Somerset
Metro 50 - The Rise of the 'Yellow Sleeves'
By Grockle
July 30 2023
As the franchise White Elephant Clown Show car starts to move into August we assess our county prospects in the now Metro Bank 50 Over competition which starts at the same time but with 9 less members of the first team squad after the Welsh version decided that they had made a mistake and Ben Green would be a useful addition seeing as they had lost Ollie Robiinson I believe. So he joins the list of players off to do their second job and we have a new captain for 2023 in Sean Dickson. What is the rest of the squad like I hear you say....
The 'MetroBank 50' over competition then... Domestic cricket emasculated by its own governing body while operating a highly funded 'alternative' parallel tournament with mainstream media coverage etc etc etc.... makes you wonder what 'MetroBank' are getting out of this doesn't it? It has other names from those who don't see the value of it and it is unbalanced because of the varying numbers of first team regulars that are taken from each county (not taking into account the leeching of others on little notice the moment injuries happen at franchises). We lose 9 along with Warwickshire, Durham lose 8 but Glos only lose 2. The great Surrey lose the most with 12 - though they aren't in our side of the draw for this.
The greatest loss to this year's team is that the Welsh have nicked Ben Green the skipper for the last two years after an excellent T20 campaign which finally got shot of the 'Ben who?' phrases from BBC commentators outside the West Country. So Sean Dickson will take over as skipper with James Rew taking his first responsibility in the first team as VC.
The squad does not hold follow through internationals like last year when Pete Siddle and Matt Renshaw made appearances. Pete went home injured early this season (he wouldn't have featured anyway), Matt Henry finished at the end of July and Ish Sodhi was only employed for the last stages of the T20 outing (and very well he did too). However we have brought one in, in the form of Ireland's Curtis Campher a 24 year old allrounder who became the first Irish cricketer to take a hat trick in a T20 International. He has a batting average of 34 and 24 ODI wickets in his 30 games. He's only here for the first 5 matches but we'll see how he goes.
Alongside him we have players who have been involved all season in first team cricket in Dickson, Rew, Bartlett, Aldridge, Davey and Bashir all of who have had a taste of working in redball and/or white ball cricket this year and three of them have already had a taste of winning silverware in 2023.
It is good to see Josh Davey back in the mix after a disappointing injury hit T20 series and it would be nice to think he is now at full fitness and can do what he does after carrying a niggle for quite a few matches in 2023. Kasey is coming on with the bat and will be keen to get back to the level of bowling he showed at the end of last season but which has been lacking in this. Shoaib has made a good start to a Somerset career and must be anticipating being the prime spin option in this team from the beginning. George must be hoping for a consistent run in this side to allow him to consollidate his position in that batting front end of the Somerset future. James Rew, our 1000 run in a season leading domestic first class bat must be hoping to show that he can be a white ball player as well alongside his captain - who won us a trophy with his best battiing display of the season just 3 weeks ago.
Jack Brooks will add his experience to this in what will probably be his 'swansong' at Taunton in his last season. He has stepped up in games before this but will look to be a major part of this side if they go any kind of distance in the 50 over. Lewis Goldsworthy will also be hoping to be a significant player in this side - as he has been in the past. After a niggling rib injury through 2023 which has made him 'sort of fit' for a considerable part of the season, (able to bat but not able to bowl) he would most probably like to have more than just a watching brief in these games and we all hope that is the case because the stability he brings to the batting will go alongside his more than capable second spin option with Bashir.
Alongside this core are the players who will be looking at this tournament as a move forward for them towards a more first team career with the county. Andy Umeed has been put forward as an opener for the first XI in red ball but has yet to have a long spell doing that job or opening for the county in any format. This could be the tournament for him to work with Dickson and set that base for the middle order to build on. He has a reputation as a 'sticky' rather than a flamboyant bat - which seems to be a role the county needs but has yet to use in the form of Mr Umeed.
Younger players looking to move up the pecking order are abundant in the rest of the squad. George Thomas has already been recognised as a strong batting prospect, he was injured last year at this time but is stronger, bigger and an exciting option for this side with international experience after a trip to Pakistan at the end of 2022. His bowling will also add to the options available to his skipper. Ned Leonard is another bowler who has had injury blight his opportunities since he started to make first team appearances last year. His present injury scare seems to be over and he is bowling today in the Devon game at Bovey Tracey so it must be assumed he is ready to take his place in the opening attack for the Metro Games. Alfie Ogborne the left arm bowler has had a taste of first team work this year as a member of the bowling attack against Hampshire at Taunton in July - he performed very well and must be looking to this set of matches to push him forward as a relevant member of future first team squads - especially as we have lost both internationals for the late season CC1 games in September. Josh Thomas the 18 year old slow left arm bowler was part of this tournament last year and will be hoping to make people take notice this year in what should be a more balanced side - another double spin option with Bashir perhaps? He is joined by first timer JT Langridge the 17 year old left arm seamer who has been performing well in the seconds this year and must see this as an obvious step up to the next level of a professional cricketer's career.
That is the squad looking to give other sides a fight in the Group B section of the tournament starting with two friendlies this week against Devon today and Cornwall (in Truro on Tuesday). Then it is the first game v Warwickshire at Taunton on Friday 4 August. A hard one to start with but against a side who have lost the same number of first team regulars as we have ((we aren't including Ish who has also been picked up but was no longer one of ours effectively).
The first side should have a fairly experienced batting line-up though the bowling aspect may be a little more 'old and new'. One would expect the front half to be made up of Dickson plus a new opener (Umeed) with Bartlett, Goldsworthy and Rew making up the other members of the top 5. However, in the Devon match at the moment the 'Tom Banton' role has been taken by George Thomas with Sean moving down the order (possibly a decision made based on experiences in both the previous red and white ball games this year?). He would have been in the top 6 but there is logic in using him to get the most out of the first few overs so why not. The bowling all rounder in that case will probably be Curtis (for the first 5) or Kasey at number 7 with Josh Davey at 8 is fully fit (with whichever one is not at 7 there or Josh Thomas available if not) Shoaib will be the spin option at 9 with Brooks at 10 and either Ned, Alfie or JT at 11 - one would probably expect Ned to start if he is fully fit and Alfie if not. JT will be there mostly for experience one would assume but who know? Sonny Baker made an impression in his first year (it is a shame he is not available for 2023) so good luck to JT if he gets a game.
Are we contenders for this? Well we have been weakened to a greater extent probably than many others but we have a strong Academy and nearly everyone here has played first team cricket before. In the first franchise season we had 7 debutants in our first 50 over game. The batting looks as strong as it has in anything else - Only Banton really put it together in the Blast - Will came off occasionally and there isn't the explosive TKC like player here but we have batting 'chops', though probably not 'white ball' in nature predominently.
The bowling does not have Overton and Henry like fireworks and we may miss that early new ball onslaught that made our T20 campaign so effective but our older bowlers are no slouches and it is not their first rodeo. The younger bowlers have a lot to play for and have all shown some promise in different sitiuations while Shoaib really should not be underestimated by anyone.
Will we make the second phase? It is possible but I don't see us running away with this. Solid good first game performances could be the difference, wins created morale and morale can do anything. It is certainly worth a watch and fans should be looking forward to this far more than driving up the motorway into Wales to watch the alternative. The Vitality Blast win will probably mean good home crowds and that can have a massive effect.
'Yellowsleeves'? Have you seen our one day cup strip? At least there aren't two different shirts. But give them time. Good luck guys - hope it brings everyone satisfaction because if it does that for you then the supporting public will be more than happy.
POST SCRIPT
The Devon game is happening today. We bowled first in a 27 over reduced game. Brooks was tight but took no wickets, George Thomas took 2 for 39 in his 6 Shoaib took one in the 4 he bowled but went for 39 and JT took the other one in his 4 but went for 33. Lewis (only 2) and Ned (5) also bowled as Devon posted 192 in their 27.
In reply we are 119 for 3 after 14.1 overs with Umeed out second ball, Goldsworthy out 3rd and Geroge Thomas out for 27 at 89 for 3. Not a great start but Thomas held it together with his VC Rew who is presently 74 not out with the skipper Dickson on 10. So George opened with Andy and he is the one who has set the base with that bat we have called Rew!! Interesting times at Taunton with more interesting comments to come.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2023:08:04:12:47:38 by Grockle.
George Thomas started with 27 opening with Andy Umeed who was out for a 2nd ball duck. George went 3rd down
Lewis bowled 2 and got 3 runs before departing
George Bartlett 1 and Sean Dixon 24 are looking to take it home at the moment in a 27 over shortened game
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:07:30:17:46:37 by Grockle.
Leaving 34 off just over 7 overs for Josh Thomas and George Bartlett to get.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Got to feel a bit for Andrew Umeed, 5 balls in 2 games. No idea of the circumstances in either innings but can’t do confidence much good.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:08:01:16:44:12 by Grockle.
As for Andrew Umeed? Nothing in his past has suggested that white ball would be his forte but this 50 over stuff is really his only chance of a run in the team, sadly. And two low scores won't have helped even those chances.
Am I allowed to stay here if I say that I quite like the shirt? I think Mondrian may have designed it for us rather than Picasso.
There is now a YouTube stream, and it’s also on the Match Centre, but the wind is buffetting the camera so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone prone to seasickness.
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LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2023:08:01:16:01:11 by Loyal of Lhasa.
Less re-assuring, really, to see Campher heavily outscoring Goldsworthy and Bartlett.
Well done, obviously, to CC though.
Looks like Leonard and Langridge going well with the ball, which is good.
Campher successful with the ball, too.
In days gone by, I'd wonder whether he might get a longer deal with SCCC but it's essentially impossible now since he would count as an official overseas player .. so it's impossible unless Andy Hurry really wants to use an official overseas designation on him, which would seem very unlikely.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:08:01:17:10:40 by AGod.
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LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
In Lamb's case, as you imply, the word "inexplicable," could probably be added to the adjective "catastrophic," along with the noun "decline."
It means if he does not play on the 5th he is available for Sunday.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:08:03:13:25:04 by Grockle.
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