And It Comes Down to This CC1 2013
By Grockle et al
September 24 2013
With the last use of Jos Buttler's photo as a Somerset player on the front of it we come to the story of the end of the 2013 season and a match at Trent Bridge that will determine the fates of a number of Division 1 sides in 2014 - us included. It hasn't quite come to the end some predicted yet but it is still too close to call and the next 4 days will put the final seal on the assessment of this year. However it turns out there is no doubt there are a lot of questions that need answers in the winter.
v Nottinghamshire @ Trent Bridge Tuesday 24 September 2013
With almost a full squad to choose from and a lot of younger players pushing to be included in their own right at this end of the season you would imagine Somerset should feel progress has been made in 2013. For some this is true. Lewis Gregory, Craig Meschede, Jack Leach and Alex Barrow can fully expect to be considered on merit and not because injury requires their inclusion. For others, this move has made their nailed on positions precarious to say the least. The overall lack of performance by this four day unit has put the county at the risk of relegation and has failed to move us consistently away from that zone whenever the opportunity has shown itself.
Marcus Trescothick has only one injury to cover - Steve Kirby has not made the fitness grade to play this game after injury which has barred him from the run in. Jos Buttler and Jamie Overton return for possible selection after the England Australia series was completed and for Jos this will be his last game in a Somerset shirt as he moves up North by all accounts at the end of the season to further his keeping career in the Lancashire rain and drizzle. Piyush Chawla has also been recalled by the BCCI and will miss the last game - let us hope we don't miss his bat which has been almost as important as his bowling during the last few games.
So the skipper picks from a sqaud of;
Trescothick, Compton, Jones, Hildreth, Barrow, Kieswetter, Dockrell, Thomas, Trego, Overton J, Gregory, Meschede and Buttler
One would assume that with the seam resources being so limited, Thomas and Overton will play along with the batting front end that has performed so poorly most of the season. Marcus continues to insist on opening even though it has been more of a hinderance than a help to the number 3 batsman who tends be in before the shine is off the ball because of the decision. Nick Compton will be keen to show Mr Miller and the other England selection idiots why they have made a grave error by not including him in the Australia squad when Cook and Trott have shown little or no form in the summer. We need his stability even if his face does not fit in the 3 Lions camp.
Craig will keep but who will make up the rest of the front 5 is up for debate. Chris Jones is in a bit of a slump and in that respect he joins James Hildreth and summarises his whole season it seems. Alex Barrow has done little wrong in the last few games and can be expected to be a serious consideration at this end of the season.
One expects that Pete Trego will play but it is hard to see how he can keep out either Craig Meschede or Lewis Greogry on the basis of his batting or bowling presently if it comes down to a straight choice. The decision about playing a spinner may come down to the hour before play and it may very well be that George Dockrell misses out given the probable weather forecast - however without the advantage of Arul Suppiah's dual riole any more that would leave us without a slow option if the predictions are wrong. It is probably likely however that the Irishman and Alex Barrow may not get a game out of this 13. Unless Barrow is considered instead of Jones which is also a possibility.
A victory is what must be planned for - that would make our 2014 CC1 place safe. It is not the only permutation and I am sure you will read many in the posts below this story over the next few days BUT victory is the least a patient, frustrated and in some cases angry membership demand. This side has promised so much for so long and after the "almost" year of coming second to Nottinghamshire on altered regulations it would be ironic if this game relegated a side predicted to be at the other end of the table by the pundits in March of this year.
It hasn't been good enough most of the year, it wasn't good enough last year and the introduction of David Nosworthy has yet to put much faith in the belly that it will be good enough next year. The only positive is that some of our younger players seem to have come of age this season and will be expecting to be selected on merit next year. Will the county have the courage to put survival in their hands today and open a new page on Somerset's County cricket squad?
I personally doubt it. We will probably rely on a couple of decent cameos from some of the talent as usual and hope it is enough to get us through. The game is afoot........ well in about 6 hours.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:10:03:07:13:34 by Grockle.
May I set things in motion by stating that I should like:
a) Derbyshire to obtain maximum points
b) Somerset to do the same
c) Abell, batting at 3 after MT and NC, to replace Jones.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:24:05:53:46 by Grockle.
What! Dropping our next Captain after MT's successor?
Presumably Jos Buttler and Jamie Overton are also available for selection?
How should this impact on team selection - in the view of posters? What team do we suppose that management will actually pick?
Should Jos's future status (assuming the club now knows what it is) have any effect on whether or not he is selected?
Ordinarily, one would expect Jos to be selected ahead of one of the younger players. In terms of batting order position, it would probably be instead of Barrow.
IN terms of recent performances, one might expect Buttler to come in for Jones - but the problem with that would be the identity of the man at three?
Kieswetter seems to have managed some really irresponsible dismissals of late so does not seem like the man to me.. and I'm not sure anyone else is, either, unless, as LoL suggest, Mr Abell is given a go.
So I suspect that what the club will actually do is retain Jones and that Barrow will be unfortunate to drop out in favour of Jos.
I think they'll also be conservative and err on the side of experience, such that Kirby will return in place of Gregory with the new ball. Personally I think there will be virtually nothing in it for spin, but I think we almost have to pick Chawla for his batting, with the way things have been this season.
This is the team I think they will pick:
Tres
Jones
Compton
Hildreth
Kieswetter
Buttler
Trego
Chawla
Meschede
Thomas
Kirby






As for the bowling, I do not think SK should come back, as the younger bowlers are in good form and are the future. The Jamie O situation is rather more complicated. On balance his extra pace does give us something different, but who to leave out? Meschede is now undroppable and I would be reluctant to be without PT's batting and flair for the big occasion together with AT's experience. That leaves Lewis G. He would be unlucky, but hard decisions have to be made.
People are surely not suggesting that any other case exists are they?

Good luck Nick and the rest of the Team.
I wish it was a home match.
We need Nick to get that 'nelson' - I'd personally like to see it in the first innings but I'll take two if I have to in this season.
I'm personally quite happy it is away - the side have been uncharacteristically 'fooled' by the home turf a couple of times this season. Hoping that won't be the case as they'll be more cautious on the Trent Bridge surface. At least that's my theory....

The young side has performed very well in recent matches. It has to some extent come together by accident, but one has to say it has looked the most focused, vibrant and enthusiastic side all Summer. That is down to the youngsters, of that there is no doubt. They are mates, they enjoy each others success and you can feel the spirit amongst them.
Somerset should ensure that 'spell' is not broken. Go with the team that has brought us within a whisker of staying up. If Jos is available and as, has been stated, his mind is clear and perhaps made up, select him. For me, leave out Jones, open with Compo and Tres, k'wetter 3 and remind him of his responsibilities. Hildy, Jos, Alex. Jamie waits his turn as 12th man.
He's clearly a very talented young batsman and deserves a chance to make his mark.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Re Abell, I can see an argument for giving him an end-of-season game, though probably not in one so crucial. Ironically, in the "good old days" of a one-division Championship, this would have been a relatively meaningless game and ideal to see how Abell got on. Progress - ha!
Only if both return could anyone else be under threat and if the argument is going to be that we should go with experience in a big game then that's not really an argument that makes sense in the case of restoring Jamie O.
I think they'll bring Kirby back for Gregory but I'm not sure that I want them to - especially as late-order batting success has been a feature of BOTH recent CC wins and Steve adds very little there.
I'd keep Meschede and restore Jove for Gregory. I'd also play Jos, prob instead of Jones, and push CK up the order. Glad it's not my call, though.
Would guess we may not pick a spinner at all.
Dockrell in squad instead of Chawla.
Buttler and Overton both in squad.

Nottinghamshire team to face Somerset (from): Steven Mullaney, Riki Wessels, Michael Lumb, James Taylor, Samit Patel, David Hussey, Chris Read, Paul Franks, Luke Fketcher, Andre Adams, Harry Gurney, Brett Hutton, Alex Hales
PS Very funny Grocks

The problems we have had with our overseas players this year, 3 different ones, none at all for 3 matches makes me think we should look for a player just below international level who we could have for a whole season like Klinger at Glos or Magoffin at Sussex.
And make Jos an enhanced offer with the saved dosh?

You're quite right Tops, we've been saying that for ages, they're just not that easy to find or sign up. FE's solution would be great - till we lose a game - then a whole ton of criticism would come the club's way!
I have a hunch that Compo will get a big score and once again remind the England selectors what they are missing.
Roll on 10:30!

I don't think the result of this match will, in isolation, save BOTH us and Notts....not expecting a draw so one side will be in peril of being overtaken by Derbyshire IF they win.
I certainly don't want our batting line-up to have first go.
Quote:Let's hope that the right person wins the toss!!!!!AGod
Yep, whichever side bowls first will probably have a big advantage at both Nottingham and Derby.
I certainly don't want our batting line-up to have first go.
[www.thetimes.co.uk]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:24:09:00:15 by hantssabre.
It would be an interesting legal argument.
Edit - Both could be called match fixing albeit that you still have to achieve both results.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:24:09:21:34 by Mike TA1.
And let's hope it is the first of 4 out of 4 good days at Trent Bridge for a county to the west of Wiltshire - or even better 3 out of a total of three days.
"Cricket is, of course, only a game."
In Somerset with an hour to go it is dull misty/foggy outside temperature 12c - 13c.
Edit spelling
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:24:09:34:21 by Mike TA1.
By the way, does Harry Gurney's middle initial stand for Farrington?
I wonder if the decision has been influenced, at all, by the fact that Jones held out here, in very difficult conditions before lunch, for about 70 minutes a couple of years ago?
Might have stuck in the mind of Tresco and Hurry?
No Shahazad either.
Is Boswell bowling for Derby.
I'm not sure about Wickham's point about opening experience as Barrow had a longish stint opening instead of Trescothick last season.
Admittedly, Barrow's recent success this season has come at six or so.
On the other hand, I don't think he's had less success ,when he has opened, than Jones has had for SCCC.
It's not as if Notts has freakish, unique conditions - good players will often play well there, poor players occasionally will.
Panic!!!!!!
I wonder if we might see Meschede soon?
Really, AG, that was the most pointless and irrelevant contribution ever!!
I wonder if we might leave Gregory on?
With our batting line-up we cannot afford to be leaking runs in terms of our aim of winning the match - although the bowling bonus point is obviously very welcome.
PS I see one contributor on Cricinfo, allegedly a Somerset supporter, has suggested Jones and Barrow have not had good seasons and should maybe move on. Neither has yet scored a run in this match and it's nearly an hour old - perhaps he's right?
FCOL...
The fact that it's more than elsewhere? Irrelevant.
In the unlikely even that the Derbyshire match moves forward much more quickly than this one and Derbyshire end up winning at a point where this match appears to be going nowhere then, depending on bonus points accrued up to that point, we might see some form of contrived finish involving declarations and so forth but i'm sure that's not the sort of thing that Piggott has been sent to prevent!
Will he be allowed to be a fly on the wall? If not, how could he prove anything anyway?
I seem to recall last week on a different thread one of our number saying some of us should not be questioning the integrity of a CCC.
Presumably whoever that was thinks it's OK for the ECB to question ours??
Do they do this often or are they so embarassed at the deal done by Batty/Chopra last week that they think they should bolt the stable door?
What with this ECB 'insult' and ditto Compton, should we not be storming the Bastille walls?
Strongly suspect that Tres/Nos need to try and settle Overton and Gregory down over lunch.
But Steve K wasn't available Rodders - shame to me but to the liking of some.
You play old blokes, you don't get the pace but you do keep it tighter usually.
You play young blokes you get energy but you also sometimes get rawness and loose stuff. Which would you rather have assuming you have to teach bowlers to control themselves?

But, yep, Grockle, they're going to have to spend as much time as possible working with him on his no-ball problems over the winter.
Had he been fit, I would have had no hesitation in picking Kirby instead Jamie is a prospect that needs finishing off first.


