irishrover
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Post by irishrover on Apr 26, 2021 22:18:10 GMT
Yes, convincing, but expected win for Somerset! Overton was impressive against Glo’shire, and seems to have made a very good start to the season. Gloucestershire struggling today, will do well to save the game at Hampshire. Really enjoy the streaming coverage, makes up for not being able to attend matches. Some impressive batting performances around the country, big hundred from Bedingham at Durham, and nice to see that Hameed, the ex Lancashire opener, who was heralded as the coming star a few years ago, has made something of a comeback with Notts. He has been a bit of a forgotten figure, is still young, but has had a nightmare couple of years. As he doesn’t seem to be a white ball batsman, it must be very difficult to iron out faults, then get match practice, when you don’t play from June to September with our system. I think we have opportunities at Test level this summer, if batsmen score consistently Despite their big names, Surrey lost heavily again, they seem have a collapse in them, and are prone to flop with both bat and ball. Yes - fun isn't it watching Surrey struggle? I think this is something that can unite all cricket fans!
I thought that was a terrific result for Glos and it is important in the wider context because I think you can say with confidence that they have played the best 3 sides in the divisions (on paper) in the first 3 games and come away with 2 wins and a draw. I think Glos fans are entitled to be excited about that. There's been precious little to shout about for a long time. The last half decent Championship team I remember was when I was still living in Bristol and was a member. That was over a decade ago and even then it was still a deeply flawed team. It was the one that had Kirby, Lewis (I think still), Gemal Hussein's (remember him?) breakthrough year and a batting lineup that was strong on paper but brittle in reality. The seamers nearly won promotion to CC1 but they messed up at the death and lost the decisive match at Bristol where the boundaries had been bought in to a ridiculous degree in order to advance the game and gain maximum bonus points. So it wasn't exactly a glorious triumph but at least they were competitive. Since then nothing interesting has happened at all in red ball cricket!
Somerset marmalising Leicester is a pretty routine result in comparison but it does get them clearly back on track. Surrey's struggles suggest that it will be 2 from Hants, Somerset and Glos to go through to 'stage 2' (if I've understood it correctly - have I?). I also enjoyed seeing Hameed score runs. I would love to see him use this to re-launch himself as a serious England prospect which he was always suppoed to be. I could go on for ages about the disagraceful way Lancs mismanaged his career - it is absolutely extraordinary that Paul Allott still has a job there. He is stealing a living from the game and has done immense damage to the grassroots game in this area and almost derailed Hameed's career. I have no time for him at all. Lancs rescued themselves with an 8/9th wicket partnership in the 1st innings to get their season back on track and then Parkinson destroyed Kent which was good to see. But Lancs are always overhyped and nearly always under deliver and I'm pretty certain they will do again. Speaking of Lancs - I played against Kyle Hogg on Saturday who plays as a batting only pro in club cricket now and is still bloody good!
Generally though this is not standard April cricket! Loads of runs around because the pitches are so dry. Far more bore draws than you would normally get at this time of year and I do wonder if the rule changes around points for a draw are making a difference. Glos seemed to drop anchor extremely early against Hants for example. I mean they were never really in the game after Day 1 so you can understand but, despite the exciting finish, it was 2 and a half attritional days cricket and that seems to have replicated itself in other places. Not absolutely sure that's what we want but I'll withold judgement till the weather gives us difference scenarios.
By the way, I hadn't head that story about Bob Barber but that is fascinating. I particularly like the idea that someone from Chorley was considered posher! There's a lot of hypocrisy up here. They like to pretend that their cricket is more egalitarian because of the strong league tradition and there is some truth in that in lots of ways. But you don't have to look very far into the closet to come across a lot of the usual snobbish skeletons rattling around back there. Lancs is currently completely in the pocket of Sedbergh School in Cumbria. They even took a Championship game there a couple of years ago (and I think maybe this year too) and it got written up in the press as this great event but in reality it was a disgrace. Lancs took a game out of the county when they didn't take a game to Blackpool or Southport and reduced the number of games played in Liverpool not to mention completely ignoring the large number of other grounds they could potentially play at in other large towns in the county. Lancs is not exactly short of population centres or high quality cricket grounds and they really stuck 2 fingers up to members, supporters and the local cricket community by doing that and it's just the tip of the iceberg.
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warehamgas
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Post by warehamgas on Apr 27, 2021 15:08:14 GMT
Irish, it’s always good to hear about your take on cricket in Lancashire esp with a club cricket perspective.
