Somerset Rush Their Fences

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:09:08:50:39 by Grockle.

There would appear to be rather more competition for bowling places than batting ones?

Craig Overton seems to have not completed overs in a match the other day - do we know if he's fit?

I understand that Jamie is, once again, sadly hors de combat, but will, apparently, start bowling again next week.

To be honest, I'm inclined to think that, in early season conditions, the extra height/pace of Overtons is less of a must-have anyway. Unless we contrive to produce an absolute pudding of a pitch in early April (which has happened before, see Warks game several years ago where Hildreth scored about 4,000), then a very "traditional," English seam attack with the likes of LG, Jack Brooks and the (admittedly non English), Josh Davey and Tim Gronewald, would seem to be the way to go anyway?

I'd imagine the batting is liable to more or less pick itself, though I should prefer to see Eddie Byrom in the top three but, to judge from Mr Hurry's comments at the press conference (which I've just watched), it sound like we may instead be getting Hildreth there "because James wants to play for England, and England have vacancies up there."
Whilst AH did add "obviously it must be right for the club too," I was left with the distinct impression that Hildreth at three is what will happen.

If it's a juicy, early season type track, then I'm far from convinced that Trescothick (of little foot movement), Azhar (with very few, I would imagine, games under his belt this early in an English season) and James (with an aggressive mind-set and a better attacking game than defensive one) represent the ideal triumvirate. I'd rather have rather more of a blocker ( I know Eddie can do more than simply block, but I'm talking about temperament rather than technique) in there.

I assume we're going to be ultra-conservative in terms of trying to keep the pitch dry, so could even be a no-spinner selection, possibly?

Thoughts on any of the above? Thoughts on likely team selection?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:03:11:53:58 by Grockle.

That must be one of your longest periods of hibernation, AGod, and it's good to have you back, dispensing some sensible opinions, with most of which I agree. I am very optimistic about Bartlett's career and the "new" Byrom is a revelation. Picking the top six could become quite interesting were a miracle to occur and Hildreth to take his rightful place in the Test side. Even more interesting if Trescothick is struggling.

This is always such an exciting time of the year and, given that I have no intention of dying before Somerset wins the CC, you will have me around at least until September.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Missed the intensity AG. Welcome back. At least the top eleven CC1 side does not pick itself for everyone. Even without everyone being fit. It's suggested that Cove will be OK but Jove won't start the first game.

Thanks, both.

I trust "strong and stable," winters were had by all..

Much reassured that "The Hundred means The Hundred".

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Yes, that is indeed a collective weight off many minds, I'd imagine.

However, one might have cause for at least a smidgen of concern that the details about the future plan seem so sketchy. I understand that, as yet, there are no players, sponsors, or mechanism for selecting players in place. Nor are there any ferries.....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:03:19:52:14 by AGod.

But it will definitely start on 29th March, sorry, 12th April...

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Happy New Season AG, Somerset to bat first...

Much talk about which of our young guns will fill what spots in the batting order. I’m always surprised that the one who already has a first class ton and a test match fifty seldom seems to come in to the reckoning.

I think that they have already made a decision to start with Trescothick, although I would have started with Green or Banton at the top of the order.
I think it will be a top heavy batting line-up.
Ali
Trescothick
Hildreth
Bartlett
Abell
Byrom
Davies
Gregory
Davey
Brooks
Groendswald/or Craig if fit.

Five seamers including Abell

I think that that will prove about right, Nellie.

I do think there is a heavy conversation to be had however if Marcus goes early in Somerset's 1st innings.

In 2018, by my reckoning, Trescothick made a score of 50 or more every 3.6 times he went to the wicket. Only Renshaw, every 2.8 times, and Hildreth, every 2.9 times, scored 50 plus more frequently. The next best were Azhar and Abell, each scoring 50 plus every 4.3 visits. The best of the youngsters was Byrom with two scores of over 50 in 15 starts.

I don't have stats for the frequency of scores under say, 10 or 20, which is of course the other side of that equation.

Farmer

Quote:

nelliec
I think that they have already made a decision to start with Trescothick, although I would have started with Green or Banton at the top of the order.
I think it will be a top heavy batting line-up.
Ali
Trescothick
Hildreth
Bartlett
Abell
Byrom
Davies
Gregory
Davey
Brooks
Groendswald/or Craig if fit.

Five seamers including Abell

Can't see Jack being left out. Brooks has confused things, he'll be useful mind, but no Morkel.

But how many of the big scores were in the second innings batting Farmer?

My concern is losing an early wicket in the first innings of a game - where the batting points exist and where the game starts for the batting unit.

I may be mis-remembering but my impression was that Marcus went early more times, especially at the start of the season/when we batted first.

I may be out and I still see the man as a batting asset but as he insists on opening he has to open and that means being there to form a base for the innings, especially first up.

If that isn't happening then his place has to be discussed and options considered early given the form of the competition and the importance of getting off to a good start in April.

Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr has named the following 13-man squad: Tom Abell (c), Azhar Ali, Jack Brooks, Eddie Byrom, Josh Davey, Steve Davies, Lewis Gregory, Tim Groenewald, James Hildreth, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Marcus Trescothick and Paul van Meekeren.

Kent have named the following squad: Heino Kuhn (c), Daniel Bell-Drummond, Alex Blake, Mitchell Claydon, Zak Crawley, Sean Dickson, Fred Klaassen, Matt Milnes, Harry Podmore, Matt Renshaw, Adam Riley, Ollie Robinson and Darren Stevens.

13 squad announced, as predicted above except Leach for Bartlett, and Van Meekeren included. So will Leach be left out? Weather expected to improve over the weekend

Kent opening batsman Sean Dickson, who was injured in their opening match against Loughborough, has passed a fitness test and will bolster a batting line-up minus captain Sam Billings and vice-captain Joe Denley, both away (although not playing) at the IPL.

Trescothick scores of 50 or over in 2018:

100 1st inns v Lancashire at Old Trafford
71 2nd inns v Worcestershire at Worcestershire
95 1st inns v Essex at Taunton
50 2nd inns v Hampshire at Southampton
71 1st inns v Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge

5 in 18 inns. Compared with Hildreth 9 in 26 inns (24 complete).

Perhaps he should just play away matches ... (tic)

Farmer

You may very well be right Farmer - when he stays in he stays in. Hope he does that a lot. I wish he'd move down the order as I've said many times before but that is not going to happen so he has to stand and score.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:04:16:34:53 by Grockle.

Not sure they will risk Cove.

Well it was the more definite Overton pick but we'll see in the morning.

Looking forward to seeing some people there tomorrow. Here's to a winning start.

I am only there until 12.30, I am taking my car in for a service, unfortunately the agent is in Bridgwater.

The Ondajee stands will be closed again, a shame as the wicket is closer to that side. And a shame because they have all winter to fix the problem.

What problem?

Would rate the chances of play tomorrow as virtually nil. Heavy rain most of the evening and a rubbish forecast for the whole day.

Starting the season with a jinx? Ok, my prediction - it will be a dustbowl (tic)

inspection at 11.30. Looking brighter in area.

No doubt it will be an uncontested toss so Somerset will bat first

Covers are partly off, inspection as stated at 11:30. Met half the team popping into Taunton in training gear at 10:30 so little hope of play before midday.

Dark grey clouds over everywhere else but the ground is quite bright and dry. There doesn't feel like there is rain in the air but there are indications that rain is on its way today.

Richard Illingworth is one of the umpires and part of the ground is supposed to be 'more than damp' so don't plan to watch any cricket any time soon.

Welcome to the 2019 County Cricket season everyone.

April showers, who'd have thought.

Home sides Notts batting and Hants will when their game gets underway.

Sussex 0-1, Derbs 0-2

How many wickets will fall today?

Two wickets in the first three balls for Chris Rushworth after Derbyshire chose to bat!

11:30 inspection happening now with all the covers on the pitch now so it isn't looking wonderful. Highly doubtful of cricket to be honest as the weather is closing in.

Good luck to everybody for 2019 - both players, members and supporters.

Sadly, It is now too much for me to get to and spend a day at Taunton, so I shall have to content myself with keeping up to date via other means.

So many things I will miss, none more so than the 'Old Rogues' whose pessimism was a real tonic, even on a good day.

Enjoy.

Sorry to hear that Clarence. The summer isn't the same without the live stuff and I hope you can get to some.

As you say, the ironic wit of the place is a joy for anyone who appreciates the one liner from the natural comic in the cheap seats.

Not many of them here today though... the drizzle has turned into persistent rain and I for one can't see it stopping. This day will be abandoned I would assume sooner rather than later.

Sorry to hear that you are unlikely to attend much cricket, Clarence Parker. We have often responded to each other's posts over the sixteen years since I first discovered this site, but sadly I am not sure that we have ever actually met, unless we have both been more expert than intended in appearing incognito.

So enjoy the season in the best way you can - the ball-by-ball commentary is a great treat, but does rather depend on play taking place. Very frustrating so far this season!"

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Side as published but not confirmed because the 'toss' hasn't been confirmed yet

Trescothick, Ali, Hildreth, Abell, Byrom, Davies, Gregory, Overton C, Davey, Leach, Brooks

Groenewald is 12th man at the moment





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:05:13:02:55 by Grockle.

So abandoned for the day at 2:00. Not surprising to be honest.

