2012 CC1 More 'Sex Please we're Somerset

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:10:06:39:49 by Grockle.

“More 'Sex Please” are you allowed to say that in Oman?

We are going to win everything.

I've come up with my team to hopefully srart our opening championship game against Middlesex.

Trescothick
Suppiah
Compton
Hildreth
Buttler
Keiswetter
Trego
Gregory
Philander
Dibble
Kirby

I don't think we'll start with a spinner in the team but it
will all depend how things go in the friendlies.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:03:30:07:39:14 by Grockle.

Spot on, that's fully the team i expect they'll pick.

We are always cautious of playing a spinner early season so whilst Max or George may be an option instead of Adam that is the team i expect they'll go for

Todays Sunday Independent shows TRES batting in the nets against Lewis and Max. Perhaps Max bamboozled him with one or two fast googlies (leg breaks to TRES of course) and will force his way into contention!!

There are probably four youngsters knocking on the door.Meschede,Barrow,Waller and Dockrell along with Hussain.
I think the friendlies will be interesting to say the least.

Fingers crossed about Philander. Doesn't seem to bowl a bad ball.Always on the same spot and moves it both ways.Surprised also with his pace against NZ up round the 90 mph mark.Rumours Hussain has also bulked and increased his pace a bit so hopefully competitive competition between Gregory,Dibble, and Hussain for maybe 2 spots?

I'd expect them to start with Hussain rather than Dibble if he is fit to start. Is he?

Apparently so.Should also be some good competition pre season with the batting line up. One or two good scores from Suppiah,Jones or Barrow could make a difference.Also if Lewis finds form with the bat he might even put pressure on PT for the all rounder spot, which would probably be good for both of them and the club.Previous years 8 out of 11 players have picked themselves, so serious competition can only strengten the team.

I might also be tempted to give Meschede an outing, if during the winter months he has managed to work out a way of dealing with short - pitched deliveries.

I suspect that Hussain will be played ahead of Dibble unless Dibble has had a clearly superior pre-season. If it's deemed to be close, the guy that makes the relatively big money will probably play, IMO.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if Dockrell (if available) plays instead of Lewis Gregory, either.

I agree......I think Dockrell will be in and Hussain instead of Dibble too if fit.

That is the position just now and as has been stated early pre season form may dictate otherwise.

Joe Denly is missing (calf strain) from final Middlesex warm up match v Durham students, so he will either go into this match with no pre-season practise, or miss out.

Great thread. Congrats to whoever started it.

Trescothick
Suppiah
Compton
Hildreth
Kieswetter
Trego
Meschede
Philander
Dockrell/Gregory
Dibble
Kirby

Well, it was your friend Bristol Rob once again.

You'll have to start picking out curtains together soon.

How would you pick between Gregory and Dibble from pre season form,because I personally think only one of these two will start?
Philander/Kirbs/George/??/Tregs and Arul my choice as bowlers!!!

Quote:

AGod
Well, it was your friend Bristol Rob once again.
You'll have to start picking out curtains together soon.

Pull yourself together

Then it has to be Dibble because he has some experience of conditions here while Lewis has been playing in the Gulf.

Have you a problem AGod?
For your information I know Naxxar as much as I know you.

Why does the ticker to the start of the season currently show 1 day 18 hours?!

Quote:

BristolRob
Have you a problem AGod?
For your information I know Naxxar as much as I know you.

I know. It was a joke. You'll have to read back.

Not a very funny joke and I don't intend reading back.

It's 1 day OR 18 hours

But it starts next Thursday no?

Nope starts tomorrow. First published fixture

Who are we playing tomorrow?

Cardiff Uni.

Yes I know but the ticker says 'The 2012 Championship season starts in... '

However, although tomorrow is a first-class fixture (laughably), it's not the CC

So what?

The printed Somerset fixture list starts with that game and this is Somerset's Championship Season.

It ain't gonna change so live with it or ignore it.

I set it up and I've set it up that way

Work it out for yourself and use that that one if you want Grockles.com will lose little sleep if you do.

Its fine. After Thursday, your mistake will no longer be visible anyway.

I'm afraid it is your misinterpretation and not the site's mistake.

This is a Somerset supporters site. Many believe this is Somerset's year for winning the championship if any year is.

Therefore Somerset's CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON starts tomorrow with the first published fixture of the year.

We've published the list like that for many years as it links in with the published fixture list we receive early in the year.

Sorry but we won't be changing any time soon because you don't seem to like it.

championship season here we come.

Well we can but hope... it's free at least.

Ah so it's actually a prediction, not an accurate statement of fact.

I'm off to watch the non-championship match at Vale. Will report back on it later.

Nobody claimed it was an 'actual statement of fact' you interpreted it as such and were wrong to do so.

It has been explained to you why it was a mis-interpretation and you can accept that or not.

The world will continue to turn and Grockles.com will not miss a beat.

Enjoy your day.

For somebody who last night claimed not to be losing sleep over it, you're posting quite alot on the subject.

Losing sleep on what? I've posted once today it's a work day for me so haven't been near the thing.

I hate to be a prophet of doom, but forecast I have seen suggests it could be 'cold and wintery showers' by the coming mid-week!!

Lets hope somebody has got it wrong, but it could mean winter mittens all round and the potential for slips, slides and muscle problems!

I do remember that we had snow in June a few years back!!
It's being so cheerful that keeps me going!!

Happy days!

Cloudy overcast skies...

Bring on Philander, Kirby et al.

Showers will clear by Wednesday.

Four days of dry weather forecast.

Middlesex have announced that their 12-strong squad for the Somerset match is the 11 currently playing against Durham MCCU, plus Corey Collymore:

Dexter (capt.), Berg, Collymore, Crook, London, Malan, Murtagh, Rayner, Robson, Rogers, Roland-Jones and Simpson.

No Joe Denly, then, although they do report he is making good progress from his calf injury - so possibly a mixed message there.

You don't have to be a genius to identify Chris Rogers as the prime wicket. Paging Mr Philander....

Jerry mouse

Where did you get Middlesex team from please? Not on official Middlesex site, or their facebook or twitter accounts

Frost stopped play? Snow stopped play? Has this happened before at Taunton?

Some would say that Frost stopped some bowlers and Snow certainly stopped some of our batsmen...

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Quote:

chunkyinargyll

Jerry mouse

Where did you get Middlesex team from please? Not on official Middlesex site, or their facebook or twitter accounts

I am sure that cricketjerry-mouse could tell you, chunky, should he so desire, but perhaps it came from this piece on Middlesex's official site: -

"Middlesex CCC is pleased to announce the following 12-man squad to play against Durham MCCU in a 3-day match starting tomorrow, Saturday 31 March at Merchant Taylors' School. The match is due to start at 11am and is FREE to attend for everyone.

Neil Dexter (captain)
Gareth Berg
Corey Collymore
Steven Crook
Adam London
Dawid Malan
Tim Murtagh
Ollie Rayner
Sam Robson
Chris Rogers
Toby Roland-Jones
John Simpson (wk)

With our opening LV=CC Division One game against Somerset starting on Thursday we are keen to give as many of the players likely to be playing in the game practice.

Therefore, we have selected our probable side for Somerset against Durham MCCU. Joe Denly is making good progress from a calf strain sustained during pre-season but will not play against Durham MCCU."

To the contrary, it may have come from somewhere else.

Ah- so in other words the side v Durham University.

But why has he so confidently concluded Joe Denly not fit for Thursday? He made it sound like Middle had announced the squad v Somerset.

Always dangerous to jump the gun- Might be right- Might be wrong.

Middle have a 1 day game v Northants tomorrow, which will be mostly the second eleven, plus quite probably, Joe Denly.

So basically, it's as you were- No official announcement yet, and Joe Denly may still make the starting line up!

Denly once nearly beat us in a close run thing at 'disgusted of...' I believd it was.

Well its snowing like Greek B*ggery here in Scotland. Hard to believe at this precise moment that the CC starts on Thursday.

