By Grockle
May 20 2022

As Stage 1 of the cricket season comes to a close and the red ball is replaced by the white, it might be the moment to look at the club's progress before the Blast! starts in earnest what with Harrison going and the new male Test team management taking over.   How have Somerset done so far in 2022? 

From the abject capitulation of the first game against Hampshire through to the absolute destruction of Gloucestershire last week it has been a bit of a ride for the Somerset red ball unit but where are we as a squad as the first section of the red ball season takes a backseat to the oncoming white ball compaign for the full squad and what can we possibly expect when the Championship returns in full at the other end of the summer?

Well the 'told you so brigade' were out in force after the first away game of the season. With Matt Renshaw yet to set foot in the country and Peter Siddle being the only member of the expected new ball attack to be available to face Hampshire it was down to the men who had failed miserably at the end of 2021 to show that work had been done and lessons had been learned for the start of the new season.  Lachlan Stevens - the new batting coach - had been in place for a week so little was expected there but the friendlies had suggested a little more backbone or at least sticking power from the batting line up. Unfortunately the Hampshire bowlers were not the best to face at such an early stage of the campaign and without Craig Overton or Jack Leach  being able to play by England we had little to fall back on (Josh Davey and Lewis Gregory were also carrying injuries).

Winning the toss and batting first, skipper Tom Abell found some of the same problems surfacing early.  Without Tom Banton also through injury, the front end found life hard with only James Hildreth showing a change with a fighting 87, Roelof and the new man Siddle were the only other two to get into double figures as the home side skittled us out for 180 in 63 overs.  It looked like September 2021 was going to continue.

Up against it before the end of Day 1 we had to then try fighting back with a semi - decimated bowling attack of Siddle, Aldridge, de Lange, Leonard and RvdM with support from Abell and Green. Hampshire passed our first innings total before they lost a wicket and with a century from Weatherly and contributions from most of the front end they amassed 428 all out while Ben Green took first class best figures of 3 for 31.  Going back in on a hiding to nothing the second innings didn't go much better.  We were bowled out for 135 and lost in 3 days by an innings and 113 runs.  The doom and gloom hit hard and the 'R' word was mentioned before the end of the last day of the first game of the season.

But was it as bad as it seemed?  Well we were going into the game with at best a second string bowling unit with probably 4 of our first choice red ball guys not available.  But the batting was still very shaky.  It scored poorly but it did hang about a little more.  The only real benefits were that James Hildreth made a decent score, Tom Lammonby showed a small amount of 'stickability' and Ned Leonard did not look out of place in the attack.  Still major work to do however and the 3 Championship points were an insignificant aspect of the whole.

So on to Essex at home. England removed the embargo, but Davey was still not fit, Renshaw was in along with the two Lewis' Goldsworthy and Gregory. The visitors won the toss and put us in and then skittled us out for 109 of which Lammonby made 48!  Same old same old?  Well until we bowled at least.  The rule is, don't assess performance until both sides have batted on the same pitch. Craig Overton came home with a vengeance as he took 7 for 57 in 25 overs with Peter Siddle taking 2 and Gregory back to bowling with 1.  Essex all out for 180.  Somerset not quite out of the game.

In the second lick Renshaw got a bit of a feel with 45 and Davies also got some runs with 51 but the rest were still not there and the total of 154 was not enough by any stretch of the imagination.  Essex were going to walk to victory with 2 days to get 89!! 

But Overton wasn't convinced this game was over yet.  In the interview after play on Day 2 he said convincingly thatr believed that there was something in the game and the 1 wicket Somerset had at the end of Day 2 could be built on early on Day 3.   He wasn't far wrong!!  The bowling unit came out firing on Saturday morning with Overton adding another 6 for 30 in 13 while Siddle weighed in with 3 for 25 off his 12.  We fell ONE WICKET short of a win our batting did not deserve but at least we crashed out with glory and a few bowling bonus points.

So the bowling unit was in fine fettle but the batting was taking an age to click into place.  Our international 'backbone' had found some form and one of the younger guys was staying in a little more but the opening partnership was not working yet and the middle order was still far too fragile facing the ball early.

On to Surrey.  Was there going to be more progress?  Banton was back Green made way for Renshaw to open and Josh returned with Jack Brooks coming in as well.  We won the toss and decided to bat and though we lost an opener early, Renshaw provided a base with a 50 and the skipper came to the party with 150.  However the tail did not wag and while the middle still did not add much, 337 was a significant improvement and we got batting points!!

