By Farmer White et al
February 25 2023

Before we start 2023 I will complete Farmer's Championship reports from 2022 to clear things.  The Yorkshire home game was one with a depleted bowling attack from injury and international calls.  Over 30 degree heat and the umpires retricting play because of that.

County Championship 2022. Division 1. Somerset v Yorkshire. 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd July. Taunton.

Craig Overton was unavailable for selection due to being on international duty. Josh Davey was unavailable due to a hamstring injury and Sonny Baker due to an ongoing back injury.

Somerset. M.T. Renshaw, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), G.A. Bartlett, L.P. Goldsworthy, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, K.L. Aldridge, M.J. Leach, J.A. Brooks, M. de Lange.

Yorkshire. A. Lyth (c), T. Kohler-Cadmore, G.C.H. Hill, H.C. Brook, J.A. Tattersall (w), D.M. Bess, J.A. Thompson, M.L. Revis, J.W. Shutt, M.J. Waite, S.T. Gabriel.

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

First day 19th July – Abell takes the heat for Somerset

This was a day to sit in the shade, even in the morning when the sun was restricted in its effect by a hazy covering of cloud. When the sun was in its full glory, the temperature topped out in the furnace somewhere beyond 30 degrees Celsius. Not as high as the 40 degrees in parts of eastern and northern England which broke all records. Hot enough though for spectators to fill the top of the Trescothick Pavilion, protected as it is from the sun by one of those wing roofs which look as if they are held up by good intentions and little else, and fill the bottom section too no doubt, protected as it is by the top one. I cannot vouch for that, for once I had secured my seat in the top section I did not venture out. The mere threat of the heat was enough to keep me out of it. A fair number sought refuge in the shade of the Lord Ian Botham Stand, but otherwise, what looked like a school party in the Temporary Stand apart, few braved the full heat of the open stands on which the sun beat down without pity or mercy, the first part of the afternoon apart when a random shower soaked the ground and stole 20 overs from the day.   

The heat was forecast to be so extreme for certain parts of the country that the ECB gave permission for the first day to be reduced to three 90-minute sessions and the remaining days to be lengthened by half an hour each. Taunton was not in the area of the most extreme heat and the umpires determined that normal playing hours would be adopted. The pitch was straw in colour as if it had already been scorched into submission. It matched perfectly the parched fields of the Quantocks beyond and the arid farms and gardens around Taunton. Some thought they saw the faintest tint of green in the pitch, but that may have been wishful thinking, and it was certainly not enough to persuade Tom Abell to field first when he won the toss.

Batting first always presents an early threat, whatever the conditions, a point illustrated in the first over, bowled by Jordan Thompson from the River End. Matt Renshaw glanced his first ball for four, but was then beaten by a ball which missed the stumps by a hairsbreadth before running down to the Trescothick Pavilion for four byes. Renshaw was nonetheless in assertive mood, and turned Thompson square to the Caddick Pavilion for four in his next over before turning the West Indian Test bowler, Shannon Gabriel, into the on side towards the Somerset Stand for two.

Tom Lammonby made a more cautious start, playing out maidens to both Thompson and Gabriel. He did not get off the mark until the sixth over, and then only through an attempt to guide Gabriel past the slips resulting in an inside edge which flew to the fine leg boundary. An over later, he edged an understated drive. This time, Tom Kohler-Cadmore at first slip, playing against the county he will represent in 2023, dived towards second slip and took the catch. After Renshaw’s trenchant start, and Lammonby’s abortive one, Somerset were 25 for 1 in the seventh over.

Now Renshaw edged, Gabriel the suffering bowler this time as the ball evaded the slips and ran to the boundary. An on drive for two towards the point at which the still incomplete Gimblett’s Hill renovation reaches over part of the old Legends Square looked more assured. The Hill has been under re-construction for months, a cricketing casualty of the chronic labour and materials shortages endemic in these times. There was no shortage of production from Renshaw though as the next ball was driven square, again through the on side, this time towards the Somerset Stand for three.

Abell replaced Lammonby and did not hold back. First, he played Thompson down and wide of third slip to the covers store boundary and then to fine leg for two. When Matthew Revis replaced Gabriel, Abell attacked again, playing him through point and cover, both for two before Renshaw took Somerset to 55 for 1 in the 14th over with a square drive to the Caddick Pavilion, also off Revis, and a pull to the Somerset Stand. The wicket of Lammonby may have been a gauntlet thrown down in the face of Somerset’s decision to bat, but it had been taken up with alacrity by Renshaw and Abell, and four runs an over was a stunning riposte. As attacking stroke followed attacking stroke, the small shade-hunting crowd responded with growing applause and not a few cheers.

Then, as Revis and Matthew Waite, who had replaced Thompson at the River End, began to settle, the Somerset scoring rate fell. There was playing and missing too, and when Renshaw attempted to clip Waite to leg, he was struck on the pad to a huge appeal. As the umpire raised his finger, an old work colleague who had joined me for the day said, “I thought he was going to give that.” From our position high over fine leg the pit of the stomach had instinctively welled up as ball struck pad. The angle was not perfect, but the experienced cricket watcher has instinctive antennae which detect leg before wicket dismissals before the umpire has time to react. As Renshaw walked off with 43 of Somerset’s 67 for 2, “We need more runs, this pitch looks like it might have 400 in it once the early movement has worn off,” was the comment from next to me. There was disappointment too, for it had been an innings of attacking promise cut short.

Abell and Bartlett soon provided evidence in support of the wish for 400 as they raced along at better than a run a minute in the remaining half hour to lunch. Abell took eight from an over from Thompson including a whipped on drive which rifled through midwicket to the Ondaatje boundary. Bartlett played the silkiest of square drives off Gabriel, who had returned at the River End. A cut followed, perfectly square. It came off the bat as if it were coated in velvet, “He has a lovely light touch,” the comment. A drive off Gabriel flew off a thick edge but it was too wide of third slip to be of any interest and crossed the boundary in front of the Lord Ian Botham Stand. Finally, with lunch all but upon us, Gabriel added a pair of no balls to take Somerset to the interval on 99 for 2 in 28 overs. Three and a half runs an over was a generous return from the Somerset batters for the first morning of a match, but two wickets for the Yorkshire bowlers left thoughts of 400 hanging as much on hope as anticipation.

With the players off the field, and the match nicely balanced, the cloud that had hung around all morning, despite the intense heat, thickened, covered the point of the Quantocks, and began depositing rain. It was persistent enough to extend the lunch interval to 15 minutes short of the scheduled tea interval. Rain delays. Time to talk. And much to talk about. The future of cricket in this country was a subject to the fore of many minds. Much speculation has been born of the secrecy which seems to permeate the ECB’s planning processes. A fundamental review of the bedrock of English first-class cricket undertaken in the midst of an information desert has bred anxiety, mistrust and speculation among adherents of the county game.

And what speculation. Not just among cricket watchers, but among respected cricket journalists. Three divisions of six for the County Championship. One Premier Division of 12 and a feeder division of six. No promotion and relegation. A reduction from 14 to 12 or even ten Championship matches. Immediate transfer of players from feeder to Premier Division. Some Championship matches to be played in August with teams denuded by The Hundred. All to be implemented in 2023. Or not. Or only part of it. Or none of it. Or something completely different. The only certainty: on the current timescale, when proposals are published, the time for consultation with supporters and county members will be impossibly short.

There is such a disconnect between the governing body of the game and many of its most ardent supporters that groups of members are forming in counties across the country to resist any reduction in the length or importance of the County Championship. Rather like the explosive chemical reaction which results when a small amount of water is added to a large amount of acid, the minute scraps of hard information available to a large, anxious body of members has resulted in a febrile atmosphere and fears that the future of a meaningful County Championship and of some counties may be in jeopardy.

When the players finally emerged, the conversation had turned to less vexatious cricketing matters, 20 overs had been lost from the day and half an hour added to the end of it. The sun too had seen off the clouds and was now bearing down with all its power and searing heat. It was the hottest part of the day. In the less than an hour available before the revised tea interval, Abell and Bartlett added 65 more runs. Bartlett, as fluent as ever, began by taking two boundaries off successive balls from Waite, both played with an angled bat through backward point to the Ondaatje boundary. Abell began more riskily, edging Gabriel over the slips to the Lord Ian Botham Stand, but it all set the mood for the short session to tea.

Risk there was. Bartlett, in attempting a ferocious drive through extra cover off Gabriel, edged the ball towards first slip’s left knee. The fielder’s hands moved towards the knee, ball and hands misconneced and the ball fell to earth. To add insult to Yorkshire’s injury, off the final ball of the same over, Bartlett drove again, this time off the middle of an angled bat, and the ball ran backward of point to the Somerset Stand for four. More pain followed for Yorkshire as Abell, defending against Thompson, edged past a forlornly diving second slip, the ball running to the covers store boundary. Now, as the applause mounted and the cheers grew, Somerset piled on the pressure. Revis, replacing Gabriel at the Trescothick Pavilion End, was driven through the covers to the Somerset Stand and then, in the course of a single over, twice glanced and then clipped behind square by Abell, all three strokes going to the boundary. “He’s being forced to feed him on the leg side by those off side strokes,” suggested my colleague as Somerset reached 158 for 2 from 38 overs before idling safely to tea four overs later on 164 for 2. Abell 60. Bartlett 38.

The match had been in balance at lunch. By tea, Somerset were well ahead. They were scoring at nearly four an over, had two batters well set and eight wickets in hand. By the close, Yorkshire had clawed Somerset’s advantage back. For Somerset, Abell was the core, both of resistance and attack, and continued to drive forward. For Yorkshire, Dom Bess threw shackles around the Somerset batters. And all the while, players and spectators laboured under the unremitting heat of that merciless sun. All day, there had been a steady trickle of spectators appearing at the top of the entrances into the elevated section of the Trescothick Pavilion to seek refuge from the heat. Most were disappointed. One, who was lucky just after tea, said, “It is very hot out there in the sun,” a fact attested to by the length of the drinks breaks taken by the players.

After tea, Bartlett never regained his fluency and was soon caught for 46 off a top edge when trying to hook Waite, the catch being taken in front of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion by Revis. Lewis Goldsworthy replaced him and was soon swivelling fast on the back foot to pull a tired-looking Waite just behind square to the Priory Bridge Road boundary. “That was a confident stroke,” someone said. Powerful too, for the ball bounced off the boards and came back ten yards before reluctantly coming to rest. That stroke took Somerset past 200 and to their first batting point. But from there, Goldsworthy was almost totally becalmed, scoring just two singles in the next half hour. When he then attempted a flashing drive off Bess, the ball flew off the edge and Tom Kohler-Cadmore took a stunning one-handed reaction catch jumping backwards and to his right at slip. Somerset had fallen from 197 for 2 before the loss of Bartlett to 210 for 4. “We don’t need to lose another one now,” the nervous comment.

Bess had earned his wicket. His bowling was the equivalent of applying a tourniquet to Somerset’s scoring, at one end at least. At the fall of Goldsworthy’s wicket, Bess had bowled ten overs unchanged since tea and conceded 13 runs. Goldsworthy’s furious, edged attempt at a drive perhaps a response to that pressure. “We have stopped scoring since Bartlett was out. The momentum has shifted, and we are allowing Bess to bowl to us,” the analysis from my colleague. James Rew joined Abell but made little impression on Bess.

Abell, 60 not out at tea, was as circumspect against Bess as Goldsworthy and Rew had been, but made progress at the other end as he continued to carry the weight of the Somerset innings. Gabriel was cut softly to the Garner Gates, “It’s only just touched the rope,” the someone observed, and Waite was cut through point to the Somerset Stand. “Backward point has been busy today,” someone else said. Against Thompson, he drove off the back foot through the covers to the Somerset Stand. When Yorkshire tried Jack Shutt’s off spin, Abell twice slog swept him, both times over the boundary and into the gap between the Caddick Pavilion and the Priory Bridge Road Temporary Stand, Somerset reaching 233 for 4 and Abell 99.

Delays in cricket matches, like the 20-over long one we had suffered after lunch, in times when 96 overs in a day habitually take up to half an hour over the allotted time, can lead to disruptively late finishes, especially when they clash with rural bus timetables. For some time I had been measuring the gradually diminishing ‘overs remaining’ on the scoreboard against the remorseless ticking around of the clock in the top of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion. It soon became obvious that the close of play would fall shortly after my penultimate bus had departed and an hour before my last bus. My over-by-over calculation eventually settled on a close of play approximately ten minutes after the penultimate bus. Adding ten minutes for the walk to the bus stop left me with the choice of missing the final five overs or standing for 50 minutes at a still fiercely hot bus stop. Short of a Somerset collapse, not in historical terms an entirely unlikely possibility of course, I concluded the final five overs were unlikely to be the most important in the match and so I determined to leave early.

Watching cricket is never that straightforward. I have never seen any evidence that Tom Abell is telepathic, or of a mind to deliberately make life difficult for spectators. I can only conclude therefore that his reaching 99 a minute before the moment I needed to leave was entirely co-incidental. And so, with my bag packed and daring anyone to come between me and the exit, and my eyes and anxiety as much on the clock as on the middle, Abell turned Somerset’s main tormentor, Bess, behind square and ran two to take himself to 101 and bring the remaining vestiges of what had always been a small crowd to its feet. The applause lasted long enough for me to feel the need to leave the elevated section whilst still applauding. In terms of my desertion of my post, I am confident anyone who has stood 50 minutes at a bus stop wondering if the last bus will actually arrive will plead for forgiveness on my behalf.