Joe Denly playing today in one day match v Northants.

I'm not saying he will play on Thursday- depends how today goes, and it might be risky to go in to match with just one knock. It's just that Mr Mouse said we had announced our squad when we hadn't. He seemed so definate I assumed this had appeared on our official site.

After reading this thread and the one reserved for Philander I am a little amused as to how keen you guys are that he plays against the Mighty Middle.

I hope the wicket makes it a fair contest between bat and ball as I am down in Taunton for four days.

Middlesex over the last number of years, unlike many other clubs including many first division clubs, have had to plan without some of our best players.I think I am correct in saying we are the only club presently who have three players with Central Contracts for England. Strauss Morgan and Finn.

I bet you guys must be very relieved in particular that Finn is not playing for us on thursday.

Though as a Middlesex man I am always very proud that we perhaps more than most clubs provide a steady supply of players for England including over the years England Captains it does mean at times we have suffered domestically.

Well, pardon me for a moment, whilst I get my violin.

Let's face it, if you look at his first-class record, Morgan is no particular loss anyway. And surely the reason he will not be playing has nothing do with England?

A God I was just trying to post a friendly message but if you want to play your violin so be it as long as it makes you happy that is the important thing. I was simply posting facts which happen to be true. England over the years must be very thankful indeed for the Middlesex policy of nurturing and providing a constant supply of young England talent to help our national team. Unfortunately there are a number of clubs who seem more than happy not to play their part in helping the England cause which does increase the burden on those clubs that do.

Morgan is struggling a bit for form internationally but that does not mean he would not score many runs domestically.He is still a young man with a great future in front of him in my opinion.Finn is a fine young bowler with surely a great international career in front of him and Strauss of course has been a fine England Captain

As I say I am really looking forewad to my visit to your lovely ground Taunton and to enjoy hopefully the good hospitality on offer and my clubs first game in the top division for some years. I hope I see a decent game whatever the result and whether Philander plays or not.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:03:17:00:39 by lower pavilion.

You will be most welcome and any other Middlesex supporters.

Mike Tai.

Thank you for that and am sure we will be made most welcome.

I will now cease posting on your fine site and return to my spiritual home of Middlesex Till We Die. Enjoy the game.

Keep posting if you can, lower - especially during the game if possible. Enjoy Taunton...a bit

Of course you are hugely welcome at Taunton this week, lp, and I only wish I could be there as well.

On the point of your county nurturing young England players... I cannot disagree, but would add that Somerset also nurtures players of quality and it's not our fault that they don't get selected for England.

Quote:

lower pavilion

As I say I am really looking forewad to my visit to your lovely ground Taunton and to enjoy hopefully the good hospitality on offer and my clubs first game in the top division for some years. I hope I see a decent game whatever the result and whether Philander plays or not.

Welcome Middlesex man. Your money is as good as the next man. Ignore the less friendly posters on this site. We would like a good clean fight with one of our bowlers taking your tenth wicket on the last day one short of our total!! Please don't pray for snow or sleet - we had some in TA1 this afternoon!
Otherwise have a lovely 4 days in Gods own country, Somerset!

I don't know whether Middlesex will bring commentating people lLower but there will be ball by ball commentary on the game on the net via this site (click on Murali Kartik unless I get the time to change the top picture as a number of the players have moved on).

I'm looking forward to attending Sat/ Sun. I am hoping to catch up with some familiar and even some less familiar faces from here. This includes ASod and his violin.

Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele

Wish I was over there to see the start of the season.

Come on lads - do us, and yourselves, proud !

Grizzzly

Is 'Loverboy' (or whatever his new alias may be) joining you, Kev?

CP The person you just mentioned has left us in peace for the last 6 months. I'm not sure if he still reads this site and MTWD or not. I don't know the ins and outs of it, but he agreed to leave us in peace and queit, and for 6 months he has been as good as his word. Would very much like to keep it that way, which means not posting anything that might lead to a response.

If person concerned does read this - Thank you for keeping to your side of the bargain.

Highly unlikely CP - especially with Kev.

I'm sure he will introduce himself to his many friends from Grockles if he does turn up.

Please make himn welcome if you see him. :=)

There will be many friendly faces from Middlesex at Taunton for some or all of the game. For my 2 days I will happily introduce them and myself. We are easy to spot. One of the best features of four day cricket is the friendly banter between fans.

Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele

Quote:

BarmierKev
There will be many friendly faces from Middlesex at Taunton for some or all of the game. For my 2 days I will happily introduce them and myself. We are easy to spot. One of the best features of four day cricket is the friendly banter between fans.

Oh no it isn't!

Good job it doesn't start today. TA1 is cold, wet and horrible. Philander won't be practising in the middle today!

Tomorrow could start drizzley but soon clearing..dry but cold..temperature around 10c

Looking forward to getting down to TA1 on Sat/Sunday. Might pack the thermals & brolly by all accounts.

Morning all,

Just been thinking (i'll lie down again soon), with the forecast looking about as cheerful as a Gloucestershire ccc balance sheet, what has been the coldest watching day at the CG you've all experienced?

I can remember a JPL match against Glamorgan in May 1986 being so cold that I sat in the stragglers with a winter coat on and even the late Tony Channing found it necessary to drink a cup of tea rather than the usual amount of cider!!!

Temp on Thursday expected to be between 8-10c!!

Could be worse, surely up north there must be the potential for tomorrows play being called off because of snow on the pitch!

It's the start of a potentially really exciting season.

We have CC cricket to enjoy again after 6 months.

We start with a home match with an exciting new signing.

The forecast is for dry weather.

So what if it's a bit cold...

Just enjoy the fact it's back.

Quote:

Naxxar
The forecast is for dry weather.

Not the forecast I've seen, but lets hope you are right!
Your optimism is laudable!

[www.metoffice.gov.uk]

good work Naxxar. All the doomsters on here as usual.

Maybe see you Fri onwards? I'll be wandering about somewhere.

Naxxar,

No issues with the cold weather, as a member I can easily retreat inside!!

I bet Derby is a real treat this time of year..

Quote:

old boy!

Quote:

Naxxar
The forecast is for dry weather.

Not the forecast I've seen, but lets hope you are right!
Your optimism is laudable!

Drizzle before 10am...cloudy the rest of the day..nice day for bowling!

Sunny spells Friday

still no official team news, but a couple of hours ago Joe Denly tweeted he was on the way to Somerset and snowing.

He made 23 yesterday v Northants. Doesn't guarantee he starts, but by the looks of things he is in Middle squad.

Sunny here. Forecast for the next four days?

Sunny with scattered sunny spells and sun later. Low of 28 high of 37 ish. Might hit 40 by Tuesday.

Guess where I'd rather be tomorrow?

Quote:

chunkyinargyll
still no official team news, but a couple of hours ago Joe Denly tweeted he was on the way to Somerset and snowing.
He made 23 yesterday v Northants. Doesn't guarantee he starts, but by the looks of things he is in Middle squad.

I know that Denly is, or at least was once regarded as, a promising young player. However, I did not realise that he was so omnipotent as to be a snow-maker.

Middlesex squad announced.

Dexter (capt) DENLY, Robson, Rogers, Malan, London, Simpson, Berg, Rayner, Crook, Roland-Jones, Murtagh, Collymore.

It looks like most if not all the Middlesex players have arrived at Taunton, I have just missed the Somerset players having a session in the indoor school.

I understand it is almost certain that Jos will be playing tomorrow if true that is good news.

It is brighter and dry but still with that cold wind.

Rogers the key wicket; a decent crop of seamers there to exploit the Taunton green-top

Indeed- Collymore, Murtagh, Berg, and Roland-Jones!

Kirby, Philander, Trego plus an other and George? Middlesex don't personally scare me if Somerset turn up for this game.

