Quantcast

Strange Times The Willis Trophy Game 1 Glamorgan (H)


By Farmer White et al
August 3 2020

Farmer has produced a report on the first game from his armchair via TV I think.  I can imagine him there with his white hat on and all the paraphanalia of the usual day at the County Ground but looking at Ben Warren's excellent live stream coverage and adding his own observations with the sound off.  Thank you sir.... This is Day 1 there will be a link to the rest of the report on his own website at the bottom of the report.  The only thing we don't have is Mike's accompanying photos - you may have to wait for the book in late 2020 or early 2021 though they will have to use archive stuff unless he is sat in front of his TV with all the kit!!

Strange times ~ Willis Trophy ~ Somerset v Glamorgan ~ First day

All Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Somerset CCC’s live stream of the match. The stream was watched with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live. He would like to pay tribute to the excellence of the Somerset CCC multi-camera live stream without which the writing of this report would not have been possible.

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Somerset v Glamorgan. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th August 2020. Taunton.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, G.A. Bartlett, S.M. Davies (w), C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey, J.A. Brooks.

Glamorgan. N. J. Selman, C.R. Hemphrey, W.T. Root, C.B. Cooke (c) (w), D.A. Douthwaite, G.G. Wagg, K.A. Bull, K.S. Carlson, M. de Lange, M.G. Hogan, R.A.J. Smith,

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

First day. 1st August – Strange times

When Tom Lammonby turned Ruaidhri Smith into the on side for a single in the second over of the day it was Somerset’s first run of the 2020 season. The calendar recorded the date as 1st August. We live in unprecedented times and cricket is trying to adapt. A drinks break after six overs would have been cause for raised spectator eyebrows in previous times. A sanitiser break every six overs or so does not come as a surprise in these times. Neither do those who bring the sanitizer onto the field wearing masks. Coronavirus normality in cricket, at least for the 2020 season.

Other signs of these times were there too. The Somerset players emerging from the Colin Atkinson Pavilion and the Glamorgan ones from the Andrew Caddick Pavilion. Empty stands of course, as desolate as they are if you take a peek into the ground in January. The only exception was for those who had invested in one of the flats which overlook the ground as they rise from behind the Somerset Stand,. The occupants watched the cricket from their balconies, or the roof terrace, just as they have for the last ten years. They were among the very few live spectators at county cricket anywhere in the country in this first round of matches of the Bob Willis Trophy, itself a product of these times. And perhaps, if the news on coronavirus transmission deepens further, they may remain the only live spectators at the Cooper Associates County Ground this season. At Taunton, otherwise, and everywhere else, the stands were empty as the players and umpires stood for a minute’s silence for the victims of the coronavirus. Then, before the first ball was bowled the umpires and players took the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. It all reflected a new order with which the world is having to come to terms.

The backdrop to the cricket though was the same as it has always been. The Quantocks, standing proud in alternate hues of green and their own version of Somerset maroon. It is an ageless view, forever synonymous with Somerset cricket. It helped this Somerset supporter, as he sat at home, laptop primed, that the camera which took the wide-angle views of the Quantocks and the River End, seemed to be located very near the seats where he habitually takes up residence on match days. At the top of the Trescothick Pavilion. Although even that meant change, for the last time spectators were permitted to sit there it was the Somerset Pavilion. Change, it seems, is all around.

And more change too. The overnight news that Jamie Overton was to leave Somerset at the end of the season and move to Surrey would have been the talk of the crowd, had there been a crowd to talk. For the Somerset cricket supporter, it was a jolt, in solely cricketing terms, on a par with some of the others people are feeling in these times. Soon, that flowing, energy-building run and torso-twisting action which imparts immense pace and energy into the ball, those glorious late order destructive innings with their huge driven sixes and those searing boundary runs and dives will be seen no more in Somerset colours. Overton has a different future to build for himself now, and I wish him every success and good fortune. I will too keep half an eye on his progress as, I imagine, will many a Somerset supporter. As to Somerset, there will be a void to fill, young blades eager to fill it, and the world will move on as the team, as all teams do in these situations, re-shapes.

As to team re-shaping, the coronavirus has already had a say in that, at least for the moment. Players called into the England squads are not available for their counties, whether they are playing for England or not, and because of the coronavirus situation overseas players are in short supply. Somerset are without Jack Leach, Dom Bess, Lewis Gregory, the lynchpin of the side, Tom Banton and an overseas player, hence the new opening partnership of Eddie Byrom, in his first four-day match for Somerset for over a year, and Tom Lammonby on his first-class debut.

After Lammonby had taken that first run the pair looked confident as they worked to establish the Somerset innings. Some waywardness in the opening Glamorgan overs perhaps helped. It has been a long time since these players last played competitive cricket at this level. Then, as both sides settled, Byrom began to take the game to Glamorgan. He showed more freedom of stroke than he had shown during his run in the side in 2018. A neat deflection off Smith and two scintillating square drives to the Caddick Pavilion boundary off Wagg showed a Byrom we had only rarely seen in first-class cricket before. In other times he might have had supporters beginning to sit up and take note had a third drive off Wagg to a ball a little closer in, and perhaps a little fuller, not taken the under edge and cannoned into the leg stump. Byrom, 22, had gone but he had left a sense that there might be more to come. Somerset 36 for 1.

As soon as Marchant de Lange joined the attack from the River End Glamorgan looked altogether more threatening. He immediately troubled Lammonby and would have removed him had it not been for a dropped catch at second slip. Abell was less fortunate. De Lange speared a ball in towards off stump, Abell half jabbed a bat at it but the stump cartwheeled, and Somerset were 41 for 2. The reality of the Bob Willis Trophy was beginning to hit home. Glamorgan might be a second division Championship side but they were beginning to look competitive and Somerset breaths were beginning to be taken a little more deeply.

James Hildreth started in a more workmanlike fashion than we are used to seeing from him. There was little sense of him playing on a different pitch or in a different match than other batsmen that can be the case when he is at his best. There was one heavenly cur for four off Dan Douthwaite to the Caddick Stand boundary. Hildreth shaped perfectly for the stroke and sent the ball rocketing to the boundary with the smoothest and apparently lightest of touches. Pure silk. It was the sort of stroke that brings gasps of delight from a crowd. When he repeated the stroke off the same bowler, with the same apparent ease, the ball flew straight to Carlson at backward point and Somerset were 75 for 3. Hildreth 16.