It also meant we took a first innings lead as we bowled Surrey out for 308.  At 128 for 4 we should probably have done better than that but we let Foakes and Curran get away.  But first innings competing was a welcome improvement.  Consistency was still not there however and our second innings was not good enough even with another half century from Abell with the same from the returning Banton.  Unfortunately 207 wasn't going to be enough.  There was plenty of time left and not enough fuel in the bowling unit to get all the Surrey wickets while keeping the total down.  Patel's 102 and runs again from Foakes and Curran took the victory by 3 wickets.  Close but still no cigar!!

3 games in, no wins, few points but progress!!  Openers were getting in. the boss was finding form, Banton was looking to cement his place at 4 and the bowlers were on fire.  If ONLY the middle could hold!!

Home for Warwickshire who won the toss and put us in.  137 for the first wicket.  A Renshaw century, 50 plus for Lammonby, 70 for the skipper, another 50 plus for Banton.  Then 80 odd from the last 3 took us over 450 (458).  When we bolwed Gregory (2 for 50) and Davey (3 for 30) turned up to take most of the Warwickshire belly out and the others did the rest.  Warwickshire followed on with their 209 and met Brooks (4 for 44) and Leach (2 for 35) in far too good form for them to make it to the first total.  They were taken out for 167 and we won by an innings and 83 runs. An all round good performance against weaker opposition but everyone contributed with bat or ball and we did not let it slip once we had the game.  Points on the board including loads of both bonus versions. Jack Brooks certainlky came to the party and that boded well for later in the season.

So to Bristol.  Gloucestershire had 3 loan players in their side after using 14 bowlers during their first games,  Their key players were out and we were coming off a good win with a fully fit side.  The home side won the toss and decided to field,  Difficult for them - use their uncertain bowling attack or face our bowlers in their pomp first up.  They decided to field on a batting track and we hit them hard with a near century from Renshaw, a big one from the skipper, 76 from Lammonby, 50 odd from Hildreth, 80 odd from Gregory and a couple of 30 odds from others. 591 for 7 put us in the driving seat and we took full advantage.

Cove went wicketless while Jack Leach back to normal made hay on a pitch other spinners had had no luck on at all.  His 5 for 49 ripped their first innings heart out and with van Buuren unable to bat after injuring himself fielding they only managed to reach 186. Tom Abell invited them to follow on still hundreds behind.  Their second stint was little better as our bowling unit kept the foot on the Glos neck and plugged away with only loanee youngster Bethell really putting up resistance.  159 runs later we completed the most comprehensive victory against the local rivals since 1893 and the second largest first class victory in our history. Jack Leach took 3 more and the rest all chipped in and we left very satisfied with the position we found ourselves in.

The 'told you so' brigade have gone quiet online though the prospect of us winning our first Championship this year has pretty much gone to be honest.  But we are quite a way from where we started in April now hopefully.  Matt Renshaw and Tom Lammonby seem to have found an understanding as openers.  Tom Abell has found a rich vein of form at number 3 and the third Tom has worked hard to establish himself at number 4.  With the pressure off at 4 one hopes that James Hildreth feels comfortable at 5 though he is still looking for consistency.  It may be that Lewis Goldsworthy has his eye on that place and James may give way this year if he can't find it himself.  Steve Davies is struggling with the bat and would probably not be playing if he wasn't our best keeper by a significant margin presently.  It may be that James Rew has his eye on that position in 2023 as it seems that Mr Banton may not be looking at that position. I could work with a front end of Renshaw, Lammonby, Abell, Banton, Goldsworthy. It is not all plain sailing.  We lose Renshaw for the Surrey game in June and it looks like Ben Green will be the obvious replacement as George Bartlett has not had a good start to his 2022 season.  

Bowling wise things have got better with Peter Siddle fitting seamlessly into the attack as a consistent addition to the line-up.  The loss of Craig was massive last year, Siddle may ease it this time around (both COve and Jack are in the first squad for Tests against NZ) with Lewis Gregory getting back to his best in the last couple of games.  Jack Brooks also dropped into form against Warwickshire in his first injury free season with Somerset.  Personally my faith in using him has strengthened after that performance and his commitment during it.  The spin option will probably stay with Reolof while Leachy is away though there is more doubt about it on a longer basis with the younger Lewis certainly being more of a batting option at the moment. Ned Leonard, Kasey Aldridge and the injured Sonny Baker will be looking for places for next season if not calling to be noticed in the second half of this one after the RLODC tournament

I'll leave Farmer to describe the second Hampshire game but the level of confidence of the red ball unit going into it was immeasurably higher than it was at the start of the month.  April was not pretty but progress was steady and the 'R' word has itself been relegated from discussions for the time being.  The players who will go into the Blast must have confidence and will probably join other batsmen who will want to be considered in the red ball in 2023 if not later in this season.  Will Smeed must be hoping for a good short format run while Banton, Lammonby and Abell will be hoping to take form into the next bit and come out the other end being able to drop back into long format form after a decent run of scores.  Ben Green has been working hard in the seconds and will be ready to take a first team place again.

