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FAKE 2020 CC1 v Notts @Trent Bridge


By Grockle et al
April 11 2020

The parallel universe continues with the second CC1 fixture at Nottingham.  Somerset come off a victory at Kent while Notts are looking to do better than their firstb loss against Yorkshire.  Azhar Ali is fit and ready to go.... for another season and Tom Banton steps down to allow him  to step up.  We stay with 2 spinners. So off we go again....

V Nottinghamshire CC1 @Trent Bridge Saturday 11 April 2020

Our first 'virtual' away game in the East Midlands.  After the game at Taunton we have decided to make only one change to the side that beat Kent.  Azhar Ali enters the campaign after a minor injury and Tom Banton makes way for him at number 3.  The side therefore is;

Abell (Capt), Carberry, Ali, Hildreth, Bartlett, Davies (Wk), Gregory, Bess, Overton C, Overton J, Leach

It's an overcast morning for Day 1 but Tom Abell requests a toss and on winning it decides to bat first.  With 2 spinners the visitors probably want to have a blast at the home side on a possibly worn pitch on Day 3 and 4.  It's a theory, we will all see if it works.

DAY 1

More to come

Notts start

Stuart Broad is available for Notts though it is Pattinson who bowls first at Tom Abell and Mike Carberry.  After the first two over clash both Somerset batsmen are off the mark with singles and there are 4 runs on the board.  It is a tight spell from the Nottinghamshire opening pair and it is too much for Somerset's skipper who plays all around a straight one from Broad and is clean bowled for 5 with the score on 12.  First blood for the home side.

Azhar Ali returns for a second bite at effectively the 2020 season (Matt Wade would have been the international but as he has been forced to stay at home and this is the 2019 squad database we welcome back the man from Pakistan).  He is off the mark in 3 balls but his initial play is a little static and one could not say Somerset are streaking ahead as both batsmen are watchful. 

Ball and Fletcher are on first change in the 13th and 14th overs respectively but after an hour the score is only 23 with Carberry on 15 and Ali taking no chances at all on 3.  It is not until the 22nd over that there is a boundary which prompts another change with Mullaney starting his account in the 23rd.

Pattison returns in the 26th and has Carberry slightly doubtfully called LBW for 30 two short of the Somerset 50.  After just starting to look stable, the batsmen have to reset, although as James Hildreth opens his account with a boundary to bring up said 50 and then takes Mullaney for two more in the next over maybe the reset has already happened?

Broad is back for the 31st just before the lunch break and Somerset end the session on 68 for 2 with Azhar on 16 from 71 balls and James nearly up to him with 14 off 20!!  Is Ali nervous or just over cautious?  Having said that, the initial bowling effort from Notts has been tight with wickets for the opening pair and neither giving away more than 20. Good support from Ball, Fletcher and Mullaney also.  Notts certainly will feel happier about the first 2 hours.

Somerset Optimists have asssessed that only losing 2 wickets was a good thing.  They probably weren't as happy when James Hildreth goes LBW to Broad in the first over after the lunchbreak for 14 with a score of 69 for 3.  It doesn't get any better as Pattinson comprehensively bowls Bartlett before he gets into the groove or onto the scorecard at 74 for4.

Pattinson is unlucky not to have Steve Davies in the 40th before the score passes 90 but that one was not to be and possibly made up for the decision against Carberry in the first session. Meanwhile Ali is holding himself in check as his timing is not quite there and he edges one to the feet of first slip before driving to the rope to bring up the Somerset 100.  He then edges again the next ball. It is not easy for the Pakistani at the moment.

Ball and Fletcher take over in the 42nd and the 45th respectively and the change upsets Davies' balance.  Almost immediately he pops up a soft close catch to Patel off Fletcher.  It's a shame as the 54 runs partnership between him and Ali has been the best part of the session to that point.

Coughlin becomes the 5th bowler for the 54th and almost immediately hits Gregory who hasn't got his length while the bowler hasn't sorted out his line.  It obviously hurts the Somerset man but he takes the pain as it is close to tea. Azhar takes a boundary off Mullaney in the 57th to reach a very hard fought 52 (166 balls with 4 fours).  It has been hard start to the season for AA.  143 for 5 passes 150 and reaches 156 at the Tea interval.  Ali  has 58, Lewis has moved on to 10 with the opening bowling attack of Broad (2 for 21) and Pattinson (2 for 36) still being dangerous every time they run up to the wicket.