Lammonby, meanwhile, had been working away at the other end to keep the balance of the match even and at carving a niche for himself as an opening batsman. A straight drive just to the off of the bowler’s stumps off Hogan must have rattled the boards in front of the Trescothick Pavilion. It was another stroke that might have brought a gasp. An off drive to the same end off the off-spinner, Bull, was almost as forceful. But it was through neat and positive accumulation that Lammonby began to build a score as those first three wickets were falling. In one over from Bull he swept fine for two, drove a poor ball to the Somerset Stand for four and swept to long leg for a single as he and Bartlett took Somerset to lunch at 92 for 3, leaving their supporters to a slightly more fretful repast than they would have liked.

As lunch was approaching, a camera had swivelled to the clock on the Colin Atkinson Pavilion. Two minutes to one, the time. The approach of lunch, and the focus of the camera on the clock, a reminder that some things in cricket do not change. Time and regulations are meticulously observed, even in these times, on a clock that has been a reference point for umpires and spectators since the times of J.C. White before the Second World War. And above the clock, lay the crest of the Quantocks, the ever-present Quantocks. It was a sight that released pangs of regret that I could not be at the ground as much as any of the cricket had, perhaps that heavenly cut of Hildreth’s apart.

After lunch, the Glamorgan bowlers began to find some troubling movement and the Somerset batsmen were forced to defend hard against it. The score hardly moved for the best part of a difficult half hour. It is almost a truism in cricket that if the fielding side dry up the runs, wickets will follow. Eventually, Hogan, bowling around the wicket to the left-handed Lammonby, produced a ball that swung late, straightened, and was only prevented from hitting the stumps by the pad. Lammonby had made what might once have been described as a compact 41, but his wicket left Somerset on 95 for 4 and Somerset were in familiar territory.

It was de Lange though who led the Glamorgan charge. He bowled a testing spell at Bartlett in particular. On one occasion he hit Bartlett a nasty blow on the helmet which held up play for a considerable length of time while the team physio, in visor and apron, conducted tests. Twice more in his innings the physio came out to check on Bartlett who battled for 23 runs in over an hour and a half at the wicket. He batted in the company of Steven Davies who played in his usual understated, but impressively effective way. De Lange continued to test Bartlett, once causing the batsman to take evasive action by completing half a backward roll, ending with his feet in the air. The bowlers did not have it all their own way. Bartlett clipped one ball from de Lange behind square for four; and another was dismissively cut, backward of square to the Somerset Stand, off Douthwaite. When Bartlett was eventually caught at backward point off another cut, Somerset were 139 for 5.

Within four overs they were 149 for 8 as the Glamorgan bowlers built on their ascendancy. When Craig Overton emerged to bat at seven it instantly highlighted the value of Lewis Gregory, the absence of a like-for-like alternative in the squad, and the rarity of all-round players of Gregory’s quality. It brings every player in the lower order to the wicket one place above their batting confidence zone. Overton and van der Merwe were quickly dismissed, both lbw. Overton to a ball from Douthwaite that perhaps swung a fraction and van der Merwe to a straight ball from Smith. Jamie Overton edged another straight ball from Smith to slip.

Somerset, Steven Davies’ typically calm-at-the-heart-of-the-storm innings apart, were in disarray. Davies had been quietly accumulating runs alongside Bartlett and unnoticed had taken his score into the 30s, largely it seemed through well-timed placement into and through the off side. Along the way, he reached to drive a widish Hogan delivery to the Caddick pavilion boundary. A similar ball from Wagg was driven straighter to the Ondaatje boundary and he then repeated the stroke, again off Wagg, with the same result. They were strokes of the type, when you are at the ground, that sound as if they have been caressed to their destination by a bat sheathed in velvet. Davies had some luck too. He was badly dropped in the slips off Smith. It was not the only drop there in an afternoon which the Glamorgan slips will want to forget.

On the departure of Jamie Overton, Davies was joined by Josh Davey. Together they began to repair a Somerset innings that might have served as an example of the phrase, ‘shot to pieces’. Davey is as competent a number ten as you cold hope to find. He bats as he bowls. Without fuss or show. Correctly and by the book, and he is often effective in the Somerset cause when it matters most. It mattered now, and he stood up to be counted. He found the boundary four times in his 20 runs, scored in nearly an hour at the crease. A powerfully struck straight drive, just wide of the bowler’s stumps off Hogan, to the Trescothick Pavilion was as good as any you will see. He was eventually out, caught when a lifting ball from de Lange popped up off the bat and into the on side. Somerset were 189 for 9 and tantalizingly close to a bonus point.

More than once I saw Jack Brooks in his Yorkshire days come out at number eleven and swing the bat against Somerset as if he was walking through a field wielding a hefty stick, decapitating thistles of different heights as he went. But I never saw him do anything quite like he did for Somerset on this day. Had the County Ground been a field of thistles, there would be none left now. Brooks laid about him with a vengeance, aided and abetted by Davies who fed him the strike and, along the way, decapitated a few thistles himself, albeit with finesse rather than fury.

It mattered not who bowled, Brooks treated them all the same. In an over from Douthwaite he edged a drive to the Garner Gates end of Somerset Stand for two, drove straight of mid off to Gimblett’s Hill for four and straight, into the Trescothick Pavilion, for six. When Wagg targeted him with an unpleasant lifter, he ducked away, swung the bat anyway and the ball flew fine to the Colin Atkinson boundary for four more. One of Bull’s off breaks was driven to the Colin Atkinson boundary. It brought up Brooks' fifty and the residents on the roof terrace of the flats to their feet in applause. When Bull tried again the ball was sent straight to the Sir Ian Botham Stand boundary. The next cleared the Somerset Stand boundary to bring up the hundred partnership for the tenth wicket. That brought a standing ovation from the Somerset team and doubtless from the residents of the flats too. And, a confession, it brought an involuntary cheer from your correspondent much to the surprise of the couple walking past by his window. It couldn’t go on of course, and it didn’t. Eventually, Brooks misconnected with a thistle and the ball looped up for Wagg to pick up the return catch.