So, 'Phase 1' a success?  Not entirely.  The first three games were hard but credit to the players for sticking with it and working on it. The form now is very encouraging.  We hoped that it might go this way and it is encouraging to see but it has to be consistent and long term for it to come to anything.  It can't fade and go back to last year's 'Phase 2'.  The building has to continue and the results have to get better for longer.

A work in progress... but there is progress.... on we go!!  

Time to take a moment

Discussion started by Grockles.com , 20/05/2022 22:02

Grockles.com
20/05/2022 22:02

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:22:16:51:02 by Grockle.

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Grockle
21/05/2022 17:33

After the Hampshire result probably time to take more than a moment as the positive hope at the end of the Gloucestershire game seems to have been a bit previous.

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AGod
21/05/2022 17:46

Hope was fine.

Belief would have been misguided.

At some point we (and by we I include anyone that you care to think of under that umbrella) will have to accept the obvious - namely that the top six are simply not good enough, no matter how we dress it up. Of course the part of the “we,” that counts here is the Jason and Andy part. They have to accept it and they have to come up with a plan that doesn’t only involve getting one overseas batsman to try and fix it.

Realistically, we won’t be giving MDL a new red ball contract. And we shouldn’t be giving James Hildreth or Jack Brooks new ones though whether management will be ruthless enough to make the latter two calls remains to be seen. If they do make the necessary calls? Then, all other things being equal, the club should have significant funds available for new signings IF management can find players that they like and who want to come here. But suffice to say that, at this point, they can’t necessarily afford to be that choosy about who they target - next season can’t be the same batting group yet again with Renshaw or a Renshaw alternative. The non-overseas batting contingent needs an overhaul.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:21:17:47:38 by AGod.

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Somerset LaLaLa
21/05/2022 18:04

At least we don't get to play Hampshire again this season.

They only have one match against Surrey (which Hampshire lost), as opposed to us playing Surrey twice.

How fair is that?

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Grockle
21/05/2022 18:09

Not true As a unit we are not good enough but both Renshaw and Abell ARE good enough. Lammonby & Banton may be good enough Hildreth and Davies may not be any more.

It's the team dynamics that are the issue and the psychological effect of that on the team itself. The individual talent IS there but whether it will be possible to mould that into a good enough working unit has been Somerset's issue for well over a decade.

It's a belief thing and a morale thing. No idea how to fix it but simply saying they "aren't good enough" is just lazy because the alternative is far more complex.

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AGod
21/05/2022 18:32

It’s true that they’re not good enough. If they were? We wouldn’t often be 70 or so for 5. We wouldn’t have the worst average runs per wicket in the country!

Tom Abell? Genuinely good players get a ton every six games or so. Tom gets one every ten games (10 in 100 to be precise). Being the best of a poor home grown bunch (by home grown I am taking the U.K. as said home) does not automatically mean that he is “good enough.”

If we look at Tom’s recent form?

He had six games in a row of abject failure. Then managed 3 decent games. And now a double failure again. So 7 out of his past 10 games have been dreadful.

Tom Abell May be good enough to be part of a functional top six. But he’s most certainly not good enough to overcome the performances of those that he bats with in this current top six and the top six in which he currently bats are most certainly not good enough.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:21:18:34:15 by AGod.

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Grockle
21/05/2022 18:49

Nope its not no matter how you re-write it. It's a team thing.

It's worse than its been in the past but this was an issue for Trescothick, Compton, earlier Hildreth, Kieswetter, Blackwell, Suppiah, De Bruyn, Burns, Buttler, Harden, Wood, Edwards, White, Ponting, Langer and a few more. Were they all 'not good enough' as well because this is NOT the first rodeo for this stuff in our top 6.

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AGod
21/05/2022 18:55

You said it yourself:

“It’s worse than it has been in the past.”

An infusion of grit from somewhere is desperately needed.

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Devonboy70
21/05/2022 18:56

So the batting after a brief resurgence has returned to type . The fact that we occasionally and I mean occasionally bat well is not enough evidence that we are any good at it !

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Grockle
21/05/2022 19:01

Grit? No argument from me but its still too simple to say 'Top 6 are all 💩'

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