In football I always talk about the fine margins in a 90 minute game. The possibilities of changes in fortune that can rest on a chance missed or taken on a penalty saved or just creeping in or a bar hit before going up the other end and scoring an o.g. In cricket fortunes can change but over a longer time frame.somerset v Gloucestershire, very even until Gloucestershire won the Saturday morning session and then it switched. Hampshire v Gloucestershire similarly. Had Gloucestershire got that extra run to avoid the follow on then Hampshire would have been forced into a decision which in the end they never had to make. Hampshire might have had to set a target, would Gloucestershire go for it. They’ve done well so far but they haven’t had to chase a target against the clock. But they will be very happy with their start against the 3 best teams in that group on paper. You’re probably right about Gloucestershire never being able to win after day 1 but I bet Glamorgan thought that as well. On what was obviously a good batting pitch at Eastleigh Gloucestershire could, in certain circumstances, have created some indecision in Hampshire on day 3 over setting a target. It didn’t happen! Although Somerset did marmalise Leicestershire eventually on day 3, there were times on day 1 and the morning of day 2 when another wicket or two could have changed the match. After our top order failed again it wasn’t looking that good but as the lower order wagged again we got a 100 lead and did what we do well and blew their top order away togive the impression of an easy win which it was eventually. But again fine margins at times in a 4 day match.
Yes we can all smile at Surrey’s position. They’ve still got enough to be a top team, Burns, Pope etc should see them into the top two. They’ll probably save their best for the matches against Somerset, they usually do.
Re Lancashire, I knew something about the link with Serbergh through reading about it though not about Allott so much. It would be interesting to hear what he’s been so bad for grass roots cricket in Lancashire at some stage. I would find it interesting at least! All we know in Taunton is that he usually comes down here and moans about everything and everybody. We liken him to Angus Fraser at Middlesex or perhaps they just don’t like Somerset! Just comes across as very entitled and arrogant.
Yes I’m pleased to see Hameed’s resurgence at Nottinghamshire. Good for cricket and whilst I never subscribe to the idea of being a role model for young cricketers it’s seems good from many aspects, not least that after 2/3 lean years with dedication you can turn it around. His example should avoid the Mark Lathwell comparisons and is great to see.
The fourth round coming up will be good. Somerset v Middlesex at Taunton will be close, Middlesex blew Surrey away last time out and I think Robson seems in good form. But with Gloucestershire playing Leicestershire I bet they will be thinking this is a great chance to cement their place at the top of the table. I’ll look to see if Payne gets his place back, Leicestershire’s batting looks to be fairly solid with a capable middle order, so Gloucestershire might need him.
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Post by tenniscourtgas on Apr 27, 2021 19:03:45 GMT
Looking forward to the next round of matches this week, I see Roland Jones is back taking wickets for Middlesex, and taking wickets, but I would expect Somerset to come out on top there.
Still early in the competition, the weather may come into it at some stage, Surrey could have both Curran’s back from the IPL, but not sure if it will be too late by them, with quarantine etc.
Remember Allott as a player, he always seemed to be a petulant,,bowler, playing up to the grumpy fast bowler image.I read Mike Atherton’s autobiography, where he mentioned Allott as being part of a clique of senior players, who could make life difficult for young players, as they dominated the dressing room.
I also read a rather scathing comment he made about Hameed a year or two ago, during his struggles, which I didn’t like.
I went to see Gloucestershire in a one day match at Canterbury a few seasons ago,, a game that the Sky boys were covering. I was coming out of the Gents during the afternoon, as I was coming out, Allott and Mark Butcher were coming in.
I held the door for them as I left, Allott strode in, still talking, didn’t even acknowledge my presence or gesture, Mark Butcher was polite, and thanked me.
Somehow, it wasn’t a big surprise to me, minor episode as it was.
Lancashire in the 60s,seemed to be equally as notorious as Yorkshire for player sackings, disciplinary issues, committee squabbling.
My Grandad took me to cricket once a season during the school holidays, the first time this happened was when Gloucestershire were going for the title in 1959, they bowled Yorkshire out for 35 in the first session.
Tony Brown took 7-11, Brian Close and Dickie Bird were playing, but unfortunately not Freddie Trueman, as he was playing for England.
The year after, we went to see Lancashire at the County Ground, and I was excited to see Brian Statham, then the other premier fast bowler in the country.
My recollection is that the Gloucestershire seam attack bowled Lancashire out for about 120, or 130, boosted by Statham hitting about 30 in a last wicket partnership, including a huge six of either Allen or Mortimore into the pavilion.
When Gloucestershire batted, Statham ripped through them, I had never seen such a long run up, and he had had such a smooth action.