Of course, my early departure cost Somerset a wicket. That is how the cricket supporter’s life works. Rew, on nine after batting for 40 minutes, had attempted to cut Bess through backward point. The ball had flown off the edge at speed. At slip, Kohler-Cadmore’s hands had reacted like lightning for the second time in the day and snared the ball just over and behind his right shoulder. Like his catch to dismiss Goldsworthy, it was exceptional. It left Somerset on 246 for 5 which had increased to 262 for 5 by the close, with Abell on 114 still carrying Somerset forward. Whether Somerset or Yorkshire are ahead in this match, only the morrow knows.

Close. Somerset 262 for 5.

For the rest of this game and any other Farmer content use the link HERE to his site or check out the threads on our main forum

Yorkshire CC July Abell Takes the Heat

Discussion started by Grockles.com , 25/02/2023 12:31

Grockles.com
25/02/2023 12:31

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:03:05:15:38:35 by Grockle.

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Grockle
16/07/2022 21:59

So now the Blast is done we return to the most important objective of Somerset's season. Championship survival.

For the first time in many years we are in distinct danger of not making it over the line. That IS a major issue and all our resources need to be now focused on the remaining 4 day games.

We have squad issues and decisions to be made. Peter Siddle may not be fit, Josh Davey is not available, Craig Overton is also absent. Jack Leach? Your guess is as good as mine. Will Marchant step in with Brooksey

Renshaw is not here for much.longer and there is a question mark over the value of picking James Hildreth or Steve Davies.

It's all fun





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:24:11:34:33 by Grockle.

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AGod
16/07/2022 22:58

Leachy Will bê available and boy will we need him.

Aldridge should surely play after a decent effort as concussion sub in the last home game.

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Grockle
17/07/2022 08:14

Renshaw, Lammonby, Abell, Banton, Goldsworthy, Rew, Gregory and then it's perm anyone fit with Leach

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AGod
17/07/2022 08:52

The three with Leachy will be Brooks, Aldridge (one assumes) and then - probably - VDM.

If they don't play VDM? Well then, much as management might not really want to, I guess they would then need to field MDL.

The above assumes, of course, that Davies finally gets dropped which would certainly seem the correct call, but there's no guarantee that it will be made.

Depending on whether or not he is offski and on whether (if he is) the club's management know of his intentions, then it's possible that Banton might not get his place back, in which case probably Davies would continue or - I guess - Bartlett would get another chance.

The reason I say the above about Banton is that he hasn't been so productive in red ball that we'd necessarily keep picking him based purely on his current returns. I assume that part of the reason that we've been picking him is because we want him to improve in red ball and see potential in him in that format but - if management find out that Tom is off - then that "future development," reason ceases to be a factor as far as any development that would benefit SCCC in the long-term.

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wsm fan
17/07/2022 09:37

Renshaw Lammers Abell Bant Golds Davies Gregory Kasey Leach MDL Brooks

We won't drop SD, he is our best keeper.
It isn't allowed to spin.
No other fit seamers on the staff.

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AGod
17/07/2022 10:05

We never did get docked points for spin. It was uneven bounce.

Regardless, given the weather, we might not find it easy to stop it from offering turn, even if we wanted to.

Davies (given his 2022 form) + that four man tail above looks potentially horrendous from a batting standpoint, albeit that KA is meant to have some batting ability. Potentially, you've got five guys plus Lewis Gregory and then not much more.

Viz your team above, WSM, unless he has some exam to do (which seems rather unlikely) then it would be harsh, to the point of ridiculousness, to drop James Rew? Management *must* be in the habit of rewarding performances / displays of character.

Here is the team that I would select, although it isn't necessarily my prediction for what management will do (and certainly not in the case of MDL).

Renshaw
Lammonby
Abell
Banton
Goldsworthy
Rew
Gregory
VDM
Aldridge
Leachy
MDL (management will pick Brooks, I feel)

Given the weather, there must be at least some prospect of the pitch having some good pace and carry which might make MDL worth picking. On the other hand, the prospects for swing - Jack Brooks' main stock in trade - would seem slim? As I say, given the weather one would imagine that the track will start dry. Yes, they could try to water it extremely heavily but, if they do that, it would probably start green and then quickly dry out meaning that lose toss >> get sent in >> effectively lose match during first session >> would probably be an almost automatic equation for whoever gets sent in.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:17:10:07:19 by AGod.

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Whome
17/07/2022 10:22

The success and failure cycle has unfortunately caught up with us in red ball cricket. However, we have the makings of a very good side and the acquisition of a seamer, opener & spin bowler would make the difference. Sad to reflect that we failed to keep a good seamer and spin bowler that were two of our own.

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AGod
17/07/2022 10:47

And, even worse it's a "success and failure," cycle with a rather British definition of success i.e. still having won absolutely nothing in red ball bar a CC2 title, 15 years ago, which made us (that season) officially the tenth best side in the land.

Above all, we're paying the price for some combination of:

a) Having failed to attract new guys to the West Country from without (beyond overseas locums) to bolster the batting line-up over several seasons (Davies being the last one 5 or 6 years ago)*

and

b) The fact that the group of young batting guys who have/had been around for a few years and are kind of 22/23+ have not yet developed into forces in red ball cricket (Bartlett, Byrom, Banton, Lammonby and the other guy, whose name already escapes me, who never made it further than last year's 50 over team and got released at the end of last season - Young?).

*Obviously we have, finally, managed to get somebody, in TKC but - sadly - there is a very high chance that TKC will find himself playing in CC2 next season (assuming such a league exists).

An additional factor has clearly been bowling departures harming bowling depth, with Jack Brooks being the only non-overseas bowling signing brought in over the previous 4-5 years, as well.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:17:10:51:27 by AGod.

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Grockle
17/07/2022 11:05

Disagree about Banton and his red ball performances. He was scratchy and seemed to be lacking rhythm. Think he is now finding that balance and he has been more solid as the season has moved. Not sure his place is at 4... I'd rather see him at 5 and Goldsworthy at 4.

Might be right about Davies still keeping the gloves.. think that is the wrong decision as he seems to have lost the will to bat. Always would go with the best gloveman but that assumes we have batting stability but Somerset doesn't and the batting needs stability that Steve doesn't give it. Give the gloves to either.Bants or James R... it is probably time to blood a different keeper

Bowling... not sure where the implied lack of faith overall with MdL is coming from... he's done his job when asked and played for the 2nds when asked. We may not have needed him or been able to pick him but he's made himself fully available for what the club have asked him to do... why would they have such disquiet about picking him?

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wsm fan
17/07/2022 11:37

Banton is NOT a keeper.
He most likely won't be here next year so giving him gloves makes zero sense.
We have given SD a year extension so that doesn't suggest we think he is finished, not we think Rew is ready for red ball, the lad his still awaiting his A level results!!!

MDL couldn't have been more cut adrift if we'd tryed, totally frozen out.

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Whome
17/07/2022 11:38

AGod, I should have written ‘relative’ success but for a County of our resources we have undoubtedly punched above our weight for many seasons. If it were not for Harmer at Essex and their wretched pitches I suggest we would have a better record than them.

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Whome
17/07/2022 11:40

Is there any substantiated evidence that Banton wants away or is it speculation?

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Grockle
17/07/2022 12:10

DIDN'T say he was WSM... give them to Rew. Just looking at it from a difficult situation where solid batting is more important at the moment than solid keeping.

Banton is a Somerset player irrespective of where you think he will be next year. Some of your hero Jamie's best performances in his last season were after he'd signed for Surrey one assumes like JOve Bants is a professional.

We gave Brooksey an extension... that doesn't seem to be looked on in the same way during discussions about said ex bowler"s future.

Steve is presently a sea anchor on this CC side unfortunately with players suggesting they can do a better job with the bat. We can't move him down the order so.... difficult decision but my view is make it.

You are totally welcome to disagree





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:18:17:31:44 by Grockle.

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AGod
17/07/2022 12:20

Yes, indeed, Whome - and you might well be right in your supposition.

Grockle - Viz, MDL, we will see... but if he STILL can't get in for this next one despite Cove and Josh definitely being out and Peter being widely presumed to be out (and with Ned Leonard injured and, one assumes, Sonny Baker certainly not ready, yet, fitness wise for red ball) then I think one would be left with the inescapable conclusion that management do not want to pick MDL!?

I'm not sure what happened with the concussion subs vs Surrey. WSM suggested that MDL was only "second choice," as concussion sub. This might have been true. Or it might be the case (I think it is) that substitutes for matches have to be pre-defined and accepted by the match referee as like-for-like swaps. In that case? Possibly the match referee accepted MDL as a sub for Cove, but not for Josh, perhaps? The basis for this might, perhaps, have been that Cove can bowl quicker than Josh?

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wsm fan
17/07/2022 12:21

I do disagree yes. Thank you for allowing it.

Were you and Agod at Southport?

Have you both seen Rew keep LIVE at all? Ever?

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Grockle
17/07/2022 12:43

Yes I've seen Rew keep and yes I've seen him live.

No I don't at any point think he is as good as Steve Davies. Not even sure he sees his future as being a wicketkeeper batsman.

I've seen him bat and I've seen Steve Davies bat... seen them both live as well. Do I think James is presently a better batting option than Steve.... ooo let me ponder that one.

I don't think Steve Davies is as good as Michael Bates was I do think he's a better bat.

I don't believe Jos Buttler is anything like as good as Foulkes...that isn't the issue.

Don't think Alex Barrow was a good keeper (don't think he did either) but I applaud him for taking up the job when his county needed him.

Makes little difference how good your keeper is if your front end batting line up is falling consistently. The question is not presently whether your gloveman can make the phenomenal dismissal. It's whether we can bat out a game without being embarassing.

We have a better shot at that with Rew and Banton. If to get both in Steve has to sit it out I'll take that presently.

Would I if our front end was dependable? (I didn't agree that Carl Gazzard was a better keeper than Rob Turner in 2005) Nope I'd move Steve down the order and let the top 5 make the runs. That isn't happening as you saw LIVE at Southport.

Somerset will probably go with you because they take a long time to change .. we'll see how that goes. If Steve plays I hope he gets 50+ he owes us and it would do him good.

For the winter, if you don't think either of the younger players is worth it, we should be in the market for a batting keeper because we are gonna need one before 2024.





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:17:12:59:16 by Grockle.

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AGod
17/07/2022 12:51

TKC is, I think, planned to be the white-ball keeper in anticipation of Banton's move.

Is TKC somebody who could also develop into a red-ball 'keeper?

Pass.

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Grockle
17/07/2022 12:56

He's probably planned to be white ball keeper irrespective of any player move.

We didn't sign him because of any move. We signed him because we are losing veterans and may yet lose Tom Abell to England in 2023.

This Banton move is NOT yet fact and may not become such so any speculation that decisions are being made based on it being 'fact' are just speculative and hypothetical presently.

It is humourous how often this has to be spelled out here

It comes up again in discussion of the position of MdL. WHEN he is not picked and options are very sparse maybe you can then speculate based on evidence. Presently you seem to be speculating on the basis of your percieved opinion... well that's new here isn't it 😄😄👍





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:17:13:02:56 by Grockle.

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Nailsea_Fizz
17/07/2022 13:01

Whome, re Banton - It seems to me to be mostly guess work presented as fact and then other stories put out to fit around the original guess.

Not actual confirmation from anyone and i wouldn't expect it really.

See Grockles last post for further reference. -



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:17:13:05:35 by Nailsea_Fizz.

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Grockle
17/07/2022 13:05

You are correct Nailsea... there was an unsubstantiated rumour floating about which journos were trying to get confirmarion.

The fact that they were looking created more rumour based on their activity and Presto it becomes 'alternative fact'.

The difference comes in statements that stop using 'If...' or 'Assuming rumours are...' and start using 'When...' and 'Because x is...'





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:17:13:11:27 by Grockle.

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AGod
17/07/2022 13:14

Nothing “needs to be explained,” by you, Grockle, thank you very much.

What has been reported (for example, on the Beeb commentary) is that Mr Banton has been offered a new deal, which he has yet to sign.

It is suggested that he would like to return to the area where he has roots. One assumes that the fact that Edgbaston also hosts a worthless franchise potentially makes them attractive for financial reasons, in addition to the personal ones.

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Des Platt
17/07/2022 14:49

Just passed the hallowed ground on train.

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Grockle
17/07/2022 15:49

Seems it does AG because it seems to keep happening.

Never mind it's no chore to do it

You got your knickers in a twist about Lewis G senior in the same kinda situation a while ago and produced a whole bunch of scenarios for that one as well. At least you aren't on your own this time. Think you did the same with Craig O?

Gosh...player out of contract is offered new deal!!! Player hasn't signed yet!! Was the speculation about Warks in the BBC article as well or was that added from 'elsewhere'?

It'll be what it'll be and I'll keep providing the public service announcements when they are required... coz it's fun to read the faux outrage if nothing else.😄👍





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:17:15:52:25 by Grockle.