In the end it lost us the game!
Of course, we're now through Notts' weak area and into their strong middle order - plus ca change.

I concur with Grockle, far too early for Jamie Overton to be involved with England. Much to learn and just because he has raw pace everyone gets carried away. When he takes a few 5 wicket hauls, eliminates the unnecessary no balls and looks to have cracked county cricket, then ease him in to the England set up.
As G says, ten sessions left yet - long way to go...
Maybe Jos doesn't think we have been 'loyal' enough to him anyway.
Who knows what was promised to whom ?
Meantime, it would be nice to get a few wickets please.....
Grizzzly
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Grizzzly
Sad, sad, sad - where is the leadership and wise old head for heavens sake ?
Quote:SheptonPaul
Jove was taken off by the umpires after four balls of one over - persistent short-pitched tripe, I think. Gregory finished his over.
You were correct Paul cricinfo says he bowled one beamer and too many short balls in another over.
Make it count now, boys.
Nearly there!
That's down to the captain to make sure that doesn't happen.
Quote:Mike TA1
What's our over rate like? the last thing we need is points deduced for a slow over rate.
That's down to the captain to make sure that doesn't happen.
If the selectors are daft enough to go into a match of this importance without a spinner what do we expect. A balanced attack IMO is always the bast way to go.
How is it the management's fault that Jamie is bowling beamers?
Some on here have been calling for Kirby to be replaced by these youngsters for weeks.. if only Dibble was available I hear them say.
Where is Dibble? Where has he been for most of the season? Never mind... he might be available next year.


Quote:Mike TA1
Old Boy, that will not make any difference they will say that's our own fault, and I agree.
I know Mike - it was a poor attempt at a joke!!
This is not a joke though! Jove is a great prospect BUT has it all gone to his head? Who in the team is giving him help or advice? The Captain? The Vice Captain? The Coach? The DOC? Or has the England set-up triggered higher expectations than he is capable of at present? At the moment he appears uncontrollable!
Sometimes we really don't help ourselves.
Grizzzly
The jokes on me then Old Boy.
And when did Jamie last play in a match? (thanks to England)
Quote:rodders12
Sorry gang but a really stupid day - a bowler banned, 46 I repeat 46 extras, no on field guidance that can be perceived for Jove, stupid to select a side without a spinner in most opinions, sometimes I despair. If we stay up it will most definitely be more by luck than judgement. We won the toss otherwise I suspect....oh why bother, this is Somerset we support so what do we expect ?
Well that's it. Let's give up.
Are you assuming no-one said "Hey Jamie don't bowl consistent short balls" because he did?
Did the umpire NOT give him a warning I wonder?
When bowlers take lots of wickets we all say well done to X or Y and rarely put it down to 'on field guidance' but the moment they do something wrong it seems to be because they are incapable of understanding their role unless someone is telling them on a regular basis? Jamie Overton is a first team adult cricket professional isn't he?
Overton seems to have had a bad day - maybe trying too hard - who knows. I personally can't really 'perceive' anything until someone gives me their first hand observed view.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:24:18:54:17 by Grockle.
Choose any one of any number of words which you would prefer.
Fact remains he did not get any advice which changed anything.
How many bowlers in this seasons CC have been taken off by the umpires ?
Answers on a postcard to you know who !
I can tell a kid not to stick things in their ear. If they continue to stick things in their ear it must obviously be my fault that they get earache or go deaf then?
If Jamie's radar is off, what is the on field solution that the captain (I'm assuming you are blaming him for this) could have taken? Bowl for him or take him off?
No I can't think of any Somerset bowler who has been removed from the attack in ANY game I've seen in over 15 years.
But my understanding is you bowl a beamer, you are warned, you bowl another, you are taken off.
Forgive me. I don't see how Marcus Trescothick is responsible for the young man bowling two (it seems consecutive) beamers or how he could have stopped him mid over.


Edit: A circumstance comes back from memory it must have been seven years or so ago.
I sometimes think that God in creating man somewhat overestimated his ability
[Oscar Wilde]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:24:19:20:34 by Casomer.
I think you stated you perceived on field mismanagement and lack of advice and if you weren't putting at the skippers feet where were you placing it? He's the on field management I think.
Bowlers have bad days, sometimes it doesn't work. Today Jamie had one of those days. It was as bad as it can be if you are removed from the attack. I'm sure he did his best to keep control but he didn't. Young man, inexperience of this (it happens to the best - Harmison had a nightmare start to an Ashes campaign I seem to recall - though I can't remember who the captain to blame for that was), trying too hard.
But in the end the responsibility is at the feet of the man with the ball. I'm damn sure it would all SK's fault if he had done this today. I've already 'put up' in my response to NBJ. I'll now happily....... because for some reason you seem to be looking for a posting "fight" of some kind once again.

Re " looking for a fight " your opinion of course but I think that if we had a poll of all the forum posters then the majority would attach that label to you with AG a close second. I guess we will never know will we !
I don't particularly fight with you - you just don't handle the fact I disagree with you too well.
I'll happen again - wonder if you'll try and start it next time as well? "I guess" we'll have to wait to find out.
Control is the key isn't it? A bit like the subject I suppose. Have a good evening


Cricinfo then says Tres was obviously furious with Jove, and essentially threw his cap at him (can't remember the precise words they used, but that was the gist). I would gather from that that Jove was not bowling short under captain's orders, and that it is likely that Tres had advised him to desist from the short stuff.
The last bit is my estimation from what I've read / heard on BBC radio comms - I wasn't there, I was in an office in Swindon.
As you say have a good evening.
I can cope with that and walk away please try and do the same.
No need to apologise.
Readers and posters can come to their own conclusions about who does what and wants what. I have enough faith in them to do that. I doubt they need you to tell them how things are at any time.

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:24:21:30:43 by Grockle.
Quote.
•Jamie Overton was removed from the attack after 4 balls of the 59th over. He was taken off due to excessive short-pitched bowling and a beamer earlier in the day. Lewis Gregory completed the over.

I forget who said that he would benefit more on the sidelines than in 2 critical championship matches but as I thought that viewpoint was spurious rubbish before, what do I think now?
However, back to the cricket. Two more wickets to get another point and a solid batting display is needed tomorrow. (even something like 260/5 by COP could do)
Warwicks have fought back and I think are ahead of their game at Derby but as ever we will know more in 24 hours time.
Feeling cautiously optimistic but there is a lot of work to be done.

With that and Mike's info it sounds like JO may be on the 'naughty step' tonight for not doing what he was told. I'm surprised it seems he DID get a third chance as the ump didn't immediately remove him for going back to the short stuff.
I'd call him the definite culprit on the basis of those reports.
Be interesting to see how he bowls in the second run in.

All that I can say from a distance is that to my mind (for what it's worth) there would appear to be a question mark over his ability and attitude to succeed at even county level.
It would also appear that Marcus Trescothick is not fully able to control the actions of his team mates.
I am sure that this would not have happened with a different type of leader at the helm.
Very disappointing.
If he remonstrates with a player who seems not to have done what was required he isn't in control. I wonder if he'd done nothing whether he would have been accused of not caring what his team mates did.
When the captain is disliked it seems difficult for him to do anything that would be met with a measured response.
Can a captain control the on field actions of his team mates anyway? How does he do that?

Marcus seems to have had every right to be furious with him as any captain would I might hazard to suggest. Still not sure how you manage someone who is obviously not even taking notice of the officials on the pitch. Did Jamie just lose it or something? I guess we'll never know
Unfortunately we can't see how the incident was finally dealt with because unless we are psychic we don't know what went off when the side left the field.

So does he do this when he has been just been warned by the umpire? Have you ever seen a captain stop a bowler mid over and get someone else to finish off the over for him?
Has that ever happened?
Don't you think that it would have seemed logical to a captain that after telling a bowler to calm down and then having the umpire give him an unofficial chatting to you could reasonably expect the bowler NOT to continue? Couldn't the fact that Jamie DIDN'T be reasonably accepted as the reason for his captain's furious reaction>
I thought this had happened in one spell, it seems it happened over two so he had been given some time to calm it all down and have a think about things.
It's that retrospect thing again. Hindsight rarely gives benefit of the doubt.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:24:21:25:25 by Grockle.
As with Craig's keeping horrors one afternoon a couple weeks ago, it just means they had a bad 30 minutes, session or day. We've all had a bad day at work...it happens. It's how you come back that makes the difference.
I don't think we can entirely blame a couple of weeks in the company of Team England and David saker - its not as if his action was McGrath-like metronomic before this - but anyone who thinks this stuff comes easy should maybe go back and read the Scott Boswell article again.
I'm not sugesting this is a case of the yips, it is more likely slight variations in avtion, but to me just points out again that we NEED A BOWLING COACH!
Maybe they are having their own "Jamie" moments as the pressure just gets too much.

Quote:Frome Exile
Oh for George or Piyush, now.
The PC situation is a bit unfortunate.
Beyond that, did you not suggest to me a couple of rounds ago that picking GD would be a bit silly?
However, I do feel that young bowlers benefit more from bowling regularly and consistently to get into a groove. It is impossible to prove, but the recent inaction, and frustration that may have stemmed from this, has led to a less than polished performance today.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:24:21:57:10 by Norwich SCCC.
Quote:SheptonPaul
Cricinfo is quite plain that (a) the beamer which hit Hussey on the hand was during the morning session; radio commentary said Jove appeared to show little if any remorse, but just went back to his mark; Jove got one official warning. (b) during the mid-afternoon session (I'm estimating 25 or 30 overs later), he was bowling a lot of short-pitched stuff (on BBC radio they said it was hardly Michael Holding, not dangerous, but just overdone), he got an umpire's unofficial warning advising to not over-do it; he then bowled two consecutive above-head-high bouncers which were each no-balled. The umps (Gough at Jove's end, primarily, but in consultation with Llong from square-leg) called Tres over and said they were disqualifying him from bowling for the rest of the innings - as is their right.
Cricinfo then says Tres was obviously furious with Jove, and essentially threw his cap at him (can't remember the precise words they used, but that was the gist). I would gather from that that Jove was not bowling short under captain's orders, and that it is likely that Tres had advised him to desist from the short stuff.
The last bit is my estimation from what I've read / heard on BBC radio comms - I wasn't there, I was in an office in Swindon.
WHAT? Tres threw some head gear at JO? Really?
"Trescothick's anger at his young fast bowler was evident in the aggressive manner in which he returned his cap, throwing it in Overton's general direction for him to pick up while Lewis Gregory finished the over."
A frustrating day.
Something we have all seen before.
Just makes good reporting.
Quote:Bagpuss
I on't think we can be sure that Jamie WANTED to be bowling short stuff - maybe that was just the way the b all came out. Indeed a mix of short piched interspersed with full tosses/beamers suggested he was having all sorts of problems with his action, obviously not helped by some issues with his run up (front foot no balls)
I agree with you Bagpuss, I think yours is the likeliest explanation and whilst it's disapointing of course, I don't think it's fair for Jove's character to be called in to question. Some time with a good coach over the winter could do him the world of good.
I'm generally a fan of the Collingwood approach at Durham....he cast aside the profligate bowlers (Harmison and Plunkett)
Our coaches need to impress upon Jamie the value of a consistent stock delivery...
If he deliberately continued to bowl short stuff after being warned, then the phrase "stupid boy" springs to mind.
If you take the charitable view, that it was 'just' a case of a bad day at the office, I really don't know what to make of it.
To get to the stage in his career that he has, surely an element of 'control' must have featured in his bowling. How that manifests itself in a bucket full of no-balls (8 in 10 overs) in a match where every run is vitalis frankly beyond me.
I'm also not convinced that a bowling coach is the answer is situations like this.
'Self control' coaching might be a better place to start.
Grizzzly
You'd like to be able to assume that there is some joined up communication in the development of players in relation to what is happening to them on England camps and how that is being extended and worked on by the clubs they play for.
I know we have visiting coaches who come to do sessions with certain individuals but to make the progression smooth and solid it has to be done in co-operation between the two separate groups to give the player a consistent bunch of messages on what they are supposed to be doing.