Ali takes a boundary off Broad's first after Tea but at the other end, Pattinson is very unlucky to not get Gregory in the 74th at 179 for 5 and again but not as close in the 76th.  Mullaney is on two overs later and he nearly gets Ali as the Somerset men seem to lose their discipline.  Even so the 200 comes up with Ali on 75 and Gregory 35.  Ball finishes off with the old pill and in the 82nd Broad takes the new ball.

Gregory goes to 50 at 222 for 5 (105 balls and 5 fours) but both are still playing and missing.  LBW calls are coming thick and fast and it is no surprise that eventually one of the batsmen is not as lucky.  Azhar walks across a Ball delivery, gets an inside edge through to the keeper Moores departing for 86 at 236 for 6.

Dom Bess cracks his second ball for four and although there is a yet another call for LBW from the penultimate ball of the last over, Somerset go in 249 for 6 with Gregory on 64 and Bess finishing with 6. A long fighting day.

Excellent bowling all day from Broad (23/1/45/2) and Pattinson (23/1/66/2).  Ball offered good support (20/5/44/1) with Fletcher, Mullaney and Coughlin backing up the front attack well. The 108 run partnership between Ali and Gregory was the event of the session and the sides have probably finished the first day even - ish.

Notts Day 1

DAY2

Easter Sunday starts with promise as Dom sends Somerset to 200 with the 2nd ball of the morning but it only lasts 37 minutes as he himself is caught behind off Broad for 7 at 255 in the 99th over.  Gregory is then also a Broad victim early LBW to a ball hiting middle halfway up for 71 at 260.  This puts the Overtons in together, sometimes a joy shortlived and sometimes not.  Jamie is off the mark with a majestic and powerful four while in the next over Pattinson is hit into the pavilion by the other brother and taken for another boundry by his sibling.

But it doesn't last and Craig also falls to Broad LBW for 11 at 277 and then Jack is caught first ball of a new Pattinson over by an inswinging yorker than smacks him plumb in front on the boot

Somerset all out for 278 in the said 37 minutes thanks to 5 for 55 from Stuart Broad and 3 for 85 from James Pattinson.  A thouroughly professional and clinical end to an innings by the pair without the need of support this Easter morning.

Notts Som end D2

We can now see the Nottinghamshire side in all its glory as they prepare to face their first innings;

Duckett, Libby, Patel, Clarke, Mullaney, Moores, Coughline, Pattinson, Broad Fletcher and Ball

I can't say it fills me with fear but I can say I would rather have set them over 300 than just over 250 but it is what it is and we are where we are.  Duckett and Libby walk out to face Gregory and Craig Overton with about 75 minutes before the lunch interval.

So at 11:46 the second phase of the game starts.  The first boundary arrives with the fourth ball of Gregory's starting over.  Ben Duckett is setting out his stall. He is not messing about and when he takes Craig for 8 off the 7th over it prompts Tom Abell to change brothers in the 9th.  It doesn't stop Duckett who takes his side past 50 with a 6 but Jamie does have Libby caught in the infield for 17 at 53.

With about half an hour to go the Somerset strategy turns to spin as Jack Leach is introduced only to be hit out of the ground by Samit Patel in their first encounter.  Spinners are used to this and Jack keeps to his task.  Lo and behold Samit mistimes one and 'dollies' to Craig Overton in the same over.

This encourages Somerset to try spin at both ends and Dom Bess is introduced for a few before the break.  He nearly has Clarke run out in his first over as the Notts men seem a little disconcerted by this approach.  In fact Duckett does not get far enough forward to a Leach delivery and is sent back to the hutch LBW for 44 and it is 77 for 3 with 15 minutes to go.  With his last over before lunch Leach ends an important spell with Clarke's wicket at 86.  Moores arrives to face 6 balls and you would expect him to block them out.  No such luck.  He takes 13 off Dom Bess and the home side stride in defiantly at 100 for 4.

A bad start for the visitors in terms of attacking retrieved by the skill of their England spinner who has turned the game around in 35 minutes and put the home side on the back foot heading into the afternoon..

Notts need someone to stand in the second session as Somerset start with Jack Leach at one end and jamie Overton at the other.  It is the paceman who takes the first wicket with Mullaney LBW for 14 at 110 for 5 and it almost gets worse when Moores, who has barely had time to take guard, is dropped by Hildreth, a good effort and it would have been a stupendous catch.