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Somerset LaLaLa
18/07/2022 14:51

Tom Abell (c), Kasey Aldridge, Tom Banton, George Bartlett, Jack Brooks, Marchant de Lange, Lewis Goldsworthy, Lewis Gregory, Tom Lammonby, Jack Leach, Matt Renshaw, James Rew, Peter Siddle and Roelof van der Merwe.

Bat first in this heat? No Davies, so Rew is keeping?

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AGod
18/07/2022 14:57

The right decision.

Whatever WSM may have thought, Steve Davies's place had clearly become untenable and management appear to have reached the same conclusion. Moreover, it would clearly have been a nonsense to have dropped Rew.

14 picked, and hopefully - then - Peter Siddle is okay? However, MDL's presence in the squad presumably implies a fitness test for Peter?

MDL (If Peter is fit), Bartlett and one other will miss out, I assume. The A N Other depends on the pitch. If the track is dry, then I guess Brooks or Aldridge will miss out. If not? Then VDM will miss out.

No James Hildreth once again, so it is very much starting to look as though a decision has been taken to look to the future.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:18:15:10:03 by AGod.

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Grockle
18/07/2022 15:24

Have to say I am surprised that Steve is not in the squad. I hope he's at one with this decision and is looking to work on his form and to give the benefit of his keeping experience as well

Will be interesting to see who keeps. James didn't the last time he and Tom were in together but that was against Sri Lanka

It does look as if we have seen the last of James H in CC games but I hope he is looking to offer himself for the RLODC





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:18:17:27:17 by Grockle.

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AGod
18/07/2022 15:46

Given the doubts over Banton's future then IF Banton is interested in a future as a red-ball keeper, then it might be that he does get given the gloves, rather than young James. And it could be that, IF Tom B wants to do red ball keeping, then it would be to SCCC's advantage for him to think that management consider him a serious contender, going forward, to do it for SCCC in the CC.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:18:15:56:00 by AGod.

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wsm fan
18/07/2022 16:12

He doesn't.

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Hayseed
18/07/2022 16:15

If SCCC had dropped Rew after his fabulous performance at Southport i think i might have handed in my membership card or organised some sort of shepton mallet based protest. Im exaggerating (of course) but only a lillte; it really would have been a very poor, short sighted decision i'd have thought. Assumed Davies would also play but then again, who else to leave out for Abell?. Assuming now Rew will keep not Banton.
Hoping also Aldridge will make the final 11. Thought he was unlucky to miss out last time

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AGod
18/07/2022 16:59

Certainly agree about Aldridge. With hindsight, not being selected on the Southport road might not have been a bad thing for him, but it's true that he merited a place after a decent showing, as sub, versus Surrey.

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Grizzers
18/07/2022 17:00

I see play may be limited to 90 minutes per session with the close at 4.30 pm due to the heat. Final decision to be made shortly before the start of play.

(Maybe the England footy team should be out practicing ahead of the WC in Qatar later this year !

Grizzers

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Devonboy70
18/07/2022 18:13

So do we think this is the end for both SD and Hilda ?

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AGod
18/07/2022 18:17

We gave Davies a 2-year deal this off-season, so unless he wants to walk and leave money on the table, then I doubt it, in his case.

Hildreth is in the final year of his deal and I doubt he would want another contract, even if it were to be offered.

The 50-over thing is likely to be James’s swan song, one would imagine.

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AGod
18/07/2022 19:12

I thought I'd look at the movement of non-overseas players from our club over the previous decade. If you look at it like this, it's hardly surprising that we have fallen on hard times in red ball. By my reckoning, eleven players that were not signed from another county have left Somerset during the period in question. During the same period, I think only eight players in total were signed from another county (a net minus three) and four of those six have since left with two of them (i.e R Davies and Bates) not lasting very long at all.

So we have a net player in/out of minus 8, that I can think of in terms of departures (11 out and only 3 in from other counties that are still here). That's an awful lot of pressure to put on a club's youth system...... forcing us to develop eight decent new players from the youths over the ten-year period in question.

Non-overseas departures from Somerset:

Compton (player choice)
Kieswetter (player choice/injury)
Suppiah (injury)
Trescothick (age/player)
Buttler (player choice)
Trego (club choice)
Van Meekersen (club choice)
J Overton (player choice)
Bess (player choice)
Gilchrist (player choice)
Cooper (was not official overseas - club choice)



Non-overseas, both came from another county and left in period concerned:

Gronewald (club choice)
R Davies (club choice)
Bates (club choice)
Myburgh (age)
Allenby (club choice)

Non-overseas, recruited from other counties and not left yet:

S Davies
Brooks
Davey



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:18:19:43:27 by AGod.

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Somerset LaLaLa
18/07/2022 21:18

Hose and Byrom

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Grockle
18/07/2022 21:54

Andrew, Trott, Haggett, Regan, Meschede

Some of these might be outside the 10 just

Don't you need to link this to those coming up into the first team squad internally as well? If you don't then the picture that there may be gaps is not really accurate is it?

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somerset blue
18/07/2022 22:53

I’ll have a penny that Bartlett plays ahead of Banton!

Quote:

AGod
The right decision.
Whatever WSM may have thought, Steve Davies's place had clearly become untenable and management appear to have reached the same conclusion. Moreover, it would clearly have been a nonsense to have dropped Rew.

14 picked, and hopefully - then - Peter Siddle is okay? However, MDL's presence in the squad presumably implies a fitness test for Peter?

MDL (If Peter is fit), Bartlett and one other will miss out, I assume. The A N Other depends on the pitch. If the track is dry, then I guess Brooks or Aldridge will miss out. If not? Then VDM will miss out.

No James Hildreth once again, so it is very much starting to look as though a decision has been taken to look to the future.

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AGod
19/07/2022 06:59

"Don't you need to link this to those coming up into the first team squad internally as well? If you don't then the picture that there may be gaps is not really accurate is it?"

The point of it, really, was to illustrate how many we needed to find (coming up, internally)... the amount of pressure on the youth system.

How many have we found - for red ball - that have proven clear successes?

Well, on the bowling front? It went well. Leach, Bess, Gregory and Overtons.

On the batting front?

In terms of red ball? Really, only Tom Abell has been a clear success story?

At the top of the list of departures, we have six players, all of whom averaged at least 32. And Tom Abell is the only one we've managed to develop to have done likewise.

And, yes, forgot Hose, Byrom and Meschede. Gareth Andrew was outside of the period (past decade) having left back in 2007 or 2008.

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Mike TA1
19/07/2022 09:17

I don't know how long I will be staying today! I intend to stay to lunchtime, then I will decide, depending on how I feel.

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AGod
19/07/2022 09:23

Ice-cream, Mike!!!! Lots of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And maybe an ice bath for your feet!?

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AGod
19/07/2022 09:27

"I’ll have a penny that Bartlett plays ahead of Banton!"

Whilst it's vaguely possible that Banton might have been dropped in favour of Bartlett for the last match, it seems much more likely that Banton missed out simply because he was with the Lions and that Bartlett, therefore, was in a fill-in role.

The usual convention is that you don't lose your place if you missed selection in the last game due to unavailability and the convention is usually only turned on its head IF a fill-in does something exceptional, a la Rew.

Therefore, IF, George plays ahead of Tom B?

I expect that that would then be a portent of an imminent announcement of Tom B's departure (with George having been preferred because Tom has already informed Andy and Jason of said intention to leave). If you know that a player is offski then short term vs long term calculations are needed. In the case of Jamie Overton? In the 2020 season, during which he left for Surrey? He was taking wickets for Somerset, therefore the calculation would have been try to keep him for at least a while before the loan to Surrey. With Banton? His run output has been negligible, really, so if you're picking him now, you're doing so mainly on potential and the mutual desire to develop his red ball game...... but that objective would become redundant if you found out he's not staying (Somerset is not, after all, a charity!!). Clearly, in this case, there would be most unlikely to be a loan to relegation-threatened Warks if Tom does announce a move there anyway, but he could be dropped for the reasons I just outlined.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:19:09:49:51 by AGod.

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Des Platt
19/07/2022 10:01

I feel the same Mike. Feel a real sense of foreboding and not about the cricket . Normally relishing the day’s cricket ahead at this time but will settle for getting back to base without a raging headache in this heat.

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Bobstan
19/07/2022 10:34

Compared with where I am in St Albans, today is a relatively cool day in Taunton! Which is probably scant consolation to those of you who are there. 38 here at 2, 3 & 4 pm. 29, 28 and 27 at Taunton.

Hope you and the team have a really good day.

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Grockle
19/07/2022 10:34

Somerset have won the toss and will bat

Normal hours of play

No one has died of sun stroke yet.

Presently 91F that is 32 C for those of you who want it that way

Slightly overcast

TKC is playing so getting a feel for the place





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:19:10:55:09 by Grockle.

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Somerset LaLaLa
19/07/2022 10:35

Will they come off later for heat? Is there a protocol for this: eg measure temp, humidity, wind speed? Or just wait until someone feels hot

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Grockle
19/07/2022 10:38

Side is

Renshaw, Lammonby, Abell, Goldswsorthy, Bartlett, Rew (wk), Gregory, Aldridge, Leach, MdL, Brooks

No Banton- take of that what you will

No Siddle so he's 'niggled' at best

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Nailsea_Fizz
19/07/2022 10:41

Re Banton.

I'm sure you can make up a suitable scenario of his movements for us all that may or may not be factual.

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AGod
19/07/2022 10:46

Hopefully, Grockle, Siddle has a niggle "at worst"!!!

You were right, Somerset Blue....

I expect a Banton "offski," announcement in the next fortnight or so, now.

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9th brother Dredge
19/07/2022 10:47

With the weather today, a weakened bowling attack and Jack back, we had to win the toss so well done, Tom! Now I’m praying that our batters can do the job. C’mon Somerset!

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AGod
19/07/2022 10:51

TKC *STILL* being pressed into service as an opener, I see..

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Grockle
19/07/2022 10:58

Pitch is giving us a really short Caddyshack boundary. It is lined up with the gap between the CA and the Botham

Good news is that they've washed the sightscreen sheet.... it looks almost white!!

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Grockle
19/07/2022 11:01

Very sparse crowd to be honest. Kids in the 'Trade Nation stand (they are expecting 1500 - not sure they'll get them if it warms up) but a definite low first day crowd for a Yorkshire game

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Somerset LaLaLa
19/07/2022 11:13

How many "offski" announcements are we expecting, it does seem a few if you include Hildreth and Davies?

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AGod
19/07/2022 11:13

La La la - normal hours of play today.

I guess maybe they might have an extra drinks break or two?

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Grockle
19/07/2022 11:17

Davies was extended into 2023 so he doesn't have to go anywhere if he doesn't want to. Maybe he is just looking to find form outside of the firsts?

James will probably not renew rather than us sending him 'ofski' as such

Banton has been offered it seems but has yet to sign

Max's contract ends this summer

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AGod
19/07/2022 11:20

Davies won’t be leaving unless he wants to leave a year’s money on the table.

Hildreth, Waller, Brooks and Banton are the four most likely to be off-ski, since all are out of contract.

The club also has to budget for the fact that, IF the injured 9,000 England bowlers get fit, then Cove May be returned to the Somerset payroll.

Edited to add that George Bartlett is also out of contract.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:19:12:32:11 by AGod.

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Grockle
19/07/2022 11:28

Absolutely no issues with that scenario at all!!

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Owain Glyndwr
19/07/2022 11:28

Tom, mun

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AGod
19/07/2022 11:29

Not a very distinguished shot from TL who is really not an opener, really!

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Grockle
19/07/2022 11:30

Tom goes about the normal time - 25 for 1 caught behind

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AGod
19/07/2022 11:39

I see that Aristides Karvelas, whom I thought worthy of a contract offer here (if he was eligible to play in the U.K.) is playing for Sussex, at Lord’s, today.

Meantime, OHD is running through Kent at Edgbaston, with Crawley, amazingly, having survived, thus far.

Here at Taunton?

We have been leading a charmed life, IMO!

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Owain Glyndwr
19/07/2022 11:42

Got to ride your luck, AG. Nowt wrong with that.

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AGod
19/07/2022 11:43

Aye!

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Grockle
19/07/2022 11:49

Better to be riding it than having none of it but it is a slow one at the moment. 42 runs in 45 mins in the muggy heat because it isn't a cloudless sky here

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AGod
19/07/2022 11:51

Extremely heavy rain en route from Devon, apparently, so it sounds like there will be no full day in the heat for Yorks.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:19:11:51:23 by AGod.

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Grockle
19/07/2022 12:04

The cloud is building up over the town.... Quantocks are clear but it does not surprise that there is weather moving in from the South West. As someone had just said. "When we start with weather like this we usually end with a bloody thunderstorm"

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Grockle
19/07/2022 12:08

If you hear the rumour going about that Tom picked up an injury during the Derbyshire game and so was doubtful for this one after Saturday. The info from the club is that he has simply been benched for this game. No injury worry

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Grockle
19/07/2022 12:29

Renshaw doesn't get his 50. LBW to Waite

So in comes George.... important innings this one

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AGod
19/07/2022 12:32

Yep… he’s another one out of contract at season’s end.