Thought you'd be pleased to hear that there is 2 inches of snow at Richmond,North Yorkshire,where I live and 6-7 inches on parts of the Pennines. The ground camera at Headingley shows there is a covering and the last 2 days have been bitterly cold here. Last week was glorious.What a change in 4-5 days.
Good luck to you all down there;hope we can redeem our dreadful season of 2011 and renew hostilities with you next season. TykesRUs

The Somerset team for tomorrow

[www.somersetcountycc.co.uk]

1. Trescothick
2. Suppiah
3. Compton
4. Hildreth
5. Kieswetter
6. Buttler
7. Trego
8. Meschede
9. Philander
10. Kirby
11. Dockrell

12. Gregory

Hussain seems to be continually injured. Was really hoping he'd hit the ground running this season. Sigh.

plenty of batting in that line up.

Not so sure a about the bowling and a lot depending on VP/SK up front.

Top quality new ball pair: one proven and one highly promising change seamer: front line spinner with wickets at international level and highly competent back-up.
Not sure how much more bowling you could reasonably hope for!?!?

Told you Meschede would play!

Jos fully fit NAXXAR?

Should be fine because of the nature of the injury

Most of us at the Vale ground thought Craig Meschede would play.

I posted earlies that Jos will be playing

Quote:

Naxxar
Told you Meschede would play!

Fair enough! I don't mind know alls who also own up when they get it wrong! I'm sure you will tell us when you get it wrong!
Promise??

Of course! I get more wrong than right!! But Craig was a shoo-in based on his good pre-season form, the way he ended last season and the fact that Lewis was playing away.

On paper tomorrow's line up looks fine except for a concern over who will be first change bowler..

Quote:

Grockle
Kirby, Philander, Trego plus an other and George? Middlesex don't personally scare me if Somerset turn up for this game.

I am certainly not scared of Middx. I've always believed though that the team that believes it has the better bowling resources ( which with Philander and Kirby should be us) then you are better, if possible, NOT producing a track heavily favouring the bowlers. On a flatter track differences in quality of attack are accentuated, IMO.

Sky Sports reporting that Morgan is available for the sex Do they know something we don't? More likely we know stuff they don't, like IPL starting!

Toss could be a decent one to win..cloudy all day tomorrow, sunny spells Friday..

mind you, we won the toss first match last season and....

Quote:

Naxxar
Should be fine because of the nature of the injury

If I had a pec injury I think I should prefer to keep wicket rather than, say, field on the boundary (more stress on the pec throwing the ball a long way.)

Is there any chance that Jos might keep?

Quote:

Naxxar
Of course! I get more wrong than right!! But Craig was a shoo-in based on his good pre-season form, the way he ended last season and the fact that Lewis was playing away.
On paper tomorrow's line up looks fine except for a concern over who will be first change bowler..

Is Lewis having been in the middle east really a factor in his putative omission?

If so, seems a little harsh? And makes me wonder whether Lewis might flatly refuse any MCC invitation in future?

No, i think he will definitely play.

Quote:

Frome Exile
Top quality new ball pair: one proven and one highly promising change seamer: front line spinner with wickets at international level and highly competent back-up.
Not sure how much more bowling you could reasonably hope for!?!?

Thats fine FE. Two batting all rounders as back up and a spinner with very little first class exeprience is another way of looking at it.

However, there is only one way to obtain that experience!!!

Is Hussain definitively unfit i.e. still injured, is he not injured but not match fit, or is he simply not selected?

I assume Dibble is definitively injured?

If the 11 that NW5 mentioned is the actual team then I'm pleased to note the distinct absence of the type of unwieldy tail with which we began last season.

Quote:

AGod

Quote:

Naxxar
Of course! I get more wrong than right!! But Craig was a shoo-in based on his good pre-season form, the way he ended last season and the fact that Lewis was playing away.
On paper tomorrow's line up looks fine except for a concern over who will be first change bowler..

Is Lewis having been in the middle east really a factor in his putative omission?

If so, seems a little harsh? And makes me wonder whether Lewis might flatly refuse any MCC invitation in future?

No no..I don't pick the side, obviously..I don't know the criteria the selectors used..but I was just saying Craig had plenty of game time pre-season in English conditions and therefore, using that criteria, would be ahead of LG.

Think Dibble has knee trouble. It seized up in the Surrey game (having done it v Glamorgan) and was having an injection to try and sort it. Obviously that hasn't worked. Hopefully, its not too bad and in tyhe long run he and Hussain will have big parts to play cos we will need them at some stage.

Pity..Dibble looked decent pre-season..gained some pace and filled out a bit too

Looking at our side tomorrow re-inforces my view that VP is so crucial to us..if he gets off to a good start and we can get an opponent 50-3 or whatever..and on the front foot in a match from the word go..it reduces the pressure on the rest of the attack, bearing in mind CM and GD are inexperienced and PT isn't really a first change bowler these days...

Yeah, Ronnie, I think adding pace was a BR instruction to Dibble for the winter. Think I read that somewhere.

I hope the pitch contains less moisture than appearances might imply; and that George D will therefore have a big role to play. If George does a lot of bowling and bottles up one end, then we could employ VP in short, sharp bursts.

If not? VP may find himself being asked to be both stock and shock bowler. I think those are a couple of stools that Flintoff sometimes slipped between whilst playing for England.

With the cold weather like it is LG might just get the nod over GD.That would mean VP batting at 10. Thinks Kirbs wouldn't be too hapy with a no. 11 slot though, and might throw an early season wobbly!!

He'd have to be utterly delusional to seriously believe that he should bat ahead of Vernon.

Doesn't Vernon have a career highest score of 160 odd!?

I think that Peter Trego is only really a third - change bowler in the CC these days.

All the pre - season hype and ballyhoo will be over tomorrow when the first ball of the season is sent down.

I just hope that our batsmen (from Marcus Trescothick downwards) learn the merits and advantages of occupation of the crease. Too often in the past, our batting downfall has been on account of those at the top of the order wafting their bats as if playing in some Twenty20 game, and leaving the rest of the team with an unnecessary uphill task in trying to rebuild the innings.

How I have often wished that we had a grafter like Peter Roebuck, for example, to rely on.

If the players are conditioned to believe that they are the greatest team in the First Division, without having proved it, then they will fail abjectly.

If any side, in any sport, fail to recognise their shortcomings, then they will never improve. You can only do that by acknowledging that you are not as good as you believed yourself to be.

Let the season commence.

Hopefully Lewis Gregory will play he will provide a good 1st change bowling option which will be stronger than if he does`nt play

Quote:

AGod
He'd have to be utterly delusional to seriously believe that he should bat ahead of Vernon.
Doesn't Vernon have a career highest score of 160 odd!?

Sounds like the ideal number 3!!

Play the game, not the season.

That's where it all went wrong v Warks last year...

From what I heard things went wrong vs Warks mainly because of a calypso cavalier type approach to the batting on that occasion.

I would therefore echo Clarence's call and suggest that it would be a good thing if our batsmen were to bear in mind that there are a minimum of 288 overs available over the first 3 days of the game and a good number available on day 4 also.

Yes but the game was over as a contest when they batted first and made 600+, never mind our cavalier batting that followed.

The first match of any season is bound to come under extra scrutiny just because it is the first match. But a good performance against Middlesex won't mean we will be champions and a bad performance won't mean it's going to be a terrible season.

It's important to just play the match..the rest of the season will look after itself.

So..things we already know/suspect the night before the season starts...


George is getting the nod ahead of Max as Kartik's 'replacement'.

Craig M looks to have the early season advantage over Lewis.

Dibble looked to have the nod over Hussain until he got injured.

Youth is still being given a chance this season. So is homegrown talent (7 of tom's side are locally produced)

Our tail looks way stronger than it did exactly one year ago!


Tomorrow will be the first time in 5 CC matches that we are able to put out what most believe to be our strongest top 6.

I still hope to see GEORGE AND MAX bowling in tandem in the CC this season. As far as the 4 day game is concerned if either does not get a reasonable 'crack of the whip' I believe the loser will not be playing for us next season, but may come back to haunt us in future years.