Somerset keep Overton on for one over too many and Moore's takes advantage of his second life with a flurry of boundaries.  Gregory replaces the fast man but fares no better as Moores gets into his stride very well.  He takes 12 from a Gregory over and forces Abell to connsider another option bringing Bess on and giving Jack Leach a rest by introducing himself in the 40th.  

Nevertheless Moores goes to an excellent 50 from 66 balls with 10 boundaries though the new attack does have him playing and missing more than once and Bess also has an LBW shouot turned down before the wicketkeeper brings up the 200 in the 47th.  Leach returns and has Coughlin caught close in by Hildreth with the first ball of his new spell.  He then beats Pattinson twice before the man has found his feet while Lewis, returning at the other end nearly hhas Moores LBW in the 49th.  In relatiation Moores sends a ball from Mr Gregory into the stands after a tight over.  Tea arrives with Notts on 221 for 6 - a much stronger position than 2 hours ago with Somerset shaking their heads on what combination of bowlers affords their best chance of closing this innings down.

Jack Leach has been the stand out bowler with 4 for 45 while Jamie Overton has taken 2 for nearly the same maount of runs (44).  But the 93 put on by Moores and Coughlin have moved this game on and Moores is still there with 72, looking in little difficulty and taking runs from nearly every one at will.  Pattinson has 14 and the Somerset lead is now only 56. 

Moores and Pattinson return to the crease seemingly determined to maintain the initiative but it nearly ends at 236 when Moores 'guides' one just past the despairing fiingers of the Somerset slip cordon.  The 250 arrives without further incident but Craig Overton then dispatches Pattinson  for 21 at 251 caught by Hildreth in the same slip cordon. A change of Overton brings about the next wicket as Jamie takes out Broad's middle and off stumps simply beating the man for pace.  251 for 8.

In the 69th Abell  replaces Jack Leach once more with Gregory who immediately gets an LBW decision against Moores who has been living on his luck for a few overs.  He unfortunately goes only 3 short of a well deserved century - a situation that has been common to the last two games where many batsmen have gone in the mid 90's, single figures from the desired hundred. 

At 254 for 9 Luke Fletcher thick edges for 4 but he doesn't hang around too long before he is bowled 'neck and crop' by Gregory a mere 10 behind.  Moores was the awkward batsman for Somerset.  The 48 run partnership with Pattinson helped the tail wag and kept Notts in this fight.

 

Now Somerset have to survive 40 minutes before Day 2 ends.  It is not going to be easy with Broad and Pattinson getting 2 bites of a new ball. 

 

However Abell and Carberry set themselves to the task with the captain getting off the mark in Broad's first over before he takes 8 from Pattinson's first.  Carberry has to wait until the third over to make a run and then has to survive a caught behind appeall before he gets into his stride.  Once that happens he plays with real quality with the best shot being a sublime straight drive back past James Pattinson who takeas some hammer in this last stage.  The opening batsmen look pretty solid, bringing up the 50  with the fourth ball of the last over of the day.  51 without loss at the end of Day 2 with Mike Carberry with 32 and Tom Abell with 17.

 

Notts End D2 Notts Som End D2B

DAY 3

Tom Abell makes is intent clear with the second ball of the day when he straight sixes Stuart Broad back over his head into the Trescothick Pavilion.  He and Carberry loot 10 off the first over and seems to be determined to get on with this, so much so that the Notts bowlers nearly have both of them out playing and missing in the second and third overs.

Nevertheless they survive and Mike goes to a well deserved and compact 50 (83 balls and 7 fours) with a run off Coughlin in the 31st.  Ball takes over at the other end in the 32nd but the Somerset score passes 100 witout loss in the 36th.  Notts try to stem the flow with Fletcher in the 33rd and Mullaney in the 34th but Abell joins his partner on 50 (97 balls 5x4 and 1x6) and despite an effort to get the more attacking new ball pair back on before the lunch break (Pattinson makes both batsmen give chances in the 43rd), Somerset go into the interval wihtout loss on 159 with Carberry  on 80 and Abell on 61.

Notts have to stem this tide of runs, though nothing looks less likely at this stage of Day 3!! A Somerset morning one would have to say.

Once more Broad and Pasttinson start a session.  The last one did not go well and this one needs to be a distinct improvement.  Things start looking up 4 overs in when Pattinson finally gets Carberry to miss one and has an LBW decision at 160 as the Somerset opener finally leaves with 86 to his name.  His replacement Ali scratches around a bit but doesn't get anywhere and he is soon on his way back as well as Pattinson doubles his victims with another LBW at 163.

