Sussex Story

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:13:12:30:51 by Grockle.

Will be down for the first two days and cannot wait!

Do we know what the score is re:Mrs Hildreth?

Has she 'produced,' their off-spring?

Or was James released from duty tonight purely because T20 is so short?

Unless he is available then I assume we will be unchanged?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:07:12:10:21 by Grockle.

Yardy is out of action for a month or more with a torn bicep.

I'm sure James said to someone in crowd tonight that she had it on Monday. Could be mistaken though.

Looking at the forecast, I would think that a couple of swing bowlers of the older variety - Pete for us, and Jon Lewis for them maybe in business big-time for this match. I say this because humidity and possible storms seem to be the dominant aspect of the forecast. So I'd think we'll probably be looking at a low scoring game with the ball hooping around corners.

I'd suggest that we try to start the track fairly dry and bare if possible as GD is, surely, a better spinner than Zaidi and I think it's in spin bowling that our most obvious competitive advantage lies vs Sussex.

Hopefully we do better this time around against Steve Magoffin!

Forecast is so wildy fluctuating. Now looking like tomorrow will be a good batting day. Also looking like at least 3 days full play.

James Hildreth, back from paternity leave, and Jamie Overton have been added to the Somerset 11 on duty at Old Trafford earlier this week.

Sussex have already announced that Michael Yardy, who scored 156 in the equivalent match at Taunton last year, is out with a bicep injury; Scottish international Matthew Machan, who contributed 103 to a third wicket stand of 275 with Yardy, is also doubtful.

They are likely to include Cardiff University quickie Matthew Hobden, who took four Nottinghamshire wickets on his county debut at Hove this week.

I assume we will bring in Hildy for Barrow and otherwise be unchanged.
Great depth to batting again with Tregs 7, Mesch 8, Cove 9, Alfie 10.

Not sure how when Jove gets another chance without injuries, he'll need some 2nd team action and work with our coaches to try and work out what it is he's doing, just bowling fast and short or can we tighten him up a bit and bowl fuller at top of off.

Forecast has dramatically improved for Sunday and Monday so PLEASE can we bat first Marcus, Lancs game shows just what you can do with pressure of a decent first innings total.

Yes, changing wildly by the hour but we seem to be being 'threatened,' with the prospect of warm sunshine for tomorrow which would be very pleasant for spectators.

Perhaps scratch anything I might have said about swing then but I stick by the notion that preparing a dry pitch (if possible) would probably maximise our victory chances vs Sussex.

As for team, on recent form Kieswetter could possibly be threatened by Barrow but Hildreth's score in the nineties at Edgbaston means he will surely play.

In your eyes maybe AG but I think Craig will probably keep nevertheless.

Has Alex even kept for the Seconds this year?

James Regan seems to have booked that place.

I doubt he'll have to leave to get more wicket keeping opportunities!!

Quote:

Grockle
In your eyes maybe AG but I think Craig will probably keep nevertheless.

Which Craig?

The one wearing the gloves who isn't Alex?

Forecasts still all over the place with the only thing that different forecasters can seemingly agree on being that showers are less likely on Wednesday than on Monday or Tuesday.

Basically it's probably going to be a match where there'll be a ton of luck involved in whether or not Taunton catches a couple of really heavy thundery showers or not during the course of the match as no widespread rain is forecast but things seem unsettled enough that showers could crop up at any time after about 2pm today.

So the normal south west weather forecast then. Are we loading the team with spinners or swing bowlers now. I'm having difficulty keeping up .

Joyce would be near the bottom of my list of people that I would not worry about our keeper dropping.

Acquiring a bowling point within 45 minutes on Day One at Taunton is quite an achievement!

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

One wonders how long Sussex will continue to include Hamilton-Brown in the side. This season he has scored only 150 runs at 18 and his career average is just under 33.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Just seen the wickets on Sky Sports News.

Alviro took a very calm catch low at third slip and Hamilton-Brown seemed to play an expansive drive and had his off peg knocked back from Tregs.

Live event 12

Thanks Wickham.

Craig Overton excellent again so far.

Don't like the look of the rainfall radar.

I think the team plan for Luke Wright is to frustrate him out and I think Mr Overton is the perfect man to enact the plan.

I'm less sure of how we're going to get Joyce out and fear the answer might be that we won't! But I suppose it doesn't matter if we keep eliminating his partners.