If that is the batting order, Byrom ahead of Davies. Not sure how many overs Leach will get

Reflection on the current wicket situation across the divide:

4 in 2 games for Division 1
16 in 3 games for Division 2

This seems to reinforce Grockle's argument about not wanting to drop down this season, looking at the standard of batting there. Hopefully, Somerset's score will be more like the Division 1 average when they get in

There was a very interesting discussion at lunchtime on Radio FiveLive Sports Extra about the coming season and the future of county cricket, in which Agnew had some very forthright and rather alarming things to say. The issues of the differences between first and second division cricket were given quite an airing and I recommend fellow contributors to listen to the recording if it is accessible.

There was a discussion in the press box among some names in cricket journalism in the same subject where one opinion was pretty much that some Div 2 counties are on distinnctly borrowed time and a 14 county setup was pretty inevitable.

That wouldn't work with the planned setup for 2020. But other discussions I've been party to were talking sbout the 12 counties who had viability. Again, that isn't the plan given a 10 county CC1.

I'm also assuming that some the counties they are including in their fsvoured few are deeply in debt but have 'stadiums'.

It's all getting a bit of a mess with no one seeming to have a future CC vision.

On paper at least, Somerset have drawn the short straw today. The home match with Kent should be a strong candidate for the `win` column, as they are without Matt Henry, last season`s championship leading wicket-taker with 75, and captain Sam Billings and vice-captain Joe Denley (both current east of Suez).

So we really need to get on the field against them, especially as they have been away from Division One for a while.

Hi gang - still alive at 76 and still hoping for the best result ever over the season - sad to hear CP an often PM poster not so good and I guess some others not able to attend so much but that is life. I think we have a great squad but I am a tad concerned with our openers.. proven wrong I hope in the fullness of time !

Inspection 11am.
Why play cricket when you can stare at an empty cricket field.
No sign of any cricketers, no boundary rope, no expectation of any urgency.
Sun out now.
T20 or an ODI with sky in attendance & a big crowd they'd be starting on time no question.

Umppires are on the field but it does not look like we are starting at 11:00. The umps are looking at areas around the front of the CA and checking 'sqeltchyness'

Further inspection at 12pm. According to Anthony Gibson umpires are concerned about a damp patch on in some new turf put down for the installation of the new floodlights, although he does seem to have deleted the tweet for some reason.

Not surprised by that at all!!!!
The only good thing I suppose is that with us 99% likely to bat first it will give the wicket a bit more time to dry through.

Probably an early lunch and a 1 start me thinks?

There may be a problem in terms of the pitch not being fit quickly enough and there are rumours that the umpires have contacted the ECB for permission to play on a slightly smaller than normal pitch to negate the issue.

Not sure whether that will be OK. It seems it is the area that has been re-turfed after the trucks brought in the Botham Stand pylons for the floodlight.

They are checking it now - possible early lunch if we can get play at all. Sun is out but none of the players have been seen yet and there is little urgency from the ground staff so who the hell knows.

Quote:

nelliec
Probably an early lunch and a 1 start me thinks?

That would be the sensible thing to do.

Players are out on the pitch now so there must be some movement towards a start time. One of the issues at Taunton is that the press can't hear the announcements to the spectators - there is no intercom in the press box and no windows to open to hear the outside broadcasts!!

Start at 1:10 on a probable full size pitch. Simon measured the distance so it seems within the boundary.

Leach is out. Timmy G in I assume.

1:21 - and my assumption was wrong, we have added a batsman in the shape of George Bartlett





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:06:13:23:00 by Grockle.

We are having a toss... Sorry they went out to the middle to decide not to have a toss. Somerset are batting first.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:06:12:43:13 by Grockle.

88 overs in the day for those who record these things.

So here we go.... welcome to 2019 one and all!!

George instead of Tim/Jack according to BBC.

Azhar making the lion's share of the runs in the first 8 overs. Outscoring his partner by a factor of 5

Sentence deleted, as it was unduly optimistic - and that will never do.

It's so good to have real cricket at last.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:06:13:43:32 by Loyal of Lhasa.

Marcus bowled by Podmore for 10. Good ball 30 for 1. He seemed to be driving well unfortunately he got inside one. And in comes our new number 3 Mr Hildreth. Big LBW shout ball one.

Podmore has certainly looked more of a handful than Stevens has. Though he has been the tighter of the two bowlers.

Kent now believe that Ali has edged to slip. Azhar did not walk and the umpires seem to have decided that it did not carry.





Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:06:14:05:41 by Grockle.

Too many starts and then out. 100 with 4 down is not good at home to be honest as a first innings total

Keep it on the ground Steve!!

130 for 5

140 for 5 @ Tea

Anything over 200 would be ok, very green strip. Is the free WiFi not working?

Keep calm and drink tea. We beat Worcs and Yorks at home early last season with 200ish scores

It is always debatable what a good score is until both sides have batted BUT we must be planning for a desirable total over 200 before we lose our first 5 surely. 150 minimum I would have thought. Bonus points have to be a target in our first innings if we are to win close fought Championships.

Bartlett has gone for 6 LBW. 200 is looking quite a way away at the moment.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:06:16:05:25 by Grockle.

Lewis drives for 4 and then drives into the slips hands off an outside edge. Whoops

And then Tom tries to pull out of a pull/hook and doesn't...so he goes for 49. Took an age to get to the fielder.

145 for 8..... 200 beyond reach I would suggest if we insist on losing 3 for 10 after Tea





Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:06:16:28:59 by Grockle.

Brooksey off the mark with a rampant four nonchalantly driven through the covers





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:06:16:41:07 by Grockle.

And that's your lot at 171. 31 for 5 after Tea. Hmmmmm.

Let's see how Matt deals with this pitch.... and hope he doesn't.

The same score as Durham and lower than Derbs and Sussex. Let's make the Kent total the lowest first innings of the round

Nice touch I hadn't noticed is that all the Somerset players have black armbands on for John Harris I would assume

Lewis opening from the Pavilion with a maiden. Brooks opening from the River. First objective = get Dickson or Crawley. Second objective = neutralise Renshaw

History is made as the lights go on at Taunton!! Only 30% at the moment.

Feeling a bit light headed here.

Yesterday my grandson (3) asked for his bedroom lights to be kept on "because they keep my eyes warm". Does that work for those of you at the ground this evening?

Sat here in my mankini, toasty.

Crawley goes and Podmore comes in as the nightwatchman but 71 for 1 is looking strong.

The boundary is very very small all the way around - I hadn't realised until I went out to Gimblett's that is was quite a way in on that side as well. It is effectively a women's T20 boundary around the place.

Bitter wind but many stalwarts watching this day out. We would have been off for light by now at any other time in the county's history.

Second day of the match but the first day of play photos.



This is the first ball of the match and first ball of the county championship to Marcus Trescothick.



Azhar Ali hitting four runs, like several batsmen he made a start but didn't go on to get a large score.



Marcus Trescothick bowled by Harry Podmore, he did get to double figures (just).



Azhar Ali playing a defensive shot to a ball from Matt Milnes getting an edge to Sean Dickson.



Eddie Byrom hitting his only four runs, one of four batsmen not getting double figures. (not counting the not out batsman)



Steve Davies hitting one of his three four runs.



Tom Abell top scored but hit this ball from Mitchell Claydon to Matt Milnes when he was on 49.



This ball getting through Craig Overton's defence luckily missing the stumps.



Josh Davey getting himself in a bit of a tangle with this short ball, he decided not to go through with the shot.



Josh Davey got strangled down the leg side and was caught by wicketkeeper Ollie Robson off the bowling of Mitchell Claydon.



Jack Brooks first county championship runs for Somerset,



A different background on this photo of Sean Dickson scoring four runs.
Not very warm today I was trying to find a warmer part of the ground to take photos.

Well without the lights I don't think we would have taken two wickets, I believe we would have been off the ground because of bad light.

Well, the candle held out at both ends, the midnight oil was in plentiful supply and the muse was particularly helpful because I was not in a position to start this report until Saturday night turned into Sunday morning.

Here is the link to the home page on my website for anyone who finds the font there easier. It will be the top article until the second day report, muse permitting, pushes it down to second:

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

And the report is now on the front page as well linked into the Grockles thread menu

Somerset rush their fences

Farmer



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:07:11:10:20 by Grockle.

Yes, FW, Jack Brooks's MO is, pretty much always, to pitch the ball right up, in the hope of finding any movement that might be on offer. For this reason, he's often expensive, but he tends to have a very good strike-rate.

I didn't get to see anything of yesterday but, more often than not, if the ball is repeatedly going past the outside edge, there is a case to be made for pitching the ball up a smidgen further - simple geometry, really. That being the case, perhaps JackB wasn't alone in getting things ever so slightly wrong, albeit that he erred slightly in the other direction to the others?

Anyway, it's eminently logical to assume that 99% of teams bowl at least a little better on bowling day two of the season than they do on bowling day one, 99% of the time. For Jack that might mean pulling his length back by perhaps 1/4 of a yard and for the others, possibly, the reverse.

Therefore, we may climb back into this contest today. Until proven otherwise, however, it seems very apparent that I'd rather be in Kent's overnight position, than ours.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:07:08:42:03 by AGod.

Here we go for Day 3(2)

Dickson facing with Renshaw at the other end. Gregory Opening from the Pavilion.

Discussion about whether the umpires wanted the lights on or not. We've gone without.