Ball takes over for the 52nd with Coughlin on in the 55th while Abell looks to move the score on. But Coughlin weighs in with the wicket of Hildreth caught by Mullaney at second slip at 193 (200 runs ahead) in the 61st. Ball then bowls the Somerset captain for 84 to cause the visitors to reset their plans at 194 for 4.  One hopes they didn't do it quickly because Barlett will not be part of them as he is also dismissed LBW to Fletcher at 197.  The new pair of Gregory and Davies settle in and bring up the 200 off Mullaney and all becomes quiet once again as the score moves on to 231 at the Tea interval.  Not the racing away planned one would suggest but Somerset are still 241 ahead with 5 wicket still required.

What is a good, defendable score on this Trent Bridge pitch for a side eyeing a victory on Day 4?  I woonder if Notts will allow Somerset to decide or will they simply take the wickets and get on with knocking off the lead?

After the short period off the pitch the 250 comes up quite quickly.  Somerset move to 250 ahead in the 78th and go past the physical score of 250 in the 80th.  Notts take the new ball in the 83rd after which Davies and Gregory try to 'ramp it up' a six and a beautiful on drive from Lewis.  But Broad keeps at it and has him caught behind very soon after this at 284 for a very good 46. in the 92nd.

Dom Bess comes in and has a very torrid time with one excellent ball that zips past leg, after which he is dropped in the slips.  Fletcher keeps at hoim and gets him LBW for a single 286 for 7.  Ball then gets Craig Overton cheaply with a marvellous inswingewr to the base of the middle stump.   He does not score.

Meanwhile Steve Davies keeps the other end ticking and takes his side past 300 with 12 in one Fletcher over and 50 for himself at 301 from 106 balls with 7 fours.  But the other end keeps falling.  Fletcher clean bowls Jamie Overton for 1 in the 100th but Jack gets off the mark with a very aggressive four but it is now Davies who fails as Coughlin gets him caught in front with the first ball of the 103rd for 62.  All out for 318 and 328 ahead.

The 160 run first wiclket partnership was the base of this innings though 87 between Davies and Gregory helped and the 30 from Abell and Hildreth helped.  None of the rest made more than 20.

The wickets were shared more equally in the second Notts bowling effort with all the men adding something to the end result.

The Overtons got an over each at the Notts openers but 6 for 0 is the end of the day score.

DAY 4

Ben Duckett came out aggressively in the first knock and he seems to be of the same mindset for the second push.  He hit a four from the second ball and swiped and missed in the second over.  He is not going to die wondering. Jamie Overton is on for the 9th after Libby hits his brother for 10 off the 8th.  The paceman thinks he has Duckett caught behind in the 11th.  The umpire did not agree and Notts cruise to 50 in the 12th with both batsmen roughly equal in the 20's.  

Tom Abell brings himself on as a change and he makes the first breakthrough having Libby caught at silly mid on for 28 at 57 for 1.  The introduction of Jack Leach is a main aspect of Somerset's plan and he gets Patel quickly as the change in speed fools the batsman and he flips one to Jamie Overton for 3 at 68 for 2.  

It doesn't get better when Duckett is a little too 'cocky' and gets cleaned up trying to play through a ball that isn't where he thought it was from the Somerset captain.  He then moves into a full slow attack introducing Dom in the 23rd at 89 for 3.  Notts pass 100 in the 26th with a big job in front of Clarke and Mullaney.

Just before the lunch break Jamie is introduced for a blast and immediately cleans out Mullaney for 27 at 139 for 4.  This encourages Bess who also gets into the act having Clarke caught in the slip cordon for 34 by James Hildreth.

139 for 5 is a fingertip from 144 for 5 when Bess fumbles and does not hold on to a fairly routine caught and bowled involving Moores just before lunch.  185 behind with 5 wickets left and them mostly bowlers!!

Somerset must have been confident that this game was theirs - it really ought to have been but 'tails' can be notoriously difficult to winkle out.  Somerset know this, it has happened to them more than once.

The 150 came up in the second over but it must have seemed like business as usual when Moores was dismissed for 8 caught at second slip at 164. Tom Abell and Jack Leach come on in the 43rd and 44th overs and then Dom is introduced in the 53rd.  Almost routinely Coughlin is caught behind off Leach for 28 at 188.  The 200 arrives in the 57th.

But Pattinson and Broad refuse to be cowed by the situation and despite close calls they move the score on and become more and more difficult to get rid of.  Boundaries are coming nearly every over and the total is coming down worryingly.  By the Tea interval Notts have 276.  A mere 53 behind and Pattinson has 54 while his partner Broad has 45.  Maybe they shared the bowling but they are determined not to share the batting.  This is NOT GOOD for the visitors.