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Grockle
19/07/2022 12:40

Well you can't exactly say that the runs a 'racking up'. Tom was on 11 for over 20 balls and GB is yet to score

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Grockle
19/07/2022 13:21

Big globs of rain here at lunch small groundstaff team getting the covers on. The big sheets presently going out so they are expecting a 'bit' more

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AGod
19/07/2022 13:57

Essex well on their way to defeat at the Oval (ahead of their game with us, next time out).

I suspect they are already more likely than not to lose, by an innings, at 101 for 6.

Meantime, poxy England could have made Craig available to us, since they haven’t bothered to use him, Vs SA.

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Hayseed
19/07/2022 14:53

Sun's out again at the county.ground. Some of the covers are coming off. Expect the umps will be out to inspect in a mo...

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Grockle
19/07/2022 15:19

It is certainly brightening up (and warming up!!) Guys are out practicing and the 'sopper' and the rope are in use.

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Grockle
19/07/2022 15:28

And we ARE 'back in the room'. Though the groundstaff forgot to take the sopper off the pitch (though they were back early).

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AGod
19/07/2022 15:36

The Bears have clearly produced a result pitch Vs Kent - looks doubtful that it will even go three days. No batting points at all for Kent. Warks two down, for not many.

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Mike K
19/07/2022 15:38

I think a lot of people who normally sit in the River Stand have decided to seek shade (or shelter from the rain ironically) in the Marcus Trescothick upper tier. It’s certainly a great view today with where the strip is located

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Grockle
19/07/2022 15:49

Yep if any batsmen gets their eye in here the kids in the Trade Nation Stand are going to be dodging balls coming their way. It's no real distance

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Grockle
19/07/2022 15:58

Bartlett dropped on 26 - let's hope that is the 'Get out of Jail Free' card he needs. Yorkshire guys have been saying Kohler-Cadmore never drops anything.... well except that one!!

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Grockle
19/07/2022 16:11

Top TAbell 50 101 balls and 7 fours

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Grockle
19/07/2022 16:17

Depending on where you go for info Karvelas is Greek (he's played for them), South African (Born there played for Guateng) and..... well no one says he's English though he has been an MCC Young cricketer

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Grockle
19/07/2022 16:31

164 for 2 at tea Abell on 60 and Bartlett on 36

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Scrumper
19/07/2022 16:59

Good to see Sonny Baker having a bowl at tea time.

This track has been cut quite a bit shorter than other CC wickets this season and is drier, so could be good for spin later.

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AGod
19/07/2022 17:01

Let’s hope so, Scrumper!

However, should probably have selected VDM if that is the case.

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AGod
19/07/2022 17:06

Speaking of spin?

Washington Sundar seems likely to bowl Lancs to victory over Northants, which would very much keep Northants in the relegation mix.

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AGod
19/07/2022 17:21

A poor giveaway, sadly, from George, thus failing to fully capitalise on TKC’s error.

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Grockle
19/07/2022 17:22

So George doesn't get to 50 - shame 197 for 3

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Mike K
19/07/2022 17:22

George don’t do that. Well batted though

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AGod
19/07/2022 17:30

Sonny B apparently told the commentary guys that he expects to be fit for the second half of the 50 over games.

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AGod
19/07/2022 17:32

Surrey and Essex not bothering with an early finish even though it will be about 39 degrees at the Oval!!

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Grockle
19/07/2022 17:35

If they internally combust will there be no relegations this season?





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:20:11:34:13 by Grockle.

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AGod
19/07/2022 17:40

Nobody knows whether there will actually be any anyway, given the inept ministrations of the Strauss committee!

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Grockle
19/07/2022 17:44

Well I have the vision so there are some small positives!! Rory's hair went up a treat!!

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AGod
19/07/2022 17:51

Brook puts Tom down!

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Grizzers
19/07/2022 17:52

Beautiful evening now here at the CG. Positively caribbean weather today, a bit too much for me. Can’t imagine what another ten degrees would do to everyone, as ‘oop north.

TL aside, a solid batting display so far.

Grizzers

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AGod
19/07/2022 17:52

Tom really must go on to 150 or so now!!

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AGod
19/07/2022 18:38

First home century for nearly *six* years for -
Abell in red ball!!!

He needs to make it a big one now!

This pair and then Gregory must add lots as there’s nowt in this for the seamers and we’ve picked only one front-line spinner.

A little bit of turn from the footholes towards the end.

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AGod
19/07/2022 18:43

Oh dear.

Very good catch by TKC.

Par on this pitch, with nothing in it for seam and a short boundary to the Caddyshack is, surely, in excess of 400?

So there’s an awful lot of work that remains to be done.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:19:18:43:46 by AGod.

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Owain Glyndwr
19/07/2022 19:26

400 plus would be a very good first innings score in my opinion, the way that Bess was getting the ball to spin and bounce would make batting last most unenviable..

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AGod
19/07/2022 19:35

I’d feel better about that if we’d picked two spinners, as they have!

There’s also the history of Taunton sometimes dying on day four - convention would normally have it that a track would progressively turn more as a game wears on… but it’s not that unusual, here, for it to spin a fair amount on day three and then die on day four.

I think Tom and Lewis must put up a hundred partnership.

I have to say I thought that their overseas, Gabriel, was woeful today.

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Grockle
19/07/2022 19:41

Good working score today. Excellent if dogged hundred by the skipper good 40+s from MR and GB. Both could have gone on but didn't. We weren't 50 for 4 and we aren't on the back foot in a first innings. Tom L and Lewis Jr could have done better with.their shot selection. Rew went to an excellent catch.

400 is par on this is it? Only if one of the sides gets close to it so 'par' isn't decided until both sides have batted.

We'll see what tomorrow brings I assume. Well at least the more balanced amongst us will... probably

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Owain Glyndwr
19/07/2022 19:41

Who needs two spinners when you've got Jack Leach? Let's have a bit of positivity, it's good for the soul.

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Grockle
19/07/2022 19:45

We have 2 spinners. They aren't both Jack Leach but... there's even Renshaw!!! And Jack has been partnered by Root before this 🤣🤣

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Mike TA1
19/07/2022 19:53

Somerset v Yorkshire 1st Day Photos.

Not so many photos today, I returned home when rain held play up for a while.
At 5.30 I found it was too hot for me, left early.



Tom Lammonby did get started, he stayed batting for a while until he was caught by Tom Kohler-Cadmore bowled Jordan Thompson.



Tom Abell played some lovely shots in his not-out innings.



Matt Renshaw looked good but he seem to get out at the wrong time.



Matt Renshaw on the move forward when he was out lbw bowled by Matthew Waite.



George Bartlett ct Matthew Revis bld Matthew Waite

We need to push on in the morning to get as many batting points as possible.

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Grizzers
19/07/2022 20:30

Very dogged and determined effort by Tom Abell. To get an unbeaten century in that heat was very impressive.

Grizzers

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AGod
19/07/2022 20:45

Viz the "two spinners," Grockle:

If Lewis Goldsworthy had *ever* taken a first-class wicket (he hasn't) , then we might be able to make that claim!


(Although, as you say, there is Renshaw!!!)

As to the par for the pitch?

Tom Abell is obviously not very confident that it's far below 400, since he said that he "isn't sure," who is ahead. in the match. Obviously if he thought par to be, say, 300, then at 260/5 one would expect him to express quite a lot of confidence in our overnight position.

Instead he basically said that he and Lewis need to put on a really good stand in the morning, if we're going to get into a good position, which is precisely how I see it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:19:21:35:04 by AGod.

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AGod
19/07/2022 21:30

Did not realise this (and it’s rather worrying given how such issues can be recurrent) but TKC had apparently been out all season (until the blast started) due to difficulty shaking off a concussion.

The detail is that TKC was ruled out for four months after suffering a concussion in the Pakistani Super League - twice attempted to start playing for Yorks but suffered headaches and nausea and hence his season only started when the Blast did.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:19:21:34:31 by AGod.

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Bobstan
19/07/2022 21:32

Lovely to see your photos back, Mike. Thank you.

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Des Platt
19/07/2022 22:12

Enjoyed day ; in shade for most of it with Tractor and LOL and with a few paracetamols and staying off alcohol, survived. Thoroughly enjoyed Tom Abell’s innings and George Bartlett too though disappointing end.

Still not back at base yet after disgraceful display from railways . On Exeter station ; no trains run towards Yeovil , Salisbury etc for five hours now. I know extreme weather but five hours? Beginning to think being a recluse is only way to stay sane in the UK.

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Scrumper
20/07/2022 01:15

Don't you knock the railways. I got to the station just as the 2 hour late train arrived and I was home in a jiffy.

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AGod
20/07/2022 07:10

One does rather wonder, Des, what other countries - Spain, for example, do!!! Do they have magic trains or magic train tracks!? I doubt it. But I can’t seriously imagine that the entire summer which, outside of the far North and away from the coasts, is very much like the weather of the past two days here, features interminable delays on their railways!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:20:08:30:22 by AGod.

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wsm fan
20/07/2022 08:28

Is Spain a new county!?

So with par being announced as 400 if we fall short we will lose!? But if we make more we won't!?

We have England's number 1 spinner in our ranks, bowling 2nd and (hopefully...... 4th)
We have 250 on the board having lost only 5 wickets.

I'm going to risk attending another day today just to enjoy what "might" happen I reckon.....

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AGod
20/07/2022 08:48

Par can only be given based on the way that a pitch seemed to play on a given day.

Based on the way the pitch played yesterday, I think par is 400.

Therfore, if the pitch plays exactly the same today as yesterday? Then it follows that par for our innings as a whole will be 400 or so.

The pitch, having started on the slow side, might well progressively die over the four days, though, conspiring to make both run-scoring and wicket-taking more difficult.

Bowling last at Taunton, Leachy or no, is not often a notable advantage and the opposite can often apply. It's not at all uncommon to see a bit of turn on day two, a bit more on day three and then for everything to come to a screeching halt, turn-wise, on day four.

Realistically? We need a big stand from Tom and Lewis to push up to 400 and then our depleted seam attack wiill have to really hit its straps in support of whatever Leachy can get from the surface. The Yorkshire batting line-up looks really rather strong down to (and including) number nine, albeit with two apparent rabbits to follow (definite rabbit in the case of Gabriel).

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wsm fan
20/07/2022 08:52

Realistically, the team that plays best over the 4 days will win.
Estimated par scores are absolutely irrelevant!

They mean nothing, especially from 150 miles away with absolutely zero allowance for weather, form, mistakes, various other unknown factors from behind a screen.

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AGod
20/07/2022 09:20

The team that scores the most runs will not lose, WSM - yes, well worked out!!! And they might well win!!

When people estimate a par score it is always based on the prevailing conditions, which include pitch and weather.

Nobody ever bases a par score on "mistakes". You look at overhead conditions, and what the pitch is or isn't offering to the various type of different bowlers on show, plus whether or not the pitch is conducive to shot-making, and the size and speed of the outfield.

"Par," is based on what "an average side," should be capable of getting in x or y conditions.

If you want to bring our "form," into it WSM, then it's hardly going to favour us, is it?

I mean where's the "form," among our seamers?

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Farmer White
20/07/2022 09:35

A view from the other side:

[yorkshireccc.com]

My view from the top of the Trescothick Pavilion was wonderful. Those two slog sweeps from Abell to move him on quickly enough to get to his hundred before I had to leave for my bus were both considerate and magnificent. The boundary fielders either side of deep square leg were powerless. He plays that stroke with such certainty and effect.

Farmer

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wsm fan
20/07/2022 09:59

So you have pretty much proven the point par is based on so many variables that it means absolutely nothing as to who comes out in top.

I would much rather be under PAR and win than over PAR and lose, it is a meaningless totally guessed figure that has zero effect on the result.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 11:04

Bess opening the bowling this morning - damn!! if only we'd have picked all our plethora of spinners we'd have a chance in this game!!!

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Grockle
20/07/2022 11:24

The info from the people from 'Oop North' upstairs is that TKC is a good buy. Solid bat, excellent fielder and allround 'good egg'

Probably moving partly because of first hand family links to the unpleasantness. His dad resigned as something to do with the changing rooms over the handling of the Rafiq issue when it first happened and that possibly also provided info to TKC.

Ref the concussion. That was also cited as a factor. It seems that after it happened in Pakistan it took an unusually long time back in Yorkshire for the club to organise scans and that seems to have caused a lengthening of the rehab for the injury and that could have coloured the relations between the player and Headingley. Those points were freely provided in the press box but I'm just reporting opinions. You take em with all the salt you want.

Fun this morning with Matt Renshaw providing PA announcements in semi broad OZ twang!!

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Grockle
20/07/2022 11:27

Very grey and the floodlights are fully on at 11:25 - Welcome to the Sahara!! Though to be fair there have been a fair share of tropical storms hitting that area with force

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Grockle
20/07/2022 11:44

And Tom goes for an excellent 116 LBW Waite and we may be off for rain pretty damn soon as well!! Damn

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Grockle
20/07/2022 11:57

Rain 298 for 6 at 11:57

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AGod
20/07/2022 12:02

Very poor, if true, viz Yorkshire and TKC's concussion scans.