A couple of supporters left yesterday when the lights were switched on at 30% because of the glare which was not what some are used to mid afternoon in Taunton in April. There might be a surge in the purchase of sunshades for the evening matches.

The floodlights are the only ones of this type in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment (though it seems Essex are going for the same setup) and there may be some adjustment required by spectators because they are bloody bright.

There was comment yesterday that players are looking to practice under them because the adjustment for high balls is also required - some catches were spilled at the opening cerempny for them last Sunday it seems. One would imagine we will work under them and then smack the ball into the stratosphere for the opposition to cope with once we have the light levels sussed.

Josh Davey is opening from the River, a difference from yesterday when it was Jack Brooks I think.

I don't think LG's tongue was entirely in his cheek when, the other day, he suggested that we'd see an increase in dropped catches at Taunton in T20 this year, due to the lights.

Josh seems to like these overcast conditions and he sends Dickson back to the hutch in quick time. Unfortunately Renshaw has just hit his first boundary and we need to see the back of him as Kent move towards 100

The greatness of the Somerset bowling attack is you feel any of them could take wickets at any moment. Step up... Josh Davey

And then Lewis Gregory!! Goodbye Matt nice of you to visit.

Brooks is trying the Pavilion end this morning after coming in from the River yesterday afternoon. But Kent seems to have consolidated their position and stabalised after a dodgy first hour.

A pretty decisive ball takes out Kuhn's middle stump and Craig Overton goes on a long victory lap. Excellent just before the 150.

Blake tries to cut a Gregory ball that isn't there to do anything but be dragged on and guess what? He drags it on! 160 for 6

Our score is still at least 30 runs too low

Marcus shows that he is still one of the best slip fielders in the game. Excellent reflexes from the 43 year old to take out Bell Drummond with a catch above his head which came at speed. 166 for 7 - no lead yet.

Welcome back. Lead of 1 3 wickets needed.

And Jack sends Robinson back after being talked into taking a wicket by the box. The old 'He'll never take a wicket' strategy. 197 for 9.

All out for 209 as Tom gets the last man Milne. 38 in front. Better than some may have thought last night. Game on people. Need a better second dig by the men with the willow and this could be an interesting Monday.

Key period of the game now. I'm not offering any predictions, apart from what may happen to my fingernails.

And that's one gone

And it's Marcus and it was played a long way from his body. Where do we go from here? Or am I asking that question too soon?

2 for 7... OOeeerrr!

It is simply an exercise in survival out there at the moment. There is little expectation of a surge of runs to turn this into a competitive game. The expectation is that a wicket WILL come pretty soon and batsmen are simply trying to stay out there for as long as possible.

Taking the game by the scruff of the neck is not happening people and no one is coming over the horizon to save the county from present indications.

Here's one for the rules people then;

The light gets poor at Taunton as happened yesterday. The umpires request the lights be turned on.

1) do they take a light meter reading at that moment to identify what level of light they are identifying as poor?

The lights are switched on. At Taunton now the staff can decide how much light is provided, 30%, 50%, 80% or full lighting. BUT only at Taunton, elsewhere the lights are on or off.


2) Do the umpires identify what percentage of lighting should be provided and do they note that along with the light meter reading if they make one?


This morning the lights were asked for by the umpires.


3) Are the lights put on at the same meter reading as the night before?

4) Is the amount of light provided supposed to be the same percentage as the request the day before?


5) if the umpires requested the light percentage to be increased, should they record this and make their demand specific?

6) Do the umpires have to request that the lights be switched off again and does this happen once the meter readings go higher than they were when they were requested in the first place?

All this taking into account that Somerset are the only ground where this applies?

Are there rules for this at all? Knotty little issue isn't it?

Hopeless!

Our batting has for a few years been irresponsible, fragile and inconsistent. Anyone who knows the difference between silly mid off and a leg bye can see that apart from it would seem those at the club.

Hurry has done nothing to strengthen the batting since he returned, thinking that a bunch of youngsters who have earned their spurs in the Academy are ready and able to plug the big gaps. Well they aren't, and on current form which I can't see improving much, we look a Div 2 county.

In the past, we have relied too much on one or two batsmen scoring big occasionally on a Taunton featherbed pitch, and if that doesn't happen we are in the doo doo.

If we survive in Div 1 for next year that will be a big and unexpected achievement.

No more to be said at the moment.

A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.

And, does the ball swing more under the lights?

If one is of the opinion it is heat and humidity that (amongst other conditions) cause the ball to swing I suspect the Taunton lights will have less of an effect than floodlights elsewhere as the LED lights give out far less heat.

….No more to be said at the moment.


Oh no Tom!!! Say it isn't so!!

It's not great by any means but it is only the third day of the season so maybe many will look for change but not relegate us just yet.

Silly shot from Tom. 90 for 5.

George in an early position to do something special.

At least only one team goes down this season, but hopefully we'll be fighting it out at the top end of the table and not the bottom.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:07:17:36:50 by Mike K.

100 up with 20 overs left in the day.

Spirited defence from Davies has ended. He plays on to Claydon for 39 and we are 103 for 6.


Don't put too many plans in place for a day's cricket tomorrow unless Lewis and the tail have something to say in this.

Turned on the stream and fist ball Davies plays on
Any news for yesterday's Q&A?

It's tonight I think Scrumper. No one has mentioned anything today that I've talked to. And the indication is that they would if it had been had. Not a happy set of people about today.

Nelson for Claydon. Lewis goes for 7 and we are 111 for 7. He simply played inside it.

And the 111th post is about losing a wicket at 111. You just can't make it up can you?

All adding up to a thoroughly disappointing first outing of the season, I'm afraid.

Outplayed thus far and defeat looking highly probable.

Tom - we don't really know that Mr Hurry genuinely thinks anything of the sort, nor do we know whether he's been trying to find new batsmen. The fact that he hasn't found any neither equates to the proposition that he must not have tried nor to the idea that he must be complacently thinking that what we've got is great (it isn't and I would tend to believe that he knows that).

One thing that was reported last year was that Mr Hurry did try to sign A N Cook away from Essex when he quit England. I cannot, of course, say the story was definitely true, but if it was true then it rather suggests that Mr Hurry is acutely aware that the top-order batting, at least, needs to be a lot better.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:07:18:13:08 by AGod.

I could check back to see if we got the 'hopeless' post last year. I doubt we did, possibly didn't hear from Tom for most of the CC1 part of the season as we were winning

We probably got it the year before I think we've been relegation fodder for about the last 5 years in his view.

It's predictable.

Do you think the comments about Andy H are anything but a complaining poster finding someone to complain about AG?

He complained about the opening partnership last week. He was asked for a positive suggestion of an alternative. He provided nothing.

I would suggest that until and unless Mr Seymour indulges in debate about the moans he has we should treat him like we did the guy from Surrey last year.

Let him post, Ignore if he does not respond, leave him to the one partially predictable comment a week or so and get on with the season.

Eventually he will take one of three paths. He'll start backing up his comments. He will stop posting or he'll start attacking people for having alternative views and I'll ban him.

All three options are fine by me.

Craig and George take us over 150. Which is a bit of a surprise but this is presently a partnership of 49 so can't complain in the context of this game and especially our part in it.

Yes, these two salvaging self-respect, for now.

The question will be can they firstly see out the day and then come back and build on it tomorrow so that we progress from salvaging self-respect to being in with a real chance of winning (albeit that the draw is also a possibility if we add quite a few more runs)

Well the bowlers need to add 100 or more runs to give themselves something to bowl at. Our poor score in the first innings has increased the pressure. Somerset wanted a Renshaw batting moment this afternoon, but for the opposition he only made 5. And Cook only scored 8 with Essex struggling at the moment.

So Tom, if you were Mr Hurry who would you have found to bat for us? Remember we are not a test county with a big cheque book whilst at the same time must not let players drift away. No more to be said at the moment

I'd be very happy to see it but I doubt it. If the conditions are like this morning and with only Josh and Jack B to come you would have to say that anything more than 50 above this would be very welcome but not expected. Stevens will like the morning and application has not been very obvious in our players - though Craig has looked probably more solid than some (he hasn't tried to knock the cover off it yet).

George could do with time at the crease and these two have looked in far less trouble at the end of today - with the odd shaky moment.

And the lights are requested for the last over of the day!!





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:07:18:50:31 by Grockle.

I never attack people for having alternative views, but the reverse is definitely not the case.

We never made a move to sign Clarke of Worcester who went to Notts and scored a hundred a couple of days ago, AGod.

A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.

171 for 7 a lead of 133 as George drives to the boundary.

Well done George and Craig. We need half a day of more tomorrow or it may not be enough.

It may not be enough anyway but it's a bit better than it was.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:07:19:08:24 by Grockle.

Well done, Craig Overton for showing the resolution and discipline that those that are primarily employed for their batting failed (George apart) to show.

If, as still seems more likely than not to me, Kent go on to win this match, then the most obvious difference in the match is liable to be the fact that Kent made a decent start in their first innings, and we made a decent start in neither innings.

I'm not convinced with the whole "bat Hildreth at three because England have vacancy," line of thinking. Andy Hurry added that "we'd only do it it was right for us," but the very obvious question is this:

If it's "right for us now," why had it never previously been so deemed i.e. is there anything at all that has changed at Somerset to justify the change or is this nothing more than a product of the England situation?