Tom Abell must have hoped that the momentum of Pattinson and Broad would have been upset by the enforced stop for Tea.  It does not seem to have had that effect.  With not much left the score keeps rising as both find the boundary rope far too often despite the actions of Jack Leach and Jamie Overton and then Tom Abell himself.  He doesn't seem to be too keen on using Craig Overton as he was taken for 5 an over in his one spell and that is more than the boweling side can afford.  Although Jack has them playing and missing they are taking too many runs off any seamer he puts in front of them.

The 8th wicket partnership is up to 130 and Notts need only 11 runs to win an unlikely victory when the breakthrough comes!! Jack finally removes Pattinson LBW for a phenomenal 81 but it is too late surely.  Tom tries Lewis as a last gasp with Fletcher, Broad, Ball and 8 runs between his side and disaster. 

And the gamble works!! At 320for 8 George Bartlett holds on to a snick from Broad who falls with 61 from 89 to his name and 6 runs later Lewis Greogry holds on to a return catch from Luke Fletcher and SOMERSET WIN BY 2 RUNS!!

A more 'to and fro' game there could not have been.  Good performances rubbed shoulders with mediocre ones on both sides.  There were moments of glory and moments of despair and in the end the side from the West Country sit on top of the Championship with 21 points from a game they very very nearly threw away in the afternoon sun of Day 4!!

 End Notts D4

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FAKE 2020 CC1 v Notts @Trent Bridge
Discussion started by Grockles.com , 11/04/2020 11:55
Grockles.com
11/04/2020 11:55
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:04:17:10:32:23 by Grockle.

Grockle
09/04/2020 10:29
No time to sit on a laurels with a cricket season in process. April the 11th we face Nottinghamshire (2019 version not with Pete) at Trent Bridge after their defeat to Yorkshire and our win against Kent. Farmer can tell me how it went last year I'm presently interested in how to deal with them on my laptop on Saturday morning.

I'll pop in a couple of quick polls for those in the least bit interested (a couple of the side were on Twitter - though I couldn't get the skipper to tell me whether to enforce or not!!). Rooster was worried about rain on Day 4. On we go.

(Sm72)

Somerset LaLaLa
09/04/2020 11:57
I'm voting for the following side:

Abell
Carberry
Ali
Hildreth
Bartlett
Davies
Gregory
Bess
Overton C
Overton J
Leach

According to Howstat Ali has batted in test cricket more at no 3, although his average is slightly worse than opening. Two spinners is more about having the same winning side, as Davey would be my preference at the start of the season

[www.howstat.com]

Farmer White
09/04/2020 12:32
Jack Leach took six wickets on the third morning to demolish their second innings last year. I sat square, but the collapse looked more to do with Leach's guile than the pitch. Jack Brooks took the other four. And, in retrospect, Nottinghamshire were playing a very long way below their potential last year, so I doubt last year has any relevance to this year.

Farmer.

Grockle
10/04/2020 12:44
Well it's Friday and I have to put the proposals to the selection committee for tomorrow's CC1 side away to Nottinghamshire

I can't tell you their side until I choose ours, a little bit of fun, but it will be based on the 2019 squad and internationals

Last year they offered up (according to my new Wisden)
Slater, Duckett, Nash, Clarke, Mullaney, Patel, Moores, Wood, Broad, Fletcher and Ball

You have suggested the following based on feedback I have received

Azhar Ali joins at number 3 with the same opening partnership as against Kent at the start of this week.
Tom Banton makes way and Steve Davies retains the gloves
We continue to play 2 spinners, probably also relying on Dom Bess to provide some extra batting backbone for the tail

No place for Jack Brookes or Josh Davey
No place for Eddie Byrom or Alexei Kervezee

And if we want to see the glory of Tom Banton we may have to run a white ball campaign - I was hoping we might get a real one in 2020 but we may consider that later I suppose.

Anyone got any issues with this as a line up? If you wish to propose alternatives please do but I don't have a lot of time to put those to the general selection committee because I believe I have to provide an official team list before 10am tomorrow morning.

The weather? Well surprisingly in the parallel universe, we don't get a look at the four day forecast until tomorrow.