Don't hold your breath! It could happen if we get a very dry hot summer but to play them BOTH together could be hard to engineer considering the balance of the side.

It would also depend on what Brian decides about an overseas player for part two of our season.

There is no way that Somerset will go into their first championship match of the season without a front line spinner...Dockrell will definitely play...his six wickets v Surrey ensure that. Meschede is ahead of Lewis with his recent five wicket haul plus a few runs...Lewis will be 12thers IMO.

Don't discount Arul Suppiah in your front line spinner equations

Quote:

Clarence Parker
I think that Peter Trego is only really a third - change bowler in the CC these days.

With respect, CP, unless you are using the term differently from the way in which I understand it (i.e. first change = third seamer, second change = fourth etc), then I think that is exceptionally harsh.
And more to the point, if we need another four seamers before him, then he would need to bat in the top five to justify his selection, and we'd have no chance of including him and a spinner in a balanced side!
Or have I misinterpreted you?

Arul's spin certainly not discounted G and I believe he is a highly effective member of the spin department but I would suggest he not seen as front line..he is there to bat primarily, George is there to spin.

Live weather update from HQ?

Bowling morning i'm guessing.....?

Very overcast but the early rain has stopped.

Very cold too. 6C at the ground right now. Hope our armchair supporters in Oman and at work in the UK are feeling warmer than here.

Forecast for cloud but dry. Brighter tomorrow.

Definitely an insert sort of morning.

Although we said that 12 months ago too!

You say that, Naxxar, but what about that old chestnut of 'too cold to swing'???

Admittedly we no longer have Charl anyway. But PT who will presumably be first change does rely mainly on swing.

Also - a horrid day on which to field? Much potential for damaged fingers in the slips.

Still, if the pitch remains very green, then I'd guess both sides may bat today...

The light had better improve it is very dark at this moment.

It's raining again right now out there and I can barely see the hills anymore.

Not confident of an 11am start, but... there's time yet.

Delayed start likely according to official site Twitter feed

Boo. Cursed Met Office.

Quote:

Naxxar
Very overcast but the early rain has stopped.
Very cold too. 6C at the ground right now. Hope our armchair supporters in Oman and at work in the UK are feeling warmer than here.

Forecast for cloud but dry. Brighter tomorrow.

Definitely an insert sort of morning.

Although we said that 12 months ago too!

What was it you said about my response to your original weather forecast?? It isn't dry at the moment in my part of TA1.

Quote:

Frome Exile

Quote:

Clarence Parker
I think that Peter Trego is only really a third - change bowler in the CC these days.

With respect, CP, unless you are using the term differently from the way in which I understand it (i.e. first change = third seamer, second change = fourth etc), then I think that is exceptionally harsh.
And more to the point, if we need another four seamers before him, then he would need to bat in the top five to justify his selection, and we'd have no chance of including him and a spinner in a balanced side!
Or have I misinterpreted you?

Partially, yes, Frome Exile.

With respect, I did say “third – change bowler”, not “third – change seamer.”

I am no analyst (we are well - served in that respect on this site) but I suspect that an examination of last season's scorecards would reveal that Peter was fairly often the fifth bowler to be used - especially after the return of Murali Kartik from the IPL.

Of course, the use of an attack is not set in stone, and there may be an occasion when it is right and proper for him to be given the new ball at the start of an innings, or alternatively not to use him at all.

With Hussain, Dibble, Gregory and Meschede vying for places, there is much of a much ness about our attack now that the left - arm variation of Charl Willoughby is no longer an option.

Whether any of the four afore - mentioned players will take their wickets at a better strike rate, economy rate or average in comparison to Peter Trego, remains to be seen.

I don't think any of them will achieve a better strike-rate than Pete. However, strike rate has never been much of a problem for Mr Trego anyway. His career strike-rate is enormously presentable for someone who is often second change.

If there is an issue with Pete that limits the amount that Marcus uses him, I think it's economy rate.

When I saw him, briefly, at Hove last season, I thought Meschede looked a good 'line,' bowler. And he seems to have gone well in pre-season. It might be that he will prove more economical than PT, IMO.

It's nice and warm in my office, but pretty dam cold and miserable outside, so my inability to get to Taunton today, is not so bad. Just last week it was wonderfully warm, so hopefully Spring will soon return.

Mike, I think single men can say it but not do it, in Oman.

A few years ago it would have been a 'frosty' welcome to Barmy Kev and f(r)iends, but now it's a cold, wet one.

Very depressing the cover are on just before the start of the match.




Is this a good sign for the season a BBC Somerset van at a county match, or is it because it is the start of a new season?
We will see.

Ironically, after a sharp overnight frost it is dry and sunny in Newcastle after the snow of earlier in the week. As long as it's fine for my trip to Birmingham next week.

Playing everywhere else in all scheduled CC games.

Is it still actually raining down there?

Please, a weather update anyone? Proposed start? No updates anywhere on the web for about 50 minutes now.

\yes - there is still rain in the air and cloud cover.

Can't see any play this side of lunch.

FWIW, this is Peter Trego's FC bowling career stratified according to when he bowled:

_BowlNo     I        O     M      R     W   balls     Ave      SR   Econ   5WI   BBI
====================================================================================
      1     3    21.3      5    102     0     129      -       -     4.7     0  0-22
      2    14   151.3     26    627    16     909   39.19   56.81    4.1     0  4-72
      3    46   505.3     95   1995    56    3033   35.63   54.16    3.9     1  6-59
      4    62   761.0    132   2796    76    4566   36.79   60.08    3.7     0  4-22
      5    40   377.5     71   1398    34    2267   41.12   66.68    3.7     0  3-46
      6    12   102.1     18    376    12     613   31.33   51.08    3.7     0  4-26
      7     3    11.0      2     40     0      66      -       -     3.6     0   0-5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall   180  1930.3    349   7334   194   11583   37.80   59.71    3.8     1  6-59

Doesn't directly answer the question being debated above, but interesting enough to note that there's very little shape to it.

Good stuff!!!

I think we should start the season in March, have a break April to August and then finish it all off in Sept, Oct and early Nov.

We would avoid the IPL that way too!!

...and avoid the bad weather Ronnie!

yes, still raining over in Wood St which is about 200m away.

Denly is playing according to Richard Latham of the Guardian

I would guess a start at about 4pm, (subject to no more rain) if our weather in southside of TA1 is anything to go on.

And, while we're waiting, here's a tenuously related PQQ:

Amongst seam bowlers, who has the best test bowling average at first-change?

(minimum of 50 test wickets at BowlNo 3)

correct SJB.avoid the weather.

Forecast I saw OB was that the weather was moving away south so maybe a tad earlier than 4?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:05:12:47:31 by Ronniesabre.

Lunching at 12.30pm

Any more news? Still raining?

Mopping up going on further inspection at 13.45 - hopefully 2 o'clock start.

BBC London's Kevin Hand has tweeted 'Hopefully 2.00 start'

Edit NW5 beat me to it!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:05:13:29:57 by chunkyinargyll.

Mopping up at Taunton and a further inspection at 13.45 - hopefully 2 o'clock start.

Quote:

Keith's Sweater
And, while we're waiting, here's a tenuously related PQQ:
Amongst seam bowlers, who has the best test bowling average at first-change?

(minimum of 50 test wickets at BowlNo 3)

Joel Garner?

Official announcement has just been made over the tannoy at the County Ground that a further inspection will be made at 1.45pm with the wicket and square needing running repairs. Half the covers around the square are off with the other half about to be removed. The pitch remains covered and there's still some work to be done before we get any play here between Somerset and Middlesex.

Quote:

AGod

Quote:

Keith's Sweater
And, while we're waiting, here's a tenuously related PQQ:
Amongst seam bowlers, who has the best test bowling average at first-change?

(minimum of 50 test wickets at BowlNo 3)

Joel Garner?