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AGod
20/07/2022 12:16

Current forecast looks unpromising until about 3pm, if one believes the Beeb.

At the very least it will, surely, be an early lunch now?

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Grockle
20/07/2022 12:18

Yes it seems few including TKC were all that impressed with the urgency they dealt with it. The press guys tended to suggest it was a real issue at the time.

Yorkshire really don't do themselves any favours most of the time it seems.

Not many up here very impressed with Gabriel either - his form has not been a matter of great satisfaction this season on the whole it seems.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 12:20

Restart at 12:40 we've lost 11 overs in the day





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:20:12:22:43 by Grockle.

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AGod
20/07/2022 12:36

Oh, good, Beeb forecast misleading then.

I thought Gabriel was poor yesterday.

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AGod
20/07/2022 12:39

3 batting points gained on Kent, anyway.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:20:12:41:55 by AGod.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 12:41

Probably won't get another 2.... though there are 19 overs remaining





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:20:12:45:44 by Grockle.

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AGod
20/07/2022 12:55

Very happy with the number of no-balls that the Yorkies have donated.

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AGod
20/07/2022 13:00

Extras currently tied with George and Lewis for second top score.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 13:02

Well he's on for a couple of overs before lunch so Gabriel may might add to the overall number

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Grizzers
20/07/2022 13:11

Ref the BBC forecast AG, yesterday at 1.40 pm it showed just a 1% chance of rain at 2 pm. It hosed it down for 90 minutes !!

Grizzers

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Grockle
20/07/2022 13:13

324 for 6 at lunch

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cjbowyer
20/07/2022 13:23

Warwickshire are 225/9, 60 ahead of Kent's first innings, if Kent lose they'll only get 3 points from the match.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 13:56

Well it was an unintentioned glance but a 50 is a 50. Well done Mr Gregory

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AGod
20/07/2022 14:00

Haha - Beeb struggling then, Grizz!

Lewis Gregory:

Since we gave him his most recent new deal (to ward off interest from Middx) his red ball batting returns and his red ball bowling returns have rather moved in opposite directions. The back trouble may be a factor in the deteriorating bowling returns.

I’m beginning to wonder whether it might soon be time for him to attempt to fulfil his “Brian Rose appointed destiny,” and look for more of a top six batting role with his focus being put squarely on that? It could prolong his career. It might help the club from a batting standpoint with top six batters like Hildreth and Davies coming to the end.

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Mike K
20/07/2022 14:08

Extras goes to 51 a proud day for the Extras family

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Grockle
20/07/2022 14:10

It's clearing here - they might even turn the floodlights off with any kind of luck....

I'm assuming we are adding the word 'allegedly' to the 'Middlesex approach' suggestion or is that sourced?

Anyway he is pushing on and Kasey is holding up his end, a run an over will give us another batting point and 'points mean non relegation' we all hope.

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Whome
20/07/2022 14:34

Banton on live stream talking of next year saying we hope to go two games better in Blast, maybe he is staying!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:20:14:36:19 by Whome.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 14:37

Then sign the bloody contract Tom!!

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AGod
20/07/2022 14:39

This contest seems to be drifting a little without any great purpose at the moment?

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Grockle
20/07/2022 14:42

Well no more batting points I'm afraid BUT more than we have been getting in most games so there is a positive..

Wonder if they might put the hammer down and push to a Tea score that might let them have a dart afterwards? Or just trundle on until they stop?

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Grockle
20/07/2022 14:55

Lewis looking to push it on puts the ball down Adam Lyth's throat off Dom but that 400 PAR is on it seems. Jack then MdL.... fun, fun, fun, fun. OH NO it's Leachy first.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 15:00

Jack in and swinging. One delivery from Bess turns dramatically. We all thought Jack had hit it but it turned past his bat.... 'Nut' will be pleased!

The message seems to be "Let's get on with this"

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Grockle
20/07/2022 15:06

Straight six from Jack Leach will have annoyed Dom no end

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Grizzers
20/07/2022 15:11

Continued solid batting, but I’m genuinely perplexed why we don’t show more urgency for batting points.

At 370/6 with six or seven overs to go before 110 overs, where was the risk ? We’ve batted with far more urgency after the 110th over !

Meantime, lovely reverse sweep six by Jack Leach !

Grizzers

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Grockle
20/07/2022 15:11

PAR!!!

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AGod
20/07/2022 15:14

Leachy evidently decided we needed to push forwards then!

Hasn’t happened for some time, but it would be nice to see 30 mins of MDL!

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Grockle
20/07/2022 15:15

JL stumped coming up the wicket (again) to Jack Shutt and now..... Jack Brooks

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Grockle
20/07/2022 15:19

That was FAR too sensible...... Brooksie hardly lifted his bat in anger

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Grockle
20/07/2022 15:28

Well Marchant had a bit of a look before he started dispatching Shannon Gabriel

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AGod
20/07/2022 15:29

Great reverse from KA!!

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Grockle
20/07/2022 15:33

Yorkshire were nearly too clever for him when he tried it again!!

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AGod
20/07/2022 15:36

424 then.

A good effort today to add about 164 or so for the final 5 wickets.

Be good to see KA build on both his batting today and his good bowling in the last home game Vs Surrey, with a good bowling effort after tea.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 15:37

Career Best first class score for Kasey and we are 424 at Tea

47 over last session..... "oh good" everyone is saying

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AGod
20/07/2022 15:48

Tom Banton won't be!!! Not a man who can hide his dislike for *watching* cricket.

47 overs is an absolute whopper of a session.

If we make a good start with the ball? It should be a huge blessing.

If it goes the other way at the start? Well then about 40% of our total could have been cancelled out by the end of the day.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 16:09

Anyone know what happened with the one that did not seem to get to the slips? Hill definitely knicked it but not sure whether it carried or not and if it did who it carried to.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 16:18

Well Lyth has definitely gone so Jack will be happy with that one and in comes our new boy!!!

Hope he doesn't get too much of a feel for the place today!!

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Grockle
20/07/2022 16:38

Difficult caught and bowled with Hill on 12. Driven back hard.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 16:53

Jack's first courtesy of Renshaw. Goodbye Mr Hill... not a great shot and Matt had to cover some distance. 55 for 2

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Grockle
20/07/2022 16:58

Must be fun when a new keeper works with a new spinner. Remember when CK had to learn to keep to Piyush Chawla on the hoof when there had been no time to get together? It was not pretty. May be a new level of concentration requirement for young Rew





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:20:17:04:35 by Grockle.

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AGod
20/07/2022 17:05

More than 50 byes Vs Derbys, if I recall!!

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dilly
20/07/2022 17:11

Strange situation, if Kohler-Cadmore gets a good score he might put his new club in the second division next season.

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AGod
20/07/2022 17:13

TKC looking rather good.

KA bowling a very full length.

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AGod
20/07/2022 17:17

KA reminding me a little of OHD in that his length (at least the one that he’s bowling here) is much fuller than one would expect for a man of his height.

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Grockle
20/07/2022 17:40

Has Marchant become more 'slingy' than he was?

I don't remember him being as 'round armed' as he is now.... maybe it's just a lack of seeing him? Not very good at the moment unfortunately

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Grockle
20/07/2022 17:43

100 up in the 28th with the loss of 2 wickets on going partnership of 45

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AGod
20/07/2022 17:48

Some fairly clear evidence here of why we needed to make sure we got 400 on the board. This is not a responsive pitch and this TKC / Brook tandem are currently enjoying themselves.

The slow surface is not at all suited to MDL, with his second over a rather painful illustration of that, in terms of the two attempted bouncers that got carted for six.

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AGod
20/07/2022 18:00

Leach getting carted / dominated by TKC too.

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AGod
20/07/2022 18:01

Nightmare for Brook!!!

Fabulous - we’ll take it!!

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AGod
20/07/2022 18:04

Bizarre night watchman ploy fails - with bells on!!

Good ball, first up, from Brooks.

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AGod
20/07/2022 18:06

Might be time to go heavily on the defensive Vs TKC (not giving him Leach to smash might be a start) and attack at the other end.

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AGod
20/07/2022 18:48

Very good and steady stuff from KA.

Sadly his more experienced team-mates have been various shades of “meh,” and failed to help him build pressure by drying up the runs.

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AGod
20/07/2022 19:00

Aldridge something like 9 overs for 13.

The collective Yorkshire run-rate would have been horrendous, if not for KA's efforts.

We shall need to bowl with a good deal more discipline tomorrow, for my money. Yes, the pitch is unresponsive, but KA has shown what is possible in terms of keeping the runs down (no, you're not going to take lots of wickets quickly on this pitch, but at least make the oppo work hard for their runs!)

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dilly
20/07/2022 19:22

First thing tomorrow morning KCadmore needs to do the right andsensible thing and give his wicket away. It’s not just a question of his helping Yorkshire to win the game (which, of course, would normally be perfectly acceptable) but it might well put his new club down to Division 2 and what on earth is his point in doing that ? Now, come on and see sense for goodness sake.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:20:19:27:26 by dilly.

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Mike TA1
20/07/2022 20:36

Day 2 Photos.

What a different a day make.(no singing) compared to yesterday, the weather couldn't have different temperature wise, I was cold later in the day.

Tom A just couldn't get going today, and I was not surprised when he was out. This added to the slow batting when our sights should have been on batting points.



Next years Somerset player Tom Kohler-Cadmore hitting one of his sixes.



Marchant de Lange also hitting a six.



Lewis Gregory hitting a bit of an edgy shot, I included it because it was 4 runs and his 50.



A good knock by Kasey Aldridge until he was bowled by Shannon Gabriel.



Jack Leach trying to increase the scoring rate was stumped by Jonathan Tattersall bld Jack Shutt.



Seeing Jack Leach reverse sweep for six runs was my pick of the day.

I have to report that somebody was hurt on Gimblett's Hill today, I will go into more detail later on the Somerset thread, what I will say is weeks ago I pointed out a safety hazard because of the alterations being done..

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Grizzers
20/07/2022 20:40

TK-C looking a very good acquisition. Shame he’s demonstrating that against us. As silly says it’s a huge quandry, but all he can do is be professional and bat on.

Just not for much longer please !

Felt we did pretty well today, although some of our bowling was a little lose.

I can’t get bonus points out of my head. If we end up being relegated by a point or two, it’ll haunt us.

Grizzers

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Farmer White
20/07/2022 22:02

Grizzz

A different view on bonus points ...

I don't know the reasons for the apparent lack of interest in bonus points, however I do have a thought on it. The way in which we play often suggests to me it is not so much a lack of interest in bonus points as a focus on putting as high a score as possible on the board to increase our chances of winning, or at least not losing, even at the cost of a point. One additional win or draw in a season through not focusing on bonus points would usually more than make up numerically for any 'lost' bonus points. You only need one additional win to make up for 16 'lost bonus points. That is the 'percentage' value of the strategy.

The importance of one additional win, or one less defeat, is particularly illustrated by the events of 2010. In 2010 Notttinghamshire pipped us to the Championship by dint of having won one more match than us. It shouldn't be difficult to find a 'missed' bonus point that 'lost' us the title somewhere in that season. However, I have always thought that if it was down to any one thing (it almost certainly wasn't), it was the second match of the season. Nottinghamshire pipped us by two wickets thanks to a Broad blitz in our second innings. A narrow win for them. A narrow defeat for us. A 32-point advantage to them which we were unable to claw back over the course of virtually an entire season.

Of course had we won that match narrowly there is no guarantee we would have won the Championship, although it would have been more likely, because the whole dynamic of the rest of the season would have been different and what might have happened is impossible to predict because the number of possible variables is infinite (they are probably more than infinite with Somerset!). The same applies to a degree to bonus points. Of course, I would rather have them than not, but I would rather have 424 on the board in this than 380 trying to race to an extra point.

Farmer

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Grockle
20/07/2022 22:21

Not so sure about today's positiom. Always thought the last bonus point was too far away at 300. But in the past we've thrown so many away when a little extra focus could have got it. Not throwing away the opportunity of scoring more but changing emphasis to pass a total we have been close to.

We've lost titles for the want of them and the chsnge required to scoop them up.is pretty marginal most times...IF a side has a focus on the game position. I'm not sure Somerset do often enough until its too late.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:08:15:18 by Grockle.

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Grizzers
21/07/2022 00:04

interesting perspectives gentlemen.

I just checked back the ESPN ‘commentary’ section, which gives over by over scores.

At 100 overs we were 338/6, needing 62 off 10 for the final batting point. Surely attainable without too much risk.

At 105 overs we were 357/6, needing 43 off 5.

At 110 overs we were 368/6, so we fell 32 runs short, **having scored only 11 runs in the last qualifying 5 overs.**

The innings then lasted another 11 overs during which time we scored 56 runs.

I can’t believe that on that strip, with two batsmen very well set, that we couldn’t have pushed on a little quicker, without taking undue risk, to try for that last batting point.

Many of our ‘failures’ to clinch titles in the past have been attributed to being too cautious (re declarations etc. & it just seems - at best - odd to me to leave points on the table.

(But if we win this game by just a few runs of course, I’ll happily reflect on the joys of tasting the egg on my face !!!).