Another question to be decided. Do we request a toss or choose the 'no toss' option (which still seems to apply here)

(Sm72)

Farmer White
10/04/2020 13:53
In Test cricket away sides win 39% of all positive results. Away sides that insert the opposition win 37% of positive results. I suggest you toss a coin to decide Grockle, although I tend to take the WG Grace line.

As an afterthought I would add to that. I find a good way to make a marginal decision is, for example, to say heads we bat, tails we bowl, toss a coin and go with which way you hope it will come down. Tried it in this case and found myself hoping it wouldn't come down.

Farmer



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:04:10:13:59:10 by Farmer White.

Grockle
10/04/2020 14:08
Well looking at that. Assuming we take a toss and win. Bat or bowl. Both the victories I have seen up there we batted first.

(Sm72)

Grockle
11/04/2020 08:19
Trent Bridge side is presently going to be;

Abell
Carberry
Ali
Hildreth
Bartlett
Davies
Gregory
Bess
Overton C
Overton J
Leach

I've had no comment on the toss so I'll go for one and we'll bat first if we can.

Comments before 10 if you disagree.

(Sm72)

Grockle
11/04/2020 12:03
We've won the toss and decided to bat. The weather is overcast. May not be the right decision but … hey

(Sm72)

Grockle
11/04/2020 13:55
68 for 2 at lunch... still not sure about the decision but there we are.

(Sm72)

Farmer White
11/04/2020 15:11
If we had put them in and they were 68 for 2 at lunch I think I might be more worried than I am with us being 68 for 2. But then, I have been worrying about the Somerset score since before I was laid low by the 1957 flu pandemic.

Farmer

Grockle
11/04/2020 17:01
Broad and Pattinson have had a good day. Azhar has had a hard one but he is still there. Others have started but not gone on although Mike Carberry was very unlucky.

156 for 5... still not a good score but we are still there

(Sm72)

mikeindex
11/04/2020 18:32
Quote:
Farmer White
But then, I have been worrying about the Somerset score since before I was laid low by the 1957 flu pandemic.

Was that when they imposed a police state because somebody had a sniffle?

Grockle
11/04/2020 19:57
A bit of a rally after Tea with a 108 partnership between Lewis G and AA. He finally goes for 86 but Dom helps Lewis to the end of the day at 249 for 6. Gregory on 64 and 1 run for another bonus point.

(Sm72)

Loyal of Lhasa
12/04/2020 11:03
I know Grockle is putting a lot of effort into arranging and reporting these fake matches and that they bring pleasure to many. They are not, however, my thing and I prefer to be at Taunton this morning for the first competitive match of the season against Warwickshire, according to my fixture list, hoping we shall not be deducted any points before lunch just for being simply too good for the opposition.

LoL

Seventy-five Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Grockle
12/04/2020 11:49
Shame you can't be there LoL - I don't think you are on your own in that wish.

I didn't expect this to be to all tastes and it's more to do with watching the effect of strategy than actually imagining this is close to 'reality'. I have to admit I'm quite intrigued by how the engine suggests Carberry would perform in a side so long including Marcus

There are a number of fantasy versions popping up - one dice version is advertising prizes for predictions on the 'Championship' matches but then allows sides to have such things as Wade and Azam playing at the same time for Somerset. Not my cup of tea as it is simply turning the CC1 into some kind of white ball hybrid linked to a game of chance.

How we get through the next few weeks will be an individual thing. I did suggest to a regular critic that the easiest way to avoid this is to stop reading at the first post. I'll keep using the term 'FAKE' for those who struggle to identify what is real and what isn't.

One guy on Twitter did get a little perturbed by the Carberry appearance and thought he'd missed something.

I'm back to 'virtual' work tomorrow so whether I'll manage to continue the season will have to be seen. While I enjoy it I'll do it. Sorry if it isn't to some tastes. Happy some others are getting something from it.

As someone suggested, it would be ironic if we won the CC1 in this parallel universe. But I'll let the machine work that out. I was surprised that over 1000 views took in the first game - curiosity no doubt but we'll see.

On we go. The first phase of Day 2 will be reported in about 90 minutes

(Sm72)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2020:04:12:14:07:07 by Grockle.

Loyal of Lhasa
12/04/2020 12:31
I say again, well done to you Grockle for this enterprising initiative - and there is absolutely no need to apologise that it may not be to everybody's taste. I hope your virtual work will allow you to continue reporting the ebbs and flows.

Some of the sadder members of our Grockles family may have noticed that I do not update my signature until the first competitive ball of each season has been bowled. This I did shortly after 11.00 this morning, not wishing to wait indefinitely for proper play to start.