Somerset were 296 all out. 147 of them for the last two wickets. They were four runs short of a third bonus point but had gathered two more than they might reasonably have expected at 148 for 8. The last wicket realized 107 runs, which beat the Somerset record for the tenth wicket against Glamorgan set 93 years before in another different age. Brooks walked off with 72 runs from just over an hour at the crease, and every one of those runs must have left a scar on the Glamorgan psyche, for this match at least. Davies, all but invisibly by comparison, in three and a half hours, had been at the wicket while 201 runs were scored and had gathered 81 typically silken ones himself. It left Glamorgan seven overs to bat. Against Craig Overton and Davey, they scored eight runs, four of them when an Overton bouncer cleared Davies and ran to the boundary. The batsmen looked none too convincing. “We could easily have had a wicket,” said the text I sent. “And they didn’t score a single run deliberately,” the reply.

By the close some of the shrouds of disappointment thrown over the day by the news of Jamie Overton’s departure had been blown away by Jack Brook’s rollicking assault on the Glamorgan bowling and by the altogether more classical piece of run-gathering and strike rotation from Steven Davies. Their combined effort in the evening session was like some Somerset moondust of the old sort sprinkled like balm on a newly incurred wound. It lifted the heart and the spirits to the heavens and began the process of moving on. A performance with the ball to match on the second morning would do very nicely, and if Jamie Overton could put on a demonstration of that smooth, flowing run and action to deliver a few more thunderbolts for Somerset that would be even better.

Close. Somerset 296 S.M. Davies 81*, J.A. Brooks 72, T.A. Lammonby 41, R.A.J. Smith 3-41. Glamorgan 8 for 0. Glamorgan trail by 288 runs with ten first innings wickets standing.

If you want to read the rest of this then the full report can be found on 'Farmer White's own site www.farmwhite.co.uk

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

Strange Times The Willis Trophy Game 1 Glamorgan (H)
Discussion started by Grockles.com , 03/08/2020 10:14
Grockles.com
03/08/2020 10:14
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:05:15:06:37 by Grockle.

Grockle
03/08/2020 10:18
Thanks for this Farmer

I've linked in the rest of your story via your site and I'll leave this separate until the end of the game for mobile users who may find comments on the game difficult if the story is on the front page. I'll then link it to the forum for the match at the end.

It's almost like there is a season!!

(Sm72)

Grizzers
20/06/2020 16:18
Vic seems optimistic that the 'Willis Trophy' may well actually take place this season and that it could have first class status:

[www.theguardian.com]

Which got me wondering, which XI could/would we field ? I'm unclear how things would work as regards our 'famous five' candidates for Test matches, but on the assumption that none of Lewis, Jove, Cove, Jack or Dom were available, our options would obviously be severely impacted.

How about the following XI:

1) Steve
2) Eddie
3) George
4) James
5) Tom A.
6) Tom B.
7) Ben Green
8) RvdM
9) Nathan Gilchrist
10) Josh
11) Jack B.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:07:31:15:53:41 by Grockle.

wsm fan
20/06/2020 16:37
Tom B likely to be busy with England white ball stuff.

I'd imagine one of Leach or Bess may be released once the summer begins. Same for Lewis & Jamie possibly.

The 30 man squads are initial, the Windies squad is expected to be trimmed to 20ish prior to the first test.

Scrumper
21/06/2020 00:44
Put Roelof at 11 if it's red ball.

Loyal of Lhasa
22/06/2020 10:41
May be I'm wrong, but I had the impression that Willis was no great suppporter of the county game...

The Trescothick Trophy has a nice alliterative ring to it.

LoL

Seventy-five Seasons a Somerset Supporter



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:06:22:12:53:47 by Loyal of Lhasa.

nelliec
23/06/2020 12:17
Would prefer 6 three day games (120 overs) plus a 50 over game at the same venue with 3 away and home including 2 local derbies. Sur ely enough squad players for both formats without the hundred.Could award a point system for both together.
On a second point where we would we stand with our deductions,and would the suspended one get put back another year after that.

Grockle
23/06/2020 12:20
One would assume that will move to next year in some format and nothing would be used in this strange 2020 season. There'd be no point in us being involved with any kind of points deduction for a shortened event.

(Sm72)

mikeindex
23/06/2020 12:21
Or Tom L for Ben Green?

Farmer White
23/06/2020 14:11
This article in The Cricketer:

[www.thecricketer.com]

contains this quote:

"The Cricketer understands Somerset and Gloucestershire both have plans to bring their squads off the government's Job Retention Scheme on July 1."

However, the news for recreational cricket is not good. The government has annoiunced significant relaxations in the coronavirus regulations, but they do not apply to recreational cricket because of the risk of the virus being transmitted via the ball. It cannot therefore restart nin July as hoped.

There is also concern, reported in a Mailonline article, about Pakistan's proposed tour here in August because three of the squad have tested positive for the virus.

Link here:

[www.dailymail.co.uk]

Edit update: A total of ten members of the Pakistan squad have now tested positive. Those whohave tested negative will depart for the UK on 28 June.

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Apologies. This post has grown like topsy as the news came in. Would now be better on another thread but thelinks don't copy so have left it here.
Farmer.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2020:06:23:15:59:31 by Farmer White.

nelliec
24/06/2020 14:41
Surrey and Middlesex have a 2 day game scheduled for the 26 th of July with live streaming.Mr Gould’s off the mark early!!!

Grizzers
27/06/2020 23:52
Behind a pay wall, but basically says cricket ‘representatives’ are hoping to persuade the Government to allow spectators, in limited numbers, of perhaps up to 1,000 initially, to attend County Championship games.

So, how many posters would be happy to attend ? Count me in (if & when I can get across the pond !).

[www.telegraph.co.uk]

Grizzers

Sloop John B
28/06/2020 09:07
Yep. I'd be up for that.

wsm fan
28/06/2020 11:07
The Lancashire CEO in their members forum said clearly a few times Aug1 will be behind closed doors.
He sounded very firm on that.

He seemed to suggest that reduced crowds were being aimed for ready for late August & the T20 blast campaign.

He was adament Lancs wanted August red ball but mentioned more than once that it was still up for agreement in next 2 weeks the actual structure & 50 over instead of red was still very much on the table.

Cost wise with no fans personally i would expect there would be more counties in favour of the 50 option, despite what they may say publically.

The overall view though seems very much there will be county cricket from Aug1 onwards.