Nice thinking, but he comes third.

Caddick?

Quote:

NW5Somerset
Caddick?

Nope (almost all his test wickets came in innings in which he took the new ball).

And, in case I've led folk astray by calling it a PQQ, there's no Somerset connection. It's just a surprising bit of trivia.

Botham?

Quote:

NW5Somerset
Botham?

Another plausible shout. He's fourth on the list.

If there is no more rain, we are starting at 2.45!

Jason Gillespie

Quote:

SillyMidOn
Jason Gillespie

Surprisingly only took 33 test wickets as first-change (and not at an average that would challenge our man, in any case).

Keith mentioned the word 'surprising.'

But I cannot think of a surprise candidate (perhaps not surprisingly) so I'll stick with my previous theme and guess Andy Roberts?

Minimum of 55 overs today

Tea is 4.25 to 4.45

Close 6.30 or when 55 overs are bowled

Quote:

AGod
... Andy Roberts?

Here's another surprise: he took the new ball in every test match he bowled in.

Courtney Walsh or Malcolm Marshall?

Quote:

Frome Exile
Courtney Walsh or Malcolm Marshall?

Sixth and tenth, respectively. Marshall's average went up quite a bit when he didn't get the new ball (one of the facts I tend to point out when arguing that Garner was better) (I also tend to mention my memory of Jimmy Cook spanking Marshall around Taunton like a net bowler).

I think I have guessed it; Murali?

Quote:

AGod
I think I have guessed it; Murali?

I did specify seam bowlers. Nevertheless, our man has a better average even than Murali at first-change (though not as good as Briggs, Laker, or Verity).

We won the toss and will field first.

Somerset team

ME Trescothick*, AV Suppiah, NRD Compton, JC Hildreth, C Kieswetter†, JC Buttler, PD Trego, CAJ Meschede, VD Philander, GH Dockrell, SP Kirby

Middlesex team

SD Robson, JL Denly, CJL Rogers, DJ Malan, NJ Dexter*, JA Simpson†, GK Berg, OP Rayner, TJ Murtagh, TS Roland-Jones, CD Collymore

Okay, Keith, final Windies guess;

I R Bishop?

I'll stop clogging the thread up, now there's something worthwhile to discuss.

Told you the answer was unexpected, though.

I did consider that name. Wasn't sure he'd have bowled that much with the new ball.

The most striking thing about that list is how quickly the records become really ordinary as you work down the list.

Anyway, we're off.

Vernon!!

Philander strikes with just his 3rd ball.

Robson caught behind.

Middlesex 0/1

Nice one Verne!

Go Boys!!

Sounds like he is right on the money, accuracy wise.

This is probably what we expected. I think most are far less certain of what will happen when the change pacemen come on.

Can I check if my experience of commentary is the same as others?

Using the web page player it is almost impossible to listen to because the volume is very low

Using the external player there is mre control over volume but the starting level makes it very difficult to hear from any kind of distance?

I'm listening on a laptop linked through powered speakers and even then I have the volume at a particularly high level.

Also one mike (Paul Hart's) is at a level distinctly below the other one.

I'm feeding back to the club to try and improve the service so any other comments would be welcomed.

But at least I heard the first wicket at Somewrset from VP!!

What will happen when the change pacemen come on is that the batsmen will be so releived to see the back of VP and SK that they will relax and be out!!

And rather than speculating on how bad they will be ... we can wait and see because they will come on in the next 3 or 4 hours.

Have you been on to the ground AG warning them that Gary might be ringing?

The commentators have suggested that he might need a longish spell to get used to the environment. Brian must be very nervous.

We've been very unlucky not to have taken more than one wicket.

I didn't say 'bad,' I said uncertain.

And we are about to find out..

At 70% volume on my laptop I can hear main commentator very well. The second mic is a little below par.

The quality over the net is very good.

Yes, well done, GM, you were right. Sucker trap for Rogers! Huge scalp for Meschede.

well done young man.hopefully settle him down now.

I have been searching the icons for the radio link, but can't find it, so what hope has a newcomer? Do you all have pictures at the top of the screen or do you have sub-titles as well? I thought Grockle said click on the Fonz, but that seems to be a broken link. Someone on FB is enquiring about live streaming, so I thought I'd point him / her this way.

It used to be Kartik I think. Don't know if he's even still there, though.

I'm on Beeb London over the net, myself.

Kartik is working for me, despite his defection. I tried BBC London, but they told me I had to upgrade something, my washing machine, I think. Not worth the bother.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Yes - It's the Kartik link Both. Or you could just point your FB contact to http://www.cricketcommentary.co.uk/somerset/

KB



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:05:16:13:25 by Kingston Black.

Sorry Botham I've only mentioned it twice on the forum this season and identified it on the frontpage story that this is linked to.

I can see why you would find it so hard to find.

Grockle, I assume you mean you can't see?

What happens if newcomers visit the site and they haven't been following your clues?

Thanks to everyone else for their assistance.

I can't see an image of Kartik. All the other links seem to go to an ESPN site.

Murali Kartik is sat on Alf's right shoulder.

KB

So he is KB and it works. Thank you

Some of your guys clearly prefer the BBC London commentary.

Two of them have had emails read out already! (I won't say who incase they get blackballed!)

For the past 3 years ALL stories where there is commentary are identified under the title of the game with a link where there is one or instructions where to find it.

These fronpage stories are linked to threads for the game. It isn't my fault you don't bother to read the reports on your county's games.

At least Grockles actually have a link!!

I don't know why you think newbies are the only ones with a problem I told you all this last season when you didn't bother to look for it at all then. New people to the site can ask and people will happily explain it to them - they'l only really need telling once won't they?

Sorry you can't recognise Murali Kartik after 2 years. He will change when I get some software to alter the picture. I'll choose someone else you don't know so we can educate you to other new players at the county.

Reverse Swing - please don't be offended by the fact I have removed your link to BBC London. We have had a policy for many years that we don't link to sites that provide nothing to us in return. When volunteers provide their time to commentate on the county its only right that it is the commentary we should promote and if people want to find other sources that give us nothing in return they should find them for themselves by going to BBC Sport or whereever rather than supporters here providing that service for them.

If there is no commentary of course or there are technical difficulties then that is a different issue.

Because Botham can't find things despite being told about them on more than one occasion seems no reason to change that policy. But thanks for thinking about him nevertheless.

chunkyinargyll

Quote:

Some of your guys clearly prefer the BBC London commentary.
Two of them have had emails read out already! (I won't say who incase they get blackballed!)

The comment about Radio London is a good one Chunky.

The absence of an e-mail access point on Somerset's commentary is something that they ought to work on, though having said that, when I've been in the box and offered replies to e-mail comments there hasn't been a huge take-up from listeners.

I suppose it is something you have to cultivate over a consistent period of time. Presently the commentators do not have access to IT in the box unless they provide their own.

It's not a question of being 'blackballed' by the way, how people choose to watch/listen to their cricket is entirely up to them.

It's just as a supporters site we support people who give up their time to provide a service and let the commercial operations market their products through their own commercial access points.

Now if they want to pay us to promote them... now that is an entirely different matter.

According to Eric Cole on the radoi at the moment they are using Grockles and reading comments so if you want to make them then direct them to the commentators.





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:05:17:30:08 by Grockle.

Cheers Eric and Tom (and hello Paul and Chris).

It's 31 degrees here - but it is 8:20 at night. The commentary is coming is loud and clear after Tea, a few issues before the break.

Rather be there to be honest.

Was gong to mail good wishes to you and the boys but I haven't got a record of your e-mail address here.

Will bring some sun with me in June when I'm back home

Off at 5:30 for light. Probably it!!

Sounds like a good performance by SCCC on a day when conditions for bowling and fielding must have been much worse than for batting.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Can anyone please tell me the name of the person who was in the commentary box talking to Julian Cattenach (apologies if it was not him, and furthermore if I have spelt his name incorrectly) this morning before play started?