Another 30 runs or so could make for an interesting finish tomorrow.

Quote:

Tom Seymour
I never attack people for having alternative views, but the reverse is definitely not the case.
We never made a move to sign Clarke of Worcester who went to Notts and scored a hundred a couple of days ago, AGod.

Ohh you do Tom we all know it and see it. You've done it this season.

I'm not attacking you. I'm just telling you and others how it is going to be this year. Don't like it? Don't post.

Do you know we didn't make a move? Was it likely he was going to go there anyway which is sometimes the case. Was it reported that we did not? I'm simply asking because I can't remember it being discussed at the time.

If we are as 'hopeless' as you say don't we need half a dozen new batsmen?

There is one point to be made here though. Who was the last specialist batsmen we did bring in from out of county before Nick Compton?





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:07:19:04:09 by Grockle.

Do you know we didn't make a move? Was it likely he was going to go there anyway which is sometimes the case. Was it reported that we did not? I'm simply asking because I can't remember it being discussed at the time. (Reported from a Press Box regular - ask around)

If we are as 'hopeless' as you say don't we need half a dozen new batsmen? (2 or 3 will do)

There is one point to be made here though. Who was the last specialist batsmen we did bring in from out of county before Nick Compton? [b](We signed Adam Hose, but then the clowns cocked up and let him go

A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:07:21:49:09 by Grockle.

Not sure I recall, Grockle, though I don't think that Nick was the last person to be recruited from without as a batsman - I think Nick was already here when Tom Cooper came here? Obviously he came from out of country rather than merely out of county but, as you know, he was never the official overseas signing, so I think he counts. I know Tom bowled a little off-spin but I think it would be stretching a point to argue that he didn't count as a specialist batsman (put it this way, we certainly didn't sign him for his bowling, I wouldn't think!).

Contrary to what one correspondent told us, I think we can feel pretty darn confident that Mr Hurry realises that there are issues with our batting, so I do suspect that we will see some recruitment from without in the not too distant future i.e this winter.

At the moment I think we're in a strange place - we have on staff all of the following who are or have been top three batsmen for a significant part of their careers:

Trescothick
Azhar
Tom Abell
Eddie Byrom
George Bartlett

Yet three of these men have found themselves batting at, what, 4, 5 and 7 in this match, whilst Hildreth bats at three.

I'm not at all convinced that a batsman of Eddie's temperament is ideal down the order at 5, as opposed to up in the top three. As a predominantly back-foot player, I've always rather felt that Tom's technique is better suited to batting in the top 3 than at 5 (where he batted last year). Obviously, Tom is up to four for this one. Personally, whilst I don't think we'll see it happen, I'd have no problems seeing both of Eddie B and Tom bat in our top three. That would leave Hildreth where he's made the vast majority of his runs. Obviously, the elephant in the room would be Mr T.

How many of the winter England touring squad came from non-test hosting counties? I'm not sure Clarke would have improved his selection chances by coming here.

On that subject, who will be our no 3 when Hildreth finally gets the nod?

Day three of the match against Kent, Photos



Daniel Bell-Drummond just managed to get the bottom of the bat on the ball otherwise he would have been bowled.



Heino Kuhn cleaned bowled by Craig Overton.



He then went on a celebratory run, that is far better than shouting in the batsman's face.



Alex Blake also cleaned bowled this time by Lewis Gregory.



Marcus Trescothick out lbw to Darren Stevens, the photo gives the impression he was bowled he wasn't.



Maybe the ball was moving around a bit for the ball to take the edge of James Hildreth's bat playing a defensive shot, he was caught by Ollie Robinson off the bowling of Darren Stevens.



Another defensive this time it was Eddie Byrom who was caught by Ollie Robinson the bowler was Matt Milnes



Craig Overton (four runs) partnership is sixty with George Bartlett, it shows what can to done if you play without taking too many risks.

We need these two to stay in in the morning.

I wonder if Joe Clarke has improved his Test selection chances by moving to Trent Bridge. Four Nottinghamshire batsmen have been awarded Test caps amongst the 90 players to debut this century. Between them they have played 27 Tests; two fewer than Tim Robinson, with 29 caps and two more than Chris Broad, with 25,who both played in the 1980s.

Of the four Nottinghamshire Test batsmen of the 21st century one, Samit Patel, was picked more as a spinner who could bat than primarily for his batting, another, Alex Hales, earned his place during England's interminable hunt for an Andrew Strauss replacement at the top of the order on the back of considerable success as an ODI opener. Usman Afzal is a handy name to remember for a Sporcle quiz. The fourth is James Taylor, who may have proved to be the real deal, but thanks to a fairly rare cardiac condition he shares with a few boxers of my acquaintance (canine, not WBO) his Test career was over just as he was starting to make an impression.

Meanwhile Nottinghamshire have been casting their net around the counties to recruit batsmen. Many have trod the path to Trent Bridge, Somerset's Matt Wood and Neil Edwards among them. Few have had much success. Will it be amy different for Joe Clarke? Maybe. Certainly Notts have been on a right old recruitment drive in the last nine months or so - Derbyshire's Ben Slater and Northamptonshire's Ben Duckett join him in a batting line up of imports - only four of the side currently playing Yorkshire are home bred, none of them in the top six. They've had a good start to the season. Add James Patterson to the mix next week and Somerset will have to be a whole lot better than they've been against Kent.

Tom Cooper and Adam Hose were both recruited AFTER Nick not before him guys. And Tom wasn't domestic really.

I checked in the Press Box as you suggested. Seemed to have been a certainty that he was going to Notts so little point in only going through the motions.

No inclination to discuss the rest Tom. I'll decide on your level of aggression. I don't particularly need to explain myself to you. You are on borrowed time and unless your posting behaviour hits requirements I'll treat you as a semi troll. One person thanked me for dealing with the issue quickly and I'll do it again should you do it again.

Advice given applies.

Then so be it Grockle, do what you think is right.

Now what is a semi troll?

A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.

I'm sure they said the Q&A was 20 mins after the end of yesterday's play, unless I'm going mad (again).

No idea Scrumper but there was no reference to it today. You may be right.

I may need to clarify my question about specialist batsmen. I'm talking about first class, domestic based and pre Nick Compton. So for example Adam Hose was Post Compton and came thru our training system to an extent. Tom Cooper was also post Compo and wasn't particularly signed for first class duties. Didn't he also bowl?

Zander would also not apply as he was an allrounder Neither would kolpaks - Mackenzie for example or Internationals like Alviro.

So who was the previous domestic first class specialist batting contract before Nick Compton's?





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:07:22:53:20 by Grockle.

The Q&A is on the club website for yesterday. Still the BBC feed managed to post Tom Abell as Hampshire keeper today...

The Q&A was Saturday evening 7pm after play.
Mr Hurry & Mr Cornish fielded questions from a reduced attendance of 60/70 maybe.
Stragglers coffee machine out of order!
Ondatje closed due to a failed annual safety inspection.
T20 overseas 2nd player, nothing to report yet.
Mr Hurry is not against the use of the loan system, no names mentioned (insert Jack & Dom.......?)
Long room issues (quite heated!) then somewhat took over proceedings......

The Q&A session was on Saturday. I wasn't there. Rumour has it that the Long Room members may be about to revolt and it has something to do with pizza*

*I may not have got that exactly right.

Day 3 (2nd day of play)

Also available at the top of the home page on my website at:

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

with the report on the previous day's play immediately beneath it.

A repair job for Somerset

County Championship Division 1. Somerset v Nottinghamshire. 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th April 2019. Taunton.

Third day. 7th April – Repair job

Overnight. Somerset 171. Kent 84 for 2. Kent trail by 87 runs with 8 first innings wickets standing.

It was a morning of sustained Somerset brilliance. The bowlers, particularly Gregory, Davey and Overton attacked, pressurised and harried the Kent batsmen. It is true the conditions favoured the them. The Quantocks had retreated behind the haze that had shrouded them on the second afternoon. On the third day the scene was even darker than on the second. Taunton’s newly installed lights were on before mid-day and they stayed on until mid-afternoon and, as the evening light faded, for the final over. How many extra hours of Championship cricket they will afford Somerset in a season would be worth monitoring. It may be enough one day to give Somerset the time they need to win a Championship, or to avoid relegation.

I arrived an hour before the start, the Sunday bus timetable and the gathering Taunton marathon seeing to that. It may have been darker than the previous morning but it was much warmer too. The wind had dropped. In two coats it was actually quite pleasant and two teams of cricketers playing football brought an air of familiarity which had been strangely absent from the scene on the previous morning.

Gregory and Davey opened the bowling and immediately found enough movement to warrant four slips. Both sent balls tantalisingly close to the edge, a ball from Gregory tying Renshaw up as it squeezed past the inside edge. Davey twice went past the outside edge of Dickson’s bat and then found the edge from where the ball flew arrow-like neatly into the waiting hands of Hildreth at first slip. It was a dual demonstration of the art of swing bowling and the smooth curving patterns which the ball described through the air fell very properly into the category of art.

The same could be said of the cover drive off Gregory which Renshaw sent to the Ondaatje boundary. By what device Gregory induced a leading edge from a Renshaw attempt to turn him to leg I know not but the ball traced a perfect arc straight to Tom Abell at mid off from where he moved sharply forward to take the catch. The Somerset machine was beginning to crank into gear after its creaky performance on the second day. Kent, in the ascendancy at the start of the third day were 97 for 4 and no further advanced than Somerset had been at that stage of their innings.