Can't help feeling that the televised Warks match did him no favours at all.
And in a way he has; by proving that he needs to spend the winter concentrating on honing his cricketing skills!

If there was ever a day for playing sensibly then it is TODAY. 400 runs in 110 overs is the minimum that is required from the Somerset batting line-up.

LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Let's hope we show the same passion today, for today really is the most important day of our season.
I would suggest that our prime failing has been a lack of composure under enemy fire - batsmen simply not delivering when under pressure.
Will that composure be there today?
And how soon will we find out?
Chawla's primary virtue with the ball had been, IMO, wiping out opposing tails. Somebody else will have to do that job today but at least Hussey has gone, thank God.
Hussey played for parts of nine seasons with Notts, apparently, and they said that prior to yesterday's knock he'd average 61 across that time..... a pretty darned good effort.
Quote:AGod
FE - please accept a certain amount of apologies from me for my 21:54.
A frustrating day.
Not a problem.
If I was Notts, I think that I would declare the moment they get to 400 (if they do) so as to be bowling in the gloom at a Somerset batting line-up that is unlikely to be chock-full of confidence.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:25:12:01:05 by Mike TA1.
If they get their bowling point and we don't they could still stay up if neither of us gets any batting points. Could be Sir Alec's famous SBT!
Derbyshire have to score over 200 first time around, or they are relegated.
We appear to be batting paralysed by fear.
Not sure which settee to hide behind.

We might need Wark's to keep us up
(He's in one of mine too, but I can't claim the credit it as he's been in it for about 7 or 8 weeks).
Thank you Warks..
But I checked the averages before I started writing about how he needs to drop down the order or see whether Abell might be ready & found he's still done better than Hildreth this year. So I'm not sure what to say now so I'll say nothing.
Either that or Notts are bowling buffet to us and we'll both stay up as a result of a high scoring draw

We could well be safe by stumps.
If we stay up I'm even more pleased as they are within fairly easy reach for me!
I agree with your remarks about Northants.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:25:16:42:04 by Tumbles.
There is no question that Tres's season has been dismal on all fronts (and his 2 - LBW again lloks pretty forlorn in the light of what has followed) but let us remember now we are less stressed perhaps - MT is not to blame for the season we have had.
Every top batsman has to have a bad trot some time, and one in the last 14 years is a pretty good record.
If there are physical reasons for his decline so next year is disappointing (or worse) too, let's get off his back and remember him for the fantastic cricketer he has been through 20 years, and everything he has meant and still means to us.
I believe he will be back. Even a physically limited Tres can still terrorise batsman for a few years yet.
He will remain my all time favourite cricketer because he is ours, and has given us all a Somerset player to be proud of on all fronts on a world cricket stage.
If we are safe by stumps Tres, and even if we're not, relax tonight and know your real fans will never turn on you whatever shortcomings there have been this year.

A good thing that the umpires shoed some common sense and stayed on long enough for JH to reach his century.
And well said, stevecav.

A shame that it couldn't be only Surrey that went down!
Clearly if it's us or them for the drop we want it to be Derbyshire, but we have absolutely nothing against that county.


Despite CP's comment remember people that it hasn't all been totally bad.
There were years in the past when a T20 Quarter Final and a one day Semi would have been seen as progress. But as Steve says everyone has to hold their hands up because for the first season in many the squad has been consistent. Unfortunately it has been in how universally bad they have been far too regularly with the bat.
We still stand in the twilight zone between first and second division County cricket but the saddest part of all this is that we have to hope another county plays worse than we do to save our season. We could take a leaf from the Northants playbook this season because they looked a totally focussed unit in the T20 finals and fully deserve to be a top level side
We no longer hold that label and we are gong to have to work very hard at getting it back because we've most definitely used our get out of jail free card this year if we beat the drop. Sorry Derbyshire - there were times this month when I really thought we truly deserved to go into the second division. Maybe we still do. I personally wouldn't begrudge you getting over the line before us though I'll be raying tonight that we have enough strength in the tips of our fingers to pull ourselves back from the abyss. On that note well played James and Nick - better late than never Mr Hildreth.

Compton
Kieswetter
Hildreth
Barrow
Meschede
Trego (c)
Gregory
Leach
Overton
Overton
Wouldn't it be great if a line up like this was going strong in a couple of years time. Jones can take Craig's spot when he's playing for England & Dibble likewise for Jove & I've not thought about overseas player yet
And I truly hope Marcus can come back for a better year next year.
...and we all seem a bit happier don't we?!
PS I've had a word with cousin Chander and he's keen we help him send Notts down...
Only thing that could hurt us is a contrived finish at Derby, but currently only thing likely is Derby follow on and stand no chance realistically of winning.
And the way we are set up we look good for a 9 point draw anyway.
If we were in Derbyshires position we would all be giving up and calling for the entire squad, management, tealady etc to be sacked.
I fully expect it to be mathematically 99.9% certain as early as tomorrow tea time.
So often, he hasn't stood up when it counted, but today he certainly must have done so. A very welcome relief.
Less unexpectedly, well done also to Nick (as well as Warwickshire for helping us, & Northants on their promotion).
Hopefully, we will now stay up, but we have a lot of difficult decisions to make across the winter, including the Captaincy & opening batting issues.
The status quo is simply not tenable in my view.
Grizzzly
If Derby are out for less than 200 that's it.
Quote:I wasn't referring to our likely league position after the match EB.edinburghbil
Extremely unlikely, but there are circumstances in which Notts could suddenly find themselves more vulnerable than us to a Derbys revival. Chanders would have to go on one and we would have to bat really well, but.....
What ever that involves!!
Then get a further lead Friday and then bowl Warwickshire out but that is so far fetched it is ridiculous.
As you say if they were to get bowled out under 200, then the most they could get is then 18 points and we already have the 3 bowling points we'd need to beat that.
As I say we are safe, if you went to a bookies and asked them for odds on Derby staying up they would laugh at you!!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:25:20:43:47 by wsm fan.

Grizzzly
Quote:As I say we are safe, if you went to a bookies and asked them for odds on Derby staying up they would laugh at you!!!
Bet they'd still take your money, though!
We are safe and if this was a US Presidential election, Derby would be conceding right now.
Well played to all concerned but please don't put us through this again!
Quote:Mike TA1
Grizzzly, I have been told without being given any detail there is going to be a bit shake up next month.
What ever that involves!!
Very interesting, Mike!!
Are you able to clarify whether you were told that it would be "a bit", of a shake-up or a "big," shake-up?
a) What can we do differently in terms of preparation to ensure that we don't get into a rut with our batting next season?
and
b) What can we do to increase the resilience of our batsmen so that IF we end up in a rut again, there's a greater chance of them being able to quickly climb out of said rut instead of getting stuck in it?
One even wonders, to an extent, whether this 2013 season was an extreme and elongated version of our usual tendency of being very slow starters?
Assuming that we draw or win this match, then you have to say that the second half of our CC season will - in terms of overall results - have been perfectly presentable - something which could not be said for the first half results!

I started to list some of the changes I would like to see then I changed my mind I will wait and see what happens.
That's all we can do.
Quote:stevecav
If there are physical reasons for his decline so next year is disappointing (or worse) too, let's get off his back and remember him for the fantastic cricketer he has been through 20 years, and everything he has meant and still means to us.
I believe he will be back. Even a physically limited Tres can still terrorise batsman for a few years yet.
He will remain my all time favourite cricketer because he is ours, and has given us all a Somerset player to be proud of on all fronts on a world cricket stage.
If we are safe by stumps Tres, and even if we're not, relax tonight and know your real fans will never turn on you whatever shortcomings there have been this year.
Casomer and I were there today with Tractor and his mate.
An interesting three hours. Good day for us. Very sorry about Marcus - but like so many times this season, his now vunerability to the new ball is becoming embarrassing. The fact that still on occasions he really blasts the ball to the boundary, or over it, IMO means that batting in the middle order would enable him to carry on batting for us for several years yet. Whether he would want that of course, is an open question!
By the way would all those naughty pupils who put their hands up in class earlier this season to say that we definitely would be relegated, please put their hands up straight again AND report for their punishment in the common room!!!
I'm also interested in which of these is what you were told...
Thanks
SP
PS Personally, I'd be happy with "a bit of a shake-up", as long as they were the right bits

If we got a new captain a batting and bowling coach got a new opening batsman from somewhere else, I would say that would be a start of a big shake-up.
You could maybe add a few more to that list.
Until we hear of any or none of those things happening we will have to wait and see.
All that I have listed is some of the changes I would like to see happen.
Big shake up, small shake up, depends how you view the situation.
We know who have new contracts, we don't know yet if 1 player will move on.
Will Marcus's status change, or will they be forced on him, or will it be Status Quo as far as his position is concerned.
Additions to the squad, bowling coach, batting coach?
Whatever changes take place it will not satisfy all.
Starter for me is to stay in Division 1
There will be a formal review of our cricket performance by the cricket committee which takes place after the season's close. We have done this every season since I've been involved ie back to 2004.
The process is in stages: analysis, thought & debate, conclusions, recommendations & approvals and then - and only then - implementation. The analysis hasn't started yet so it follows it's a little previous for anyone to be suggesting any conclusions have been drawn let alone shake-ups decided upon.
Our current priority is to win the game at Trent Bridge and finish the season on a positive note. As has been said earlier in this thread, if we finish 6th in LVCC 1 as well as having reached the KO stages of both limited over competitions, the season will only be a disappointment against the very high standards we had come to set ourselves.
I hope to see several of you at the end of season Awards dinner on Monday. As ever, looking back there's much to reflect upon and celebrate while there's already a great deal to look forward to in the next 12 months.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:25:23:06:45 by 9th brother Dredge.
Players that we might be interested in signing would probably want to sort their futures out fairly soon after the end of the season?
Presumably if there is a good player that we know is available and that DN wishes to sign we're not going to have to go through a long review process before 'making our move' ....
Somerset, of course, have zero responsibility for mopping up at Trent Bridge so I don't think he'll be looking at us but might Notts end up in some sort of trouble if Piggott thinks Notts were happy to stay off the field and so didn't ask their ground staff to mop up promptly?
They are appreciated by many, and eill actually be taken at face value by a few!