Despite the fact that there was at the time no play on which to commentate, he sounded very knowledgeable on the subject of Somerset cricket and also had a good vocal delivery.

I seem to recall him being referred to as Ben, but as I was flitting in and out of the room at the time, I may be mistaken.

If he is to be a part of the commentary team this season, I look forward to hearing more of him – as of course I do to all the others who volunteer to provide the service.

Ben Manning.

A decent mini shift by our bowlers today. VP was every inch the star we hoped he would be and could have had a 5-for already with better luck. Kirbs bowled well without much luck, Pete found some swing, George looked tidy and Craig recovered from a shaky start to get his wicket.

Philander looked every bit as good as we've been led to believe. I think that as long as he stays fit he WILL SURELY win the Test series against England for SA. I am checking what odds I can get on that.

Thank you, Naxxar.

Do you know him or of him?

I know many people

Shame about the weather, but I would think we're pretty happy having them 4 down for just 118.

Now, clear then up tomorrow for 150 total please !

Grizzzly

I've done shifts with him and he knows his stuff CP. Most of the main guys do, they';ve been watching at Taunton for a considerable number of years.

It looks like they have the initial technology issues sorted - no-one did a technical run through this year beforehand but the problems seem to have been ironed out by the after Tea session.

First day photos of the Middlesex match, with the day shorten and bad light at the end I had not much to choose from.



Vernon Philander in bowling action.



Vernon Philander getting the wicket of Sam Robson ct Craig Kieswetter with his second ball of the day.



Vernon Philander beat the bat lots of times Chris Rogers found that he was hard to play.



This shot by Chris Rogers could only result in one or two things happening, either a six or caught on the boundary with two fielders out there. He was caught by George Dockrell off the bowling of Craig Meschede.



This lbw shout by Vernon Philander against Chris Rogers was turned down by the umpires who must have thought it was going over the stumps.

Quote:

old boy!
Philander looked every bit as good as we've been led to believe. I think that as long as he stays fit he WILL SURELY win the Test series against England for SA. I am checking what odds I can get on that.

Well, he's the first guy for 117 years or whatever it is to get to 50 wkts that quickly. And then, at the other end, they have the guy with the best strike rate in the modern history of the game, in Dale Steyn.

So, yes, the England batsmen had best cash in during the series with the Windies.

A few more images, along with some brief commentary on my flickr account:

Somerset v Middlesex, Taunton, 5-8 April 2012

Like Mike, not a great number of images due to the short day, and the fact I was just enjoying watching some cricket!

Many thanks to both for the wonderful photography.

great pics thanks.

Just listened to VP's interview on ecbtv. Apparently according to that he is only here for 6 weeks, which by my reckoning mewans he is only here till mid May. Is this what has been agreed. It also leaves us short for about 3/4 CC games.

Not been told Ron. Maybe this interview will prompt some information to be forthcoming. When do the Saffers start?

They don't start until one month aftrr his tenure was supposed to end (which was after nine games, I think.)

ECBtv might be wrong. Or perhaps you were right all along Ron and they have lopped a few games off the end of his stint.

Still, 5 or 6 games of VP would be a lot better than 9 games of the vast majority of other overseas players.

If he is limited to the first 5 or 6 games, then you wonder what Brian will do next? Try to get through to the T20 window without an overseas and then sign one for the post T20 phase? Try to find somebody available both pre T20 and post T20, or be left with the even more arduous task of finding two different overseas players (in addition to VP) to get us through the season.

If this is earlier then he should be fully used while he is here.

Weatherwise much better today so far. Should be warmer as well. There are some darkish clouds in North West but heres hoping anyway. Guinea pig back on the lawn this morning is proof that things are improving!!

Many thanks to both for the photographs. I particularly liked the one of Kirby and Philander scrutinising the ball.

t

Not a cloud in the sky in the SE this morning.

How are things in TA1.

Quote:

Grockle
If this is earlier then he should be fully used while he is here.

Absolutely.

Well bowled Kirbs!! Denly 73 ct and Bowled. 130-5

Thanks for the commentary Bill and colleague - keep up the good work.

BTW Peter Trego is called Tree go not Tray go!

And another BTW:
Kirby comes from Lancashire, not Yorkshire. I can tell that from my armchair (or can I?).

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Cricinfo dead for everyone I assume? stuck on 126/4

The other scores seem to be moving on and I wonder whether the problem relating to our match has something to do with the current inadequacy of the scoreboard.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

How does that work? I presume the pa feed is connected to the official match scorers equipment at each ground and there is some feed device linked to the scoreboard and to the remote sites that consume it, or maybe it's a web service and anyone can request from it....

The geek in me would really love to know.

Ah well, a text from a friend tells me Big Vern now has 4, 143/6

Cricinfo has woken up - in time for VP's fifth: 150-7.

This boy can bowl a bit can't he?

Is there a link for commentary?

I do hope you are taking the proverbial BJ!

Another one gone, Rayner lbw.

Me?
Never.

Dockrell far too good for Roland-Jones, by the sound of it.

Middx commentators reckon we've done enough already to have taken more than ten wickets and have been very unlucky.

Nice to see GD get a couple, did he bowl well?

Anyone know how many FC wickets Mendis got for us? Big Vern has got to be close.

5000 first class runs for Compton. And while we are waiting for Trescothick's fiftieth century we must also prepare ourselves for his 20,000th run.

What a hero!

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

For the commentators' benefit, I do indeed live in London, but spent three years in Lhasa, in the first of which I first became acquainted with the Grockles website.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

We all know he was there on Her Majesty's business although he denies it vehmently.

Quote:

Loyal of Lhasa.
5000 first class runs for Compton. And while we are waiting for Trescothick's fiftieth century we must also prepare ourselves for his 20,000th run.
What a hero!

Keith's Sweater sent in a stat to the radio team yesterday.

Stat was that, given a qualifying number of innings the exact number of which I forget, Nick Compton actually has the best average of any English player for SCCC in our history.

I think it may have been 20 matches, the minimum number applicable to the stat.

And the stat did not include the massive knock vs Cardiff.

Marcus's runs from 1993 to 2011
Somerset 13135
England A 199
England 5825
England XI 556
Overall

284 matches

489 innings

29 not outs

19715 runs

284 highest score

42.85 average

49 Centuries

97 50's

369 catches

Hope thisis useful to the commentary team

If I hear Stuart Lancaster bumping on about honour and privilege one more time when I'm trying to listen to the game I game going to do something I regret.....and no LoL, that doesn't mean buy a round of drinks.

My lips are sealed.

I did indeed meet you in the commentary box last year and hope to be at Taunton again later in the season.

Damn.

And again.

Going to have to be on our mettle now to avoid a collapse either side of tea.

Time to show some balls......as I'd frequently say during my nursing career.

Surprised by MT's bowling record! Did not realise how many wickets he had professionally

Somerset 31 first class and 48 one day

England 1 first class (who was it?) and 4 one day

If you add to that 4 England A and 1 England XI plus 4 Youth Test and 5 one day victims it gives him

99 career wickets!! Needs to turn his arm over this year!

ERIC post me your e-mail via paul.birdy@sky.com

Sounds like an incredibly inept piece of cricket all round with both of our guys at one end and Middx still not able to run them out (thankfully.)

ROY (I think it's Roy), PLEASE TURN YOUR MIC ON !!!!

Can someone please tell Roy Kerslake to turn his microphone on? He is the only commentator really worth listening to and we can hardly hear him.

Thank you! That's better. Now what has Roy been talking about?

Quote:

Grockle
99 career wickets!! Needs to turn his arm over this year!

PLEASE NO! Remember that ankle support! We'll manage without his bowling!

Middx commentators coming through loud and clear.. and sounding rather depressed!

Well, Tractor, I think that's the first time I have been to a match at Taunton, without you presents!

Lovely day and a nice ride along the canal, but a tad chilly later on.