Somerset LaLaLa
28/06/2020 16:58
Any word on friendlies? Somerset v Glocs with a live stream would be nice. As long as it's not a 100 type competition, any format is fine

Mike TA1
28/06/2020 17:28
Have friendlies been given the go ahead?

My understanding is that the problem could be the players handling the ball, if one of the players did have the virus and then picked up the ball he could well pass the virus to anybody else that handle the same ball.

That is why players can't use saliva to shine the ball, (I read somewhere).

nelliec
31/07/2020 15:41
So what will we expect with the wicket tomorrow.A green top to help the seamers, plenty of bounce or a slow low Turner.Doubtful!!
Who will grab the extra batting spot left by Banton and an overseas batsman.Will Abell open?and will we play an extra bowler with Roelof and Craig at 7 and 8

Grockle
31/07/2020 15:52
What does our new groundsman do usually I wonder? Has he got the feel for the place given that he hasn't produced a strip in anger except for the Glocs game?

I'm not sure if you need time to get used to a wicket. Simon was of course here when Frosty was and took over.

Young Gilchrist impressed and they tried Lammonby as an opener - not sure what he did in the batting practice on the last afternoon at Bristol.

Looks like Eddie will partner and Tom at 3 with George at 5 - we had it the other way around and that worked well in Fantasyland

Ben Green looks like the other option - he seemed more of an allrounder when he was near first team placings last time

It'll be interesting however it pans out

(Sm72)

AGod
31/07/2020 22:22
Well, there's no conceivable point in picking Jamie Overton tomorrow, now.

I was already leaning towards thinking that we'd do well to use these games where we ought to have a significant advantage over most of our opponents in our "group," to get some of the young players blooded before the really serious promotion and relegation stuff re-starts next year.

I'd suggest that it would be good to get young Mr Gilchrist some games and Jamie departing (the Mail story is that he will go to Surrey as soon as next week) does a nice job of creating an opening.

The thing with Jamie, as I've said for a while was always this:

If he ever put togther an entire season in which he was fit and fully firing then England would probably pick him anyway, since they're always desperate for pace..... so even if Surrey manage to get such a season out of him, I doubt they'll have him in their "colours, " for that many games in total. Of course, the fact that he will now have "Surrey," next to his name immediately increases the chances of him getting said England call, too. If I were Somerset, I'd have had that in mind when negotiating Jamie's new contract offer.... the fact that it's very unlikely that you'd get lots and lots of highly effective games out of him because either he'd be fully fit and firing and then picked by England, or he'd be injured or finding his way back to fitness, post-injury.

According to the Mail, negotiations with Cove remain ongoing. Because of his fitness record over time being better than Jamie's, I'd imagine that Somerset's offer to him may, perhaps, be higher than what we offered to Jamie. Of course, Jamie leaving also frees up more money in terms of the budget available for the squad going forward as well.

I strongly suspect that, due to huge Covid losses, a majority of the counties will vote for a new, lower, salary cap. Surrey won't be keen, of course. But, tough.

Grockle
31/07/2020 23:40
True, if Jamie is going on loan as early as August then he can't really be part of our Willis plan unless we have a real gap.

What is the point of a loan period? Unless we weren't planning to use him early which I would find very suprising. Seems daft that he isn't just signing. But that is part of his future plans I suppose. Good luck to him and on we go with our bowling resources.

(Sm72)

Scrumper
31/07/2020 23:45
If Jamie has gone that opens the door for Gilchrist, he looks very promising. Hope Goldsworthy get a chance soon too.

wsm fan
31/07/2020 23:58
Quote:
Grockle
True, if Jamie is going on loan as early as August then he can't really be part of our Willis plan unless we have a real gap.
What is the point of a loan period? Unless we weren't planning to use him early which I would find very suprising. Seems daft that he isn't just signing. But that is part of his future plans I suppose. Good luck to him and on we go with our bowling resources.

What resources?
We now have 4 senior quick bowlers. 3 of which barely register 80mph. The other may not be too happy with todays news & is also out of contract in 2 months & unsigned.
We then have 3 4 5 totally raw untried youngsters.
They may well turn into superstars & yes they need to game time to prove such.
But professional fast biwling is not easy. It takes years to learn & develop. 1 or 2 injuries or call ups & the poor lads will be chucked in 2 or 3 at a time no way near ready.

AGod
01/08/2020 06:46
Who knows?

Maybe the club has something up its sleeve in terms of new signings?

I read that Covid - and the fact that it caused many contracts to lapse whilst we were on lockdown, has caused a far higher number of players than usual, to be out of contract.

I will make the observation that it's very difficult to win a CC with any number of bowlers in the England Test mix. Essex, for example, were untroubled last season, by what Sir ITB once dubbed "The gin-slinging dodderers," which must surely have helped them.

cricketjerry-mouse
01/08/2020 08:02
One of the selection arguments recently is that you have to fit four fast bowlers into the middle or lower order, so there is rarely, if ever, room to play two of England`s current three leading spinners.

Is one solution to Jamie Overton`s departure, to view Lewis Gregory as a top six all-rounder, rotate Craig Overton (currently negotiating terms to stay), Josh Davey and Jack Brooks, for two of the seamer places, resign Vernon Philander for next year, and include both Dom Bess and Jack leach whenever not required by England?

Two other thoughts.

I believe there is some suggestion that counties will be allowed two overseas players in future. So Somerset could recruit a quickie as well as going for Azhar Ali or Babar Azam.

Second, whoever is vice-captain next summer should have as one of his most important remits the job of persuading Tom Abell to turn over his arm more, in a stock bowler as well as a wicket-taking role.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:01:08:42:51 by cricketjerry-mouse.

AGod
01/08/2020 08:47
I don't think we should go near Philander, at this point - not based on what he looked like in the SA vs England Test series.. he looks like a busted flush - and an uninterested one at that.

If LG were to bat at six, there would still be room for 3 other pacemen, plus Jack and Dom.

Unforuntately, such is the lack of decent spin options anywhere else that, unless and until Mo resurrects himself as a serious Test option, we're unlikely to ever have both Jack and Dom available.

I fear that the reality is that SCCC's best chance of a CC1 win has been and gone. We had our collection of relatively young and good bowlers - and they produced a collective bowling average last year of 21 - easily the best figure in the land. But the batting group - as so often over the years- let the side down, and now the bowler group is being broken up, by a combination of a player move and various England calls.