Patience is in order.
Nothing ground-breaking in our Chairmans comments, pretty much as you'd have expected things to happen i'd say.
I agree that I very much hope any review process and time spent coming to out findings does not hinder any potential recruits coming in.
These next 2 or 3 weeks are when the majority (of which I expect there to be only a handful) will be sorting their futures.
If we don't conclude on our review until say early November, then there is very unlikely to be much out there to go and recruit!
We know we have lost Arul, we are expecting to lose VERY sadly Jos, and many of us expect Hussain to move on. Meschede and Gregory have improved, but to me have not yet proved they warrant a place at 7 let alone in top 6.
We already had Jones and Barrow, neither of who average above 26. There are 2 batting spaces to me which need filling, ideally with proven quality but at the very least to provide cover and competition.
We haven't had the option to drop poorly performing batsmen as there have not been any.
.
Patience never was my strong point !
Grizzzly
I agree that we've generally set high standards in previous seasons but then as one of the counties with the highest player wage bills then we should expect to be amongst the leading Counties, otherwise the club would not be getting bang for its buck.
And, yes, I'm well aware that this season's highest wage payer will be appearing at a Div Two ground near you very soon....
And to clarify I don't expect the process that our Chairman described to actually put off any recruitment from the outside. I expect that we'll have already been looking around, just as Warks and others have been....After all, one suspects that the process that Mr Nash describes is hardly unique to Somerset and that cricket committees at other Counties will also be conducting reviews of their seasons (the one at Surrey should be pretty lively!!)
I also doubt that the club would need a long review process to conclude that if two batsmen are being subtracted from the squad then.............
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:26:08:03:05 by North Berwick John.
AG, who is the high-paid player who will be on a Div Two ground soon?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:26:07:43:32 by North Berwick John.
I assumed he meant the whole of Surrey
Ten miles from Trent Bridge the rain closed in, the SatNav (and its operator) became amnesiac, and road works, blocks and diversions spread like a rash. But suddenly the gleaming spires of Trent Bridge pierced the sky, the sun tried to do likewise, a steward found us a parking place, there was a pitch inspection, and Alf mopped up the tail almost before Tractor's babbies could be C'monned.
Our innings was a three part affair: the first enveloped in nerve twisting silence pierced by Nottingham screams. The openers failed and trudged up the steps just to the right of us, one after the other, heads down. We tried to convey our empathy with their misery.
Slowly Compo's solid defence began to win the next phase and if Hildy was not altogether convincing mostly he got the line right. Normal conversation resumed. We were briefly sympathetic if not sad on hearing about the deepening Derby plight, but our runs were starting to come more convincingly, the short boundary on the Trent Bridge Inn side giving fielders no chance. Patel did succeed in tying Compton down at one end, but opened the opportunity for Hildreth to play some now gloriously confident shots at the other. Echoes of their partnership against Warwickshire last year.
The sun emerged briefly, and yells of delight came from the Somerset dressing room behind us as Hildreth notched up a very timely ton. A tennis lob from him over the short square boundary, next a portly fielder flopped like a whale at long off, missing altogether. But the entertainment was cut short as the floodlights slowly re-emerged as the prime light source. Time for a natter with Tractor and friends before departure. Great day.
One would assume that if a player with some kind of value to Somerset does come onto the market, the management won't go "damn we can't sign him, we haven't finished our assessment yet". They will obviously react to the availability at the time and build that into the implementation plans.
If you have a pretty good idea what needs to be done AG, I think the people in charge at SCCC may have a similar picture in their heads and won't be completely unable to make decisions until an assessment process has fully taken place.
This whole thing will be an action plan not some kind of fixed administrative process operated by some kind of cricket civil service.

Handy if Kieswtter and Barrow not available to keep wicket- but wants to make his name batting at number 3- where he scored over 1200 runs at an average of 53.
Just don't spend the next four weeks reviewing the season, before deciding the way forward- because, if you do that, someone else is bound to get in first.
Let's get over the line before we start talking about finishing sixth, boys and girls, for as we all know, fortunes can change in the blink of an eye....on the whisper of the breeze.
The highest wage payers are your favourite county, and THEY will be appearing on Division Two grounds as soon as next season!
I believe the rule is that approaches can be (officially) made at any point after a date that is exactly one month before the season is due to end.
Therefore, I would suspect that if we were going to make any approaches, then initial contact will already have been made and very probably contracts offered, too.
What I was trying to get at with my post is that I think that what Mr Nash was mainly wanting to communicate was that any suggestion that the club has already decided on a raft of major internal changes is wide of the mark.
But I'm not taking that to mean there will be no news of any kind from Somerset until this review is completed.
I don't doubt that the way we will operate (along with all the other clubs) is that Dave Nosworthy will have been given a playing budget to operate within and that if he identifies a player that can be brought in that fits under that budget, then the power/responsibility to make that call of bringing somebody in is delegated to him.
It won't be a case of going through some labyrinthine committee process before DN is authorised to make an approach. Otherwise, we'd only ever be able to sign guys that nobody else wanted.
So, irrespective of whether or not there does prove to eventually be any kind of internal "shake-up," (and I strongly suspect that there will NOT be), we might (hopefully) receive news of incoming re-inforcements within the next couple of weeks...
I simply took it to mean "Please can we get this season finished first: and please give us the opportunity to discuss things internally before dissecting things too much in public"
I wouldn't expect loads of new faces - they don't exist to my knowledge presently in the domestic game. I would caution the club against buying people at the "close to retirement" end of the chain. we've been good at it in the past but it is a dodgy market to go into and we have oodles of experience. We need some solid work horses who produce regularly rather than are brillian occasionally.

I believe I am right in saying that Somerset's desire was to build a team with home grown talent. That side doesn't look too shoddy to me. Its a credit to the county academy, Jason Kerr, Greg Kennis and the Somerset Youth system that has worked so well in identifying the talent and taking it all the way through to the 1st class game. I am not sure that any county has a better recent record at that than Somerset. That side doesn't include Buttler, although it might; or Dockrell, who Brian Rose identified, or Jones who has struggled recently.
My point is, Somerset are building a very strong nucleus of talented young players, all home grown, who will need first class cricket to maintain progress. In my opinion, the signing of a batting coach and a bowling coach would represent money well spent to support and enhance the abilities of the youngsters Somerset have on their books. Rather that, than an aging pro, another batter wicket keeper(we have 3 on our books, well 4 with Jos) surely.
If a top quality strike bowler with an historically good track record, ideally first division, became available (unlikely I know!) well, ok, I'd think seriously about that. Otherwise, we might take a period of consolidation and in a couple of years time, we might be purring about a side that is built from Somerset roots.
We're down one player (Arul) and can expect to shortly be down a second (Jos).
The only way that it would make sense for the club to not be interested in bringing in batsmen to replace them would surely be if, with hindsight, the club had concluded that they'd made the wrong decision about the number of players with good batting capabilities that we need in our squad.
I, personally, can see absolutely no evidence, on the basis of this season, that this club had too many batsmen contracted for the 2013 season. Rather there was a lack of options to cover loss of form. And there would have been a lack of options to cover injuries in the batting department.
I think the bowling stocks look better, from a numbers stand-point, although obviously we do not currently have a cracker-jack bowler like a Joel Garner, a Caddick or a Mushtaq.. but then which County does!?
Quote:just in
I refer you guys to BRT919 post of yesterday at 19.34 listing a team of home grown talent apart from Compo who has become integral to the Somerset set up.
My point is, Somerset are building a very strong nucleus of talented young players, all home grown, who will need first class cricket to maintain progress. In my opinion, the signing of a batting coach and a bowling coach would represent money well spent to support and enhance the abilities of the youngsters Somerset have on their books. Rather that, than an aging pro, another batter wicket keeper(we have 3 on our books, well 4 with Jos) surely.
If a top quality strike bowler with an historically good track record, ideally first division, became available (unlikely I know!) well, ok, I'd think seriously about that. Otherwise, we might take a period of consolidation and in a couple of years time, we might be purring about a side that is built from Somerset roots.
Well said Just In! As I have advocated so many times on this site - with our talented youngsters a Somerset 1st XI made up of Somerset developed players. Taunton should not become a home for additional pension seeking players who are not yet ready to go into the slippery world of FINANCIAL SERVICES!!!
Well done to our guys for extricating themselves in the end.
Well done to Derbyshire for a very spirited fightback in the second half of the season, from an apparently hopeless position. It should be remembered that they cannot compete, financially, with most Counties in Division one.
Surrey got what they deserved, as even Alec Stewart has admitted.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:26:11:46:15 by AGod.
I didn't think this would happen prior to the Middx game. And I was far from convinced that it would happen after we had lost to Derbyshire.
Let's hope that all players winter well, that those with the potential to do so improve and that we can then be rather quicker out of the blocks in 2014...
FACT - Jos is almost 3 years younger and therefore more years ahead of him.
FACT - Jos born in Taunton not Johannesburg.
FACT - The England selectors presumably consider he is the better batsman/wicketkeeper in the one day format.
FACT - Jos has performed consistently well for England behind the stumps.
Am I missing something?
And did we really control our own destiny in the end? Or did Warks control it for us?
Until we've at least drawn this game, I'm not sure we can convincingly claim that it's the former.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:26:12:14:18 by Frome Exile.
The captain could come to some agreement to try and get a result if it can't be achieved by normal means.
Hope for better things next season and hope to still be around to enjoy them !
Quote:andsom58
Still puzzled by the Jos Buttler situation. Why is he going instead of Kieswetter?
FACT - Jos is almost 3 years younger and therefore more years ahead of him.
FACT - Jos born in Taunton not Johannesburg.
FACT - The England selectors presumably consider he is the better batsman/wicketkeeper in the one day format.
FACT - Jos has performed consistently well for England behind the stumps.
Am I missing something?
Maybe the club realise that he's going to be centrally contracted within 18 months, and that we'll pretty much lose him anyway.. It's possible that we could have lost CK as a result if we solely put faith in JB and then ended up with neither. I don't think the club can win either way
.... in which case the club has a choice between a guy that would be regularly unavailable and a guy that should be available all the time..
However, my personal view is that the idea that this was a totally unavoidable situation that SCCC could do nothing about is not quite correct......
IMO, Somerset should have had Jos batting up the order in short-form cricket for some considerable time and IF we'd have done that, I think there's a strong chance he'd have instead won himself a job as a top four or five BATSMAN for England......... and then we may not have had Ashley Giles publicly agitating for Jos to do lots of keeping.....
Doesn't that constitute controlling our own destiny?
Quote:andsom58
Still puzzled by the Jos Buttler situation. Why is he going instead of Kieswetter?
FACT - Jos is almost 3 years younger and therefore more years ahead of him.
FACT - Jos born in Taunton not Johannesburg.
FACT - The England selectors presumably consider he is the better batsman/wicketkeeper in the one day format.
FACT - Jos has performed consistently well for England behind the stumps.
Am I missing something?
I don't think so
Jos he wants to leave "Andsome" and Craig doesn't.
His age is of little matter - he's a period behind his older colleague if you want to assess him that way.
Where people were born isn't something we look at here - Craig, like Andy Caddick, nailed his colours to Somerset and England long ago so the city he was born in is of NO relevance.
The England selectors assess Carberry as a better four day batsman than Nick Compton so I'm not sure that is a deciding factor in any assessment of who should go or stay.
Craig also acquitted himself well behind the stumps for England - he wasn't dropped because of his keeping just as Jos wasn't picked because of his keeping.
Nobody is getting rid of Jos Buttler. Jos Buttler is choosing to leave - if he does.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:26:12:34:35 by Grockle.
That would be a very poor result from having two such high quality wk/batsman on our books, and a situation somebody should be moving heaven and earth to prevent.
Intractable problem as it may be, that's what 'management' is paid for.
For CK to get back into the England 50 over side then two things would need to happen:
a) He needs to maintain his fine short-cricket form for Somerset.
b) England need to give up on the idea of a Test match type top three being the thing to do in 50 over cricket.
For CK to get back into the England T20 side then all that would need to happen would be for the selectors to decide that he's a better bet than, say, Hales or Lumb. That doesn't seem much of a reach at all, does it?
Alex barrow is our solution and good luck to any player that gets a chance to play for his country - Somerset certainly won't be holding them back