Graveney couldn’t cope with him, then the stumps were flying as we were soon 20 or 30 odd for five. At that time, Statham and Higgs must have been the best opening bowling partnerships in the country.
Later I was to live in the Rochdale area for years, and witnessed a couple of feeble Gloucestershire batting performances, especially in one day games, but not the famous match when Lancashire won in near darkness, and David Hughes took Mortimore apart!
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irishrover
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Post by irishrover on Apr 27, 2021 23:20:24 GMT
Looking forward to the next round of matches this week, I see Roland Jones is back taking wickets for Middlesex, and taking wickets, but I would expect Somerset to come out on top there. Still early in the competition, the weather may come into it at some stage, Surrey could have both Curran’s back from the IPL, but not sure if it will be too late by them, with quarantine etc. Remember Allott as a player, he always seemed to be a petulant,,bowler, playing up to the grumpy fast bowler image.I read Mike Atherton’s autobiography, where he mentioned Allott as being part of a clique of senior players, who could make life difficult for young players, as they dominated the dressing room. I also read a rather scathing comment he made about Hameed a year or two ago, during his struggles, which I didn’t like. I went to see Gloucestershire in a one day match at Canterbury a few seasons ago,, a game that the Sky boys were covering. I was coming out of the Gents during the afternoon, as I was coming out, Allott and Mark Butcher were coming in. I held the door for them as I left, Allott strode in, still talking, didn’t even acknowledge my presence or gesture, Mark Butcher was polite, and thanked me. Somehow, it wasn’t a big surprise to me, minor episode as it was. Lancashire in the 60s,seemed to be equally as notorious as Yorkshire for player sackings, disciplinary issues, committee squabbling. My Grandad took me to cricket once a season during the school holidays, the first time this happened was when Gloucestershire were going for the title in 1959, they bowled Yorkshire out for 35 in the first session. Tony Brown took 7-11, Brian Close and Dickie Bird were playing, but unfortunately not Freddie Trueman, as he was playing for England. The year after, we went to see Lancashire at the County Ground, and I was excited to see Brian Statham, then the other premier fast bowler in the country. My recollection is that the Gloucestershire seam attack bowled Lancashire out for about 120, or 130, boosted by Statham hitting about 30 in a last wicket partnership, including a huge six of either Allen or Mortimore into the pavilion. When Gloucestershire batted, Statham ripped through them, I had never seen such a long run up, and he had had such a smooth action. Graveney couldn’t cope with him, then the stumps were flying as we were soon 20 or 30 odd for five. At that time, Statham and Higgs must have been the best opening bowling partnerships in the country. Later I was to live in the Rochdale area for years, and witnessed a couple of feeble Gloucestershire batting performances, especially in one day games, but not the famous match when Lancashire won in near darkness, and David Hughes took Mortimore apart! Ah yes, the famous finish in the dark which put one day cricket 'on the map'! Or at least that's how they tell it up here. Funny club Lancs - I'm in no way a fan but they are my local side so if I want to watch county cricket then that is the option and it's normally better to watch when they are in the top division where it's competitive rather than Div 2 following one of their regular relegations where they tend to thrash everyone. There's definitely a big club aura about them. I find Lancs cricket people to be quite myopic and self-obsessed a lot of the time. They just don't seem to put their own club in much perspective and see Lancs as the centre of the cricket universe. Yorkshire is the same of course (so it's probably just a mirror effect really) but I find myself more forgiving of that because for a lot of the last 100 years it was! Lancs have normally been the great underachievers of the Championship. Constantly hyped and rarely delivering on it but they have a very high opinion of their history despite it actually being fairly mediocre, particularly post-war. In fairness the depth of the grassroots game up here is incredible, as is the history of it, and is something they are rightly proud of. But the County club itself has often been shambolic as you said. I also find Old Trafford to be quite a sterile place to watch county cricket. Obviously you're going to be rattling around in a venue like that but I've also watched a lot of games at Trent Bridge over the years and it's a much more pleasant experience with a lot more atmosphere. I love going to Southport and Liverpool but if I didn't love cricket I wouldn't bother going to OT and it's only just up the road from me.
Interesting you mention Brian Statham. Statham was a proper local Manc lad from Gorton who made his name playing for Denton West Cricket Club who I play against regularly. People at Denton West will often say that despite trading off his legend Lancs treated Statham really badly. He was living in real poverty in his old age by all accounts and Lancs did very little to help him out of it. It's a real sore point with the people that knew him. The general view is that they don't look after their ex-players in the way some of the other bigger counties do.