Grizzers

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AGod
21/07/2022 06:33

It was bizarre that we only decided to accelerate after the 110 overs were up - implying, perhaps, that we didn’t want to risk allowing Yorkshire an extra bowling bonus point (since same was the risk eliminated by waiting until after the 110 overs were up, before hitting out).

It can’t, really, have been about personnel, given that Gregory was in during the period immediately before the 110 overs and he is not noted for an inability to score quickly! I suppose, perhaps, it was about personnel “the other way,” I.é so long as Gregory was still in, we harboured hopes of 450-500 and so were determined to bat “sensibly,” but once LG was out we thought realistic hopes of, say, 500, were far, far lower?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:07:24:56 by AGod.

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Grockle
21/07/2022 11:10

Need some tight bowling this morning and early wickets

Brooksey goes for 8 off his first and MdL bowls a maiden - probably with grateful thanks from George Bartlett under the lid at short/silly mid on. Great start to your day... "George just go in and field short to Marchant first up"

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Grockle
21/07/2022 11:22

Jack on early from the River and our other Jack going for far too many from the MT end!!





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:11:30:29 by Grockle.

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AGod
21/07/2022 11:31

I thought MDL’s opening two overs were pretty good. Shame he had to go off.

Not convinced, after yesterday, that Leach to TKC is the right move.

Brooks proving too expensive and it looks like it could be a long day in the dirt for our bowlers.

It seems, from what Brooks said, that Peter Siddle might be more knackered, than injured - as such - so perhaps he might be back for the Chelmsford Bunsen along with, one assumes, VDM.

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AGod
21/07/2022 11:34

Here comes KA to see if he can build on both yesterday and his bowling Vs Surrey.

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AGod
21/07/2022 11:37

KA really does remind me of OHD. It’s not just the length he’s bowling but, like OHD, he doesn’t really use his front arm as the textbook might suggest one should.

A decent first over, once again, from KA.

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AGod
21/07/2022 11:42

Another bonus giveaway wicket a la the Brook dismissal.

That ball did not deserve a wicket (any more than Brooks to Brook did) BUT KA’s bowling overall does deserve a wicket.

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Grockle
21/07/2022 11:42

Seems he can!! Shame also that he wasn't on at the start as he was the one looking like getting something yesterday.

Not sure about Jack's delivery speed either. He took lots of wickets when he pulled it back but he seems to have upped it again. Spearing it into the toes doesn't work too much when it's what you do every ball.... where is the flight etc?

One question today is 'Why are we setting up slow pitches in the height of summer?'

The answer seems to be that 'we want a high scoring draw'?





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:11:50:30 by Grockle.

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KentWyvern
21/07/2022 11:49

Take a draw given three first choice bowlers are out?

Certainly batted for the most time as if steady accumulation and time were more important than bonus points.

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Grockle
21/07/2022 11:52

Yep it does seem to be that that is the thinking. Not sure that the lack of confidence is as great as it was but with the bowling constraints it probably was the better idea - then the question becomes 'why didn't you play RvdM?' But....

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Grockle
21/07/2022 11:58

200 up in the 60th

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AGod
21/07/2022 11:59

Not at all sure we can afford to aim for a draw with Northants doing well in this round and one of Kent or Warks certain to pick up a win.

TKC, for reasons unknown, in shell Vs Leachy today which is helping us to exert some control at last. So, if we are aiming for a draw, then the past 6-8 overs or so have been helpful.

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KentWyvern
21/07/2022 11:59

Spent a couple of days at Taunton for the first time in four years.

It may be controversial but I thought Bess outbowled Leach by a long way. The former didn’t give much away and induced edges. I’m not sure I remember his start-stop-start run up but he looked like he was bowling with some rhythm. Leach, on the other hand, takes a couple of steps, fires it in and repeats. There didn’t seem a lot of craft in his bowling.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:12:12:46 by KentWyvern.

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AGod
21/07/2022 12:07

Leachy got smashed yesterday and was not very good.

He seems to be making a much better fist of things so far today.

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Grockle
21/07/2022 12:16

That Bess v Leach assessment is not an uncommon one from conversations yesterday and this morning is not changing much. Jack now bowling over the wicket and being padded away for half an over.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:12:24:17 by Grockle.

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Phrench Phil
21/07/2022 12:31

Is that Peter Trego who has just joined the commentary team?

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AGod
21/07/2022 12:34

Yes. 75 minutes late.

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Grockle
21/07/2022 12:35

It is.... Phrench

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AGod
21/07/2022 12:36

Peter suggesting that we have to play on this sort of pitch as our batsmen have struggled too much whenever there’s much in it.

He was very impressed with Rew’s second innings rearguard at Southport.

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AGod
21/07/2022 12:48

You’d have got long odds against it taking TKC almost the whole session to bring up his ton.

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Grockle
21/07/2022 12:51

TKC 100 199 balls 9 four and 4 sixes - well at least we've seen one at Taunton!! It's his first one since the last game of the 2019 season

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Grockle
21/07/2022 12:53

The 'other' spinner having a bowl

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Grockle
21/07/2022 12:55

And there you go!!!! Good job we played more than one spinner

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AGod
21/07/2022 12:55

Oh, no, TKC 😝

Well played, but glad you’re out!!

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Phrench Phil
21/07/2022 13:06

So, PT 75 minutes late and Matt Renshaw two hours late.

Well worth the wait, though.

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AGod
21/07/2022 13:06

Well, we’ve bowled better this morning than yesterday but this pitch is killing the prospect of a non-draw result unless we bat exceptionally badly second time around (unless we bat very badly second time around, there will barely be time for much of a Yorkshire second innings!)..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:13:08:01 by AGod.

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Grockle
21/07/2022 13:10

Agreed.

Looks like this will pretty much be over if Yorks pass 274... so unless 'Twirler' Renshaw takes a five-fer it could be done by 3pm

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AGod
21/07/2022 13:14

Renshaw actually got more turn than Leach.

That’s not a good thing if you’re the England man.

But maybe it might be a useful warm-up for him in case we want to use him on the Chelmsford dust bowl, though VDM must surely be selected there.

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AGod
21/07/2022 13:32

Wonder if there’ll be a pitch inspection at Wantage Road, with scores of about 230, then 130, then 75-7?

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AGod
21/07/2022 14:41

Bowled Shanny!

At last.

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AGod
21/07/2022 14:44

Thanks, Dom!!!!

A truly awful dismissal!! 😂

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AGod
21/07/2022 14:52

Shanny too good for Thompson.

Now, can Shanny polish off Shannon!?

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wsm fan
21/07/2022 14:55

We wouldn't enforce follow on anyway, no chance

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Grockle
21/07/2022 14:58

Follow on saved as Shannon takes the single and then they're done for 276 148 behind......

Will it make any difference one wonders?





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:15:07:13 by Grockle.

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AGod
21/07/2022 15:08

Zero chance Of Shanny dropping that one off Aldridge.

Lead of 148 then.

Now?

Well, funnily enough, if we bat *moderately badly* then we might have a slim chance, still, of winning the game.

We’re not going to declare and leave them lots of overs, we’re just not.

But if we were to get bowled out for, say, 190 in 55 overs or something then that would leave them 339 runs to get and us 90 or so overs to try and bowl them out. Of course, batting well and making 230-5 declared or something from 55 would be better… but we won’t take that kind of chance.

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AGod
21/07/2022 15:11

Gloucs on their way out of CC1, following on at Cheltenham.

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Grizzers
21/07/2022 15:13

Bat until 30 mins before lunch tomorrow. Should have around 350 lead by then.

Grizzers

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AGod
21/07/2022 15:23

Banton claiming that we need a bigger squad as “everyone was knackered at Finals Day.”

Also claims we need to think about playing home T20 games on worse batting pitches (which is a little ironic as he had a bit of a whinge about how difficult our CC home pitches are, when he was on yesterday).

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Phrench Phil
21/07/2022 15:25

Quote:

AGod
Gloucs on their way out of CC1, following on at Cheltenham.

And already 9/1.

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AGod
21/07/2022 15:27

Grizzly - there are actually something like 75 overs or so up until lunch tomorrow! So we ought to be a lot more than 350 on, by then.

But, tbh, we’re very unlikely to take all ten wickets in only two sessions so our best chance of winning is to be bowled out reasonably early tomorrow (though that would leave a fair chance of defeat as well, of course)

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AGod
21/07/2022 15:35

Banton claiming we might declare after half an hour tomorrow!

I’d be surprised, to put it mildly..

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AGod
21/07/2022 15:45

According to Banton, Renshaw is extremely keen to return in future.

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sfwithers
21/07/2022 15:51

Well, Somerset's openers have started very aggressively - looking like they want to set a high target and leave themselves time to bowl Yorkshire out.

We'll see. If this carries on for an hour, that would be a great start. But who knows?

And Glos have already lost their second wicket.

It goes without saying, but this would be a great game to win!! (There, said it!)

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Grizzers
21/07/2022 16:05

Excellent positive batting to round off a winning session.

Large swathes of dust coming from the strip as the ground team brush during the interval. Would be nice to see it starting to spin.

Grizzers

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Phrench Phil
21/07/2022 16:08

Sorry to persist with this, but I have been out and only just returned.
Who is now talking during the tea interval?
Is that Tom Banton again?

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Kingston Black
21/07/2022 16:10

Yes - I think it's Banton on commentary.

KB

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Whome
21/07/2022 16:13

From the horses mouth, Tom Banton stays!!!!!

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Grockle
21/07/2022 16:31

Well if it's 'from the horse's mouth' the horse needs to get his hooves around a pen and sign the piece of paper confirming that.

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Whome
21/07/2022 16:34

Just said on live stream only one team I’m playing for, i am going nowhere. Confirmed he was aware of all the speculation and had clear things up. Also confirmed that he used to play against ‘Pepsi’ (TKC) at school, all mates together it seems.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:16:45:56 by Whome.

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Shepton Paul 2
21/07/2022 16:41

Good! I was worried the horse-whispering on here about TB leaving was descending into as if it was an actual fact, and would drive him into thinking we don’t want him. We (I, at least) very much do want him to stay.

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Grockle
21/07/2022 16:47

Was always of the opinion that it was rumour until it became fact but I have to now tell you that there is no official position other than Tom Banton has not committed to Somerset yet after the end of his present contract. So I'm hoping this rumour becomes fact but it hasn't yet

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Grockle
21/07/2022 16:49

100 up in the 20th

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sfwithers
21/07/2022 16:53

Looks like Somerset have a plan, which is to attack, attack, attack!

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Grockle
21/07/2022 16:56

They are going strangely against type at the moment. Yorkshire are -3 on the run rate so they will have to bowl spin pretty much this evening and while Tom and George are there it does look like GB has been given the job of moving the score along while his skipper does what his skipper does.

But Dom has just fooled him and the strategy may now change entirely with Lewis Jr coming out.

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AGod
21/07/2022 16:56

Well, this dull pitch - if produced to order - implied that we were happy with a draw from this…

… But our approach to this second innings implies greater ambition than that..

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Grockle
21/07/2022 17:07

Good to see George being given the freedom to put bat to ball. Hope it comes off for him.

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AGod
21/07/2022 17:17

Oh dear. Gabriel should surely not be selected again. Dreadful!

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Grockle
21/07/2022 17:42

Whoops Lewis Jr just thrown his wicket away after having a scare off Bess... disappointing

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cricketjerry-mouse
21/07/2022 18:14

Cricket never fails to come up with fascinating statistics.

Shannon Gabriel, Yorkshire`s overseas quickie, has bowled considerable more no balls than he has scored runs in his time with the county so far. It could be argued, of course, that his two runs today saved the follow-on, not that Somerset would have applied it anyway.

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AGod
21/07/2022 18:40

Great innings from George Bartlett.

My suspicion was that Tom might aim for 425 as the Yorks’ target, since it would be the highest score of the match.

That late Gregory dismissal might make a 425 lead unobtainable, though.

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AGod
21/07/2022 18:48

Wonder if MDL might be the next man in, tomorrow morning?

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Nailsea_Fizz
21/07/2022 19:03

Agod, your prediction, rumours or suspicions seem to be tying you up in knots. When did the prediction of not setting a target get sideswipped by the suspecion of 415 being the captains before or after you read his mind.

All most entertaining as reality knocks each one out of the park.

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AGod
21/07/2022 19:05

A good final day looks in prospect at Edgbaston. Kent have two overseas quicks for this game and Warks, two down, will need about another 270 runs on the final day. Kent look favourites against a Warks side that have had a truly dismal season.

Lancs have, thankfully, turned their match at Northants around and so the home side look favourites to lose, which would leave them still firmly in the relegation mix, along with the loser at Edgbaston.

If we could actually manage to win tomorrow? That would pull Yorks into trouble, too.

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AGod
21/07/2022 19:06

When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?

Given the aggressive approach that we took to the second innings, it became apparent that Tom had some sort of earlyish declaration in mind.

Usually we are loath to risk defeat with our declarations, so this has been a surprise (the last adventurous SCCC declaration that I can remember was when Chris Rogers was in charge - which led to a narrow defeat vs Middx).

I did not think we would declare without batting them out of the game first (as I said leaving them lots of overs) but it now appears as though that is the intention (that YOrks will be left with a lot of overs to bat).