I hope that we will bring in some form of bowling reinforcment from another county.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:01:08:49:03 by AGod.

wsm fan
01/08/2020 08:58
Who? Where from? It's fanciful.
Somerset DO NOT sign mid 20s England fringe bowlers in their prime.

Name the domestic bowlers we have signed in the last 25 years, Thomas Kirby Willoughby Hussain Johnson Gronners Meekeren Brooks.

Roger ivanhoe
01/08/2020 10:30
Sounds like we will have commentary on the live feed from County Ground today

AGod
01/08/2020 10:41
WSM - I didn't say the new signing would be in his mid 20s.

And I don't really want another "England fringe," candidate as a new signing. That's not the way, IMO, that one wins County Championships (losing too many players to England or Covid reserve status etc).

As you, yourself, intimated, we probably do need more pace bowling resources to come into the club now, though. So I would like to think that the club may have certain irons in the fire. Maybe they don't. Who knows?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:01:10:45:21 by AGod.

wsm fan
01/08/2020 10:45
Surrey now have 12 quick bowlers in their senior squad, possibly more.

We have 4. If we include Gilchrist then 5, but he has yet to play a 1st class game let alone take a wicket, Aldridge the same.

Grockle
01/08/2020 10:46
Well fanciful or not wsm we have what we have and we've coped without the pace of Jamie Overton before... seems we will have to do so again. I'm not sure what moaning about the loss achieves but there you go.

In that same vein sides have to cope with injuries and as one door closes another opens and new talent is driven to put itself forward.

I'm surprised Jamie is playing today IF his loan to Surrey is expected quickly. Only in the sense that we need a side for the tournament but maybe he is playing for longer who knows.

(Sm72)

AGod
01/08/2020 10:48
No mention of him going to Surrey soon i.e next week etc in the story on the official site, so perhaps that part of the Daily Mail story was untrue.

But if it is true, then I think it's a mistake to play Jamie today, if that's what we are doing.

cricketjerry-mouse
01/08/2020 10:48
Both Overtons playing against Glamorgan today. Somerset bat.

Grockle
01/08/2020 11:09
Lammonby and Byrom opening - has anyone got a commentary?

(Sm72)

cricketjerry-mouse
01/08/2020 11:15
Glamorgan`s Australian seamer Michael Hogan, who is retiring this season at the age of 39, has 594 first-class wickets, but has never played at Taunton before.

Grockle
01/08/2020 11:41
According to twitter and the club website, Jamie is leaving at the end of the season. No mention of a loan arrangement.

(Sm72)

Grockle
01/08/2020 11:50
Seems that the BBC radio commentary is on live events 3 - no answer on whether the plan is to sync it in.

Decent sync from Tune In with YouTube on the TV and Tune In on the phone

(Sm72)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:01:12:18:10 by Grockle.

AGod
01/08/2020 12:49
Poor giveaway from Hildreth.

Grockle
01/08/2020 13:24
Lockdown issue!

Because I have had time, I have re-arranged all my audio so it works with all sections of my media in the house from one source.

The problem that may have is that if you don't switch on the unit that controls all that (not something I've had to do before) then you get no audio... hence no commentary at Bicknoller Towers.

Oh dear - senior moment

(Sm72)

Des Platt
01/08/2020 13:36
Not as senior as me Grockle. I haven’t a clue what you mean! I’m just about hanging in there with technology.

Re-your earlier point that “we’ve coped without Jamie before“, how many games did he actually play last year in the County Championship? We didn’t do too badly last year.

Off to watch a bit of league Cricket now. Unfortunately 45 overs each for the shortened season rather than timed cricket we normally have on Sats.

AGod
01/08/2020 13:45
Jamie played in 8 games, Des, in 2019, as he had done in 2018.

So he's played 16 of the past 28 games... this is slightly more than I would have guessed, tbh.

Grockle
01/08/2020 14:09
Yes he's been more sorted since the Worcestershire away game of a season and a half ago I think.

Got to hope that the earlier inconsistent fitness records are organised now. There are questions about whether he sees the clock ticking and thinks he needs all the advantages he can get on his side for England consideration.

He seems to have been in squads for consideration quite a lot but has yet to break through into the final groups and onto the pitch. This may be a move to change that he believes - 'new challenges'. Hope so even though it won't be as a Somerset player.

The shame will be if that does not happen and he continues his career as a 'good county professional' with another county rather than us.

He may not be the last. The same consideration may be working its way through Dom Bess' mind and Craig Overton I would expect.

From a one day basis Tom Banton has to consider his white ball career at a county that will not be involved in the 'premier' white ball competition of the country as it is presently formatted. Though that may change one hopes given the mess of this year.

(Sm72)

AGod
01/08/2020 15:59
Well, fair play to Lammonby, who looked promising.

Otherwise, the usual, generally unimpressive batting display today, though it should be said that De Lange was a handful.

The fact that Glamorgan have an utterly hapless slip fielder has helped.

Before somebody says "Glamorgan haven't batted yet," I'm aware of this... and since we are a strong bowling side, and Glamorgan an indifferent batting one, we may very well emerge with a first-innings lead..... but that doesn't actually change the assessment of a not terribly clever batting performance by us (there's nowt wrong with the actual pitch).

Also..... there's some poor thinking in there, in that Roelof was sent in in a place in the batting order which he hasn't done anything to justify for the past three years.... they seem stuck on the idea that he's an all-rounder but, in red-ball cricket, he is very definitely not.

Loyal of Lhasa
01/08/2020 17:11
As if one needed a reminder of the joys of supporting Somerset - 99 exhilarating runs (so far) for the last two weeks. Wonderful stuff!

LoL

Seventy-five Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Grockle
01/08/2020 17:15
You mean wickets LoL?

(Sm72)

AGod
01/08/2020 17:16
Extremely effective and entertaining from Jack Brooks - good for him.

AGod
01/08/2020 17:17
Has Boycott infiltrated our ranks, LoL?

AGod
01/08/2020 17:22
Great work from the club to now be able to cover catches (or drops) in the outfield. Excellent.

Grockle
01/08/2020 17:22
Glamorgan drop Brooks on 45 as Rashid takes Curtis Campher against Ireland. What great fun at Taunton.

(Sm72)

Grockle
01/08/2020 17:26
Well played Jack Brooks first Somerset 50 and he deserved every bit of it. 50 out of 79 with Steve Davies at the other end!!