FACT/ Craig has still got alot of years in him as well, if Somerset were to go for one player over another solely on age I would question it
FACT/ Who cares where Craig was born, he's an England player and was developed here at Somerset. Similar thing goes for Arul.
FACT/ I think England consider him a better batsman in oneday the one day format (I'm not sure they care too much about wk ability). Jos probably is a better one day batsman, but craig is far superior IMO in 4 day
FACT/ Craig also performed very well as a keeper for England. He also got MOM in the biggest one day game England have participated in for atleast 10 years
I don't want to get into a Craig vs Jos thing, both are fantastic and if it is a one or the other situation then there is no 'right' descision as they would both be massive losses.
I do not believe for one second that they believe that.
They probably think that the back-up opener is unlikely to be needed anyway and they wanted to pick somebody that they thought would get on well with his fellow tourists and not chafe about being a glorified drinks waiter for weeks on end.....
Quote:AGod
FE - surely the equation was that if SCCC won its final two games of the season, we'd have been sure of staying up, no?
Doesn't that constitute controlling our own destiny?
And we haven't done that yet, so the fact that we are already safe has been arrived at through Warks' efforts rather than ours.
IF we get to 400 and then at least draw, I think THEN we could indisputably be said to have ultimately controlled our own destiny.
Meanwhile Craig needs to start concentrating on his batting, when breaks are due.
A week or so back I'm sure an arrangement for co-existence was mooted by somebody which involved CK being positioned as captain and No 4 batsman, and Jos as WK.
CK could be backup for Js or AB if he makes the grade.
Maybe I'm being naive but there is something in that for both JB and CK to feel good about.
IMHO Craig Kieswetter and Jos Buttler could both be accommodated in Somerset's line-up. I think Craig is the better four day keeper and batsman. I think Jos is a batsman who keeps and could be a one day keeper on that basis and we would not be losing out in terms of performance.
The club seem to agree with me about four day games. Ashley Giles, the powers that be in the ECB and... it seems Jos Buttler do not agree.
I don't want one player to be backup to another so the club can stop him leaving and keep England sweet. I want the best man doing the job for the county and others, if they think they are good enough taking that spot on merit.
If Jos developed his batting the issue of the gloves would become nothing but a side show. England have made it an issue and Jos has followed their lead instead of Somerset's. If he therefore has to go, he has to go. I'm happy with who is left and we will carry on without him and wish him well. This is NOT Buttler, ECB or Giles CCC and we don't pander to the needs of others at the expense of our own future.
Would I like to see Jos stay - Most definitely YES. Do I want to see him with the gloves permanently? YES if it is to be BUT only when he has proved he is the better wicketkeeper/batsman for the COUNTY. Jos is choosing England over Somerset and he may regret that decision. We will feel his loss but I personally don't regret any decision the county has made in this whole thing.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:26:12:54:26 by Grockle.
IYHO, can it happen?
The spin has worked and I wish him well.
I hope they stick with him and I hope the new county work with him on more than keeping wicket and acting as a shock basman in the late part of short form stuff.
Not all that hopeful but I'd like to be proved wrong.
The sadly ironic thing is that it isn't past the realms of possibility that if he hits poor form he could be replaced by Craig in the England setup and possibly overtaken by him in the contest to replace Matt P!!

I suppose they have Katich and Prince but the former could surely move up the order to open in one-day stuff if Lancs have the good sense to want to get Jos in at four?
I think Moore was still playing one-day stuff for Lancs, and he's been removed from their set-up too.
Neither available for SCCC.
Is it beyond the realms of possibility that, having escaped the drop, right now up there in Nottingham in the warm glow of a dressing room which has euphoria coursing through its veins, Jos may be wondering if he really wants to leave his bosom pals?

If you have players who are good for England you lose them it's thee way it is. We have two other keepers.

There are probably few here that have any real knowledge of which players are or are not particularly friendly with each other within the squad.
Personally, I could only draw inferences from things that I've seen in the field..... I think Trego and Kirby appear to get on very well, for example, but a lot of our guys are fairly inscrutable in the field.
Not many teams get Shiv out twice in less than 20 overs!


And of course 35 for 4 is effectively 35 for 5.
Personally, now we're safe, I'd rather give Trigger and Lewis licence to have a blast at ending the season on a really positive note.
[static.ecb.co.uk]
But Sixth sounds much better than Seventh, and even better than being relegated.

Now, we have some very hard work to do across the autumn/winter.
Grizzzly

Wonder what bowling instructions Marcus will give to JO ?!
Grizzzly
Commentary has gone down at the moment - they are trying to fix it asap.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:26:16:21:04 by Big Jim.
No surprise really.
Anyway, it's now confirmed.
Never really looked threatening when I saw him bowl on a couple of occasions, but hope be finds luck, wherever he goes next.
Grizzzly
And why not Jos!!
Grizzzly
Who says sport doesn't even itself out?
ESPN table showing level on points.
As at a couple of minutes ago.
I don't think BBC update mid-game.
Quote:Frome Exile
Probably final proof that he is off, and that Marcus may have felt it insensitive to finally ask him to take the gloves in what will prove to be his final fielding innings for us.
What on earth is this about? Have I missed something? CK is our wicketkeeper in this match isn't he? So why does Marcus doing the job prove Jos is going?
Just testing his ankle maybe? Can't see the connection to Jos.
Quote:Norwich SCCC
If the game ends in a draw, am I right in thinking we would finish ahead of Notts on matches won?
Who says sport doesn't even itself out?
Do you mean levelling out for 2010? Maybe it's just me but i wouldnt class this in the same vein somehow!!
Maybe they asked Jos, and his response was effectively "Up yours!" But I suspect he wasn't asked, and I suspect it's for the reasons I suggested.
Blimey! A conspiracy theory from me. That's a turn-up for the books!!!!!!
Quote:RonniesabreQuote:Norwich SCCC
If the game ends in a draw, am I right in thinking we would finish ahead of Notts on matches won?
Who says sport doesn't even itself out?
Do you mean levelling out for 2010? Maybe it's just me but i wouldnt class this in the same vein somehow!!
My tongue was very firmly in my cheek, Ronnie.
Not a day goes by when I don't think about the last day of that season!
Quote:Frome Exile
I think he's talking about pop-up ads, Grizzzly.
Oops - guess I win the wally of the week award. I thought it was a less than clear reference to GH !
Grizzzly
Quote:Big Jim
That's a lovely report, Casomer, it describes quite beautifully why cricket is without doubt the finest game in the world.
Let's get over the line before we start talking about finishing sixth, boys and girls, for as we all know, fortunes can change in the blink of an eye....on the whisper of the breeze.
I'm sure Casomer appreciates your comments BJ. I was with him there for a very interesting 3 and a half hours play. Didn't you know? His great uncle was Dylan Thomas???

So gals and guys, the last day of the season. Not as good as we hoped at the beginning but better than we feared a few weeks ago. If we have a target I hope we go for it even if we die bravely in the attempt.
Durham were down and out against Sussex but I wouldn't put it past them to win today.
Ooops they have change matches from what is listed.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:27:10:50:03 by Mike TA1.

I think the commentators said he was at slip or gully the other day, so could have got a couple in short succession there.
The door to victory might be slightly ajar here, if we can knock another 2 out quickly.....
I tend to think MT keeping for a few overs last night to let CK bowl, and (maybe) JB keeping this morning is inclined to be a bit of fun at the end of term, rather than a slight to JB, JB, refusing to do it, or demonstrating MT's fitness or anything of that ilk.
If we can wrap up the tail quickly after lunch....
Quote:AGod
Wouldn't be much point in not having a go, really.
Well we might as well just pack up and go home now then. This could be a nice exciting final few hours of the season.
Quote:TumblesQuote:AGod
Wouldn't be much point in not having a go, really.
Well we might as well just pack up and go home now then. This could be a nice exciting final few hours of the season.
It was a double negative Tumbles - in other words we surely must have a go.
Perhaps they'll announce an 8pm press conference or something as we're making the announcement, giving Jos time to hot-foot it to Manchester?
Quote:AGodQuote:TumblesQuote:AGod
Wouldn't be much point in not having a go, really.
Well we might as well just pack up and go home now then. This could be a nice exciting final few hours of the season.
It was a double negative Tumbles - in other words we surely must have a go.
Sorry, didn't see the not! Apologies.
If it was good news, I'm sure it would have been trumpeted on the website before the end of today's game.
Sad.

Just pondering......
Grizzzly
Suspect tonight's announcement will just be Buttler leaving - shame, but life goes on. Hope it works out for him.
It's not as though we are in need of the 3 draw points. I'm not advocating that we continue blazing away if we're six down and 180 short or anything but "have a go and then see where we are after 20 overs," would be my view.
Pick the bones out of that..
I've said before CK would suit me fine as skipper, tho probably better if JB was still there as keeper.
Quote:geordie moonraker
I too will wish Jos well and hope that his England career flourishes, to such an extent that Lancs never see him!!
I'm dreading the day he scores big with England and the Lancs fans start saying he's one of there own. He will never be ANYTHING but a Somerset lad.
IN fact, based on what our Chairman told us we can surely be certain that it will not be as no decisions on whether to have any kind of major shake-up have been taken.
And even if Marcus did decide to resign, there'd be no reason to rush out an announcement 30-60 mins after the end of our season..
George is simply pushing speculation from other members of the press. Nothing once again has been nailed down and probably won't be until 6.
All have to wait until then to get the full gen because I doubt they will send out press releases before hand

When Taylor and Patel were accelerating, the tactic of bowling wide of off to try and frustrate them out made a lot of sense - and indeed worked.
But surely getting three international batsmen out in such rapid succession should have been the cue to go on the attack and try to bowl the rest of them out properly? Instead we apparently kept on bowling negatively and slowing down the over-rate. Why?
(Probably some kind of psychological inadequacy or a deep-seated malaise within the club, at least I'm sure that will be the view of some).
The pattern for the match is one of each innings having ended in a lower total than the last.
Regardless of the reason, the obvious conclusion is that we feared defeat.
Isn't another 'obvious' conclusion hat we were happy with a draw as victory was too far away?
I wish they had gone out in a blaze of glory but maybe 7 and 6 are NOT that important once 9 and 8 were out of the way - it can't have been an easy month for anyone in the squad.

Now I know why Marcus was out early. (TIC)
When do the 2014 fixtures get announced??

Odd that, aint it?
Normally at this time of year, I feel an overwhelming sadness that the end of the cricket season, and the last of the Summer wine, has finally come.
Not so this year, I regret to admit, but here's hoping for better next year.
Quote:I agree that 6 and 7 aren't that important - that's why I see no point in playing for a draw just so as to hang on to 6th on a split tie.Grockle
...maybe 7 and 6 are NOT that important once 9 and 8 were out of the way -
Quote:Frome Exile
Only one man got there for Notts too, mike. Your namesake, Mr. Lumb.
Yep, and that is why we both ended the season holding hands.
Quote:SheptonPaul
To be fair, not many players do get 1,000 runs in a CC season nowadays - this year, 12 in Div One and 15 in Div Two (still less than two per county on average).
Bizzarely 4 of them for Glos.
Even worse, I work with a truly obnoxious Lancs fan who will no doubt claim that his county is responsible for any and all Buttler success.
The suspense is killing me.
Ps I hope you're wrong Wickham.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:27:18:20:13 by North Berwick John.
Chris Read confirms he's staying at Notts btw
Not great for the fans as someone pointed out but it's been a hell of a season for most of the men playing in this one and I can understand them wanting it to be over with no mishaps.


What for?
No ready made top order bat who can do a decent job behind the stumps going spare at Middlesex.
Lanky are holding a press conference next Wednesday by the way.
We still have a wicketkeeper batsman most counties (and many countries) would kill for.
Good luck to him, but life goes on.
Maybe they've given Jos a few days off before the press conference or something.
If we already knew that Jos was off (the club I mean) then I tend to think that Alex Barrow, having done reasonably well, should not have been dropped to bring Jos back for this one, to be honest.
We've lost a great potential batsman, a devastating one day destroyer on his day.
BUT we've kept the better wicket-batsman and as Guy says - you can't give or demand guarantees.
I'm sure it was difficult for Jos and I wish him well but he must have know that was always going to be the position and if he wanted something different then this isn't where he is going to get it. And if he thinks he's got it at Old Trafford then I'm afraid he's been lied to unless it is in writing.

After reading that it doesn't look like Nick will be captain.
What might really put the cat amongst the pigeons though will be if Matt Prior decides he wants to spend more time with the family after the Ashes...
It really isn't beyond the realms of reality that the two could be in the same side with Craig wearing the gloves!!