Tomorrow I am risking the slow train via Castle Cary, so cider should warm BarmyKev and me up!

I did tell them Tractor and they sorted it out but it seems to have taken a while.

It's a shame because Roy does speak about the game with such clarity.

Every CC day this season so far has been better for SCCC than the previous one. Let's keep that up...

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

No collapse either side of Tea. Just thought I'd mention that for those worried about it.

No collapse at all in fact - thought I'd mention that as well

Terribly disappointing that we're still in arrears after day two.
If we see much more of this in the coming weeks then I fully expect Brian Rose to do the honourable thing and resign.
Shameful.

BJ is right as always. Surely we should have won this match, if not the CC, by now.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

BJ is right as always. Surely we should have won this match, if not the CC, by now.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Looks like a good team effort!

MET's one test wicket -- bowling first change on the first morning of a test match! -- was Imran Nazir. [That match otherwise best remembered for finishing in the dark.]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:06:20:38:47 by Keith's Sweater.

You're so right, LoL....I am always right.
In fairness I do expect us to win this by an innings just before close of play tomorrow.
It's apparent to a seasoned observer such as myself that this rag-tag mob from London aren't up for the fight....which is a shame, some of their fans seem like a nice bunch, they deserve better.
As for the CC?
We'll win it of that I have no doubt, after testing the water over the past few seasons I think this is our treble year after, anything else would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Upwards and onwards, the boys are once again in the process of showing why we are the best cricket side in the world.
It has been a long and dreadful winter.
Let's hope for lots of smiles now the sun is shining again.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:06:20:46:25 by Big Jim.

BJ
Shouldn't we win the 2nd XI championship as well?? AND the tiddely winks trophy also?

Day two photos, warmer today until it got cloudy and then it was like yesterday.



George Dockrell gave Toby Roland-Jones a hard time, this ball made it hard for Craig Kieswetter to take cleanly.



George Dockrell almost had Toby Roland-Jones caught by the close fielder the ball not quite within reach.



George Dockrell managed to trap Ollie Raynor lbw.



Vernon Philander had another good day often beating the bat, John Simpson found out how hard it was to bat against his bowling.



It wasn’t all Somerset today Middlesex had their moments as well, James Hildreth only scored one before being bowled by Gareth Berg.



George Dockrell managed to get two wickets, this was Corey Collymore trapped lbw by George Dockrell.

As I now have access to the SportNetwork editing facility, I wonder what I can do!

Quote:

Botham
As I now have access to the SportNetwork editing facility, I wonder what I can do!

Not on this site yoiu don't

Quote:

Grockle

Quote:

Botham
As I now have access to the SportNetwork editing facility, I wonder what I can do!

Not on this site yoiu don't

I have no idea what I have access to, but since I don't understand the code, it's not of much use.

You have to have access passwords approved by the editor of the site and you don't have them so I'm really not particularly interested in what you have.

Do SN know you have access? Broadcasting it on one of their sites if they don't seems a little daft doesn't it?





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:06:21:59:37 by Grockle.

It was good to see Richard Johnson at the ground today.

Grockle - Kev gave Botham the code for MTWD site, so he could change the picture on our front page, so all legit.

(pity all our posts are now in italics though)

How good to have a determined batting performance when it was needed. My new laptop enabled me to listen to the commentary for the first time-I remembered to click on MK- and was delighted with it. Mrs GM says that is the height of luxury, watching the test match with the sound off so we could listen to the commentary from Taunton at the same time.

By the way BJ, I'm not sure how I~ get Stuart Lancaster but I could well do without him

Busy working all day, so missed our progress today.

All looking rather encouraging, he said with fingers firmly crossed !

ECB highlights provide a nice tase of the action. James got a snorter & how CK survived the run out comedy I don't know.

Make it count tomorrow lads..

Grizzzly

Quote:

chunkyinargyll
Grockle - Kev gave Botham the code for MTWD site, so he could change the picture on our front page, so all legit.
(pity all our posts are now in italics though)

Thanks for the clarification Chunky. Why a poster should feel the need to share this kind of info on a public forum is beyond me. But that isn't particularly unusual....

I thought it would be quite a lot of nothing but that being confirmed is much appreciated.

Quote:

chunkyinargyll
Grockle - Kev gave Botham the code for MTWD site, so he could change the picture on our front page, so all legit.
(pity all our posts are now in italics though)

I checked the italics thing with Luke, last night and he says he didn't go into that area, so I can't help.

As for having access to the site, it was a wind up, which worked magnificently.

Early morning weather report from HQ???

Weather is ok today (overcast and muggy) and better tomorrow. Monday is utterly shocking so we have dodged a bullet there!

Cricket fans up and down the country have waited over six long, dark, miserable months. Some will have turned to football or rugby as a distraction; others, like me, for whom cricket is the only fix, will have spent the wee small hours under the duvet tuning in to Aggers and co or the Sky team. When time and finances allow we may even fly to sunnier climates for our fix. (Warning – following the England team abroad in the winter can be as addictive as class A drugs. It can also be as mentally draining and certainly proved as expensive thanks to the Sri Lankan cricket board)

The clocks have gone forward, spring has sprung (and pressed the snooze button and gone back to sleep). The day has arrived. Armed with blankets, Thermos flasks and a not inconsiderable amount of thermal underwear cricket fans are out in force for the first day of the County Championship.

SOMERSET v MIDDLESEX 5-8 APRIL 2012 COUNTY GROUND, TAUNTON
Day 1

Somerset and Middlesex supporters were forced to wait an extra three-and-a-quarter hours as rain and gloom descended on Taunton on Thursday morning. My early morning drive from Liverpool had started in bright 7am sunshine. Hopes were high as they always are before a ball has been bowled, no matter who you support. I had TMS on the radio, England's batsmen were in the ascendancy for probably the first time this winter, Pietersen was showing the world he still has it, whatever it is, flaying the Sri Lankans to all corners of the P Sara Stadium in Colombo, watched by many friends old and new I had left behind in Sri Lanka. Then as I passed the Weston turn off the M5, the rain started, and was still falling as I reached Taunton. This hadn't been in the script – I questioned my motives in leaving Sri Lanka for both cricketing and climatic reasons.

An early lunch was taken and after inspections play was scheduled to start at 2.45. Trescothick won the toss and did the same as the rest of the day's lucky @#$%& – put the opposition in to bat. The team is confirmed; as suspected Lewis Gregory misses out. The supporters who have sat out the morning rain will get a chance to see Vernon Philander bowling. Joe Denly is fit and takes his place at the top of the order on debut for Middlesex.

It is still overcast and cold when play gets under way. We do not have to wait long as the second-fastest-bowler-to-50-Test-wickets is unleashed from the River End for the first over. Neither do we have long to wait for his first wicket as he gets Robson edging behind third ball of the over. Welcome to Taunton Mr Philander. You can stay as long as you want. And welcome to Division 1 Middlesex. There is a good lbw shout off the last ball of this opening over too, but the umpire is unmoved and Kirby starts the second over of the match from the Old Pavilion end.

The opening spell of 13 overs by Philander and Kirby is probably better/more hostile than any new-ball bowling I saw last season. Denly and Chris Rogers do well just to survive, although Denly does show signs of the talent that had him on the fringes of international recognition a few seasons ago, with three boundaries when Kirby and later Philander stray from their lines. Philander is bowling at least one unplayable ball every over and is unlucky to finish his spell with just the single wicket having had two or three very strong lbw shouts. After 13 overs Middlesex are just 25-1.