I was an hour late (thanks FGW) but on the hour that I've seen it looks as though there's no more in this for bowling than a bit of nibble off the seam occasionally.

Forecast humidity has not materialised and weather conditions for batting are very favourable.

Looked at pitch. A few tufts of grass but not of the type that would win any green garden competitions.

When bowling from the ITB end it looked as though the left hander might have a bit more grass to contend with than the right-hander in terms of stuff on a length.

Sick of the weather in this country absolutely sick of it. Playing conditions need changing - when you can see a heavy shower coming on the rainfall radar and due to hit about 1.30 then play on and have your lunch whilst it's urinating down.

Dreadful over from Alf. Mixture of short and leg side dross. Should fetch Craig O back on at this end, pronto, before rained off again (currently raining again).

Good to hear Tractor in such good voice this afternoon. Could he just take another six wickets before tea, please.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

No he can't because it's about to hose it down, I'm afraid.

Joyce dropped again, this time by Hildreth.

You seem a very angry man today Agod

Brilliant catch from JM.

Stupendous.

I gather Sussex are playing their wrist-spinner and expecting this track to turn.

A real Jekyll and Hyde performance with our catching so far today.

Not a bad day for us so far but you cannot fail to wonder how expensive the two dropped ones will prove. We might well have been batting now already.

Anyway, what hope do we have anyway when the rain just seems to follow us around the country? It was meant to rain at Leeds today but Yorkshire get a full day's play (so far). And last week, the fixture calendar gave them a 24 hour start on everybody else, when the sun was out, and they completed their match before that horrid Wednesday when everybody, including us, got rained out.

I know people will say it evens itself out, but it doesn't feel like it at times.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:08:16:31:33 by Little Bird.

Every team drops catches as does every player at times. Whether or not it becomes expensive is not really relevant - it is a bit like saying that making love is only relevant if it results in pregnancy !!

... but only a little bit, rodders!

Congratulations on coming up with the metaphor of the year.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

I believe it is relevant. We've had two chances to get rid of Joyce, get Sussex out cheaply and get in ourselves, before the inevitable weather spoils things.

I know you can't cry over spilt milk, and you just have to get on with things, but it did seem relevant to point out a goodish day could have been a very good day.

I was posting in jest LB - apologies if you missed my sense of humour !! Bit fed up cos the tennis is so boring and the TV cricket rained off for a bit !

No prob!

It's raining in Leeds too now

LB are you in Leeds - I am in Huddersfield - we are almost neighbours !

Playing again.

I don't think the second slip catch to JH carried myself. First one you can attribute to CK diving across James too.

I'd have taken 166/7 at start of the day though.

Can't see how you can ever call watching Nadal boring, Rodders.

Feeling a bit foolish as left at tea as assumed that would be it for the day.

Umpires deserve some praise today as it rained almost throughout the portion of the second session that we actually got in, and yet they kept us on.

Forecasts for today were a total failure so I hesitate to say that they look okay for tomorrow and Wed.

Missed far too much of today due to FGW and then the post-lunch rain. But I saw two batsmen play on and I gather that one of the wkts I missed went the same way so pitch might possibly be a bit two-paced or perhaps it's just slower than the Sussex batsmen were expecting.

Thought both Alf and Meschede were up and down with the latter, as is often the case being much better against left-handers than right. Meschede bowled some really good balls at the southpaws.

Pete was very accurate and Craig O both accurate and unlucky. It was ironic that he got a wicket thanks to the Myburgh blinder from one of his few balls that wasn't of a good line and length.

Thanks for the report, AG. I hope you get a full day's play tomorrow.

Despite the Joyce drop I think things evened out with a couple of play ons and a stunner by Mybs.

Need to bat long and bat once to win this I'd imagine.

210-9 what a day!
Yes a couple of drops but at leat 4 huge lbw shouts not given, 10/15 play and misses at least and a stunner from Myburgh so superb day all round I say.

Forecast looks like decent amount tomorrow and sunny at least first thing so if we can dig in and bat the day out we'll give ourselves time to force things on the last day.

Great toss to lose it seems, we don't have blast them out bowlers but what we do have are performing brilliantly for what they can do.
Tight and threatening, very little rubbish accept odd short barrages.
To go at 3 an over at Taunton is excellent.

We bat easily to number 9 in this game, if the weather allows us we are in another great position.

What an improvement from 12 months ago, lets be happy!!!

I only saw about 3 overs from GD. One ball bounced on Joyce and nearly had him caught behind cutting.

Was there anything in GD's last few overs to suggest that Sussex were right to pick their specialist spinner?

I saw nothing when I looked at the pitch to make me think that there would be a lot of spin in it.

Whether or not humidity materialises is probably the key to whether or not we'll find batting reasonably easy.

AG - I am so old that I remember Newcombe and Ashe and Laver and Borg and these days they are all boring due to carbon fibre rackets and never serve and volley and the strings are never ( almost ) going to change and they all sit on the base line and hit it back and forth to each other until one of them gets it wrong by about six inches and.................I find it BORING.

But each to their own of course and they are very rich boring !

Federer means everyone else looks rubbish. Nadal smacking it from the base line until the other player hits it into the net isn't a great spectacle imo.

Another great day for us this year, maybe Marcus isn't a fool for choosing to bowl first? Admittedly it's been best when the oppo have chosen to bat, but still.

Forgot about Thomas' LBW shout. Looked plumb all day long.

I know what you mean, Rodders, about the change in the way that tennis is played compared with a few decades ago, although in the days of serve and volley I think too many points lasted only three strokes and games were more predictable. Watching the artistry and athleticism of players like Nadal and Murray has its own appeal and perhaps it is clay that is the major factor in the boredom. When I am ruler of the world, all courts will revert to grass.

But that is not what I came here to say, but to apologise for accusing you of creating a metaphor, which was of course a simile. I need to say that before Bobstan comes on and gleefully corrects me.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

SLC - I'm starting to think that the toss ought to be abolished at Taunton on the grounds that we want to bowl and they (usually) wish to bat first.

Norman Hunter bites your legs
Tregs just hits your pegs.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Would I ever dare to correct you, LoL?
In any case it is very simile to a metaphor.

On the other hand, your poem doesn't scan.

Norman Hunter bites your legs
Peter Trego hits your pegs.

We certainly didn't perform badly today, far from it, but tonight as I reflect on the day's play I can't help but feel we let a massive opportunity slip.

Yes, dropped catches are part of cricketing life, and it's true we've benefited from a few ourselves this season, but to put down their in-form and most doughty batsman on 0 and then 36 and to see him finish unbeaten one short of a ton is very frustrating. We could even have been batting ourselves by tea.

Of course we won't know until Wednesday just how costly, if at all, those misses were. And we won't know for a while either if Sussex have posted a reasonable score.

To balance out my post, I'd still say we did well today. We're really bowling as a unit this season, Trego, Gregory and Thomas have now all passed 20 CC wickets, and it seems our attack is bigger than the sum of it's parts so to speak! Those of us who raised an eyebrow when Cove was chosen for the opening match ahead of Jove are realising the club got that selection spot on. And despite the two drops, Myburgh's one that stuck was an early contender for catch of the season.

After all the fears of high scoring bore draws at HQ, today was a terrific day's cricket to add to the Durham game.

A dry day all day tomorrow please, a very early wicket and then some positive batting to try and get a decent lead.

And Agod, just as you should never leave a football ground before the ref blows his final whistle, never leave a cricket ground early until play has been confirmed as being no more. Taunton has a strange micro-climate sometimes and things can clear very quickly! Remenber Durham!

Enjoy your evening everybody

Enjoyed a thoroughly absorbing second two sessions. Despite the rain break - went to the 12th man for a very acceptable coffee.

Tregs was superb and so, in a later spell, was Thommo. George was very parsimonious and bowled Beer with a beauty which took the off stump,out of the ground! Craig O was also very tight.

There seemed to be a plan to bowl wide of Joyce' off stump to frustrate him. And a few times he play the cut and missed. But also the umps awarded a couple of wides!

Think we are well placed for tomorrow as long as the weather gods and Mr Magoffin permit!

Day one Photos.

In between the showers there was some good cricket from Somerset and not so good with some of their fielding.

Taking nothing away from Ed Joyce's 99 runs, he did have some luck on the way with missed chances from the Somerset fielders and the number of time he was beaten by the bowlers and so were a number of the other batsmen.



James Anyon lbw Craig Overton



James Anyon, This is one that didn't carry to Alviro Petersen off Craig Overton.



Will Beer well and truly bowled by George Dockrell



Now Ed Joyce. Apart from one bad over today from Alfonso Thomas he bowled at his best beating all the batsmen, so did the other bowlers. This must have been close to Ed Joyce's bat.



Now one of the drop catches, people on the other side of the ground said this ball carried to James Hildreth from Ed Joyce off Alfonso Thomas.



There are no doubts about this being out, Matt Machan bld Craig Meschede.



Another Ed Joyce Miss this time Craig Kieswetter seems to have got in the way of James Hildreth off Peter Trego's bowling.



On a happier note for Peter Trego bowling Rory Hammilton-Brown.



And once again all smiles when Alfonso Thomas had Luke Wells caught by Alviro Petersen.

In the end only 18 overs were lost so it could have been far worse. We could easily have lost almost all of the second session due to persistent light rain (I'm sure some umpires would have gone off) in addition to the delay after both of the 'meal,'intervals.

Oh and I did not notice anything wrong with the scoreboard.

Great photos Mike, as ever. I'm still not sure the second drop carried to James.

I guess it's easy to say in hindsight we'd have been batting by now had we held one but there is nothing to say someone else may have gone on to hold the innings together...

P.s. Why is there no heavy roller for this game??

Presumably because Som chose before the game not to make one available - isn't that their new prerogative?

PS George Dobell on Cricinfo thinks Kies got a hand to the early Joyce chance and knocked it to the ground before it got to James.

Agree, I'm quite sure Hildy catch did not carry, I had a clear view from the Tresco stand.

Scoreboard survived the whole day, fingers crossed, lets see if we can make it 2 days in a row.....

Very good crowd yet again, 1200/1500?

Whisper it quietly but I say this format/schedule is working.
Our Sunday and Mondaycrowds have been healthy, and no worse than Wednesday/Thursday equivalents last year.
Love it or hate it, T20 on Fridays is best chance of all counties getting the best crowds.
We I think will always get 7000+ on a sunny day, but Fridays definitely help. (although if we keep losing we may find numbers drop off) saying that im not sure half the crowd would know who won when they leave after a T20, for many its just a boozed up social with something going on on the grass infront of them.

Shame about the missed chances, but I'm sure we would have taken 9 down for 200 odd at the start of the day, so well done all.

Great photo's again Mike - thanks. I reckon Pete Trego might want a framed hard copy of the one of RH-M's displaced stumps !

Grizzzly

WSM - re:the schedule, there still has to be a question, surely, about cricket-free Saturdays up and down the land? That's the most obvious flaw in the current schedule - that, after all, was something that people complained about when CC games started on a Wed - that because matches often end in 3 days, there was often nothing to watch on a Sat.

Quote:

Tumbles
I guess it's easy to say in hindsight we'd have been batting by now had we held one but there is nothing to say someone else may have gone on to hold the innings together...

This is course is the profound approach. All subsequent things change if one thing changes. Batsman dropped and he faces the next ball and we know the outcome. Batsman caught ,someone else faces the next ball and from then on there will be a totally new set of circumstances.
We live with what we've got...and in this case that's 3 bonus points on a shortened day.

The Saturday issue is a bit of a con I feel.

Lots moan there isn't any, but when there was nobody went!

Even T20's, we had odd one years back and that wasn't as good a crowd as a Friday or Sunday.
Our LVCC Saturday crowds were awful last few years. Yes I know it was last day but still loads didn't bother.

In the summer Saturdays have too many competitors.
Naturally many members play or will be involved in club cricket, this takes a huge amount out.
Also for families Saturdays tend to be more the day they do things, Sundays tend to be more the "spare" day they may be allowed to go to cricket.

I personally would go to Saturdays but from a mass point of view I really don't think having no cricket on a Saturday is harming things at all.

Looking at the Sussex attack, I've a feeling that the performances of the 'engine room,' of Hildreth, Kieswetter and Trego may be pivotal with the bat today.

It looks like there will be plenty of cloud and we know how good Magoffin can be if there's some help for bowlers. I think it fair to assume that he will present enough of a challenge to our top order to prevent us getting off to any kind of flier.

Jimmy Anyon has not had a productive season thus far but did well against us last season and, I understand, has been victimised by inept slip catching this season.

But after that? Piolet and Luke Wright as first and second change bowlers? That smells of opportunity to me.

Then there's Will Beer. I am looking forward to seeing him bowl. It should be interesting to all, including possibly Max Waller, to see what he can get from our Taunton track. He might go very well but, obviously, he is inexperienced and if he starts shakily there might be a chance to really climb into him too.

WSM - re cricketers I would think it would balance out in terms of a Sat versus Sun as club cricketers tend to play Sat but recreational ones tend to play Sun?

Personally, I'd prefer to see Friday CC starts and, thus, CC play on both weekend days but I'd be perfectly prepared to accept that playing the 50 over stuff on Saturdays might also make sense. It does seem to be a waste to have so many blank Saturdays though I am aware that we will have the odd Friday CC start, such as vs Warks (though by Murphy's law I have to go to a wedding in the North that weekend!)

Corporates do not tend to like Saturday/Sunday

Knock off early on a Friday, few pints at an event etc.
Spend the weekend with the family, or jobs to do at home.

Excellent performance yesterday.
Perhaps I should be "out of radio contact" more often, the last two such days have been firmly Somerset's.

Left Dorchester at 9.15. Rained for the first 20 mins of journey to Taunton but much brighter now.

The boxes about the Botham stand were all occupied except one yesterday, I was surprised seeing it was Sunday.

It's been prett good all season, FE, so I'm sure it's fine for you to listen!!!!

After the middle of August, apart from T20 finals day, one of the 50-over emifinals and the Lord's final, there is just one day of cricket (day 1 of a CC match) on a weekend day in the last six weeks of the seaon.

Sunny with cool breeze. Looks a batting day at present.

Is anybody else trying to listen on TuneIn? I'm getting silence on live event 12.

That'll do. Did we take the new ball.. if we did might as well give it to Sussex to bowl with!

The radio just spluttered into life! Come on boys!

Not the best start..

Either feast or famine for the boss.

He's nearly always being bowled, guessing its foot movement again?

Oh Dear, Mr Magoffin really is a thorn in the side isn't he.

I doubt it will be long before someone tries to make a link with CC and T20 form :-)

I think it swung away from him, Tumbles. Needless to say no foot movement.

Sussex's awful slip catching continues - Myburgh shelled.

Magoffin looking very tough and unyielding. It might not be an exaggeration to suggest that the whole pattern of this match could be dictated by how well we come through his new ball burst.

Dreadful shot by Myburgh I'm afraid. Loose drive - a 300 for 2 shot.

We don't need to be actively gifting wickets to Magoffin!

Magoffin loves a bowl against us.

Time for this seasons new found grit to appear again

46 to avoid the follow on

Compton gone too - and he was the only one that had looked okay vs Magoffin. Regulation nick behind to a good one.

Hildreth and Kieswetter owe some runs after ordinary 2013s and first half of 2014... Time to deliver.

Got to see Magoffin off and hope to get close to parity.

how many times does trescothick fall in the first over? Must be more than any opener in the country. I think thats about 5 or 6 times this seaon already and its only early June.

If we see Magoffin off we should hope for better than parity - it's a totally different game when Magoffin is bowling so far.

With an older ball and lesser bowlers we should still do okay provided we don't actively throw wickets away.

But all moot if Magoffin takes 10 for 29..

I think we can all see now just how significant missing Joyce on 0 is likely to be.

Poor shot from AP too. Expansive when watchfulness was needed.

We may have to follow on at this rate.

I think we'll manage 25 more, Magoffin must be nearing the end of his spell.. hopefully.

Magoffin has taken 400 first class wickets. Almost 10% of them - 35 - have been those of Somerset batsmen.

Might well be over 10% by the end of this game.

Langer has just texted MT urging him to declare.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

I haven't posted this season, but just to say that Craig has already produced a very important innings, hopefully our long batting line up can help get us pretty close to their target.

What a good morning's cricket (though not all in our favour!)

Every run being hard fought for, none of this 500-5 nonsense!

Poetic justice too that Craig's been our man this morning!

Magoffin world class - his length was the biggest key to his success I think - bowled that length where guys don't know whether to go forward or back. Ally that to pace, a bit of bounce and just enough movement and....

....Too good for us

......BUT if Myburgh and AP had not given wkts away we might still be faves for a first-innings lead despite all that...

Because....

Piolet was innocuous and everyone else was a buffet bowler.

Magoffin will bowl straight after lunch. If we can resist it then we could still get a first dig lead.

But...with only Magoffin having got anything from the track today then I fear we might have an uphill task with our second dig bowling anyway as this looks a pretty flat track when anyone bar Magoffin is operating.

Our best hope may be if we can bat until tea...and then hope for it to cloud over when we bowl.

Hopefully the softer ball will make him slightly less potent after lunch.

*hopefully*

We were 89 for 4 against this lot at their place and still won by an innings.

#justsaying

Yes, FE, although according to the radio guys it was a poor, uneven track at Hove. And, of course, that was 89 for 4 with Sussex still to bat.

The difference between Magoffin and the others has to be seen to be believed. It's almost as though we'd turned up with Andrew Caddick and a bunch of net bowlers.

If CK can see off Magoffin's post lunch burst then that will be worth a ton in itself.

Yeah but his form has been awful and really bad for nearly two years now AG so the chances are that he'll fail immediately.... now where was I reading something along those lines only a few days ago? No sorry it's gone

Clouding over which may not be of immediate help but may help when we bowl later.

Shot of the day from Pete - great on-drive off Magoffin.

Sorry, Grockle but he has been in poor form and barely had to face Magoffin before lunch, only a few balls I think. He did tuck into the buffet stuff from dross like Wright to good effect.

Magoffin coming back at Pete with two past the outside edge the over after the four.

And then loose ish from PT outside off-stick and a sixth for Magoffin.

Huge test for the likes of Meschede and Craig O. Anything they can get vs Magoffin will be a bonus.

Might possibly be time to actively hit out at the other bowlers.

And now CK has spliced one that stopped in the pitch off Piolet to cover and a significant first innings deficit is now very likely, I'm afraid.

If we can scrape anywhere near parity we'll have done well after loosing those two quick wickets.

No need to apologise AG.

He'll probably fail and end up drinking old hairspray bottles behind Morrisons because form is permanent....isn't it?

If only they'd given the gloves to Alex instead!!

We'll win this.


Trust me.

Magoffin finally off.

Phew!

Good to see Meschede getting some runs, he hasn’t showed his full potential with the bat yet, he’s got a lot of talent.

That 'poor form' you've been on about for a while related to the last couple of seasons.... thought I'd have a look at how poor

Is that the poor form that had him awarded the MVP short form award last season or was that the poor form that, in a poorly performing side, had him producing a three figure individual score, 1 century and 3 50's in first class cricket when injured for about a third of the season... a little more than the saviour of English cricket who now plays for Lancs? He didn't play that much more than the mighty Jos either

Or is it the 'poor form' this season that has seen him produce a high score of 78 and 3 championship 50's in the 8 games played - not huge I know but a little better than Mr Myburgh and a better average this season than last at 38

Now there is 'poor form' and 'poor form' but it hasn't exactly been a disaster for our keeper and isn't today another 50 at least - don't know I haven't looked at how long he lasted after lunch against the equally Mighty Magoffin who can bowl mere flyby nights like Craig Kieswetter away by simply running in. It seems.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:09:14:46:24 by Grockle.

There really is so much character to our side (in the CC) this season.

We really have some great young talent that we can be proud of.

We’re still in this game, two very good partnerships after the first 5 had failed. Last year we may have collapsed to 80 odd all out.

Sussex will probably feel they’ve missed a chance to put us out of the game.

So what happened to the significant first dig deficit.

I know the innings isn't over yet, but when was the last time (or indeed the first time) when the three highest scorers in one innings were all called Craig?

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

A little piece of advice to AGod: make all your negative predictions retrospectively and you might find life much more enjoyable.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

To be fair to agod, he does seem to like to predict almost every possible outcome at some point in a game,so of course he has some rotters.

I think we'll play very well/OK/badly from here on.

One innings game then.

We'll need to find somebody to bowl as well as Magoffin on what looks a flat track AND either find a better way to counter SJM or just hope he simply does not bowl as well second time around.

Just hope the wicket isn't going flatter as day goes on. We've done well from being 39/5 that's for sure and it'll maybe us that goes into the 3rd innings more buoyant.

Imagine how nervous we'd all be right now if this was a ONE innings match!

Fantastic effort from these two to even get us this close.

When we finished them off quickly earlier I foolishly allowed myself to dream of 150 lead by stumps and Yorks game being rain ruined.

Next time I looked we were 39 for 5 and I felt it was all my fault.

The roller coaster ride continues...

I'm enjoying the game very much thank you, LoL, and making realistic predictions rather than what you deem 'negative ones.'

Grockle - I was talking CC only not short stuff.

Before today CK had made about 50-60 runs in his last five CC matches. And had a poor CC average last season.

Tumbles - I don't think it's a case of track getting flatter really - I think it's been pretty flat all day if you consider that maybe one ball all day from anyone other than Magoffin has beaten the bat!