Quote:How would that affect JB Agod?AGod
It will all be guaranteed by default at Lancs on the grounds that he is, no doubt, miles better as a keeper-batsman in the one-day stuff, at least, than their England under 19 guy.
What might really put the cat amongst the pigeons though will be if Matt Prior decides he wants to spend more time with the family after the Ashes...
I deeply regret Jos not having been given a role higher up in our one-day side last season... if he'd had that role he may have done so well that he'd have been picked for England instead of a batsman and A N Other (don't care who) could have been the England keeper and we wouldn't have had Giles agitating for Jos to move so that he could keep and etc etc..
Still, the important thing now is to bring a couple of batsmen in to re-inforce things, if at all possible.
If Bairstow plays as a batsman this winter and fails again, then I'm not sure I could see England wanting Bairstow to be their new keeper.
After Bairstow, it's anyone's guess as to who might be next in line - it could be Davies, it could be Jos, it could be CK. Possibly even Foakes might have some sort of (very) outside shot if he comes on quickly?

Eckersley who can keep wicket, but prefers not to- and is out of contract at Leicestershire should be your number 1 target.
This situation is different as CK is still young and will be pushing for further England honours himself.
All the best to Jos and the consolation is that Lancs won't see much of him as he progresses his England career.
Onwards and upwards.
Generally I thought Jos's only problem that came out was a difference of opinion about communication of when he was going to keep before the one dayer?
Has he or Craig suggested bad feeling between the two? Surely they are both committed to keeping because if they weren't Jos would not be moving. It can't be blamed on CK's commitment or JB's desire to play as keeper surely. They wouldn't be the players they are unless they wanted the job.

In my opinion, we are still well served with wicket keepers.CK remains and when I watched Alex Barrow, he did very well indeed standing in for CK when Jos was away. He will move forward if he is given the chance. His batting too has shown good progress and there is absolutely no reason that he cannot be a regular deputy. There is also James Regan.
Best wishes Jos, you have provided stunning entertainment. You have a bright future where ever you end up. Just a shame its not Somerset any longer.
I share the opinion that we have lost a very special talent and it will be very hard to watch him play domestically next season.
He also seems like a nice lad when interviewed and is doing what he perceives to be best for his career. However, I can't help feeling that Giles, Fairbrother and the constant speculation on Sky have had an undue influence on him and forced him into this unnecessary impasse.
It is that impression that leaves a bad taste in the mouth this evening, and unlike other more gracious posters, I cannot say all the best to him and mean it. (give it time but not tonight!)
However, as Tumbles said we are Somerset and we will go on.
I am sure he will always get a welcome back at the C.G.
The club also must and will move on, as must this forum, these things happen, recriminations are certainly not in order.
We must now look forward to the club management taking us forward to 2014.
Quote:Grockle, I'm not for a moment suggesting any ill feeling between the two players. However the uncertainty about JB's future must have had some impact on the squad, and must have put some extra pressure on MT as the "meat in the sandwich"Grockle
NBJ - the poor performance has been pretty universal so I doubt you can put it at the feet of this. I haven't seen any evidence of a problem between Craig and Jos... have I missed that?
Generally I thought Jos's only problem that came out was a difference of opinion about communication of when he was going to keep before the one dayer?
Has he or Craig suggested bad feeling between the two? Surely they are both committed to keeping because if they weren't Jos would not be moving. It can't be blamed on CK's commitment or JB's desire to play as keeper surely. They wouldn't be the players they are unless they wanted the job.
If it is all quiet on the western front or if there is talk of an uprising I will let you know.
That last sentence is not meant to be serious.
I lost it a bit when Blackie left Somerset so I am trying to stay calm.
We wouldn't agree to one of the Overton's opening the batting to keep them why should we do more than we did to keep Jos?
If the county compromises then the player has to also compromise (it means middle ground) and he (or his ECB backers) don't seem to have been able to do that.
A poster on Facebook said we had forced Jos out. NO WE DIDN'T! In case people haven't noticed, he made his demands, we couldn't fill them though it seems we tried to find a middle ground. We couldn't and HE chose to leave.
A county is either a meritocracy or it is a weakened county at the whims and demands of players who think they are more important than the team however reasonable they are about it.
As Brian Rose said, the club comes first and as someone said here, Somerset was here before and will be here after Jos Buttler.


I'm very sad, not because I think the club have done the wrong thing, but because we've lost the pmayer ocer something so silly.
I have ZERO faith that England will be any more patient with Jos than they've been with several others, and I genuinely fear that within two years he'll have been discarded by England as well as lost to us.
After all, how much loyalty did England show to the Man if the Match in the only global final we've ever won?
I'm scared that Lancs know what they are getting. If they let Jos keep for a bit while developing their U19 prospect but concentrate on Buttler's batting ability they may have just signed the scourge of Championship bowling attacks from 2015 to 2025 when he isn't helping England win the Ashes, the Champions Trophy and the T20 Word Cup before he receives his Knighthood. God help us all if the know they have just picked up an allround batsman of rare talent

Who knows who promised what to whom, (or didn't) & the absence of knowledge re this makes it impossible to know who, if anyone, is 'to blame'.
What I do find odd, is that there seems to be a general acknowledgement (with which I entirely concur) that the Club is bigger than any one player, and it is the Clubs well being that is all important.
That being the case, surely the same should apply to the Captaincy ?
IMHO Marcus should have gone mid season, & we were fortunate indeed to stay up. I find it sad that he seems to want to cling on to the position, notwithstanding his poor form & failure to get the best out of his players.
Marcus, you have been a batting hero for Somerset. Please concentrate on doing so again, without the burden of the Captaincy.
I really don't want to remember you as someone who carried on too long in a position unsuited to your personality.
Grizzzly
It does leave us with the clear job of strengthening our batting pool for next year, as we are down two and have lower expectations of runs from MT, JH and PT than we did at the start of this season.
Cove (if fit), Lewis and CM seem to be all rounders rather than batsmen who bowl and AB, AND CJ are not the finished article yet. I would like to see young Abell given a decent run next year, but it's always easier for young players to fit into a team that is performing well and where is that stability going to come from?
Wise words from Grizzzly above.
Events earlier this season might lead one to think that CK would be favoured if MT steps down from the captaincy. But the former's recent form and attitude are questionable.
This has been said, out front in a few posts and implied by others in many more but no one provided the alternative captain.
It matters not one jot now but there are candidates now who were not ready or not viable halfway through the season or before the 2013 start so let them discuss it all now with some urgency and sort it.
But please let us not have not have a retrospective 'Marcus hunt' ((I'm not suggesting you are Grizzz) after the fact. It's 2014 we need to focus on now and getting some respect back especially for four day cricket in Taunton.


I can't of course prove that he would have done better and of course his own form with the bat (in the CC) hasn't been inspiring.
But then again, neither was Mr Brearly's.
Other candidates would/could be:
CK - I've just got a gut feeling that his attititide might be a problem here.
JH - Does he want it ? Still not sure what happened last year re the VC.
NC - would be my second choice. Perhaps a bit too introverted ?
AT - Not convinced that he would 'gel' the team.
Agree entirely that we need to "sort it", but that's going to get pretty messy if Marcus does indeed want to stay as skipper.
I just don't believe personally that would be good for him, or for SCCC.
Grizzzly
Probably because of the phenomenal season he had in 2012 and the thoughts (as with Marcus) that the form MUST surely come back eventually.

Quote:Norwich SCCC
Ashley Giles will be very happy this evening.
That reminds me of the moment some weeks ago when Ashley Giles (for no obvious reason) some weeks ago was seen in Taunton's Tesco late at night! Jos's future was still up in the air, but, could we surmise that Ashley was whispering in JBs ear that his future MUST be away from Taunton and at a bigger, more important club!
Unlucky, Giles.
We all know the circumstances but we have just lost the biggest talent in English cricket bar none, fact.
We can't replace him, it's impossible, there is nobody out there domestically with his ability.
My maths make it we have lost Arul+Jos from the batting ranks, and Abell is our only realistic untried top order batter.
We just have to recruit 2 batters if just for numbers and competition, but ideally of quality.
Marcus quoted yesterday as being keen to still play on until he is 40 and has no thoughts of giving up the captaincy. I for one am delighted about this, I know many will however disagree!!!
As a keeper we haven't had to replace him.
Presently as a mid order CC batsman I think we have done that. Our issues are at the front end - we have a number of middle order men who can do his job.
In the one dayers I'm happy we have a keeper/batsman who is as good more often.
So I'm still not sure he is the loss we all think he is. We'd be better with him in full flow in Somerset colours and in a year's time with the right work he'll be more than the sum of his parts.
But that is by no means a certain outcome in the new setup he walks into. He's taking the gamble we have a team to build and we'll do it without him just fine.
He is pretty much untapped and may stay that way unfortunately though we hope for more than that as people who have watched and supported his development over the last five years.

Let's not get too cut up over what has happened, somebody else will take his place, someone who'll wear the colours of the county with pride...and ultimately, that's all that matters.
In my opinion there isn't one, to me it is fact that he is England biggest batting talent, bar none.
Yes he has plenty to do, but that is the point. He is very good now, and everyone can see his potential, given the right nurturing he can go right to the very top.
In my eyes we have lost a very very good player and a potential superstar of the modern game.
He is one of the few players you get excited by when he comes out to bat. When his name is announced as the next man in people take notice, they know there is the chance they are about to watch something special.
In my 20 years of watching only Blacky and Tres join him in my top 3 of exciting Somerset batters I;ve had pleasure of watching.
Tregs, Kiesy, Langer, Bowler, Harden, Lathwell, Eccelstone, Compo all up there, but for excitement and pure talent he is so special.
I accept we have to move on but I don't apologise for being extremely sad that we have lost such a talented homegrown player who in my opinion could be a worldwide start in 2 or 3 years time.
If we have filled his middle order batting then it hasn't been too great so far. I hope Jones and Barrow, and in time Abell make it but are any of those 3 really a comparison to Jos?
This chapter is now closed (thankfully( we know Arul has gone, we know Jos has gone, and we know Germal has gone. We had Jones and Barrow at the start of this season, so even if we see Abell as a fixture next year (big call as we stand), then we still HAVE to recruit at least 2 domestic batters surely.
With Tres's dodgy fitness and potential for injuries at any point we at least need cover surely.....?
Taking an overseas bowler and leaving us with the same squad as this year minus Arul, Jos and first-half Petersen would just be too much of a risk.
And, for my money, we should be looking for a second Compton type as this overseas player. We've got to stop the soft underbelly and persistent collapses. With a collapsible batting line-up a team will never win the CC.
We're going to have to bore a few people if we want to move forward in the CC, I'm afraid. They can go and watch the T20 instead.
No doubt he is special but I would have put money on Blackie being an England all rounder fixture for a decade and would have lost my money.
I know its an opinion thing but if I had to send a batsman in to bat for my life he wouldn't be the first I would think of even from my present county side
Just because he can be doesn't mean he will be. He has the opportunity and the potential but he isn't there yet. Had he stayed I think we could have developed that talent. It might have meant weaning him off the keeper obsession and turning him into a batsman who can produce a crafted innings. That may not be the agenda of the Red Rose.
But as you say it's all opinion and we move on as does he.
He could be a superstar yes. But he isn't yet and IMHO he has been lied to and cajoled to follow the wrong path to that 'stardom'. it doesn't mean he can't get there but it may mean he doesn't. He wouldn't be the first.

Neither Giles nor Fairbrother will have been keen to remind Jos of the merry-go-round at the ODI keeper spot.
But even if Jos didn't do his homework on that front, surely that merry go-round must have been one of the arguments marshalled by Tres, DN and anybody else keen to keep Jos here.
I can't believe Giles would have 'guaranteed,' Jos a place anymore than DN guaranteed him a keeping job.
If Jos was offered such a guarantee by England and believed it? Then I have a bridge that Jos might like to buy.
I understand the problem and I understand GL's words completely. But at the moment I just can't see beyond the fact that we have let the brightest batting talent in years slip through our fingers.
I haven't felt this bad about wives leaving me!
I keep remembering Bob Willis's comments earlier in the season that Jos can be right up there as KP's replacement (but better behaved!) and England should get him in there now.
How bad are we all going to feel when he is the world superstar he might be in a few years and he's smashing balls into the river for somebody else?
He was ours and we should have found a way to convince him to stay. I won't say 'at all costs' because GL is right.
Such a sad day at least for the moment it has driven the MT/CK/Captaincy stuff out of my head. Who cares? Jos was the future.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:28:10:09:49 by stevecav.
Can we replace his contribution thus far? Rather easily I believe. 2 CC 100's in what, 6 seasons shouldn't prove too tough an ask and although the one day cameos are spectacular when they come, how regular have they been?
As i said before, thank you Jos I have loved the good times and appreciate the dignity you have shown in this and I really hope you fulfill the potential we all see. But here life wll go on and I believe it will be more fun here than oop north.
He'd play maybe one CC match per season for his County and, possibly, a T20 or Lord's final if his County gets there.
So, in actual fact it's really only if Jos becomes a really good CC batsman that is considered short of Test standard (and so doesn't play Tests) that this move will deny Jos to us in the long-term.
If Jos pans out as some of us think and becomes a big star? Lancs will gain almost nothing from this in the long-run.
Even if he never improves and so is only ever an ODI player then he'll probably gravitate to the God-forsaken IPL in time and that wretched garbage seems to get longer with each passing season.
The CC is a different matter and I take your point, though it doesn't help that Jos seemed to be getting better in the CC and only NC and AP averaged more than he did in the CC this season.
Realistically he'll be a huge miss in the one-day side and not only for what he could have been but for what he was. But, as said above, if he goes on to crack the Test team and stuff then we'd never see him anyway.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:28:10:33:23 by AGod.
Of course I'm going to miss watching him in the T20 games, but Nick Compton is the bigger signing for Somerset in terms of the CC. We're a Div 1 side, so who in Div 2 fancies a step up? Is there a top order batsman who might be tempted with the captaincy to follow in 2015 perhaps?
Wonder how busy Chris Gayle is next summer if we need a bit of something special for a little while in the limited overs matches?
Without him we'd look feather-light in the ballast department in batting.
If Jos turns out to be the Super Star of English cricket,
Lancashire (unconfirmed) will not get the full benefit of his services,the call of England & IPL will see to that.
If he does not achieve his ambitions, he might well regret his move from his home county.
We will all watch his progress with interest.
Quote:AGod
I'll make one obvious point: If Jos becomes a 'world superstar'?
He'd play maybe one CC match per season for his County and, possibly, a T20 or Lord's final if his County gets there.
So, in actual fact it's really only if Jos becomes a really good CC batsman that is considered short of Test standard (and so doesn't play Tests) that this move will deny Jos to us in the long-term.
If Jos pans out as some of us think and becomes a big star? Lancs will gain almost nothing from this in the long-run.
Even if he never improves and so is only ever an ODI player then he'll probably gravitate to the God-forsaken IPL in time and that wretched garbage seems to get longer with each passing season.
Agod, I know you are spot on correct in every word of this, but even if Lancs gain only a little, it should have been our little, and it is always better to see a England size listed that says 'J. Buttler (Somerset)' than any alternative.
I know in a day or two, I'll see the reality is not as bad as it feels this morning, but I was clinging to the hope that yesterday afternoon he would have a change of heart, and that hope is gone.
Or is it? No announcement till Weds....No, stop it! Move on...!
It's perfectly possible that he won't be happy in pastures new and may end up 'coming home,' in time.
He's gone, but Somerset CCC will continue.
I only have a deep interest in 4 - day cricket, not that of the 'slap and tickle' variety, but Jos has not done enough in my preferred format of the game consistently enough during the time that he has been with us, for me to deeply mourn his leaving.
Good luck to him at Lancashire or wherever. I am sure that he will need it.
Simply a re-capitulation by Trescothick of something he's said many times in recent weeks.
I suppose the only difference is that now folks know that he fully meant it rather than wanting to avoid indicating a possible desire to quit during the season.
Personally, changing the Captain is not really the number one item on my list unless, upon reflection, Tres does decide that the Captaincy has caused some of his batting issues this season.
The number one issue is fixing the CC batting and changing the Captain doesn't do that unless it miraculously fixes Trescothick's own batting.
The ICC Future Tours Programme shows only a short tour to Zim in August.
Quote:stevecav
Good sense as always Agod.
AGod! You've got your own fan club now!! Well done to both of you! You never know? Grockle might ask for an application form!!

Quote:averageside
More significant news is the captain says he wants to continue "leading" the team next year. Something to cheer up everyone looking forward to changes for 2014.
It is difficult after the tremendous joy and entertain he has given us all over nearly 20 years, to suggest that the time has come to consider handing over the reins but IMO Marcus's best interests, and, more importantly the club's best as well are served if he could move halfway to the management side by continuing to play but take on a badly needed coaching role. And if things are to done properly, it is of course the DOC's decision about things next year I presume.
He started like a train.
Quite frankly, if not for his performance at the Oval in the early season CC game, we would almost have certainly have lost that match and hence, very possibly, finished behind Derbyshire.
DN is presumably a fan of AP so I think there'd be every chance that DN would be keen to get him back, subject to loads of tours not being loaded into the programme between now and whenever DN has to decide.
Just because Marcus says something Average doesn't make it so. He knows it isn't his decision alone

Quote:Probably their own.stevecav
You just never can tell who's tongue is in their cheek, can you?
Quote:Possibly. I guess when your only aim in life is to put a negative spin on everything it's quite easy to find things to cheer you up.averageside
More significant news is the captain says he wants to continue "leading" the team next year. Something to cheer up everyone looking forward to changes for 2014.
Quote:I guess or I know there are some who are incapable of looking at a sides performance and how it is lead or indeed any aspect of the club in anything other than blinkered , uncritical and in many cases a complete lack of cricket knowledge or how the club operates and performs, I'm not surprised by Index commentmikeindexQuote:Possibly. I guess when your only aim in life is to put a negative spin on everything it's quite easy to find things to cheer you up.averageside
More significant news is the captain says he wants to continue "leading" the team next year. Something to cheer up everyone looking forward to changes for 2014.
A positive view is no more 'blinkered' than a negative view if it is all a poster ever provides.
So it's a case of no one being any less surprised by your comments and responses than you are by others.
There is nothing wrong with criticism if the critic can see or comments on the good as well as the bad. Doesn't happen though does it? Most of us are here all the time we see the good and the bad.
We only see you when there is something to criticise so it is good that you aren't surprised by the obvious comments that come with your sort of involvement.
No problem as long as people keep it civil but I'm afraid the comments come with your territory.

Edited for excessive use of the quote facility
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:28:21:24:18 by Grockle.
I can check the evidence but I would be surprised if there was one positive comment in every 10 since you started reposting. So what is incorrect about MikeI's statement?
You are surely not suggesting that your comments on Somerset are balanced are you?

Quote:Only through this forum, which is quite enough.Ronniesabre
Do you know average mike?
I doubt that Jos was looking for a guarantee, rather than an understanding. If I am right, the statement by the club might be thought somewhat disingenuous.
I have thought throughout the season that we should bend over backwards to try to keep Jos. I don't know anything that has gone on behind the scenes; but I do wonder whether batting him at 6 (which I think we have done in many matches) and selecting him as 'keeper on only a very few occasions (except when CK was injured) showed as much intent as would have been reasonable.
All water under the bridge now, of course. But it will be a little galling if Lancashire bat him at 4 and he makes a heap of runs.
Quote:They are completely balanced. And dont tell me the comments of most of your flock are anything other than "unbalanced" . Whats your definition of "balanced". Of course we know from your guildlines.Something about 'Somerset bias compulsory"Grockle
But isn't your aim to highlight negative aspects of things to do with the county? I'd suggest that 95% of your posts are negative. So how is what Mikeindex posted any more personal than your response?
I can check the evidence but I would be surprised if there was one positive comment in every 10 since you started reposting. So what is incorrect about MikeI's statement?
You are surely not suggesting that your comments on Somerset are balanced are you?
Quote:There are indeed. And then again there are those who, like yourself, are incapable of seeing anything in a positive light no matter how much they need to suppress or distort the facts of a situation in order to find a negative spin on it.averageside
I guess or I know there are some who are incapable of looking at a sides performance and how it is lead or indeed any aspect of the club in anything other than blinkered , uncritical and in many cases a complete lack of cricket knowledge or how the club operates and performs, I'm not surprised by Index comment
And then there are those who, like the vast majority of Grockleites, are capable of seeing both positive and negative, though not necessarily in the same places or at the same times. Leading at times to some quite stimulating debate, believe it or not.
I also doubt that Jos himself was looking for a "guarantee."
However, Ashley Giles might have been and exerting pressure to the effect?
Why do you use comments like 'your flock'? What does it achieve? Posters here make their own comments, they are not processed through me.
The comments against your type of post are not pushed out from Oman for posters to post in response to your comments.
I'm sorry but you seem to have no concept of balance and when criticism comes your way you seem to have no defence but to question intelligence, cricket knowledge or some other aspect of character or bring me into it as some kind of controlling influence.
It's not there Average except in your view of the world. If Somerset bias is compulsory then you fail that completely unless you define it as biased criticism in almost every aspect of Somerset County Cricket Club.
This is not "SCCCBashing.com". Nor is it "SCCCstroking.com".
I think it is pretty obvious that you read very little except when you post because the debate since the end of the Notts game has been pretty two sided.
But as I say. You can't really take offence at comments of negativity because the evidence is here for all to see.
We've been here long enough to know our stuff and coming on, making bald general statements about something as if it is obvious to all and then taking umbridge because people who know as much if not more about the club than you disagree is not going to work.
You have to come on prepared to back up what you say and are quite welcome to ask others to back up what they say. We mostly know the score whereas you seem to have to learn it.
Defend yourself by all means but with OBJECTIVE factual backup and a civil tongue not SUBJECTIVE opinionated comments about people you quite obviously do not know outside of this forum.
For example you have no idea about MI's level of cricketing knowledge and couldn't back that comment up if you tried. So why say it?
Only other thing is leave insulting me out of it because that is also not acceptable. You want a moderator decision request one using the PM system - don't come on here as if you know me. You don't know me any more than you know other people on here - you've made little attempt to get to know people here in any civil way.
Come on and be part of the community or please stay away. Don't arrive full of aggression and look for a fight while claiming persecution and unfair treatment before you start. We don't have to put up with that. You are a guest here as all posters are.
It is not compulsory for you to post and we do not have to accept your attitude if it is felt to be against the main objective of this site.
I have been given the approval by the posting population to deal with this and I have no complaints from SN HQ so I hope this is clear.
As we are hoping for positive progress in the future this may all be pointless because you probably won't be posting anyway. But if you do show a level of balance (I'm sorry I, like many others, don't agree with your assessment of your own contributions to date) then I'm sure you will be welcomed to the debate table in a different way.
If you don't want that then I'm afraid you may find the aspect of choice taken away from you.
Oh and the comments about our view of Somerset... you are aware that this the independent Somerset supporters site and has been since 1994 (many have followed this club for a lot longer than that). There is a difference between wanting the club to do well and accepting everything it does to get there without criticism or comment.
Your own 'blinkered' view seems to be that we are not like that but then you don't know us too well I'm afraid and you seem to not be around enough to discover anything different.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:28:18:35:11 by Grockle.
Jos played in 9 CC1 games
He did not bat 3 times so he had 15 at bats. All of them were at 5 or above in the line-up.
He came in at 5 4 times scoring a total of 72 runs
Except for 3 scores at 6 of 94, 85 and 119 he failed to reach over 35 in any of his other innings.
Taking into account that most of the time the openers were not part of any Jos equation (Trescothick, Jones and Suppiah), the four main players involved in the 3 and 4 batting positions were Alviro Petersen, Nick Compton, Dean Elgar and James Hildreth.
I'm not sure how Somerset could have accommodated Jos in the top 4 based on consistent performance or batted him at 5 when he averaged less than 20 in that position. His big scores were at 6 and all in the first half of the season so when the possibility might have come about his scores were not particularly impressive (one score of 35).
That's just the bald assessment - trying him might have changed it but would we have justified doing it had he not been considering his future?
Moot point I suppose but I had to have a look for my own piece of mind and once you've done it you have to share with someone!!