Edited to add that:

According to Jason Kerr we did NOT intend to be aggressive at the top of our second innings, it was just that the bowling was poor... so maybe we didn't have an earlyish declaration in mind at all (which was my original assumption before the innings started) but it has simply evovled that way as a result of us being able to score rapidly up front (even though that was "not the plan," per Kerr.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:21:03:10 by AGod.

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dilly
21/07/2022 19:45

It’s evidently going to rain for much of tomorrow.

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AGod
21/07/2022 20:00

Met Office forecast is clear.

Saying that, the same source predicts a washout at Edgbaston, which would keep both Kent and Warks in trouble, the more so because the first innings was low scoring, meaning they managed one batting bonus point between the two of them.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:20:01:55 by AGod.

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Owain Glyndwr
21/07/2022 20:33

Not a bad day's play, not bad at all. Lovely to see George play a gorgeous little innings, he's so elegant when in form.

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AGod
21/07/2022 20:52

Jason Kerr's comments on the official site, also make it sound as though an early declaration is indeed going to be coming.

As Kerr rightly says, Kasay Aldridge did very well again.

As Jason notes, it will be difficult to bowl a team out on that pitch and we must "leave ourselves time to do so."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:21:04:35 by AGod.

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Mike TA1
21/07/2022 20:52

3rd Days Photos.

Somerset had a good day, the only problem should Somerset declare or bat on for a bit?



Tom Kohler-Cadmore lbw Matt Renshaw just after reaching his hundred, he walked before the umpire raised his finger.



Before he was out Tom K, guided a ball fine for a single for the one he needed for his 100.



Marchant de Lange bowling a short ball to Matthew Waite.



Jordan Thompson well bowled by Marchant de Lange.



Jonathan Tattersall ct James Rew bld Marchant de Lange.
I believe it was the first catch by James Rew as the wicketkeeper.



James Rew leaving a ball from Dom Bess.



Dom Bess was caught by Tom Abell bowled Kasey Aldridge.

I hope it goes Somerset way tomorrow.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:22:34:16 by Mike TA1.

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Shepton Paul 2
21/07/2022 20:58

Good day for the team, but especially pleased for George Bartlett - really hope he can get his 100 in the morning.

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AGod
21/07/2022 20:58

James Rew, Mike (not Dew)

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Mike TA1
21/07/2022 21:26

Thanks AG I keep making that mistake.

Edited.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:21:21:38:15 by Mike TA1.

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Bobstan
21/07/2022 21:33

Just think of him as Kanga Rew, Michael. That should help.

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somerset blue
21/07/2022 21:34

Well batted George Bartlett, who has looked very good in both innings, as he did at Southport. Let’s hope he also decides to sign a new contract, or will Surrey beckon………

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AGod
21/07/2022 21:37

Surrey?

I really can’t imagine them suddenly being interested off the back of George having a good CC match for the first time in some considerable time. I mean I know Surrey like to sign players but even they don’t move for every out-of-contract player that happens to have a good game!

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Grizzers
21/07/2022 21:39

Really good day. Especially pleasing to see so many of us getting good runs in the second innings, particularly George Bartlett who looked in excellent nick.

Will be a tough call tomorrow as to when to declare. I would vote for 11.45 a.m latest. Then we'll really need to be on our game to try to finish things off.

Grizzers

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AGod
21/07/2022 21:52

11.45am seems about right to me, getting the target North of 400 in the process, hopefully.

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Scrumper
21/07/2022 21:59

Declare overnight, just do it.

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That Bloke With The Dog
21/07/2022 22:33

I agree with Scrumper. We have to get wins from somewhere now, and there are only five opportunities left after this. Four of those are in September. We can't be left watching the rain then, and kicking ourselves for a late declaration the one time we'd worked our way into a winning position. We're not going to get out of this with draws. Our rivals have already banked far too many of those.

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AGod
22/07/2022 07:06

Jason Kerr said yesterday that it was "very unlikely," that we'd declare overnight.

The forecast seems to have deteriorated somewhat overnight (whereas that at Edgbaston has markedly improved).

IF Tom has a forecast that he trusts which indicates some rain then I guess that would make an overnight declaration:

a) More necessary

b) Less of a risk, assuming some overs are lost to the weather.

Let's face it, as Jason said, taking all ten wickets on this surface is going to be very hard work anyway.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:22:07:16:17 by AGod.

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Grockle
22/07/2022 07:40

The general concensus from conversations yesterday at the ground was that we will give them nothing that offered the chance of Yorkshire winning this one and the only way a target was going to exist was if Somerset were bowled out. People expect little at Chelmsford next week so the draw is the keast we want from this one.

The weather doesn't look like its going to help and it was a struggle to envisage either side taking 20 wickets to win this one.

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AGod
22/07/2022 07:53

That was certainly my assumption before our second innings started.

But events have moved on. Per Jason we weren't planning to smash it at the start of our second innings, but they bowled badly and we took advantage.

I certainly get the Scrumper/Bloke With Dog view on this viz an overnight declaration. They are right that we won't get out of this situation with draws. Equally, though, we can't save ourselves today, even with a win BUT we could, possibly, all but condemn ourselves, were we to lose?

As things stand, we will either (assuming a draw) gain a few points on both Warks and Kent (gains due to batting bonus point gains) if the match at Edgbaston is washed away OR gain a lot of points on one of Warks or Kent (in the event that one side wins at Edgbaston), whilst losing ground on the other.

As for Chelmsford?

Well, it's Leach and, one assumes VDM, versus Harmer (his final game before joining up with SA ) and the wrist-spin of Critchley, one assumes.

We will need Leachy to be better there than he has been here.

At least some of our guys have found some form and presumably some form of confidence across this game and Southport, though the fact that we have three LHBs in our top six would be good news for Harmer. That businss about confidence should apply to Bartlett (here) and Goldsworthy (Southport). Abell has a ton behind him now. Gregory has been in the runs of late. So, actually, the four RHBs in our top seven (RHBs generally being better placed to deal with Harmer) should all be in reasonable form and confidence.

So................................maybe.... there's a small chance of us surprising ourselves there, especially if Tom calls right and is able to bat first on the bunsen? We might, also, get Peter back with local knowledge? It seems that Peter isn't really "injured," as such but was exhausted after so much cricket.. so maybe the week off will have recharged his batteries?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:22:07:56:16 by AGod.

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somerset blue
22/07/2022 10:43

It was fairly common knowledge in cricket circles that it was Surrey who really wanted George when he first signed a contract with Somerset. One understands this still to be case, noting that George is yet to sign for next season and beyond

Quote:

AGod
Surrey?
I really can’t imagine them suddenly being interested off the back of George having a good CC match for the first time in some considerable time. I mean I know Surrey like to sign players but even they don’t move for every out-of-contract player that happens to have a good game!

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Grockle
22/07/2022 10:57

Drizzle causing the appearance of the covers..... declaration could alter now if this stays for anything up to an hour.... game over if its longer than that I think with us 373 ahead and losing 11 overs for a 40 minute break on Wednesday. They are heading for the sheets so they seem to be expecting rather more than a slight dusting of rain

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AGod
22/07/2022 11:01

It sounds very unlikely to me that they would be interested now. I mean when was the last time Surrey signed somebody with the sort of FC average that George has *without* that same player being a noted one-day player?*

* Laurie Evans, for example, has a first-class average only a bit better than George *but* Evans has a stellar white-ball record and so was signed chiefly for that purpose, one imagines.

And as for George.. what would he do at Surrey? Play in their 50-over team? Surrey already signed Sibley to replace Amla, so that's one place that George certainly wouldn't be filling in their CC side. Yes, Pope and Foakes might be away with the Bazball crew, but they have Jacks, Smith, Burns, Patel, a young guy, Geddes, who has made a ton this season and will probably sign an overseas as well as having signed Sibley. If England don't go back to S Curran for Tests, then he will potentially bat in their top six too.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:22:11:12:34 by AGod.

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AGod
22/07/2022 11:03

Raining already?

Match Drawn, then.

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AGod
22/07/2022 11:09

Might rain until some time after 2pm if one believes the Met Office.

Poxy Beeb - as per what Grizzly said the other day - insisting that it's currently sunny in Taunton, and will stay that way all day!

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Grockle
22/07/2022 11:23

One sheet off.... think they did it just to raise hopes Umpires out chatting but they may not like the light with the floodlights on

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Shepton Paul 2
22/07/2022 11:31

Bad news for George - lessens the chance of us batting on - and for our spinner(a) - but, if they get on, must make taking wickets more likely for the seamers.

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sfwithers
22/07/2022 11:31

Start delayed, which surely means a declaration, and probably a draw...

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AGod
22/07/2022 11:31

Can't understand, for the life of me, the point of that stupid rule about "the floodlights must not take over from the natural light." Why on Earth not? More cricket would be played if we didn't have that daft rule!! If cricket can be played at night under floodlights? Then it can be played during the day with most of the light coming from the floodlights?

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Grockle
22/07/2022 11:34

They've re-added the sheet they removed and raised it with six others

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Bobstan
22/07/2022 11:45

You're quite right, AGody, this weather is definitely the fault of the Director General of the BBC. Does the BBC still boast one of those at its head?

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Grockle
22/07/2022 11:48

They don't have the same number of 'Heads of' as they did

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Grizzers
22/07/2022 12:10

They’ve obviously cut back on the number of brain cells as well !

Grizzers

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Grockle
22/07/2022 12:11

Keep your ears to the livestream... seems there may be a surprise guest online this afternoon with some interesting news...not Tom B before you start. Though he may be on as well anyway if there's no play.

Early lunch being taken. Followed by early shake of hands?





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:22:12:16:09 by Grockle.

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Grockle
22/07/2022 12:14

Hmmm well he's not available unfortunately but there are rumours of some market news here...... coming soon.

No more info than that I'm afraid

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AGod
22/07/2022 12:20

Yeah.. we may be better off keeping bowlers fresh for Chelmsford, anyway, rather than flogging them into the ground for 90 overs today, anyway, who knows?

I've been really disappointed with this pitch, which has been as poor as the track for the Surrey game was excellent.

I had hoped that all the dry and relatively warm weather would mean that we would be able to produce something with good pace and carry, as for the Surrey game, again but it seems not.

Still, it's greatly to Kasay Aldridge's credit that he has managed to bowl well on two surfaces that have been at the opposite end of the spectrum, in terms of pace and bounce.

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AGod
22/07/2022 12:21

"market news"?

As in "transfer market" (albeit that there isn't one in cricket, really) rather than about Mrs Bigglesthrope's latest contract for marrows, I assume!?

I hope it's another incoming move, to go along with TKC

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Grizzers
22/07/2022 12:30

I may of course be wrong, but I suspect that’s the first time that Mrs Bigglesthrope’s marrows have ever been mentioned on any sports forum anywhere in the world AG.

That ranks right up there with the ‘spare tractor parts’ guy from India, which must have been well over a decade ago !

Quality posting. Brian Johnston would have definitely approved !

Grizzers

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AGod
22/07/2022 12:36

I believe we will close to within 12 points of hapless Warks, and with a game in hand.

Our next match looks tricky on paper, but then Warks are at the Oval next. We must hope that it isn't one of those absolute road pitches in Kennington, because suffice to say that you'd get pretty long odds against a draw at Chelmsford!! If it's not a road at the Oval? Warks will surely lose, and probably very badly.

The Somerset match at Edgbaston, which starts Monday, September 12, looks like a huge one in the relegation battle, to me..



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:22:12:43:45 by AGod.

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Grockle
22/07/2022 13:06

New signing thread with press release above this one

Andrew Umeed until end of 2023

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Grockle
22/07/2022 13:10

Information coming through that there is no real expectation of any kind of immediate start.... so draw is definitely on

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AGod
22/07/2022 13:12

Andrew Umeed is a former "Bear."

According to George Dobell he once scored the slowest CC ton ever.

He has been playing in the seconds. Had started well (with a ton) but seemed to have tailed off a bit but I imagine that Messrs Hurry and Kerr may have seen something that they like from a temperament point of view and, importantly, Umeed is actually a specialist opener, not a Ben Green or a Tom Lammonby shoe-horned into the role.

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Grockle
22/07/2022 13:59

2:35 start 50 overs. IF Somerset have declared

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That Bloke With The Dog
22/07/2022 14:13

Raining again here, 2 or 3 miles west of the ground.

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Des Platt
22/07/2022 14:14

Really sorry last day has been spoilt. Usually when I can’t make the last day of four, it guarantees an exciting finish and good weather.

Still enjoyed three days very much. Good company over the days with LOL and Tractor, good to renew acquaintance with Grockle and Farmer White and good to meet Grizzers and briefly WSM fan. ( It wasn’t the fact that it was brief that was good!). My Crewkerne living friend also thoroughly enjoyed it.

Pity about the pitch . Tedious session yesterday morning but great to see some of our batsmen in form. Impressed with Rew’s keeping ; only two byes and at least one was not his fault ; may even have gone for two, can’t remember. Had to make a point of looking at him which is always a good sign in a keeper.

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Grockle
22/07/2022 14:16

Putting covers back on run ups.

And now they are on everything else.... no start at 2:35, or 3:35 even..... this has to now be done and dusted





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:22:14:29:32 by Grockle.

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That Bloke With The Dog
22/07/2022 14:24

Stopped raining here.

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That Bloke With The Dog
22/07/2022 14:38

I agree 100% with Des about Rew's keeping. Completely unfussed, and you never noticed him once.

In fact, the whole team looked a really tight, professional outfit. I've mentioned a couple of times over the last few years that for all Abell's spaniel-like enthusiasm as captain, there did sometimes appear to be two teams out there, particularly when things were flat or slipping away. There was Abell geeing everyone up, and the players of his generation trying their best to respond; but there was also that line of good old boys behind the stumps - Davies, Hildreth, Tres, Trego - who had seen it all, knew the cause was hopeless, and just didn't seem to respond.

It's an awful thing to say, because there's some real heroes of mine among those four men, and the teams they played in had given us so much fun and success. But that line-up has finally been dismantled, and I liked what I saw the last three days. This is Abell's team now. Everyone has either grown up alongside him or after him, and he's their natural skipper.

Perhaps the future will be like Wenger's Arsenal, after he finally dismantled George Graham's notorious back four and replaced it with something naturally brighter.

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AGod
22/07/2022 14:47

Interesting thoughts, Bloke with canine, viz SCCC, but not at all sure about the Arsenal analogy - as I remember it, the wheels fell off once Wenger moved away from George Graham’s back four!

(For the avoidance of doubt I’m not suggesting that the absence of Hildreth and Davies will cause any wheels to come off for us, since those two have been part of a “wheels off,” top six for a few years now).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:22:15:11:54 by AGod.

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That Bloke With The Dog
22/07/2022 14:57

Well, by Wenger's 22nd year at Arsenal things did look a bit ropy, but he did bring them 17 trophies along the way.

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Shepton Paul 2
22/07/2022 15:04

Meanwhile… any chance of play? Just as well let George get his 100 now, no chance of a result.

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That Bloke With The Dog
22/07/2022 15:10

Abandoned - draw.

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AGod
22/07/2022 15:13

Oh well… avoids any prospect of any further bowling injuries (which we could ill afford) in what would probably have been a fruitless exercise anyway.

No more pitches like this one, please!!

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Shepton Paul 2
22/07/2022 15:13

No way! Really? Hardly any rain here in Wells today - would’ve been perfect seam-bowling conditions! Sad - I was looking forward to a good finish.

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AGod
22/07/2022 15:34

Comments on FB suggest parts of *Taunton* (nevermind Wells) have been dry all day!

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Grizzers
22/07/2022 15:44

Calling it off at 3.10 seemed premature. I wandered around & chatted to one of the ground staff, who said 30 mins needed to clear up ready for play.

It wasn’t raining then & it’s brighter now.

Don’t suppose it would have made much difference, but I’m not sure the umps. are sending a very positive message.

Such a shame as the game was so well set up.

Grizzers



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:22:15:45:34 by Grizzers.

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AGod
22/07/2022 15:52

Umps often not very keen to play.

Perhaps they consulted with Tom and with Adam Lyth and found that neither team was much interested in going out there for what would have been about 80 minutes of play, before shaking hands. I expect Bartlett would quite have liked to have got out there, though.

The rain means that George retains a 5-5 50-100 ratio, meaning he's converted 50% of his fifties into hundreds. With 12 more runs he would have been over 50% in conversion ratio, which would be incredible.

He's just got to get starts far more often than he has been able to, because his record of going on when he does get a start is extremely good.

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AGod
22/07/2022 17:35

Wonder if there’s any chance of Cove being released for Chelmsford?

He didn’t play the ODI the other day. He’s not playing today. The one on Sunday is a regular game, not day/night… and that’s the final ODI. He’s not required, so far as I know, for the T20s.

Leeds (Sunday’s venue) to Chelmsford doesn’t sound completely impossible. Finish in Leeds at 6.30 pm or so, then drive to Chelmsford?

If we suddenly had Cove, Peter and Josh all available for that one then that might go from a “not expecting much from this one,” game to something close to a “must win,” game given that we’d be at full-strength!?

Saying that - team selection would become tricky. If pitch a Bunsen we’d want VDM.. but then we’d also want all of those 3. The problem would be Gregory - doing well with the bat, but taking naff all with the ball (and a bowling average for the season of 60!)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:22:17:48:02 by AGod.

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Grockle
22/07/2022 19:04

Given its the last day of state schools today I'm not sure Yorkshire would have been all that keen of the motorways around Bristol & Brum so the earliest they could get away the better so I doubt they were all that up for a game that was going to be a draw in 99/100 scenarios if not all of them.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:22:19:10:19 by Grockle.

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dilly
22/07/2022 19:09

Lovely evening in Taunton now.
Funny old game that is so weather dependant and also allows its best players to be taken away even when the game is so crucial..
No doubt a decision on the number of relegations this season will be delayed to see where Yorkshire finish.

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Grockle
22/07/2022 19:18

Highly unlikely that a franchise county's position will have anything to do with where they feature in the new post review structure.

The 8 franchises have to be in the top section IF the franchise is the main consideration that everything else revolves around.

It's more a case of who the six the ECB management are willing to sacrifice on the wheel of their view of the future I think.

4 Midlands counties so they don't drag that middle England franchise audience away from Brum, Notts & Cardiff?

2 others?

The non urban SW county? The 1 not in Bristol?

One of the South Eastern ones? Probably one of the Londoners or the seaside one that hasn't got a money pit Test venue?

Assuming they want something North of the Penines?

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dilly
22/07/2022 22:18

So you don’t think there will be promotion and relegations this year? So it doesn’t matter at all then whether we win games or not for the rest of the season?

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Grockle
23/07/2022 10:59

It may not have much of a say in what goes on.

So probably not.

If it is important it would be nice to know in advance what the effect would be but don't hold your breath for that either

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AGod
23/07/2022 11:09

If they go for the reported 12-6 split, Dilly, then - if league positions are used to determine the new leagues - they only have two choices, really:

- Promote four and relegate two

- Promote two and abolish (after the fact) relegation.

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Grockle
23/07/2022 11:15

What process they decide on could be retrospective and be decided by where the franchise counties end up. There is absolutely no indication that we'll have any idea of what the deciding factors will be before the last stage of the CC in September

There's no guarantee that where you stand in in the Championship will even be decided by red ball prowess. It may all be determined by white ball considerations!

Perish the thought it would have anyrhing to do with performance

😁🤪👍





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:23:19:44:21 by Grockle.

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dilly
23/07/2022 16:29

So as soon as Warks have got above Kent and Northants (by hook or by crook) further games will be abandoned and it will be four down and two promoted. Job done. They’ll have to let Essex stay in the Premier Division but they are almost “one of us” anyway especially with that delightful Sir Alistair playing. A cunning plan, indeed.

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AGod
23/07/2022 17:39

Four down and two promoted would give 8 teams, not twelve. So not the number reportedly targeted by Strauss.

The ECB won’t be able to relegate more than the two that were expecting to go down anyway, since the ECB would have a 0.0% chance of winning the inevitable cases at the Court for Arbitration in Sport, if they tried to do that. Not being allowed to change the rules after the fact is a very basic legal premise! They could get away with promoting four and relegating two though, I believe, since the relegated two would have no obvious legal grounds for objection and the two extra promoted teams would hardly take legal action!

Equally, if the ECB are waiting for Warks to finish ahead of anyone apart from Gloucs? They might have a long wait. Warks looked execrable at Taunton, and they confirmed that impression by getting slaughtered by Kent, as well as by Somerset in that Taunton game. They look a very, very, very poor side.

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dilly
23/07/2022 18:10

Agod, you should get out more!

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AGod
23/07/2022 19:00

Spent the afternoon out in a pub garden, ta muchly.

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Grockle
23/07/2022 19:31

Whatever change they want has to be approved by the counties anyway so their job will be to get the votes for the change. They'll have 8 votes anyway. Is it a simple majority they need or a 2/3rds one?

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Grizzers
23/07/2022 20:11

Think it's minimum 12 Grockle, so yes 2/3.

Grizzers

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AGod
23/07/2022 20:36

I’m not so sure about that:

Lots of decisions are taken *not* by only the 18 counties but by a much bigger “voting cohort” that includes the Minor County Associations etc.

If it is just the 18 counties and they need 12 votes? They’ll just offer bribes and/or issue threats to get the votes they need*. Of course at certain clubs, cough, cough, they have former ECB employees in charge of casting the vote for their county anyway… I’ve yet to hear Mr Hollins disagree, in any respect, with anything the wonderful ECB have done… anyone else heard him do so?

* Of course, they may renege on any bribes offered … for example there has been zero confirmation as to whether any more bribes will be paid for the duration of the new Blundred deal.

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Mike TA1
23/07/2022 21:29

Actually AG it would have to be more bribery, on second thoughts, the ECB haven't any money left.

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AGod
23/07/2022 21:34

They have a current liquidity problem due to having blown their reserves on the franchise rubbish…. But they do have a promise of future revenues after allowing the appalling Harrison to negotiate another deal for that dross.

Their “threats,” would be - effectively - the opposite of bribes - namely that “Unless you agree to these changes, “”which are crucial for the future prosperity of our game,”” then the central ECB grant to counties will have to be drastically scaled back.”



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:23:21:44:06 by AGod.

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Grockle
24/07/2022 10:51

And if you agree to them your long term finances could be terminally curtailed... not all that much of a "threat".

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Loyal of Lhasa
29/07/2022 21:56

It's just over a week since I returned from what will probably be my only visit to the County Ground this year and about time I expressed the pleasure I derived from being on God's Holiest Acre. My only complaint is about the forecaster who brightly announced at 8.55 on Friday morning that it would be sunny in the west with only a small possibility of occasional showers. I saw no sunshine until crossing the Wiltshire frontier on my way back to London in late afternoon.
t
As ever it was a joy to be back at Taunton once more, surrounded by good people, some of whom I may offend by not mentioning their names; those I enjoyed conversation or banter with included Des Platt and his friend Tim, Tractor, Mike the Lense, Grockle, Farmer White and the only downside was that because of antibiotic treatment for a serious gum infection I was forbidden to consume any alcohol throughout my stay in Somerset. That must at least have saved me some money!

There was some good batting from Renshaw, Lammonby, Abell, Bartlett, Gregory and Aldridge, the latter also bowling extremely well. And our new man TK-C batted well in the first part of his innings, though the pre-lunch session on Thursday at the end of which he completed his century, was the least attractive of the match and seemed pointlessly turgid. A most intriguing fourth day was promised until that forecaster (why do they smile so much?) totally let us down.

The ground, with its miscellaneous muddle of architectural styles, retains all it charm and one benefit of Friday's rain was that it gave me time to revisit the museum, I suspect very few of our contributors have spent significant time there and have thus missed experiencing a rather special place. In some ways Gimblett's Hill is an improvement from its previous version; it is certainly more spacious though paradoxically that means there is less sitting space available. Others have commented on the large drop between the back row seats and the walkway below - and one fellow spectator suffered a very nasty fall early in the match. It's a nice little irony that a fall from the highest level to the one below could well qualify you to use the seats below reserved for the disabled. A handrail is called for.

On Monday, the day before the match, dire warnings were issued about only travelling if your journey was essential - and what could be more essential than travelling by train from Paddington to watch Somerset play cricket, with ticket and accommodation already reserved? Apologies were made by the engine driver that speeds would have to be reduced to 60mph towards the end of the journey - that seemed quite fast enough for me. Tuesday was quite hot, though 10 degrees lower than my family experienced in London. Tractor and I were sitting there in the heat and talking about what a joy it is to watch county cricket at Taunton, not knowing we were being spied upon. Great astonishmeant was expressed when we discovered a photograph of ourselves on the front page of Wednesday's Western Daily Press under the banner "Seeking Shade on Britain;s Hottest Day". There was no evidence of the joy we had talked of, just a couple of solemn gits staring blankly ahead. But at least I was able to return to my wife with evidence that when I make my occasional visits to Somerset I really AM watching cricket with a few blokes and not cavorting with a milkmaid in Middle Zoyland.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:30:07:44:04 by Loyal of Lhasa.

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Wickham
30/07/2022 09:18

I am sorry that, on this occasion, you weren’t able to cavort with any milkmaids from Middle Zoyland, LoL. Better luck next time.

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Bobstan
30/07/2022 10:25

I thought those places are called Middlezoy and Westonzoyland. But I lived in North Newton, and that's a world away, so what would I know?

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Loyal of Lhasa
30/07/2022 10:39

I think you must be right about those place names, Bobstan[b], but it matters not, given the evidence that I was not cavorting at either of them - or even muck-spreading in Muchelney.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

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Farmer White
30/11/2022 13:18

For the record:

Day 1 report: Abell takes the heat for Somerset

Link: [farmerwhite.co.uk]

Day 2 report: Advantage Somerset

Link: [farmerwhite.co.uk]

Day 3 report: A sideways look at the day - cricket through COVID eyes

Link: [farmerwhite.co.uk]

Final day report: No play. Rain.

Link: [farmerwhite.co.uk]

Farmer



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:11:30:18:53:14 by Farmer White.

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Grockle
30/11/2022 13:32

Thank you Farmer... I'm gradually getting the first days onto the frontpages as I get time so both our gaps are filled. Will do the same with this one in the next week or so.

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