Unfortunately the double change, with Meschede coming on for Kirby at the Old Pavilion end and Trego replacing Philander from the River End releases all this pressure. Meschede is bowling too full and goes for 13 runs, including three Denly boundaries, in his first over and follows up with two boundaries from Rogers in his second. Trego is not treated as harshly from the River End but has the opposite problem, generally dropping it a bit short. But in their first four overs Middlesex double their score to pass 50. However such feast after a period of famine can make the batsman greedy and in Meschede's next over Rogers picks up on a ball that only a mother would love and sticks it straight down the throat of Dockrell at deep backward square. Middlesex 51-2.
The loss of Rogers puts the Middlesex brakes on and after 23 overs they have moved along to just 69-2. Meschede and Trego have got their line and length a bit more sorted but neither look particularly threatening. Dockrell replaces Meschede at the old pavilion end for a couple of overs before tea, which is taken after 26 overs. Middlesex go to tea 71-2 with Denly looking set on 37 and Malan 11.

After the interval Trescothick returns to his opening bowlers. Philander is on the money straight away and removes Malan lbw with the first ball of his third over after tea.
Incoming batsman Dexter is lucky not to be lbw first ball, and takes a single off a no-ball later in the over to get away from Philander. Kirby is more to his liking as he hasn't found the control of his opening spell but its only a matter of time before Philander gets his man as he bowls him in the 35th . The Middlesex captain may consider himself unlucky as just ten more balls are bowled before the umpires decide the light is too bad and play is suspended for the day. Somerset will feel it is a job well done after choosing to field first, Middlesex 118-4 off 36.1 overs, Simpson 2* and the impressive Denly 64* Philander has announced his arrival at Taunton with 3-21 off 12.1 overs. Despite having lost feeling in various extremities somewhere around the tea interval I'm no longer hankering for the Sri Lankan sun.

Day 2

Now this is more like it. Clear blue skies and a warming sun to temper the early April chill, there is a good turnout for the second day of this match with plenty of supporters in the Trescothick and Botham stands, the Old Pavilion and along the benches of Gimbletts Hill. It is not long before the Somerset-supporting majority to have something to cheer as Kirby puts the fielding training from Chris Taylor to good use to take a return catch from Denly. His 73 off 120 balls with 12 boundaries augurs well for Middlesex this season. Meanwhile Philander is continuing to cause problems from the River end and his fourth wicket of the innings – Berg lbw – is inevitably followed by his fifth as Dockrell takes a sharp catch off Simpson. Philander's work is done – his 8th of the morning lacks the threat of the previous seven (strictly speaking 6.5 as the first was completing the over started last evening) and he is replaced by Dockrell.

Just as Middlesex are anticipating reaching a first batting point Rayner goes lbw to Dockrell. But Murtagh is still there and along with Roland-Jones takes Middlesex past 200. These two are proving to be an irritant and the 9th wicket partnership reaches 35 before Nick Compton is on the right end of a run out for a change, his direct hit sending Murtagh back to the Caddyshack for 45. Middlesex are nine down for 228 but Somerset fail to wrap up the innings before lunch – or at least they would have done had the new regulations which mean lunch is no longer an immovable feast meant they stayed out on the park beyond 1pm until Dockrell ended Middlesex's tail-end resistance four short of a second batting point. Marcus has 354 reasons to be happy over the slightly delayed lunch – the last time he won the toss on the opening day of the season and invited the visitors to bat they made 600.

Marcus and Arul come out to open the batting after lunch in what is admittedly better conditions than those facing Middlesex on the first day. They cruise to 50 with no real concerns; Arul in particular looking comfortable, so it is something of a surprise when he edges Berg, who replaced Collymore at the River end after a spell of just 4 overs, to the keeper.

Some unwelcome boos from a few Middlesex supporters greet Compton as he joins Trescothick who starts to unleash some sweetly timed shots. He moves on to 46 with a beautifully stroked drive. It never ceases to amaze me just how easy he can make batting look. Compton meanwhile scores his 5000th run in first class cricket. But Compton is taking a lot of time and care getting himself in – not something I would normally complain about, but he is also hogging much of the strike. Trescothick has become bogged down in the high 40s and maybe it is a bit of anxiety or impatience, but when Ollie Rayner comes on from the River end in the 27th over he edges the fifth ball of the over and dexter takes the catch. Trescothick out for 47 and Somerset 102-2. This becomes 103-3 as Hildreth is surprised by a yorker from Berg and is gone for just the single. Tea intervenes in the nick of time; Compton 9* and Kieswetter yet to score.

The final session is a lesson from Compton and a new grown-up sensible-batting version of Kieswetter. There is a period of consolidation after tea, they play each ball on its merit and the bad balls are treated as they deserve. There is of course a run-out chance – would we expect anything else with Compton at the crease – but somehow, with both batsmen stranded at the same end, Kieswetter gets back to the other end before Middlesex can get the ball there.

By stumps both batters have their half centuries and Somerset their first batting point of the summer. With time lost on the first day Somerset will hope they can transform the 44 run deficit with seven wickets in hand to a sizeable lead on day 3.

If today is going to be muggy and humid then it sounds like batting may be tricky.

If tomorrow's forecast is for better batting conditions then it may not be disastrous if we actually end up with a scant lead and then start bowling in favourable conditions, after lunch today.

Don't think it is muggy and humid. More cool and overcast.

A two sweaters day for fielders and overcoat for fans!!

Super report Baggy - just loved the comment about Compo being on the right end of a run-out.

The Crucifixion scene in "The Life of Brian" was sadly wasted on poor AGod. The word was "bright" not "dire".

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Thank you Bagpuss for another splendid report on the first two days' play.

Having been there myself, I consider it to be a very accurate account of the events that took place.

Quote:

Botham
....As for having access to the site, it was a wind up, which worked magnificently.

Well you're an idiot then sir IMHO because had I been at all bothered you'd be explaining the comments to SN. Had it 'worked magnificently', you would be explaining your incredible jape via the PM system trying to deal with a site ban

I know this site is not accessible by you having the codes and simply clarified that and what you actually meant. thanks to Chunky that was done this morning.

What a childish and silly thing to do.... have you nothing better to occupy your time with? Once again, what you seem to think is a sense of humour turns out to be a sad sense of the absurd.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:07:11:30:14 by Grockle.

Lovely report, as ever, Baggers.

It sounds as if Compton and Kieswetter batted very sensibly to consolidate Somerset's positon after tea yesterday. It was good to see that four of the top five batsmen have made runs. With three good batsmen to follow, we can hope for a substantial first innings lead.

Sadly, Kartik is not working for me today, having been perfect yesterday.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Thanks Bag... If it is OK I'll supplement the frontpage with it later today. This is what is really good this year as there will not be a semi permanent presence at home games for the first part of the season.

Thanks very much to anyone who can do this. It provides that live aspect to the reports.

There was some criticism of Compton in certain quarters yesterday, not here I hasten to add, for his "dropping anchor" approach.
For me however this is what we so desperately need, the steady ship, the man making the bowlers tired and frustrated whilst the pretty boys apply the warpaint.
Superb stuff from these two, from the whole team.
We've hit the ground running this year, make no mistake about that.

Quote:

Loyal of Lhasa.
Sadly, Kartik is not working for me today, having been perfect yesterday.

Nor me, but I was at the game for the first two days.

You could try this link if it works:-

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Think the broadcast is not working. Have tried on Direct Link and Windows Media Player - no success.

The link to the 'Sex commentary is working Fine.

Yes - There was apparently a little 'atmosphere' between Compo and the Sex according to the commentators and Baggy mentions him being greeted with some booing. I'm with Jim on this - his gritty approach in this game may not be fantastic to watch but it is precisely what's needed in this match IMHO. I suspect he is very determined to grind out a decent score against his former employers if he possibly can. More power to his elbow says I.

Quote:

Big Jim
There was some criticism of Compton in certain quarters yesterday, not here I hasten to add, for his "dropping anchor" approach.
For me however this is what we so desperately need, the steady ship, the man making the bowlers tired and frustrated whilst the pretty boys apply the warpaint.
Superb stuff from these two, from the whole team.
We've hit the ground running this year, make no mistake about that.

Tavare opposite Botham at Old Trafford in '81, even if our man at the other end yesterday was not in Botham mode.

Thanks CP. I couldn't make that one work yesterday, but it's all right today.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter