady the ship could have looked like a shrewd move.
Cheers
BB
That is almost word for word I said to a friend of mine.
Reverse Swing Trouble is Ronnie he'd end up with most of the strike for his 49 off 60 balls.
And just think how many runouts there would be if he were in most of the 20 overs!
My biggest concern is that a month of floundering in a game he is totally unsuited for (and he was floundering, it cannot be disguised as anything but) may affect his CC form where he is undoubtedly our main man with the bat.
We don't need him in 20/20 and he doesn't need it, seems a no brainer to me.
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