Now Bell-Drummond and Kuhn did for Kent what Abell and Davies had done for Somerset. They began to move the Kent innings towards the prospect of stability. For Somerset Overton began to test the batsmen as Gregory and Davey had done with movement spiced with his ability to obtain lift. Only Brooks with his persistently full length offered any leeway and was driven as a consequence. A couple of people I later chatted to spoke of Brooks’ ability to take wickets in conditions where others struggled. His time would come they thought.

It was cut and thrust stuff as it had been throughout the match and it continued in like manner. Kuhn cut Davey viciously through point to the Caddick Pavilion dug outs. Bell-Drummond drove Brooks through extra cover to near where the old Stragglers used to be. In reply Overton fizzed a ball past Kuhn’s forward defensive to half-raised hands and cries of, “Ohhhh!” and then forced an inside edge which somehow evaded the stumps and provoked a sharp intake of breath. And yet gradually the batsmen were accommodating to the situation and the conditions and were moving Kent closer to the Somerset score.

As the intense struggle continued Azhar walked over to offer advice or perhaps support to Brooks as he walked back to his mark as he had done with Davey earlier. A succession of appeals were turned down my the umpires and the Kent score moved to within 30 of Somerset’s as Bell-Drummond drove Brooks straight to the Somerset Pavilion. The familiar buzz that usually permeates the stands at Taunton began to subside into a contemplative hum as Kent threatened to take control of the game.

And then there was a piece of sheer cricketing magic from Overton. Kuhn, whose batting reputation had come before him, was threatening to break away from the grip of the Somerset bowlers. Overton induced what appeared to be a distinct inside edge from my vantage point directly behind the keeper’s head. There was a marked deviation, although from 80 yards it is impossible to be sure what it deviated off, and Davies moved to leg to take the ‘catch’. Overton set off down the wicket, arm extended aloft and emitted a fearful roar of celebration as the cordon appealed in unison. The umpire’s finger stayed quietly by his side.

Back to his mark walked Overton. Kuhn took his stance. The crowd, or at least me, and, I suspect, Kuhn expected an Overton flier to whistle past his ears. Instead it whistled past the edge of the bat, hit the top of middle stump on the way through and deposited it a yard or too back from its moorings. What a cheer went up at the sight. It was a stunning piece of bowling which made the trip worthwhile on its own. The hum was gone and the crowd moved straight to chatter without stopping to buzz. 144 for 5 was progress for Somerset against the Kent top order but it was only only 27 runs short of Somerset’s total. Kent, in spite of the formidable efforts of the Somerset bowlers, were still keeping ahead in the match.

Blake threatened briefly to extend the advantage before trying to cut Gregory, only to edge the ball into his stumps. 160 for 6. Just 11 runs short. And then a piece of cricketing magic to match Overton’s dismissal of Kuhn. Bell-Drummond edged Gregory towards the slips. The ball flew like a bullet in a steep trajectory. Someone who was watching the batsman through binoculars assumed four runs over the heads of the slip cordon. Unfortunately for Bell-Drummond the part of the slip cordon over which the ball flew consisted of Marcus Trescothick. From the top of the Somerset Pavilion a catch looked impossible. Until that was Trescothick’s outstretched hands caught the bullet far above his head. There was a hesitancy, perhaps of disbelief, from the field and then a huge roar and engulfment of Trescothick.

The memory of that catch rippled around the ground for some time afterwards. “That was quite a catch from Trescothick,” and “Did you see that catch by Trescothick?” the most common things I heard during my lunchtime circumnavigation. “Well done Banger,” the immediate response from the top of the Somerset Pavilion. 165 for 7. Somerset pegging back Kent’s advantage.

Lunch came with Kent 172 for 7. One run ahead. My customary lunchtime circumnavigation registered a general consensus that Somerset had bowled extremely well and stuck at the task of retrieving a disadvantageous position. There was also a consensus that any Kent score over 200 would put significant pressure on Somerset in their second innings, given the prevailing conditions. I managed to reach the covers store just as play resumed and so I watched from there in conversation with two other Somerset supporters for the rest of the Kent innings.

The innings realised another 37 runs and took Kent to 209. Overton had Stevens caught neatly at slip by Gregory. Robinson seemed to check a shot against Brooks or perhaps it was a slightly slower ball and Byrom took the catch at midwicket. Abell brought himself on at the end to beat Milnes’ defensive push and induce an edge to Davies behind the stumps. Kent were 38 in front. “We don’t want to find ourselves 40 for 3,” was my statement of the blatantly obvious but the obvious contained the seeds of a fear in this low scoring match.

The fear began to bite before I had time to return to my seat. Returning from a purchase from the kiosk next to the covers store saw me seeing a perfect cover drive from Trescothick followed by an attempt to drive again, this time through the on side. The umpire’s finger was raised as the ball deflected off the pad. Time, I thought, to get back to my seat. Not enough time because as I emerged at the top of the stairs I heard, “The next batsman is …” and in walked Tom Abell with Hildreth in the last wicket slot on the scoreboard. 7 for 2 according to the top of the scoreboard. 17 for 3 when Azhar pushed almost reluctantly at a ball from Podmore, as if he had failed to judge it, and was caught at third slip. When Byrom edged a defensive shot to the keeper Somerset were 32 for 4 and the seeds of my fear had borne an unwelcome fruit.

Any remaining vestiges of hope of a Somerset victory were now in the hands of Abell and Davies. Almost immediately one of those silken cover drives of which Davies is the master fed the hope. It seemed to cover the ground like a snooker ball does baize. If hope has to be borne of something that stroke would do as well as any. It signalled an attempt by Davies and Abell to turn the tide of the match. When Abell drove through midwicket towards the Somerset Stand the batsmen took two runs, Somerset moved into the lead and an ironic cheer rose from several voices around the ground. It was perhaps Somerset’s nadir in a match of lows. Only the exceptional bowling of the morning stood apart.

The irony soon turned to genuine cheering and applause when Davies drove again through the covers to the Somerset Stand with a timeless quality which transcended anything that was going on around it in this match. It is one of the joys of watching cricket that however badly your team is doing there is always the prospect of seeing one of its members playing the sort of stroke or bowling the sort of ball that has held spectators in awe for generations past.

At tea Somerset were 53 for 4, 15 runs ahead. I found myself in conversation in the small gap between Gimblett’s Hill and the Somerset Pavilion when play resumed. We discussed the spirited fightback by Somerset’s bowler’s before lunch rather than the batting collapse which followed it. As we talked Abell and Davies set about trying to continuing to try to retrieve the near hopeless situation they had inferited. They are perhaps at opposite ends of the classical batting spectrum. Right and left-handed but above all the contrast between the sharp, overtly powerful stroke play of Abell and the silken, deceptive power of Davies’ strokes.

The detail is lost in our conversation but the impression left is of the two distinct styles combining to push Somerset forward. And then Abell drove hard with the most classical of cover drives at a ball wider than was safe and edged to the keeper. 90 for 5. 52 ahead. Abell 30. Not far enough ahead but just enough to dare to hope. As Davies moved into the 30s I commented that he was on “borrowed time” in this match as no-one had reached 50.

I reached my seat at the top of the Somerset Pavilion just as Davies’ “borrowed time” ran out. As I took my seat he was bowled for 39. “He played on,” someone said. 103 for 6. 65 ahead. When Gregory lost his off stump trying to keep Claydon out Somerset were 111 for 7. 73 ahead. The Somerset fightback was fast fizzling out as Craig Overton strode out to join Bartlett, Somerset’s seventh batsman.

Overton started by turning Claydon square for a single as the cloud, which had permitted an interlude of sun, began to close in again. Stevens swung a ball past Bartlett’s defensive push. It has been thus for the entire match but it emphasised Somerset’s precarious position. Overton put the other side of the equation when he drove Claydon powerfully to the Somerset Pavilion boundary for there has been much driving in this match as the bowlers search for movement as they strive to keep the wickets coming in a low-scoring game. Somerset led by 81 and the power and precision of Overton’s stroke seemed to inject a frisson of tension, revealing a slither of hope, into the air.

Overton continued by pulling Milnes for four in front of square to the Ondaatje boundary and Bartlett drove him straight to the Somerset Pavilion before being almost caught and bowled off the next ball. When he cut Milnes backward of square a brilliant diving stop saved four runs as the furious cut and thrust of this game continued unabated. Bartlett responded with a hook, top edged over the keeper’s head for six over the short boundary in front of the Sir Ian Botham Stand. He drove the next ball through the covers for four. Somerset were suddenly 140 for 7 and had Overton and Bartlett taken the lead just past 100.

Now Overton began to make real progress. Podmore was turned behind square for two and driven to the Trescothick Stand for three, the very slow outfield more than negating the effect of the short boundaries. In the next over he leaned into an on drive which went along the ground to the covers store against Milnes. It was as good a specimen of that stroke as you will see. When Milnes bounced Bartlett, trying perhaps to test Bartlett’s propensity to hook, he cleared Bartlett and tested the wicketkeeper’s ability to jump to the extent that four byes and two height no balls resulted.

Bartlett ended the day with a perfect cover drive to the Ondaatje Stand. He and Overton had added 60 to take Somerset to a lead of 133, Bartlett on 35 and Overton on 27. It had been a typical Bartlett innings of risk and progress whilst Overton had showed considerable skill in playing some of the more orthodox strokes in difficult conditions.