(Sm72)

Grizzers
01/08/2020 17:26
Terrific stuff from Jack, admirably marshalled by the ever classy SD.

Mr Brooks swashbuckling efforts will stand him in good stead for his application to the local combine harvester driver society !

Good to see some spectators enjoying the game from the flat balconies.

Grizzers

Grockle
01/08/2020 17:49
72 when jack Brooks finally goes and Steve Davies not out for 81. Record 10th wicket partnership and frustrating as hell for Glamorgan!! 296 all out when we were 149 for 8.

(Sm72)

Loyal of Lhasa
01/08/2020 17:58
Yes, Boycott's accent seems to have affected my spelling, but it's too delicious a typo to correct now.

LoL

Seventy-five Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Grockle
01/08/2020 21:22
It's Yorkshire Day so you are forgiven.

(Sm72)

Farmer White
02/08/2020 03:43
Here is the link to my report on the first day:

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

Farmer

AGod
02/08/2020 06:27
"None too convincing," would, indeed, be an apt summary of the display from those Glamorgan openers, last night.

We just didn't quite get our lines right. One suspects that, if we manage to bowl at off-stick this morning, rather than six inches outside it, then both gentlemen may be switfly on their way.

Somerset LaLaLa
02/08/2020 08:12
Previous 10th wicket records from Wiki:

List A
10th 65* Jamie Overton & Tim Groenewald Gloucestershire - County Ground, Taunton 2016

First Class
10th 163 Ian Blackwell & Nixon McLean Derbyshire - County Ground, Taunton 2003

AGod
02/08/2020 08:38
Tandems don't come in more enteratining combinations than IDB and Nixon McLean!!

Wickham
02/08/2020 08:50
Very good, JCW.
If the Somerset bowlers can conjure similar amounts of movement to the Glamorgan bowlers, 296 could prove to be a very useful score.

Grockle
02/08/2020 10:20
My story about Mr McLean. Just before he came to us and brought his wonderful 'Welcome to Taunton' first ball delivery, he was with Northampton (I think) and he came out to face a last over of a one day game at Taunton versus ARC in his pomp.

Now Nixon was a languid soul when not bowling (the change was amazing) and Andy tried to bounce him out as last man. Nixon swatted him so Andy, not to be shown up by an 11th bat, increased the speed and Nixon swatted him. In came an even faster and more determined international bowler and Nixon swatted him.

At the end of the over Mr McLean had taken the pride of English pace for 27 and strolled off to the CA dressing rooms. I did enjoy his 2 years here and in that mood with Blackie at the other end there must have been great fun had.

IDB was involved yesterday as well. It was Somerset umpiring heaven with Mike Burns.

(Sm72)

AGod
02/08/2020 11:25
Mr C was seldom at his best when getting slogged by tailenders!

AGod
02/08/2020 11:26
Mr Hemphrey -dearie, dearie me.. I think he started the day on about, what, minus 120 runs following three awful drops at slip?

So he's about minus 117 so far for the game, after being dismissed for 3!

AGod
02/08/2020 11:41
The difference between CC1 and CC2 is this:

There are bowlers, in both divisions, fully capable of good balls or even good spells.

But, as a rule, CC2 bowling units don't hunt as a pack and apply consistent pressure.

CC2 batting line-ups, therefore, simply don't see concerted pressure like this and are, thus, ill-equipped to deal with it.

In the case of Glamorgan, they are further hampered by the most turgid home tracks in the competition... a track that has some pace and bounce, such as ours, is also largely foreign to them.

wsm fan
02/08/2020 11:46
Wow, look what happens when you give your England test bowler the new ball 😱😱😱

AGod
02/08/2020 11:59
Something tells me, WSM, that all of our pace bowlers will enjoy plenty of success against this particular batting line-up.

That said, I don't know why Craig hasn't had the new cherry more often.

AGod
02/08/2020 12:02
Glamorgan dressing room thought bubble for their batsmen:

"Thank God we didn't get promoted last year, after all."

(They actually came close which says rather a lot, sadly, about CC2)

Grockle
02/08/2020 12:04
When Josh Davey has the ball moving in, why would you not play a shot when you've seen it happen twice?

Oh dear Glamorgan. They may be back in before lunch at this rate.

(Sm72)

AGod
02/08/2020 12:59
Ball number 28.3 from Jamie?

Well, Viv or Tendulkar might have nicked it. Not the slightest chance of G G Wagg doing so, of course.

Brooks apart, it's been a terrific bowling display this morning.

Wickham
02/08/2020 13:32
Yes, great stuff from the bowlers and some very good catches too.

My feeling is that we will bat again, even if we have the opportunity to ask Glamorgan to follow on. That is partly to enable the bowlers (who won’t yet be match-fit) to take a rest and partly to give our batsmen batting practice ahead of our next matches.

Bagpuss
02/08/2020 13:40
Agree Mr Wickham. If we hadn't had that short delay for rain and Glamorgan had been rolled before lunch, maybe the follow on would have been enforced. But we are only a third of the way through this match and the forecast is fairly good for the remaining time (and as I type a sharp shower arrives on the southern edge of the Blackdowns).

Farmer White
02/08/2020 13:44
The follow-on has been increased to 200 runs for the Willis Trophy to help protect bowlers because of the lack of full match fitness. Glamorgan only need 22 more runs to avoid it. Like Wickham, and for the same reasons I doubt Somerset will enforce it if they have the opportunity.

Farmer

AGod
02/08/2020 14:13
Overtons to De Lange.. rich entertainment potential coming up..

Loyal of Lhasa
02/08/2020 14:28
I simply don't understand this business of making concessions because bowlers lack match fitness. Doesn't that apply at the start of every season?

I assume that the 120 overs per innings applies only to the first innings. Otherwise it would be completely nonsensical.

AGod
02/08/2020 14:36
It does. It may be that there has been less organised and collective training prior to week one of the CC this season, than there usually is? I don't remember when players were finally able to start collective training again after the enforced Covid hiatus?

AGod
02/08/2020 14:39
I think it might soon be time to give Roelof an exploratory over or two.

Grizzers
02/08/2020 19:20
Superb day and some terrific bowling.

Wonder if Mr Gibson will have the spherical objects to ask Craig about his contract ?