The good news is that Warwickshire are 57/6; the bad news is that the pitch inspectors are already on their way.

LoL

Seventy-five Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Grockle
12/04/2020 13:17
Interestingly LoL

Mr Jack Leach has had a productive Day 2 morning at Trent Bridge in the alternative universe version. Maybe they have turned around and are heading across country to Nottingham as we post?

(Sm72)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:04:12:14:09:57 by Grockle.

Grockle
12/04/2020 17:04
Moores and Coughlin take a chunk out of the Somerset lead with a stand of 93 as Notts fight back in the Spring sunshine. 56 ahead with Notts on 221 for 6. Not sure which combination to use though Jack has taken 4 for 42 presently.

(Sm72)

Somerset LaLaLa
12/04/2020 17:39
Great stuff Grockle, heading for a draw?

Grockle
12/04/2020 18:12
Well it does look like it will be all square at the halfway stage. we haven't really collapsed yet in this season so you can never be all that sure.

Let's see how the last session of the day goes and look at it then.

(Sm72)

Grockle
12/04/2020 19:02
Getting Moores was the most important aspect of the final session. It took some time but after a 48 run partnership with Pattinson we finally remove them both just after 250. then Lewis comes back to get the last couple and Notts are done at 268.

Tom and Mike C then stick to the task and we go in at the end of Day 2 61 ahead at 51 for 0. A good final half hour.

To and fro kind of day.

(Sm72)

Farmer White
12/04/2020 19:16
This may be fantasy cricket but it is very Somerset. To and fro, up and down, edge of the seat, and never a minute for the addicted Somerset mind to rest. Makes me feel quite at home, even if I am at home on what should have been the first day of the season.

Farmer

Grockle
13/04/2020 11:51
Well Fake Day 3 will start here in about 2 hours.... ish

(Sm72)

Shepton Paul 2
13/04/2020 11:54
I'm enjoying this a lot, Grockle, all the more maybe for not being real or actually mattering that much. Been offline for a couple days, and was eagerly anticipating the score update when I logged on this morning. Thank you again for doing this.

Somerset LaLaLa
13/04/2020 12:24
Cricket brings a number of interesting permutations, for example whether to bat first, who to bowl and enforcing the follow-on? Somerset have a good actual record in the Championship from batting first recently, but should we experiment with this in future? However a tough decision for me, if it comes in the next day or so, is when to declare...

Grockle
13/04/2020 12:27
It is weird doing it because I do it over by over rather than just let the machine run the game. I might, If I get time, work out whether I can podcast that because it is, not quite real, but you do get to the point where you do or you don't want to press the 'Over' button. It would be a bit like the live stream highlights reel. Maybe a bit too far but time is not exactly pressing at the moment

One interesting thing is that ONLY Matt Renshaw of all the batsmen who have got close to a century in the sessions up to now has actually got over the line. Every other batsmen who has made it into the 90's has come up a shot short.

The only thing I do is change over or around the wicket, bowlers and aggression levels. I don't set fields (I have trouble working out which is left and right) - I couldn't ask for these decisions, each game would take a week. The engine does the rest.

Glad it's filling some kind of a gap. It's not much but it's something for some people

(Sm72)

Grockle
13/04/2020 12:32
Yes. IF we bat well today, how big a lead IS enough. I think IF we get this score towards 300 that may very well be a poll question.

The question will also be Time or Number? Do we bat for a period of time which might change batting orders and aggression levels or do we bat for a score and how long do we wait for it?

The permutations are all there - it really is an interesting software package in context and because of that it offers some of the debates we would probably be having anyway so it's all good.....

(Sm72)

Grockle
13/04/2020 12:56
So as a bit of preparation. Get your thinking hats on people.

Given their batting line-up and the fact that we have two days to create a total and then bowl them out before they get it....

What is a defendable total to look for?

How long would we need to get them in and out again?

If it becomes an issue it will be one to ask about 5 o'clock this afternoon and I'll be asking the question with quite a quick turn around. You will have some idea because you will know what happened up to lunch and if declaration becomes an issue I will report the session up to an after Tea to the point when it would be something to think about.

This could all be moot and we could be 5 down by the lunch break but.... cricket captains have to think ahead.

(Sm72)

Farmer White
13/04/2020 13:18
I am not even coming out from behind the sofa until Tea! If it's all over by then could someone please leave a note.

Thank you

Farmer

Grockle
13/04/2020 16:23
Well the lunchtime score was pretty OK at 159 for no loss with Carberry on 80 and Abell on 61 so it may be the next session that sorts things out I suppose.