Estimates of how many Somerset would need to set as a target to have a realistic chance of pressuring Kent ranged from 150 upwards. They were still 27 short of setting the minimum target but they were an awful lot closer than they had looked when they lost their fourth wicket still six runs behind. If the final day brings the weather of the second and third mornings and Somerset’s bowlers bowl as they did on the second morning we may be into edge of seat territory. For Somerset supporters ’twas ever thus.

Close. Somerset 171 and 171 for 7. Kent 209 (S.R. Dickson 43, L. Gregory 3-26, C. Overton 3-46). Somerset lead by 133 runs with three second innings wickets standing.

Quote:

Bagpuss
I wonder if Joe Clarke has improved his Test selection chances by moving to Trent Bridge.

Really interesting topic. Many players have had a few test caps before the selectors looked elsewhere, so also worth speculating is whether moving county helps relaunch your career? I recall Stuart Broad rising to test fame after joining Notts and then there's Graeme Swann. Would he have been on Strictly if he had not moved to Trent Bridge?

Well done George Bartlett. A fighting 50 if I ever saw one.

A great 50 for George Bartlett

Actually, as I recall, Stuart Broad won his first England caps as a Leicestershire player, having made a big impression as the spearhead of a weak attack at Leicester (whereas Tom Smith, whom I thought marginally the better prospect at U-19 level, went largely unnoticed as merely one component of a then very strong Lancashire seam attack, despite taking nearly as many wickets as Stuart in his first county season at a fractionally better average).
It may be the case that in the intervening twelve years the selectors have tended more to focus on Div 1 performances (though Denly and, when first selected, Westley are two exceptions that spring to mind) - so maybe it's just specific counties...

Is Tim Groenewald's position as the world's best No XI under threat?

"Tim Groenewald - best No. XI in the world" - Rob Key
Nil desperandum, dear lady! Beyond the desert lies the promised land!

Well there is a match here, despite the naysayers. We've an answer to can Brooks bat. And a selection dilemma for the next game. Bartlett should play after that fantastic effort. Still some runs short for the sake of my fingernails. I predict a tie...

I think we already had an answer to can Brooks bat, given that he has a first-class ton and a 40+ many of us will remember in a big last-wicket stand with (?)Patterson at Taunton a year or two back!
Clearly playing the extra batsman, a policy I was not at all sure about on Day 1, has been vindicated. Now to see how the all-seam pace selection works out.

That's Renshaw. 1 for 2

5 wickets down, interesting

Well this has made my lunchtime viewing much more interesting. Enjoying the video feed.

Time to send for the pitch inspectors.

Eight down - come on, Somerset! I thought any target around 200 would prove a challenge (and that's not me counting any fowls, it's a tough target whoever wins).

I'm guessing/hoping there's no talk of a dodgy pitch (I hope Mike's joking...). I watched a few minutes of the live feed at the start of Somerset's first innings and the ball seemed to be swinging away from the right-handers; I didn't see any uneven bounce.

Well, Tom Seymour, six First Division counties will need to overtake us now if surviving relegation is not going to be "a big and unexpected achievement". I`m sure you will be taking succour, though, from the fact that two of those counties are Surrey and Warwickshire.

RE-SULT! Just when the 9th wicket stand was causing me a little concern. A very poor first day and Somerset missed batting points, but good bowling, a better second innings and the all-important win! Come on!!

Team selection vindicated, too.

An excellent win - well done to all for coming back fighting!

Who needs 4 days for an interesting CC game? Revert back to 3.

A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.

There's much to encourage us after that result, given how poorly we started the match. In the end we scored the highest innings of the match (with Bartlett making the highest individual score) and dismissed Kent for the lowest. Listening to today's commentary from the moment when Brooks went out to bat could not have been more enjoyable - and yesterday, though not today, I think I heard Tractor, a sure sign that the summer has started.

Only thirteen more wins and we'll just avoid relegation...

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Well picking George seemed to work. Some of our other batsmen may need to inspect their performance however. The bowlers just keep coming at you and thete is little more than that you can ask from them. Phenomenal second innings figures from Lewis but they all kept their eyes on the objective and a 76 run victory is significant in a low scoring game.

As you say Mr Seymour an 'excellent win'

Yeah. Talk nah, Tom 😁

Fine words Bagpuss but are they your own?

One of those days when I was not in a position to follow the play. Got home at 4.55 and could hardly believe my eyes.

Well done, Somerset.

Bobstan: I think you need a lie-down. I feel that what you have heard happened today could not possibly have done so.

Gregry, Overton and Abell occupy 1st, 4th and 5th place in the CC1 bowling averages. Gregory is far out in front with 8 wickets at 5.50.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Unable to post for a while, and slowly making my way across the pond.

What a terrific result.

At the risk of stating the blindingly obvious, we have clearly got a first class bowling attack, with a wealth of additional talent available over and beyond the sterling efforts of everyone who took the spoils in this game.

Don't suppose it was easy for anyone batting over the last three days, but George B's vital contribution will surely be a massive boost for him. From what I saw of him last year he looks to have real potential, (he reminded me of Derek Randall at times!).

If (big if) we can get the top order firing, things could go rather nicely this season.

Grizzzly

Mention need be made of the catching in the slips that backed up the bowlers

Well done to our squad, we held our catches in the second innings,and some very impressive bowling from Lewis, personally not sure I have seen a more consistent spell (2nd innings) from him.
Our early order batters need to learn from some of the bad shots they played in BOTH innings.

Thank goodness for the 62 run 9th wicket partnership, without that the result I feel would have not been in our favour.

Great result, a huge encouragement to the club, players and supporters alike. Great work from the seamers and slippers, and George and Tom; bit of work to do for some of the others, but there's ages till we go to Trent Bridge, isn't there...?

Seriously, proper job.

Quote:

somexile
Mention need be made of the catching in the slips that backed up the bowlers

Hear hear.

Somehow or other Somerset must shoehorn Jack Leach in to the side at Nottingham on Thursday. Yorkshire made the mistake of going in without a spinner in the opening Trent Bridge match, and Joe Root had to bowl 23 overs as Notts totalled 408 and 329-5 dec.

Difficult decison although it will be, I would play Leach instead of Josh Davey, remembering that both Craig Overton and Tom Abell notched hattricks there in the final match in 2018.

Great day, I will admit to listening to the morning session on the radio before deciding to make the (very worthwhile) trip down to HQ in the afternoon.

Question though, as a bystander.

Why do the likes of Tom, go incredibly quiet after such a jubilant Somerset victory? This isn’t the only example of muteness.

Surely we ALL rejoice in the turnaround result the lads pulled out of the bag?

Starting the game on Saturday as favourites to win, but somewhat losing that position, today's performance was as amazing as any of last year's great home victories (e.g. Essex). However, this time Jack Leach only had a cameo appearance on the field and Lewis Gregory was the bowler who always looked like taking a wicket.

Somerset have not lost at home for some considerable period (passing quickly over the covers problem with Surrey) and have won many of these encounters through batting first. The squad is mostly the same with what appears a desire to win as strong as ever.

Therefore, we should discuss challenging for the championship again and not be preoccupied with the relegation spot. It was Kent whose batting looked the more fragile, they needed a 'Renshaw moment' today and he didn't turn up. Not for very long anyhow. Fortunately ours came in the name of George Bartlett.

Given fortress Taunton, the strength of our bowling including Tom Abell, those quality bowlers who didn't play and excellent slip fielding (despite an entertaining fumble at the end today), I too have concerns about our batting options. Against Lancs last season we should have won and are still vulnerable.

If we don't have an 'Azhar Ali' moment then we have great strength in Hildreth, Abell, Davies, Tres, Byrom and Bartlett (though not always at the same time). However, the reinvigorated Notts and Hants bat in depth as well. The England test stars will make a few more runs for their counties. Besides Surrey have not even played competitively yet but remain formidable in all departments



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:08:21:01:43 by Somerset LaLaLa.

Quote:

cricketjerry-mouse
Somehow or other Somerset must shoehorn Jack Leach in to the side at Nottingham on Thursday. Yorkshire made the mistake of going in without a spinner in the opening Trent Bridge match, and Joe Root had to bowl 23 overs as Notts totalled 408 and 329-5 dec.
Difficult decison although it will be, I would play Leach instead of Josh Davey, remembering that both Craig Overton and Tom Abell notched hattricks there in the final match in 2018.

I would abandon the seven-batsmen selection (which surely was only ever intended as a short-term early-season measure?) and bring in Jack for one of the batsmen - Eddie I guess (unless you move Eddie up to open, on the strength of two single-figure scores at 5, and drop Marcus - hmmm...)

If Jamie is fit and the wicket looks at all pacy - or indeed if it looks like nothing at all, in which case sheer pace may be the best way - I suppose Josh, despite a thoroughly sound game, has to give way anyway.

Somerset at full strength must surely have one of the strongest 2nd XIs in the business, at least in the bowling department?

Toxic (welcome): I know it wasn't always the case previously, and I was as critical as anyone, but Tom has this time come back (16.06) and said it was an excellent win and well done.

You go to watch a day's cricket not knowing how much cricket we will see.
This is what's so enjoyable about cricket, watching cricket in a friendly environment with the visiting supporters sitting with the local supporters.