As for Allott and Sedbergh Wareham - I go on enough as it is! But arguably his entire post-playing career has been gifted by an old boys network. First into broadcasting now as the director of Lancs cricket and basically what he does is prop up that network. I can name many things (and many Lancs fans would point to incompetent squad decisions over the years) but what really has my back up currently is that Allott has pushed for the scrapping of what was called regional cricket. This was a key part of their junior set-up. So obviously Lancs is a massive county with many large cricket centres and it's very competitive for youngsters to get into Lancashire squads compared to most counties. They are one of the strongest junior development counties as they should be. The approach was always very egalitarian. You were picked for your area (Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Liverpool, Blackburn etc) and you were observed at nets by the Lancs coaches for that area and in the games against the other regions. If you did well then you were put forward to join the main Lancs squad in your age group and as they aged the squads became more solidified and harder to get into. My club prided ourselves on getting many of our Juniors into the Manchester squad and a few have gone onto play in the main Lancs Junior squads - a couple are now local pros and 1 has a genuine shot at being a County pro. Not to mention that many have gone on to play for our 1st team. This is a decent success story for a not particularly wealthy inner city club with lots of Juniors from relatively deprived backgrounds. It's the same system that has bought through the likes of Haseeb Hameed and Ajmal Shazad from relatively obscure clubs in the Bolton area and many others over the years (Kyle Hogg is one). Allott has scrapped this and has replaced it with a selection committee which will go round the top clubs and schools and pick from those. There will be some kind of scouting network in which promising young players are encouraged to move to the bigger clubs to get attention. They claim this will save money and be more efficient which is doubtful because the previous network was mainly run by volunteers and the games cost little to put on as they were paid for by the relevant Junior Leagues the players were representing. It's certainly not some signficant cost saving for the county.
What it is really about is that Allott is best mates with the people who run Sedbergh school and what they want is a)to be a kind of centre of excellence that all young Lancs cricketers are given scholarships to which they can then use to market the school b)for the Lancs squad they want nice middle class kids whose parents are willing and rich enough to pay the coaches for additional one-to-one tuition and won't need lifts arranging etc and c)they want to increase the visibility in trial matches of the private school system at the expense of the club system. It is basically freezing out a whole load of talented young players from serious consideration based on their background rather than their ability. So that's the main gripe currently but there are others. Let's just say the governance of Junior cricket has always been a bit problematic to say the least - look up 'Andy Hayhurst Scandal' on google if you haven't come across that before and want a flavour of the more extreme end of it.....
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Post by emperorsuperbus on Apr 28, 2021 20:27:21 GMT
Looking forward to the next round of matches this week, I see Roland Jones is back taking wickets for Middlesex, and taking wickets, but I would expect Somerset to come out on top there. Still early in the competition, the weather may come into it at some stage, Surrey could have both Curran’s back from the IPL, but not sure if it will be too late by them, with quarantine etc. Remember Allott as a player, he always seemed to be a petulant,,bowler, playing up to the grumpy fast bowler image.I read Mike Atherton’s autobiography, where he mentioned Allott as being part of a clique of senior players, who could make life difficult for young players, as they dominated the dressing room. I also read a rather scathing comment he made about Hameed a year or two ago, during his struggles, which I didn’t like. I went to see Gloucestershire in a one day match at Canterbury a few seasons ago,, a game that the Sky boys were covering. I was coming out of the Gents during the afternoon, as I was coming out, Allott and Mark Butcher were coming in. I held the door for them as I left, Allott strode in, still talking, didn’t even acknowledge my presence or gesture, Mark Butcher was polite, and thanked me. Somehow, it wasn’t a big surprise to me, minor episode as it was. Lancashire in the 60s,seemed to be equally as notorious as Yorkshire for player sackings, disciplinary issues, committee squabbling. My Grandad took me to cricket once a season during the school holidays, the first time this happened was when Gloucestershire were going for the title in 1959, they bowled Yorkshire out for 35 in the first session. Tony Brown took 7-11, Brian Close and Dickie Bird were playing, but unfortunately not Freddie Trueman, as he was playing for England. The year after, we went to see Lancashire at the County Ground, and I was excited to see Brian Statham, then the other premier fast bowler in the country. My recollection is that the Gloucestershire seam attack bowled Lancashire out for about 120, or 130, boosted by Statham hitting about 30 in a last wicket partnership, including a huge six of either Allen or Mortimore into the pavilion. When Gloucestershire batted, Statham ripped through them, I had never seen such a long run up, and he had had such a smooth action. Graveney couldn’t cope with him, then the stumps were flying as we were soon 20 or 30 odd for five. At that time, Statham and Higgs must have been the best opening bowling partnerships in the country. Later I was to live in the Rochdale area for years, and witnessed a couple of feeble Gloucestershire batting performances, especially in one day games, but not the famous match when Lancashire won in near darkness, and David Hughes took Mortimore apart! 9pm early September is pretty dark. |
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warehamgas
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Post by warehamgas on Apr 29, 2021 8:27:43 GMT
Irish, I was familiar with the Andy Hayhurst stuff when he was found guilty of fraud. Being a former Somerset captain it got a lot of publicity down in this area. As you say it showed poor overseeing from Lancashire CCC to allow it to happen for such a long time. But when you said the “Andy Hayhurst Scandal” I wasn’t sure if you were referring to the allegations when he left Somerset or the fraud. It wasn’t the happiest of partings when he left us!