Grizzers

Grockle
02/08/2020 19:58
He may not want to talk to Tregs after taking the proverbial about him opening the bowling for Notts!!

And on the highlights of the first Day from the main Willis Trophy office.... who the hell is "Tom Hildreth"?

(Sm72)

AGod
02/08/2020 20:18
Mr Gibson could have found a rather less blunt way of expressing his surprise at the news from Trent Bridge.

It is a pretty stunning piece of news, though - hugely unexpected, to put it mildly.... I can't help but imagine that, this time last year, Peter himself would never again have expected to be handed a new ball in first-class cricket.

Notts and Warks are both examples of well-resourced counties who allowed things to get old and stale over a period of time, and now have multiple issues with fielding decent teams.

Grockle
02/08/2020 22:17
Yes he was a bit 'blunt' then mentioned Sam might be listening! I'm sure that Pete possibly asked for confirmation of the decision and then put his back into it. But it is a point that if Notts are looking to Pete for their new ball attack they have issues or there were very specific conditions that catered to the Trego method.

(Sm72)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:02:23:04:25 by Grockle.

Loyal of Lhasa
02/08/2020 22:37
Quote:
Grockle
And on the highlights of the first Day from the main Willis Trophy office.... who the hell is "Tom Hildreth"?

What's the problem. A few years ago all our players were called Craig (Kieswetter, Meschede, Overton, Trescothick, Trego etc); now they're all called Tom.

Following Somerset's splendid progress in this match (since 148/8), I cannot help thinking how well we might have played in a full CC season, with a side that had room for Gregory, two Test spinners and an overseas batsman.

Grockle
02/08/2020 23:06
True... and a number of years ago they were all called Piran... I remember now.... and they were all wicket keepers

(Sm72)

Farmer White
03/08/2020 04:40
Here is the link to my Second Day report:

[farmerwhite.co.uk]


And in case anyone still wishes to read my First Day report, the link is here:[

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

Farmer

Wickham
03/08/2020 09:04
Another very enjoyable report, JCW. But posted at 4.40 - you don’t have the excuse that it took you a long time to return home from the ground! I hope that you have time to pack your lunch before the first ball of today’s play.

somexile
03/08/2020 11:22
Yesterday not mentioned on commentary but picked up on effects mic was one of the Peregrine Falcons calling

Farmer White
03/08/2020 11:31
Thank you Wickham. I may be at home, but it didn't stop me being late for the start this morning. And missing a wicket ...

Farmer



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:03:11:37:02 by Farmer White.

Wickham
03/08/2020 11:33
Did the peregrines nest again at the top of the tower of St Mary's?

Sloop John B
03/08/2020 17:31
Yes Shaun. And fledged at least three young.

Scrumper
03/08/2020 17:44
Silly Billy!

Is Lammonby just a batsman now?

I assume BG isn't allowed to bowl if he's GB's replacement.

Grizzers
03/08/2020 18:45
Encouraging performances by Tom A & Ben today.

Hopefully, George's concussion related absence is just a precaution.

Meantime, Messrs. Overton now have 11 of the 16 Glamorgan wickets so far to fall.........

Grizzers

Loyal of Lhasa
03/08/2020 20:22
Quote:
Sloop John B
Yes Shaun. And fledged at least three young.

Have Surrey pinched them yet?

Wickham
03/08/2020 22:11
Thanks, SJB. Good to know that the peregrines have been almost as productive as the Overtons (and possibly even speedier - though I’m not sure that even a peregrine could match the final ball thunderbolt from Jamie).

Grizzers
03/08/2020 22:20
Scyld Berry’s report in the Telegraph says that today was the first time Somerset's live streaming of a first class game achieved in excess of 100K views in a day, with that number having grown to 126K by close of play.

A tremendous achievement for the Club, particularly those closely involved in the project.

Many thanks to everyone concerned !

Grizzers

Grockle
03/08/2020 23:29
No interest in County Cricket though so don't say it too loud!

(Sm72)

Scrumper
04/08/2020 00:18
A lot of the views might have been people refreshing when the sound went off.

Bagpuss
04/08/2020 00:53
'Refreshing' is what Tractor does at frequent intervals during a day on Gimbletts Hill.

Farmer White
04/08/2020 04:39
Here is the link to my report on the Third Day of the Glamorgan match:

[farmerwhite.co.uk]


For ease of reference here is the link to my homepage:

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

The second and third items down are my reports on the second, and then the first day.

Farmer

Grockle
04/08/2020 08:16
Anthony suggested that there should be "C'mon My Babbies" recordings played at regular intervals during the lockdown. Certainly would give them a more realistic feel of a home game

(Sm72)

AGod
04/08/2020 12:21
A very easy win in the end.

I'd like to say that that was a great debut for our new groundsman, I think, with a track with plenty of pace and bounce in it. Exactly what the doctor ordered with the Overtons in our attack.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:04:13:53:53 by AGod.

Roger ivanhoe
04/08/2020 12:56
What a great upgrade this season in the live feed, really must say a big thank you to Ben and any others involved in bringing cricket to us.

When you see the amount of staff and equipment SKY bring to the ground for a TV match,
it confirms how lucky we are to have such a good live feed from a mostly inhouse team.

Grockle
04/08/2020 12:58
It was a joy on all accounts to watch the club start their campaign. Lots of positives on and off the pitch

(Sm72)

hantssabre
04/08/2020 13:19
Live feed was excellent. Going to be difficult watching some of the away matches with just fixed cameras at each end!

Bobstan
04/08/2020 13:36
Pleasant, chatty and insightful commentary too making very good overall coverage.

cricketjerry-mouse
04/08/2020 13:42
I see `the game`s afoot` at Surrey, with debutant slow left-armer Dan Moriarty taking five of the six Middlesex second innings wickets to fall.

Loyal of Lhasa
04/08/2020 14:01
That was a thoroughly professional performance and for the time being we top the table. I just hope we don't come to regret not scoring those extra four runs in the first innings.

LoL

Seventy-five Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Grockle
04/08/2020 15:05
SKY commentary all over the Bob Willis and the format - watch out for plans to turn this into the Championship if games give results in 4 days!! (You heard it here first).

LOTS of talk about the results, LOADS of talk about Surrey MASSES of talk about Ollie thingy. Not a mention of the Overton's or Somerset's win except that they won.

It's a level playing field isn't it?