I will leave Farmer White to describe the days play.



This is Craig Overton, I need to say the win today was down to several players batters and bowlers, I think Lewis Gregory needs a special mention for his bowling today.



Even George Bartlett needed a bit of luck when he was dropped at slip.



George Bartlett hitting runs for his fifty.



How good it is to have a number eleven when the establish batsman does not need to farm the bowling. Jack Brooks is one of those number eleven who can bat with ease, seen here hitting a six.



A rare sight last year seeing a heavy roller being used during innings, I believe the rules about the heavy roller has changed this season, although I haven't seen it in print.



When Jack Brooks had Matt Renshaw caught by Lewis Gregory, the players had a very hard time trying to chase after Jack to congratulate him.



Heino Kuhn didn't last long when he was out for “0” lbw Craig Overton second ball.



Harry Podmore out lbw, one Jack Brooks two wickets.



Mitchell Claydon, the wicket we were waiting for, caught by James Hildreth bowled by Josh Davey.

Quote from TS 'Who needs 4 days for an interesting CC game? Revert back to 3'


Would not have been so interesting if game ended Sunday evening. It was only interesting because having four days allocated one day could be lost to weather and yet there was still time for the game to reach a finish.

It started on the scheduled 2nd day, so was akin to the old style 3 day CC games.

If the talk about Test matches being shortened from 5 to 4 days comes about, it makes sense to play the CC games over 3 doesn't it?

A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.

I don't think you have quite grasped my point.

If the game was due to start on Friday and Friday is rained off then if games are scheduled for three days there are only two days on which play can take place.

Thanks Shepton for a point well made. We pick up when our more negative colleagues disappear after positive results so we should always also identify when they do not as happened today.

A discussion about 3 and 4 day games as well... maybe there is hope yet.

Great day all around.

Many Happy returns to the "In Cider" who celebrate 5 years reporting on the club today. We were wondering whether another county had independent sites where the activities complement each other rather than fight for an audience. We have images and now the longer more emotive reports on games plus the more immediate forum while the "InCider" does the previews, the interviews, the investigative history and shorter report format. It's a marriage made on the Levels and long may it continue.

We are the older participant with the first forays into this taking part in 1994. I ought to sort out the archive sometime........

Amazing figures from Lewis Gregory in the end and very well done to young George Bartlett. I wonder what the SCCC economy record over 30 overs of a first-class match is? Anyone? I'd guess that LG must, at the very least, have cracked the top ten and very probably the top 5!?

I wonder whether Tom would think that I was very wide of the mark to suggest that, in a season where only one team is going down, we might be at the very least 1/3 of the way to safety already - and it's only April 9!!

Quite so, Somexile. A return to three days should be avoided at all costs, unless our games can all be played in Provence or something.

I have found the heavy roller rule change.

9.2 Law 9.1.3 (Choice of rollers) is replaced by:A light roller must be available. A roller heavier than 1000kg must also be available, which after the toss for innings, each team may use it only once. Within such constraint, the Captain of the batting side shall choose which roller, if any, is to be used.

From the ECB site.

Number of wins when finishing last:

2018 Worcs – 2 wins
2017 Warks – 1 win
2016 (9 counties) Notts – 1 win
2015 Worcs – 3 wins
2014 Northants – 0 wins
2013 Surrey – 1 win
2012 Worcs – 1 win
2011 Hants – 3 wins
2010 Essex – 2 wins
2009 Worcs – 0 wins

The outcome (and champions) may be be decided by mid July this year.

Playing cricket in Provence is not so daft [www.entrecasteauxcc.eu]

Thanks Mike, I wish they would drop the regulation for uncontested tosses

What a stunning French location for a cricket tour, Somerset LLL.

We should note the loyalty of Renshaw to his former county: he contributed little by way of runs or wickets and kindly dropped Bartlett at a crucial moment.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Quote:

AGod

I wonder whether Tom would think that I was very wide of the mark to suggest that, in a season where only one team is going down, we might be at the very least 1/3 of the way to safety already - and it's only April 9!!

Have you forgotten AGod that you stated - "If, as still seems more likely than not to me, Kent go on to win this match...….."

Well, you got that one wrong!

A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.

Apologies for the delay. Sleep deprivation payback from the first two days and life intervening the reason. However, here is my report for the final day.

And for those who prefer the font on my website here is the link to my homepage:

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

County Championship Division 1. Somerset v Kent. 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th April 2019. Taunton.

Final day. 8th April – The will to win

Overnight. Somerset 171 and 171 for 7. Kent 209. Somerset lead by 133 runs with three second innings wickets standing.

There are times when cricket can truly lift the spirits to the heights. If you were a Somerset supporter this was one of those times. Somerset had spent the latter part of the third day desperately trying to pull this match back from the brink of defeat. For that is what the nadir of 32 for 4 in their second innings, still six behind Kent, had represented. The faces of most in the crowd had spoken of resignation to defeat. Tinged perhaps with hope but hope limited to that which could only be provided by a miracle.

It is clear now, looking back, that the Somerset team had other thoughts. Thoughts of turning a lost cause into a winning one through their own efforts. There would be no reliance on miracles on that side of the boundary. The fightback had started at the fall of that fourth wicket. By the close of the third day Somerset had reached 171 for 7, 133 runs into the lead in bowler friendly conditions. Much would depend on what those last three wickets could add on the final morning.

Within 20 minutes of the start ten runs had been added and two of the wickets lost. Somerset led by 143 with only 21-year-old George Bartlett and Jack Brooks, on his debut for Somerset with their wickets still intact. It was perhaps an unlikely pairing for a crisis but they met it head on and drove Kent back. Bartlett played in a more measured way than I have been used to from him but he did not hold back when the ball was there to be attacked.

I have seen Brooks in these situations in his Yorkshire days. He does not hold back and he didn’t here. If his approach comes off in a tight match it can change the balance of the game, reverse the momentum of the play and help determine the eventual outcome. Two upper cuts over the slip cordon to the Trescothick Stand boundary set the tone. Two cuts to the Ondaatje Stand boundary, one past and one over the point fielder sustained the assault and a hook towards the Somerset Stand which took advantage of the short boundary to go for six roused the crowd. It must surely have given the Somerset team a lift and had the opposite effect on Kent.

Such things must of course come to an end, and the partnership did, but by then Brooks and Bartlett, with some boundaries of his own, had added 62 priceless runs. It had turned a target of 144 at the fall of the ninth wicket into one of 206. 144 would have given Somerset a chance. 206 gave them an opportunity.

The Somerset bowlers had kept their team in the match with an extended piece of testing, accurate and attacking bowling in the first innings. Now, building on the momentum from the Somerset last wicket stand, they grabbed hold of the game with both hands and wrenched it from Kent’s grasp.

Would that I could describe the fall of the first wicket. However, after finishing my report on the third day I omitted to put my notebook back into my cricket bag. It is an empty feeling when you have good cricket to describe and no sensible way of recording it. It resulted in my notes on the remainder of the Somerset innings being scrawled in the few blank spaces available on my scorecard. The space ran out just as Bartlett tried to turn a ball to leg and was given out lbw. I can report that it takes slightly longer than the ten minutes available between innings to walk into the town, buy a notebook and return to the ground.



I thought I heard a distant cheer as I left the shop but concluded it was probably wishful thinking. I definitely heard one as I came along St James Street. Then came the desperate look over the wall as I approached the ground entrance. You can see the scoreboard from there and you cannot not look. 1 for 2. That took a bit of absorbing. Then a horrible thought. Was I about to miss a hat-trick as I had done at Trent Bridge last year?

I dared not risk going straight to the top of the Somerset Pavilion. More than enough time to miss the last wicket of a hat-trick doing that. So I went straight to the covers store boundary. Both batsmen caught in the slips apparently. And one of them was Renshaw, dismissed by Brooks. Apparently Brooks set off, at speed, on a huge arc around the outfield until he was chased down and engulfed by his team mates.

I sent the news in a text to someone who was not at the match. He is as avid a Somerset supporter as I. “That’s a relief,” came the response. “I was worried Renshaw might do for us with one of those innings of which we know he is capable.” Me too. Perhaps similar thoughts had been part of the trigger for Brooks’ celebration. There was no hat-trick to report. Gregory had taken the first wicket, Dickson, with the first ball of the innings and things settled down after Renshaw’s departure. After an over or two I decided to return to my seat at the top of the Somerset Pavilion, half hoping that the climb, out of sight of the play, might provoke another wicket. It would not be the first time I had missed a wicket climbing those stairs. But not this time.

I had not long sat down before the floodlights were on. They played a significant part in keeping this match in play on all three days. It would be an interesting calculation to discover whether without them there would have been enough time to win the match.

It soon became apparent that Gregory was bowling an exceptional spell. He seemed repeatedly to beat the bat of Bell-Drummond with testing movement and also had a huge lbw appeal turned down. At the other end with his consistent full-length bowling Brooks released some of the pressure on Kent when he was driven.

In a low scoring match the spectator’s eye is never far from the scoreboard. Subtracting a score from a target is one of the very few forms of mathematics at which I, and I imagine many other cricket supporters, excel. 36 for 2 left Kent another 170 to win. A long way still to go but the lack of another wicket was beginning to gnaw away at the mind.