He played 11 CC1 games and did not bat 3 times as well.
Therefore he had 19 at bats.
All were at 5 except for the first game when he was number 3 and got 93 in the two innings.
At number 5 he also had three scores over 50.. 59, 55 and 148
He had four other scores over 30 (31 to 43) against Jos's one of 35
There might have been a case for swopping the two from 5 to 6 and vice versa but neither really had a case for 3 or 4 - CK may have made a case but one game isn't enough really. However, on pure games CK was a more consistent 5 than Jos but not by all that much.


I have some sympathy with AG's point on one-day cricket - though I suppose it could have been said, if we had batted him at 4, that we were not giving him practice in his England role as a finisher.
Jos should be able to progress to top four in all forms IMHO but the long game needs more work of a different kind and I don't see where it is going to happen without the mates he had here. With Nick, Marcus, James, Pete and Craig he could have seen all formats of the CC1 game and learned from some of the best. I hope the quality of experience is at Old Trafford and willing to put itself out to make him what he could be.

I won't detail my pretty miserable credentials of over 40 years as a passionate follower, player and nerd of the game, the Somerset county game in particular. I also consider myself a knowledgeable supporter, not just of Somerset but of the game, the sport as a whole. I'm just glad that the vast majority of those I come across who also love the game are not as miserable, graceless and sad as one particular poster here. Sorry if that's too personal or abusive, but it's how I feel.
PS To show I'm not too cuddly, blinkered or just one of the moderator's minions doing his bidding, could I also plead with him to never again use the phrase "at bats" when he means "innings"?

I also spend far too much time with American baseball nerds trying to convert them to the true cause. It's rubbing off - I'm going native!!
What the hell is an "RBI" for heaven's sake?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:29:04:13:16 by Grockle.
RBI: Run Batted In, when a player is advanced to Home by the batter's own run. See some online dictionary or another.
"Maybe because some...just hatched there and moved."
Anyone else here see the irony?
Surely all we want is to express our opinions on matters SOMERSET CCC! There is no need to be abusive or rude - can't we have a bit of irony, mixed with some thought through arguments. Yes there can be some friendly banter about some views, BUT let's all keep within the guidelines laid down for this forum, and run generally in a fair but robust way by the moderator, who when all is said and done has to answer to the problem areas. The buck stops with him, and we should all be adult enough to accept his rulings, warts and all.
AND REMEMBER - we don't have to reply to every comment which is published. Sometimes Silence is golden!!
I'm not sure people 'want' to talk about you sir but I for one I can't wait for this 'argument on cricket facts' - when are you going to start that (TiC)?
It is a case of getting what is served up I'm afraid Average.
Please base your posts on facts asnd I'm sure others will follow suit.
If you "insult" then you breed "insults" - mild as this little contretemp is in relation to some from the past.
I'll moderate though. If you lot can't talk nicely to each other please don't talk at all or I'll remove the whole thing. There you go.
If posters dislike what a poster posts then we have always found in the past that no response is the best response and it is certainly the way suggested by SN.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:29:14:44:09 by Grockle.
Remember it takes two to have an argument and only one to stop it.
I love saying that.

Average seems to arrive permanently angry, complains about the lack of 'Somerset friendliness' and then goes looking for a fight with anyone who disagrees with him.
Anyway OB beat me to it Mike. In this case the only way I can see to stop it is to not participate in dialogue as you and he suggest.


Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:29:12:14:28 by Grockle.
A few weeks later on another of my all too infrequent visits to Taunton I again found myself sitting near this gentleman who was again explaining to his friends and anyone within earshot that the Club was going to hell in a handcart. I felt obliged to tell him that if things were so bad he should stay away from the ground because he was spoiling the day for the rest of us. It shut him up for about 3 minutes and then he started again. Not wishing to have a full scale row with him, I again moved.Why on earth he comes to matches is beyond me.

It's become so much part of his make-up that I don't think he has any other way of interacting. He was there when Jamie Cox was captain, couldn't see the value of having anyone no-one had ever heard of. I forget the number of years that Caddick was past it but they started in the early noughties. His best phrase is 'line and length' I seem to remember which comes out whenever anyone doesn't take a wicket in an over.
It doesn't compute does it with anyone wanting to go and watch a game? Whatever gets you through the night I suppose.


I do not believe that my opinion is always right or any better than theirs. They too have a right to be heard.
For years, I enjoyed the company of a gentleman whom I imagine could be likened to the afore – mentioned ‘Spike’ – although as I know only too well, it was not the same individual.
He was always there, travelled on most away trips, was a member of an Area Committee, read vastly on the subject of cricket – about its history, laws, statistics etc.
Yet, whilst he could be over critical towards some players (not only did he not blame them for their perceived shortcomings but instead he lay blame upon the staff and personnel at the club who put them into the team) he also gave praise whenever he considered it to be well merited.
Perhaps his 'negative' feelings were born out of sheer frustration and disappointment, and who can not come to understand that a little?
Contrast that with another member who likewise was always there, and held a position within the club. This person was extremely well – meaning but upon examination was found to hold a scant knowledge of the game, and would defend the players and officials to the hilt.
They were never considered to be at fault, and were all too wonderful for words.
I suppose that’s life – everybody being different is what makes the world go around.
I never got up and walked away from the former individual that I mentioned because I not only liked him, but I respected him as well. We would have many a friendly debate on various aspects of Somerset cricket, agreeing to disagree at times, but always at the end of a day’s play shake each other by the hand and wish them well until the next time we met.
Just my personal thoughts of course.
Spike is famous for his negativity but an acquired taste because it is relentless and not always based on anything to do with the events on the pitch. But people know where he sits and those regulars there know where he is and rib him gently about it on a pretty regular basis.
You are quite correct, it takes all sorts. I personally worry about the ones who can't laugh at themselves or wwith their companions occasionally and to who all this is far far too serious in the long run.

I couldn't read your message at first I had a advert over the top of it, it was okay after I reloaded the page.
The 37-year-old former England opener failed to score a century for his county this summer for the first time since 1998. [www.bbc.co.uk]
Marcus needs to do what is best for the team not himself, the committee must also decide the same thing.

With inaccuracies like that can you believe anything else in the report?
a) Mr Nosworthy makes of Mr Trescothick ?
b) What Mr Trescothick makes of Mr Nosworthy ?
c) What Mr Rose makes of Messrs Trescothick & Nosworthy ? (not that it's relevant anyway I guess !)
d) What they all make of the inconsistencies of the rest of the team ?!
Answers on a postcard please to Grockles.........
Grizzzly
I see this story as nothing more than a "mind your own business" to Caddy, to be honest.
Quote:BristolRob
Taunton-born? I don't think so.
With inaccuracies like that can you believe anything else in the report?
Surely that sounds better than Saltford?? or even Keynsham??

Not a lot of people know that.
Some of our younger readers will wonder what the hell we are on about.
Quote:BristolRob
Mr Batchelor in fact lived in Saltford not K E Y N S H A M.
Not a lot of people know that.
Horace Batchelor's house was halfway between Keynsham and Saltford, though I can't be certain of the accurate postal address. I went carol singing at his house.

I noted a nice post early on by Stevecav about how proud he is of Trescothick, trully one of ours. Obviously I support that totally - and I trust steve can understand that some of us older supporters feel the same about the great Harold Gimblett who, but for the war, would have enjoyed as distinguished an England career as MT did.
That ties in nicely with Grockle's post immediately above.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:10:07:12:39:01 by Loyal of Lhasa..
I truly believe that by relinquishing the captaincy Marcus could prolong his highly distinguished career, indeed, treating him as some sort of demi-God may be placing him under the sort of stresses that could not only harm his form but also damage his health.
Let's not get too emotional over these things.
They are two very different men, playing the game in a different era, that they play, or played for Somerset being the only common denominator.


[www.espncricinfo.com]
Surely what happened to Harold and comments about Marcus' captaincy on here really do have very little to link them together.

Big Jim has already adequately answered that point to you himself, and I have nothing further to add to it.
I'll just continue to assume that the conversations on here have very little to do with 'scoundrels' or 'hounding' and are simply discussions between people with an interest who have different views on the quality/longevity of Marcus' captaincy with little more than that on their agenda.
I've read no particular ulterior motives on either side and BJ is quite right to say that is it wrong to suggest there were any of the implications he goes on to highlight.
Comments about Demi-gods and comparisons with the issues of Gimblett's life as a cricketer therefore have nothing really to do with the parties discussions of the captaincy issue as far as I can see on these pages in 2013.

I think we would be better off with MT not captain but I am not " hounding " him anywhere and think HG is irrelevant to the discussion. Not even sure I am right just think he would be better without the captaincy.
I have never, however, suggested that those who feel differently are "scoundrels", or are placing Marcus' mental well-being at stake.
On this one occasion, I don't really know where Jim's coming from TBH!
Still a bit worried that IF it's the right thing to change we might not do for sentimental reasons.
It's a million pound business - the days of the 'old boy network' has gone in sensible organisations I'm afraid.

My comment had nothing to with captaincy or the actual or possible departure from the side of either man.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I do sometimes wonder if a fairer scoring system might be a flat 25 for a win and then batting and bowling points based on the total number of runs and wickets taken in the match. Points for a draw seem. just about right

Incidentally I think Harold may be buried in Watchet, which would be appropriate since that club arranged his Somerset trial. Someone who has the David Foot book will no doubt be able to confirm one way or another.
If you want to look for comparisons in terms of career parrallel's let us all hope that Harold's Test career does not mirror that of another son of Somerset over the next decade. The batsman of his age - 3 tests to his name.

Getting out the book has reminded that I need to reread it.
He died in Verwood.
Info via Google.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:10:08:13:27:35 by BristolRob .
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Quote:If you want to look for comparisons in terms of career parrallel's let us all hope that Harold's Test career does not mirror that of another son of Somerset over the next decade. The batsman of his age - 3 tests to his name.
Who? Three tests? I don't know the player you have in mind.

Much later there was Lathwell, who played only two Tests. All three men were treated very disdainfully by the selectors in my opinion.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
My suspicion is that Grockle means to refer to Compton, who has played nine.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:10:09:00:41:00 by Casomer.
But it does I suppose show that Gimblett wasn't the only master batsman in the eyes of many who wasn't the flavour of any year really with the selectors.
I would almost put Ian Blackwell in that category. There were few spinning all rounders who were better than him yet he was grossly underused by his country (and IMHO probably the reason why we performed very poorly in at least one one day international tournament).
Your face, your body or your style doesn't fit and it makes little difference how good you are.

Interestingly, spelling correction wanted to turn KP into NO!
Agree that some are treated badly by the selectors but they are not perfect and they make a judgement - as with NC - which I may not agree with but that is their right.
With HG his problems are well documented. With ML he was sent in too early and could not cope for whatever reason.
With IB I really don't know.
I know he had difficulties later on, but these might not have been so serious had he been treated more considerately during his all too short Test career.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Grizzzly
I didn't say anything about why a player wasn't selected just that being one of the greatest players of your age wasn't always a 'nailed on' reason for an international career.
So personally I don't disagree with anything you posted I don't think


), is that if you're THAT good, it doesn't really matter whether your "face fits" or not.I meant more that unless you are supremely talented - in the IB or VR mode - then you may need other qualities to be picked on a regular basis ( reading that I suppose you are right in your comment but I didn't start out from there ) !
I think his/her point was that KP proves that if you're good enough you can have a successful England career even if your face doesn't necessarily fit.
His position does seem to be a real one off.