I’ve always had a soft spot for Lancashire since the mid 60s when I would run around the County Ground before starting play and field balls for them as they practiced batting on the outfield. Jackie Bond was pleased enough to take my autograph book into the dressing room and get all the Lancashire players to sign it. This was in the days before they set up portable nets that could be moved and players would have to run after the ball. They thought it was better to let an 11/12 year old, me, be the mug!! But Lancashire players did say thank you, Kent and Surrey never said thanks!
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Post by tenniscourtgas on Apr 29, 2021 13:48:17 GMT
The Lancashire v Gloucestershire match I am talking about, was played in late July..
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irishrover
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Post by irishrover on Apr 30, 2021 11:53:16 GMT
Irish, I was familiar with the Andy Hayhurst stuff when he was found guilty of fraud. Being a former Somerset captain it got a lot of publicity down in this area. As you say it showed poor overseeing from Lancashire CCC to allow it to happen for such a long time. But when you said the “Andy Hayhurst Scandal” I wasn’t sure if you were referring to the allegations when he left Somerset or the fraud. It wasn’t the happiest of partings when he left us! I’ve always had a soft spot for Lancashire since the mid 60s when I would run around the County Ground before starting play and field balls for them as they practiced batting on the outfield. Jackie Bond was pleased enough to take my autograph book into the dressing room and get all the Lancashire players to sign it. This was in the days before they set up portable nets that could be moved and players would have to run after the ball. They thought it was better to let an 11/12 year old, me, be the mug!! But Lancashire players did say thank you, Kent and Surrey never said thanks! Ah what were the allegations when he left Somerset? I don't recall that. Believe it or not Andy Hayhurst was one of my favourite Somerset players when I was gorwing up but that fraud ripped off a number of people I know, bankrupted one cricket club and left a lot of parents, kids and young professionals in the lurch. It was quite nasty.
Jack Bond was by all accounts an absolutely lovely man and had a big role in the growth of the One Day game in this country with the way he lead that late 60/early 70s Lancs team including the famous finish in the dark in 1971 TennisCourtGas referenced.
Local counties not going well in the current round of games and I see Hameed was victim of cricket's great levelling tendencies with a 2nd ball duck after back to back 100s!
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Post by lostinspace on Apr 30, 2021 16:21:11 GMT
yet again Somerset struggling to get a real start in their innings, currently 4 down and a big hill to climb, Lammonby struggling to get any consistency so far, so with an unpredictable weather weekend they may scrape a draw on this one!! Happened to notice they the other lot!! are doing nicely at 99-1..... 20 minutes later ..... a quick return to the ongoing scores and WOW!!! "the other lot" lose 4 wickets for 4 runs, so not so comfy after all!!... el collapso!!!  |
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warehamgas
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Post by warehamgas on Apr 30, 2021 19:32:08 GMT
Yes lostinspace, we lost those early wickets again. This match is very similar to the match at Lords. Let’s hope for a repeat result! Our batting is letting us down but a great 5th wicket partnership has helped us to partly recover. Tomorrow morning very important, avoid the follow on, keep the deficit down to manageable proportions and hope our bowlers do better. And we may have a chance on Sunday to draw at least. I think this is Goldsworthy’s first Championship match and if so he’s doing very well. Perhaps he’ll have a Lammonby-style first season.
I didn’t really understand why Abell won the toss and put them in, I wonder if he knows our batting weaknesses and is trying to protect them, just a thought. Yes Gloucestershire collapsed with those wickets though they made a bit of a recovery though it will still be a fight to avoid the follow on.
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Post by lostinspace on May 1, 2021 18:38:41 GMT
Somerset bowlers again beat up the Middlesex second innings to give them a chance of victory, but it will be very hard earned if they do, 4 down and still a hundred to get, patience is required, but Finn is their enemy i fear on day 4!! and the glums!! will have it all to do to get a positive in their game
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irishrover
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Post by irishrover on May 2, 2021 11:16:40 GMT
Somerset bowlers again beat up the Middlesex second innings to give them a chance of victory, but it will be very hard earned if they do, 4 down and still a hundred to get, patience is required, but Finn is their enemy i fear on day 4!! and the glums!! will have it all to do to get a positive in their game Looks like the 2nd tight finish between Somerset and Middlesex of the season. Currently leaning towards being the same result as the 1st one. Somerset have been pretty good at winning these tight games over the last few seasons. The batting depth really helps.
Glos have another 4th day battle for the draw by the look of it.
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warehamgas
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Post by warehamgas on May 2, 2021 14:38:48 GMT
Somerset win by 4 wickets, Gloucestershire still hanging on.
The Somerset result was an almost mirror image f the first match with Middlesex. Big first innings deficit, bowlers bowl out Middlesex cheaply and Somerset get home by 4 wickets. It was a very good win which puts us top of the table. If Gloucestershire hold on to draw they will go top, lose and Somerset remain there. It’s all boiling up to a good mini League I think.
Some observations, which may be accurate or may not be:
Somerset will win more matches than they lose but whether they will be in the top two to battle out later on for the Championship remains to be seen. I think we may just miss out. We can’t keep going to the well of our bowlers and relying on them. The batsmen need to step up, 4 matches in and not a century yet I think. I think our batting is too fragile and whilst we bat very deep and can score all the way down I feel we are just a top class batsman short of being a Championship winning team. I hope I’m wrong and the guts and determination that all the players bring to every match is something to be proud of. 11/11 were English qualified players and 9/11 came through our academy. Fantastic.
Why haven’t the powers that be recognised this and done something to remedy it? I’d suggest the answer is that with no relegation this season they see it as a “free-hit” and that they won’t be punished by relegation if it doesn’t work. Had the two division structure been in place I’m sure they would have got a top quality batsman in place to at least cement their division 1 place. This year, as last, gives us a chance to blood young batsmen and see if they are good enough. If they’re not nothing will be lost but if they are good enough then Somerset will have gained a great deal.
Having been in division 1 where every match and every session is a real fight and where the teams are very competitive has made Somerset a very determined team, having been in a real relegation tussle a few years ago and competing for the Championship in other seasons has made them a competive team who never accept that they’ve lost until they have. They have learnt patience, the art of bowling consistent and probably the ability not to worry too much when they lose and come back more determined in the next match. It would have been helpful in both second innings against Middlesex and in the second half of the Leicestershire match.
I hope in the few days before the next match Tom Banton can get some batting practice against straight balls. I don’t know what the stats are but he is out LBW or bowled far too often if he is as good as people say he is. Since the RL Final against Hampshire in 2019 when he gave a match winning innings he hasn’t moved on and his red ball stats are dismal. He has a great eye and he really should not be being out as often to straight balls which Kyle Abbott knows better than most. In cricket parlance, he has been found out I’m afraid , now he has to show something different to show what a classy batsman he is. I hope he does it.
Gloucestershire, whatever the result today, have had a very good start. They’ve shown themselves to be determined, able to withstand the best some very good counties have thrown at them and could be top tonight if they draw. They’ve done the opposite of Somerset and gone down the overseas player route, understandably perhaps after last season. It’s worked for them with Worrall and Brathwait both doing well. They look as if they will hang on to the draw and be top which will be a good result having been second best in their last two matches.
All the groups look quite close and all counties have had good results so the margins between failure and success may well be even narrower this year. Durham seem to have had some good results and should have beaten Essex. Glamorgan last week were poor to lose after posting over 400, this week they thrashed Kent and look good. Leicester look to have discovered a competitive team, unlucky last time against Somerset they might yet beat Gloucestershire. Lancashire and Yorkshire are building up to what looks like a good Roses match being first and second in their league. Yorkshire squeezed a win against Sussex last time out and this Northamptonshire match is following the same pattern. If they win Yorkshire will have got two wins from close finishes and they look a good team. Dom Bess esp is batting well and seems to have fitted into their system.
The fine weather this year has resulted in lots of high scoring, good quality matches which have usually gone the distant. Usually it’s a bowlers paradise in April, it hasn’t been this year. Bowlers will have bowled lots of overs compared to usual so counties will need to monitor fitness.
Anyway on to the Ageas next for Somerset, a ground we don’t do that well at and I’m still having nightmares about our 2019 match there when we could have secured the Championship until Kyle Abbott came along!
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Post by absent on May 2, 2021 17:17:20 GMT
Hanging on? Second best?  Gloucestershire win by four wickets. Which does not tell the whole story... I don't think they know when they're beaten. |
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warehamgas
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Post by warehamgas on May 2, 2021 17:33:39 GMT
Hanging on? Second best? Gloucestershire win by four wickets. Which does not tell the whole story... I don't think they know when they're beaten. Well they were hanging on, Cockbain and Lace stayed firm with slowish run rate but Higgins threw the bat. As I said before they will be pleased, top of the table and they are a very determined batting team. Long way to go but boiling up to be an exciting season. Come on Somerset! 😉 ps. Leicestershire must be seriously jarred off with a first innings lead of 140 and a score of well over 400. |
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Post by tenniscourtgas on May 2, 2021 18:04:45 GMT
What a run chase that was!
Was hoping for a draw at one stage, when we subsided to 50-3!
Great to win without any big contribution from the top three, but Leicestershire had a bit of back luck, being one bowler down due to injury in the Gloucestershire second innings.
Cockbain and Lace batted very sensibility, then started to accelerate when about 120 was needed from the last 20 overs, or so.
Cockbain is usually out of the red ball side, but really effective in the white ball game, might not have been playing, but for Van Buuren’s passport problems.
Weather forecast for the start of the next round of matches on Thursday, isn’t great.
Hope Leicester can recover quickly, and cause Surrey a few problems!
Gloucestershire v Somerset on May 20 should be a great match, fans allowed in for this one!
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 313
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Post by jackthegas on May 3, 2021 18:36:46 GMT
The groundsmen have been struggling to prepare decent pitches at New Road for a few years. They have been very tough to take wickets on during the later stages of matches. As a result a lot of grass has been left on the pitch and that means the result has been decided by the toss. I basically does all sorts on day 1 then nothing there after. I think the extra points for a draw mean Worcester have decided to take the grass off. I think this is a consequence of the floods followed by difficult growing conditions in spring. I know there is talk of looking at hybrid pitches. Anyway, my point is, I would not get too excited by the runs Hameed scored at Worcester. I also think his technique means he has a game that is suited to slow, low pitches. Signs of encouragement in the last round too, but I still think he has a long way to go.
Great chase by Gloucester against Leicester, but I think Leicester were pretty naive. AdmIrable to try and push the game a long like that, but given that they were a bowler down, I was surprised they weren’t a little more circumspect.
I saw a bit of the Somerset game as well. I have said this before, but I really rate Tom Helm. He impresses me every time I see him bowl. Good action, does a bit off the seam, gets good carry and quick enough. Probably hasn’t kicked in as much as I thought he would, but Middlesex have been really poorly managed over the last 5 years haven’t they? A number of players haven’t kicked on and a number of highly regarded players have moved on (mainly to Glos!). To an outsider, Angus Fraser looks like another one who gets a free ride due to his ex-media status.
I also think Overton must be pretty close to an England call up. The standout fast bowler in first class cricket over the last 18 months for my money.
Also a good finish in the Yorkshire v Northants game. Wayne Parnell (a player who I thought Worcester were mad to release, regardless of his Kolpak status, available all year, quick, left handed, good in all formats and a good bat) turned down a number of singles towards the end of the game. Wonder if he regrets that today? Good to see Simon Kerrigan back having an impact for northants.
Anyone got a view on the England restructuring? From an outsiders perspective, it feels like some of the senior players have been gunning for Ed Smith (Broad in particular) for a while. Sounds like a personality thing which is a shame. I can see some logic for losing the chairman of selectors position, it seems a bit antiquated in the 21st century, but does it give the captains and coach a bit too much power? It might make players think twice about discussing mental and technical issues with the head coach? I would be wary if I was Root. Smith was the obvious fall guy should England lose in Australia this winter. Given that the coach hasn’t been in situ for long, the fall guys now are either Root or Giles.
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warehamgas
Predictions League
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,421
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Post by warehamgas on May 4, 2021 13:12:45 GMT
Leicester thought they were going to win but wereunable to make it happen. Being a bowler short and I keep on about this but being in Division 2 and at the bottom most seasons recently they will have little experience of tight matches where it matters. They will have been playing cricket where, tbh, it doesn’t matter if they won or lost, there would be no consequences either way. Gloucestershire appear to have learn from their free-hit last season in the BWT when they were poor and have developed a side who are very determined. They also have Bracey and Brathwait, two quality batsmen this season which they didn’t last.