(Sm72)

Grockle
13/04/2020 16:37
So.…. what kind of score would people say would be a declaration score on this pitch against this opposition?

There are 4 sessions left and we have wickets in hand. Not going to say what score at Tea though.

Comments?

(Sm72)

Somerset LaLaLa
13/04/2020 17:21
I agree with wot Farmer will say, seems about right

Farmer White
13/04/2020 17:57
The match is moving along pretty steadily at about 95-100 runs a session with Carberry and Abell showing it can travel a bit faster if two batsmen get set. Given declarations are pretty conservative in 4-day cricket, defeats are very costly in the Championship as Somerset discovered in 2019, chasing sides rarely risk defeat to keep chasing, Somerset rarely declare less than 400 ahead, so set them nothing less than 360 in three full sessions on a 100 run a session pitch. That said I would bat them out of the game if I could and then put the pressure on.

Not that I am taking this seriously of course. Neither did I ever captain a cricket side.

Farmer

Grockle
13/04/2020 17:57
Hokey. We'll take it to the end of the day and see where we stand.

Well the declaration question does not have to be asked because we are bowled out with 4 overs to go for 318. That puts us 328 ahead.
The Overtons have one belt each at the Notts openers but there are no scares and it's all to play for tomorrow with the home side needing 323 to win with all their second innings wickets in hand.

Nothing suggests bad weather - will Jack do it again for the second time in 2 years?

(Sm72)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:04:13:18:23:39 by Grockle.

Shepton Paul 2
13/04/2020 20:51
Jack and Dom to win it tomorrow.

Grockle
14/04/2020 17:05
Well it is certainly NOT going to plan at Tea at the parallel Trent Bridge I am afraid.

Notts need 56 and there is one hell of an 8th wicket partnership developing.

(Sm72)

Grockle
14/04/2020 19:21
We get home by TWO RUNS with Lewis getting 2 wickets in the last 3 overs for 6 runs.

Thought we'd given it away!!

(Sm72)

Somerset LaLaLa
14/04/2020 19:52
Is it safe to come out from behind the sofa? And some people say the Championship is not exciting enough...

Can we have a look at the bowling figures Grockle? I feel we've got the batting line-up more or less right for the moment, and would keep Bartlett just for that catch!

Grockle
14/04/2020 20:12
I'll get them on the report but
Jamie 16/3/55/1
Lewis 10.3 2/27/3
Craig 5/0/25/0
Tom 15/1/74/2
Jack 24/3/81/3
Dom 14/3/64/1

(Sm72)

Farmer White
14/04/2020 21:00
Are you sure this is fantasy cricket Grockle? Or is that just a fantasy? It all seemed very real Somerset to me.

And WG was proved right. Always bat first if you win the toss. Never doubted it. A very relaxing afternoon.

Farmer

Grockle
14/04/2020 21:27
I have to admit, as I was running through the last session, I expected this to be a loss in quite 'Somersetian' circumstances.

I've been at games like this where we have run through the front end of a batting line-up only to be held up with the victory in sight by someone without a pedigree with a bat for hours if not completely.

I seem to remember a man called Breeze doing this to us at Taunton.


So it was quite satisfying in a fantasy way to see us get home and I could quite imagine Lewis taking the C&B in the manner or Michael Vaughan in a certain 2005 Ashes Test after Kasporwitz failed almost as close to the win

(Sm72)

Grockle
15/04/2020 09:42
We would now be off the CC1 wagon train until 14 May but we can push the parallel universe along a little.

Craig Overton will be out for the next game (his performance in this game was dubious I thought it was a little unusual). So we need to have at least one change.

I'll make a decision about when to play this one (probably start it at the end of the weekend) and come back with questions about who to bring in.

I have no plans to run the one day series at the moment because if we get cricket this year it will probably be that (T20 probably) but I thought I'd hold that until we knew a bit more.

(Sm72)

Somerset LaLaLa
15/04/2020 13:51
Groin injury?

Who is next up, Surrey at home, was that the one rain spoilt play?

Grockle
15/04/2020 14:41
It is scheduled for 14 May so I'm not sure - Farmer?

(Sm72)

Farmer White
15/04/2020 15:33
Surrey. Rained ruined the last day last year as SLLL says. The match was very evenly balanced at the end of the third day. It had looked pretty daunting at the start of the season to have Surrey third and fifth up. It didn't turn out that way.

Farmer.

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