(Sm72)

AGod
04/08/2020 15:11
They'll talk about Jamie soon... for no other reason than the fact that he's moving to Surrey.

Grizzers
04/08/2020 15:54
A terrific all round performance on the field, by all concerned, by Scott H. for preparing it and by Ben Warren and his colleagues for their technological wizardry.

The off field stuff doesn’t feel quite the same right now.

To put it mildly.

Grizzers

Somerset LaLaLa
04/08/2020 15:57
Really enjoyed that. 14 Overton wickets says it all, well 70% of our bowling attack anyway.

My comment if we are to have Willis 2021, then mix up the groups. Playing Glammy every time would become a bit predictable. They need to concentrate on their Welsh Fire

AGod
04/08/2020 17:19
There's no logical reason at all to dismantle the two division structure. But then logic and the ECB aren't often bedfellows.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:04:19:26:22 by AGod.

Grockle
04/08/2020 19:34
There would be if there weren't 18 first class counties of course... I was thinking of the 4 day format with the 128 first over limit etc.

(Sm72)

Farmer White
04/08/2020 20:39
Here is the link to my report on the Final Day:

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

And, for ease of reference here are the lins to my reports on the first three days:

First Day

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

Second Day

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

Third Day

[farmerwhite.co.uk]


Farmer



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:25:22:43:11 by Farmer White.

Somerset LaLaLa
04/08/2020 20:41
I was talking about the 3 groups of 6 - Gloucs, Worcs, Warks, Northants, Glams against us all the time.

And maybe a semi-final, so Somerset don't finish top of the group, but fail to get into the final

Somerset LaLaLa
04/08/2020 21:47
Looking at the other matches, what fantastic cricket it has been. Match of the round maybe Derbyshire's visit to Trent Bridge (sorry Pete Trego), most curious aspect is why Leicestershire declared after 119 overs, and another reason to love the tournament is when a lowly division 2 side beats Surrey. When did Notts last win in the 4 day game by the way?

AGod
05/08/2020 06:27
The side that Surrey fielded looked weak on paper, and didn't fare much better on grass.

Somerset LaLaLa
05/08/2020 08:53
Not sure about some of the Lancashire bowlers either? Bottom 5 of CC2 all won, what's going on there?

Yorkshire in the final anyone...

Des Platt
05/08/2020 17:49
Quote:
Somerset LaLaLa
When did Notts last win in the 4 day game by the way?

From Notts Forum
“ Just a reminder that Nottinghamshire remain shamefully winless in First Class Cricket since 23rd June 2018”

AGod
05/08/2020 18:15
They really are a shambles up at Trent Bridge. A ship adrift.

Grockle
05/08/2020 18:17
Let's hope their new 'New Ball' option puts some spine into the side and gets them wanting to win again.

(Sm72)

AGod
05/08/2020 19:21
Quote:
Bobstan
Pleasant, chatty and insightful commentary too making very good overall coverage.

Not always insightful.....

.. My favourite little tranche of the commentary was when Mr Gibson was going on and on about how England have told Craig Overton to bowl faster. He was saying this during a few overs... and then saying "And he certainly looks as though he's added a yard or two of pace - I've never seen him bowl so quickly etc etc."

That's because it was Jamie that was bowling at the time!

I can't work out, for the life of me, why Gibson can't tell them apart.

I couldn't tell them apart in the pub or in the street. Or even standing in the slips. BUT the one place where it's super easy to tell them apart is when they are actually bowling .... because Jamie has that thing where he almost always insists on following through in an exaggerated way until he is underneath the nose of the batsman.. and Craig doesn't bother with that wasted energy.

Bobstan
05/08/2020 19:34
Craig does do this sometimes, but nowhere near as often as Jamie.

Grockle
06/08/2020 00:21
He got the numbers mixed up at the start and assumed it was Jamie bowling because the bowler wasn't wearing 12 (Craig's old number) but 7. Their names were on their backs but the initials were pretty hard to see on the monitors. Anthony sorted it once he saw both and realised that Craig had taken Pete's old number

(Sm72)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:06:00:22:33 by Grockle.

Scrumper
06/08/2020 00:46
A government inquiry is ensuing.

AGod
06/08/2020 10:42
Grockle - the error to which you refer was early in the match - the business with the shirt numbers. At this point, the twins' father contacted Anthony G to tell him of his error (this was what Gibson said at the time)

The incident that I refer to happened on the final morning of the match (by which time the shirt number issue should have been already accounted for). On this occasion, no correction was apparently forthcoming from anywhere, for Anthony never did correct himself.

Wickham
06/08/2020 14:15
AG: I don’t think your initial-sake suggested that he was talking at the time about the player who was then bowling. So, I suggest that we give him a pass.

I thought that Anthony Gibson and his fellow commentator did a great job in providing unbroken commentary on each day’s play. From snippets I heard on BBC highlights, the two commentators at Taunton we’re so much better than commentators at most other grounds.

Nailsea_Fizz
06/08/2020 14:21
IMO and based on the time i was able to catch up with the game, the camera angles, coverage and commentary were all of a high standard and to find fault is rather churlish.

Grockle
06/08/2020 14:32
Like anyone else at the moment, first time out, bit rusty and that's all. Rather have our guys than so many of the others.

(Sm72)

cricketjerry-mouse
06/08/2020 16:13
Olly Stone, who constantly seems to appear in the England frame ahead of Somerset`s new re-signer Craig Overton, is injured yet again and will miss the Bob Willis Trophy match for Warwickshire against Somerset on August 15-18.

He has a side strain and will be out for at least four weeks.

Meanwhile, Northamptonshire, who are using the Trophy to take a first look at promising youngsters, are expected to include 20-year-old all-rounder Emilio Gay against Somerset this Saturday.

They won`t be fielding their new spin sensation however - listed in this week`s The Cricket Paper as Saif Zaibmadness by a sub-editor who must have felt his attempt at a joke would be spotted by the proof-reader.

AGod
06/08/2020 17:51
I noted that he had bowled only 3 overs in the Northants second innings.

cricketjerry-mouse
06/08/2020 23:36
Olly Stone doesn`t appear to be the brightest bail in a set of four anyway.

He was out of the game for more than 12 months in 2016-17, after suffering a cruciate injury while jumping in the air to celebrate the wicket of Moeen Ali, playing for Northants in a T20 match against Worcestershire.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net