When you say Overton jack, I’m presuming you mean Craig not Jamie. Yes He’s had a good start following on from an excellent time last year. I’m sure he’ll be considered but and this is linked to the Ed Smith point you made I’m not sure going into that England “bubble” is good for anyone. Dom Bess last winter, numerous bowlers before seem to suffer in it. It seems to me that if Broad or Anderson don’t get their way they sulk and they have become pretty powerful as a pair and whilst being great fast bowlers it seems to be things are done on their terms. Perhaps Ed Smith is a victim of player power. Root is a great player but is still learning as a captain and the handling of Bess last winter, as told by Bess, was not a ringing endorsement of Roots captaincy skills. I’m not part of the bubble but I’m pretty sure Broad and Anderson are the strongest personalities in it and Root will largely go along with them. And that can’t be healthy. Perhaps the “Chairman of Selectors” is a slight anachronism nowadays but leaving selection up to the coach and captain is very limited whoever they are for all the reasons you’ve identified and some others. I don’t think the captain or coach will see enough red ball cricket live to be able to see who are the best county players. Of course the averages will help but they won’t tell the whole story. Are the regional selectors still in place or is it solely the captain and the coach? Too much player-power and it will not end well.
I hope Coverton does get selected but on Australian pitches, tbh, I’m not sure he’s a match winner unless he can discover an extra yard of pace. Now Jamie could be that match winner but his fitness concerns seems to be an obstacle to his consistency. I’m not sure a Surrey environment is the right one for him. He was a big fish in a small pond at Somerset, now he’s just another fast bowler among many at Surrey and they will not have our patience re injuries when they happen. I would be happy to be proved wrong.
Yes, Tom Helm is one of those underrated county players but I’ve felt that about Toby R-J and Murtagh. With Steve Finn still around Middlesex have one of the best attacks going yet Middlesex have underperformed continually over the past 5 years and I’m glad someone else feels the way I do about Angus Fraser. Interesting after what irish was saying about Allott but I’ve always seen Fraser in the same light esp over the past 4 years when Middlesex have been largely inept. They won a Championship in ‘16 on a contrived declaration which did not allow the possibility of a draw and then got relegated with him shouting from the hip about the Somerset pitch in ‘17 when they were easily beaten before performing ineptly in Division 2 since. Losing twice this season to Somerset from winning positions won’t have made his opinion a of us any sweeter! Perhaps it’s a Somerset thing but Middlesex have performed badly under his tenure imo.
The current format continues to excite and cause real interest. Whether long term it will be better than the 2 league system remains to be seen. An evening up perhaps, Somerset have been fairly ordinary tbh and as the coach said “we’ve won matches in an ugly way.....” At least we won them. Essex struggling strangely bit I’ll stick with my tip of Hampshire and Surrey seem to be coming good. This group seems to be particularly strong with Leicester the weakest, according to the table, yet they have played some very good cricket and in different circumstances should have beaten us and Gloucestershire. Looking forward to the next round, although slightly worried about Somerset v Hampshire and Abbott at the Ageas.
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warehamgas
Predictions League
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,421
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Post by warehamgas on May 6, 2021 13:50:05 GMT
Quite a morning at the Ageas. Hampshire 79 all out. Apart from the mix up with a run out and Barker last man out when he was throwing the bat not much the batsmen could do, the bowlers bowled very well esp Overton and Gregory. But it’s only a start, Abbott and Abbas to bowl next. The coverage is really excellent and the commentators good. What’s the odds on the match being over in 3 days? Not confident of us doing much better but even a 50 run advantage might be good.
After me building Hampshire up this season as the team to beat they’ve had a dreadful week. Long may it continue!
Come on Somerset!
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Post by lostinspace on May 6, 2021 15:48:16 GMT
Quite a morning at the Ageas. Hampshire 79 all out. Apart from the mix up with a run out and Barker last man out when he was throwing the bat not much the batsmen could do, the bowlers bowled very well esp Overton and Gregory. But it’s only a start, Abbott and Abbas to bowl next. The coverage is really excellent and the commentators good. What’s the odds on the match being over in 3 days? Not confident of us doing much better but even a 50 run advantage might be good. After me building Hampshire up this season as the team to beat they’ve had a dreadful week. Long may it continue! Come on Somerset! weather wise friday should be the day to make hay, if somerset can stay in tonight with 4 wickets still in the hut, then a bit of big guns friday could make it their game, as Saturday especially land Sunday look very patchy |
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