Beating Essex would be a morale-raising finale!
By Geoff Leonard
September 21 2008
The county championship season comes to a conclusion this week with our home game against Essex. Although it’s fair to say the weather has not helped us on a few occasions, if we fail to win this game it is likely to be the very first season during which we have failed to win a single championship game - not an enviable record.
I really hope we can manage a win. It’s unlikely to remove us from the foot of the table, but it would provide a decent end to the season before we usher in a new regime with the arrival of John Bracewell. It would be good for the current squad if they can believe they are good enough to beat a decent side – and Essex are certainly that.
Why have things gone so badly this season, particularly in the 4-day game? Some critics have noted that whilst we have a decent batting line-up, our bowling attack is below par once Lewis & Kirby have bowled out. Whereas this is certainly true, it shouldn’t mask the fact that once again the batting has failed on many occasions – especially in the all-important first innings.
Marcus North enjoyed a good season, averaging 50 from 12 matches, and Taylor (45) and Snell (43) did pretty well, too, though the latter’s form dipped somewhat after an excellent start. Marshall was disappointing; less than a thousand runs at an average of 32 is nowhere near good enough. He will be looking for an improvement next season, as will Gidman (20) who suffered from injuries and restlessness. Porterfield & Kadeer turned into a reasonable opening partnership towards the end of the season, though Kadeer missed games through injury. They both scored 600 + runs, averaging 32 and 34 respectively, which, though not good, is not too bad!
There is no question that we missed Spearman after his dreadful injury. He wasn’t in great form when it happened but might well have pulled it round in time. The all-rounders, Hardinges & Brown, did well with the bat, with their limited opportunities, and the latter took some cheap wickets recently which has shot him to the top of our bowling averages, and quite likely to remain there. Of the others, Lewis & Kirby were the obvious stand-outs, though they took only 68 wickets between them. Both missed many games through injury. Ireland took 20 wickets but at 35 each was a bit expensive, as was the case with Hardinges (10 at 36) and North (13 at 45). The other spinners were all very expensive, particularly Banerjee (6 at 75), and although Dawson only joined with a handful of games left, he will be looking to advance on 1 wicket in 71 overs!
The limited overs season did see some better results (though not in the 20/20) and I’ll write about them on another occasion. In the meantime here's to a successful end to the season and a game played without rain!
Another 12 overs and 59 runs conceded by Dawson without a wicket. While it's early days and hasn't been ideal conditions for spin bowling this summer I'm already wondering whether he will turn out to be an improvement on Ian Fisher. I guess only time will tell.
Personally, I wouldn't have returned to the past but, given that he is arriving, at least Bracewell knows that he can't do worse than this season. I suspect even Lydney Bob would have to agree with that
I've been following much of the game on-line via BBC Essex and their commentators have been scathing of him and his tactics. Mind you, Brown's bowling also came in for severe criticism - one chap said it was the worst he'd seen in 50-years of watching cricket, after one over where every ball was bowled wide of either leg or off stump.
Clearly there is talent around and Porterfield did show some fight in his first innings and Snell also played some decent shots. Newcomer Woodman looked quite solid for a few overs and here's hoping Kadeer takes the opportunity to end his season on a high note - there's absolutely no reason why he should not.