Then there was one of those appeals that leaves no doubt as to what the umpire’s arm will do. Bell-Drummond lbw to Gregory for 18. My seat was pretty well over the keeper’s head so an obstructed view of an lbw. However, the evidence I did have, the angle of the ball and the movement of the batsman suggested a delivery that came in. The cheer from the crowd seemed to be borne of a combination of the normal joy at Somerset taking a wicket and a realisation that Somerset were beginning to take control of a match they had had to fight hard to hold onto on the first two days of play.

As Overton replaced Brooks I started to compose a text to my correspondent not at the match. Five balls is not long enough to report the details of a wicket. I know because that is how much of the next over Overton, who had replaced Brooks, took to find his way through the newly arrived Kuhn’s defence and find his pad. Overton’s celebration reached backward point before he was engulfed by the rest of the players. 40 for 4. The cheers were now beginning to hint at expectation that Somerset might win this match and were reaching a volume that must have been heard at the far end of St James Street. Between the cheers the ground was alive with the sort of chatter that is born of that expectation.

At the same time I was beginning to develop the art of multi-tasking: watching the cricket, making an entry on my scorecard, making a note of proceedings for this report, thinking about a text about the Overton wicket whilst still working frantically on the Gregory one and all the time trying not to get ahead of myself in thinking about a possible victory. It was about as much as my ageing mind could bear. Gregory was of no help for within two balls he had forced Crawley to edge the ball low to Azhar at fourth slip and the score was 41 for 5. Crawley 21. Kent still 165 from victory and too far from the end of the day to contemplate holding out for a draw. Somerset were closing in as lunch gave Kent some much-needed respite and saved my multi-tasking from complete disarray.

There is something about a cascade of opposition wickets when the game is tight in the balance and nerves are on the thinnest of edges. It sets the blood coursing through the veins, the head racing with possibilities and a well of pent up emotion bursts forth from the heart. This was one such moment. It was not just the wickets which unleashed the emotion. It was the manner of their taking. It had been a sustained exhibition of bowling of intensity, hostility and forensic skill. It was stunning in its appearance and in its effect. It was backed up by a display of slip catching which convinced with its precision and its certainty. Hostile intensity in the bowling and certainty in the catching gives the new batsman little opportunity to settle.

Gregory had been the cutting edge of the pre-lunch overs and immediately afterwards Robinson edged him to Overton at third slip. No doubts as the ball flew to him. “Hooray!!” shouted a voice in the crowd in amongst the usual roar which follows a wicket. 45 for 6. 160 behind. I think those of us at the top of the Somerset Pavilion could have floated without its support such a lift had the performance given us after the tenseness of the anxiety of the first two days of play. Gregory completed an opening spell of ten overs, bowled either side of lunch, for figures of 11-4-13-4. “Look at Gregory’s figures,” one comment I heard.

Kent were now in the hands of Blake and Stevens, probably their last hope of mounting an unlikely challenge. Overton, who had replaced Brooks at the River End, continued the examination. Twice he went through Stevens and a lifter was fended away. Davey replaced Gregory and bowled with his usual control but the intensity of the pre-lunch blitz was gone. Intervals can change the mood like that and the gradual lifting of the cloud perhaps played its part.

Blake and Stevens began to look more secure. The ball would still pass the bat but it didn’t raise the same expectation as it had before lunch. Overton tested the batsmen but they kept him out. A cover drive from Blake and a glance from Stevens, both off Davey, found the boundary. As Blake drove Overton through the covers for another the sun, which had begun to make the occasional foray from behind the clouds, put in a more permanent appearance. As Davey beat a Blake cut to cries of “Ooooh” I noticed the Quantocks had adorned themselves in patches of their best spring maroon.

“Boys, keep coming here,” shouted Trescothick. As if in response Overton, who had delivered some persistent attacking bowling, beat Blake’s defensive stroke, shaved the edge of the bat and Davies does not miss those. The appeal was instantaneous, the cheer from the crowd tinged with relief because a partnership had been building, the celebration from the players tumultuous and Kent were 82 for 7. Overton’s first ball to Podmore, who replaced Blake, was short and hit his helmet so hard the ball cannoned nearly to cover. The concussion tests, inspections and replacement of equipment took some time before Podmore, to applause, resumed. He did not survive long before he was lbw to Brooks who had replaced Davey. “Well done Jack,” was the shout from the crowd. Kent 93 for 8.

By the time the score had reached 105 for 8 the crowd had settled into a gentle chatter, and it was a good-sized crowd for a final day. The ground was by now bathed in sunshine and people were dotted along the perimeter and chatting in the gaps between the stands. Stevens was quietly pushing the ball around for ones and twos and Milnes looked in no trouble at the other end. It would have been totally relaxing had it not been for the fact that the ball had virtually stopped moving and the score was gradually progressing. With Kent still needing nearly 100 anxiety, even in small doses, was an irrational reaction but supporting a cricket team is not a rational occupation.

Davey, then Gregory, returned to the attack. “Come on Louis,” someone in the crowd shouted. “Come on Louis,” Abell implored. “Come on Lou,” from somewhere else on the field. “Come on boys,” from somewhere else. I sent a slightly anxious text, “These two don’t look like getting out.” Milnes promptly edged Gregory to Hildreth at slip and Gregory had opened Somerset’s list of ‘fivefers’. 124 for 9. 131 all out when Claydon edged Davey low to Hildreth’s left. It was a good, neat catch which summed up the part the slips had played in the innings. Gregory’s figures of 13-4-18-5 will take some topping this season. But having seen the Somerset bowling in this match I will not be betting against it.

For the second season in a row Somerset had started with a win. It was a win forged out of adversity and pursued with determination and a tremendous will to win until a losing position was turned into a winning one. If Kent had any illusions about life in the first division they should have none now. As to Somerset, the intensity and skill of the bowling and fielding and its effect on the opposing batsmen reminded me of the Essex bowling and fielding at Chelmsford in 2017 and the Surrey bowling and fielding at Guildford in 2018. Those were Championship winning attacks and sustained their intensity throughout the season. If, one season, Somerset are to win a Championship that is part of the challenge ahead.

Result. Somerset 171 (T.B. Abell 49, M.E. Claydon 5-46, M.E. Milnes 3-40) and 243 (G.A. Bartlett 63, M.E. Claydon 4-66, D.I. Stevens 3-34). Kent 209 (S.R. Dickson 43, L. Gregory 3-26, C. Overton 3-46) and 131 (L.Gregory 5-18). Somerset won by 74 runs. Somerset 19 points. Kent 4 points.

I nearly posted something here after day 3, moaning about how we always seem to start so slow compared to other teams & give ourselves so much to do etc etc. But I decided to wait until the match was over before jumping in, because our lower order batsmen & bowling attack don’t know when to surrender.

There’s no doubt we have a championship winning bowling/lower order. The question still remains about the top half. But winning breeds confidence, Abell is growing into the captains role more & more. I’m still a little on the glass half full side of things & every season we stay in Div1 is a success in my book, but if Hildreth could have one of his big seasons, if just one of the younger guys could get a decent amount of runs, then who knows....

An excellent start to the season. This team don’t know when they’re beaten - my impression is that, under Abell’s captaincy, the team spirit has never been higher.

I caught some of the final day’s play on the Live Stream - I don’t think I’ve have ever seen Gregory bowl better.

Many thanks for your most enjoyable reports, JCW, and for your excellent photos, Mike.

Well said brt. And well written, as always, Farmer - no need to apologise, but I had set aside half an hour yesterday morning to read your report...great day, great summary - though could've done without the gratuitous Guildford mention at the end...

Happy new season to everyone although on Saturday night I was probably not alone in wondering whether the anticipation was worth it.To quote my alltime favourite poet , " Your faith was strong but you needed proof- Hallelujah ! " .I doubt if anyone saw her bathing on the roof, but my faith is re-inforced after a skillful and gutsy comeback.Get that top order purring and we have a chance of something special this year.A bit obvious really but I BELIEVE the ability is there.
( Just wondering if anyone has the slightest idea who I'm quoting, google it !)

Sorry! That's unneccessarily obtuse and elitist (?). It's Leonard Cohen.

Quote:

Grockle
Thanks Shepton for a point well made. We pick up when our more negative colleagues disappear after positive results so we should always also identify when they do not as happened today.

Well said both Grockle and Shepton.

It was indeed a sterling performance.

Allan Donald - who should know if anyone does - rates our pace attack as having Championship-winning potential (cannot get the link to work, but it's on the front page of the SCCC website). A very fair-minded commentary.

Tom Seymour - no, my memory functions rather well, and I have not forgotten. I think most people would have thought that Kent were firmly in the box-seat at the juncture that I posted.

Having watched a lot of the first two matches via the internet online pictures from Taunton and then Nottingham I am delighted to say that somebody on the coaching staff is on the ball regarding how the seamers or quickies should bowl. Having previously (other years) not being very impressed with the random number of balls delivered from many different spots on the pitch, the discipline displayed by all the bowlers all appearing to bowl to the same plan in the first two matches is great, and if continued will blow away a few opponents over the season. And of course, if we can hang on to Jack Leach for most of the four day matches, along with Dom Bess, we may not be far from the number one position at the end of September. As I have entered my ninth decade, perhaps that missing Championship could come our way.
Old Boy! .

If you are over 90 OB! You've entered your 10th decade. Well done sir. If you are over 100 the Queen has already said it.

Must be the first time ever that the Holy Grail has been mentioned before Easter.