This was like watching Caddy on one of those days where it looked like he was bowling on a different pitch to everyone else.

What price a second batting point?

Leading. Blimey.

Seriously though: momentum all with us now.
Our young lads simply don't know when they're beaten.
Sussex must be feeling down to have conceded a lead after their start.


COME ON MY BABBIES!!!!!!

Sussex fans in front of me not thrilled, FE.

A career best for Craig Overton. What a season he's having.

George Dobell even saying what a player he's going to be. Just a shame Jamie is in such bad form.. hopefully it'll come back in time and they'll be leading us to the holy grail in no time

Alviro called up by SA and away for 5 weeks in July/Aug

Luke Wells off injured.

Nellie - replacement to be named soon. I predict Chawla again.

In this one hopefully both bowling Craigs will be boosted by their respective batting efforts.

Quote:

AGod
Sussex fans in front of me not thrilled, FE.

l

is that because you've been saying your predictions out loud all afternoon:-)

Elgar.

I can feel an updated version of Monty Python's 'spam' song coming along.......

"Craig, Craig, Craig, Craig, Craig, Craig, Craig, Craig" etc.... (repeat).

Well done the three C's.

Grizzzly

Quote:

Frome Exile
What price a second batting point?

And a third???

What price the 3 top scorers in the innings being called Craig, Alfonso.....and George?

I already did that one, doc h, at 15.02!

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Mine not quite the same and a lot less likely than yours LoL!
(but I did get the idea from you).

Sorry, doc h, yours was indeed different - and I'd be well happy to lose mine if yours comes true.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Splendid innings by Cove, but there will be many better to come.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Shame Cove couldn't get to a ton but we're looking a damn sight better position than at lunch.

Darn. Was keeping quiet in the hope that a ton was on it's way.

Tremendous effort by Cove - fantastic stuff.

Grizzzly

Indeed.

All out, Pete said Sussex were about 80 light yesterday at stumps.. think we've just about got to par score.

Hopefully this is now time for George to take control.

Anyon opening the innings, interesting idea. Sussex must be assuming that if they see off the new ball they'll be ok.

think Elgar is on the same tour SLC so it cant be him.!!

... and if anyon can see off the new ball anyone can.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Won't Chawla be here with India?

Actually it was Wells being injured. Just forgot. Guessing they may think he'll be ok for tomorrow.

No, FE, Chawla not in India squad.

I don't think AP's away that long, he's only in the Test squad, not the ODI's - only 2 Tests.

Perhaps they sent out Anyon as they knew they wouldn't be out there long.

Thanks, SP. Probably favourite, then. Unless it's Nannes?

Scratch that last comment re. Anyon. A picture of yesterday's downpour popped up on Facebook, and I though it was current.

I heard they had 10 overs tonight...

SP, although he is only away for the tests DN has stated he will be away for 5 weeks so we know what we are up against. Dont think Nannes plays any more that t20 cricket so it wont be him either......it better not be anyway.

Hope MT was watching Anyon bat tonight. Could may be pick up some tips !!

What a terrific game of cricket so far, full of twists and turns, and with some moments of excellence on both sides.

At the half way point, all 3 results are very possible. (well, not all 3 at once!)

A great advert for the 4 day format we all love and cherish.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:09:18:50:43 by Little Bird.

Great days cricket, great fightback.
It could have been much better, perhaps should have been much worse!
Still a load of Tres bashers around me, the guy has 2 tons in winning causes this year, averages 47 and stands 2nd in our averages to our test playing overseas man.
Opening batsman get out to quality opening bowlers using the new ball, give the guy a break!

Nice to see Dibble and Gregory doing some runs at tea, hopefully nearing fitness/selection.....

Need to make use of the morning tomorrow, seems best time to take wickets. Give me 325ao and a chase of 250 in the sun on Wednesday and i'll take that.....

Quote:

AGod
Grockle - I was talking CC only not short stuff.
Before today CK had made about 50-60 runs in his last five CC matches. And had a poor CC average last season.

Yep 64 in the last 5 innings, that's 4 single innings rain affected draws and one full game.

His average last year was about 34 and a half. Jos Buttler's was just over 36 - we must get HIM in the England setup but CK's CC average is poor.

It's 38 at the moment so if he has only scored 64 in his last 5 what did he contribute to the first games of the season?

You pick the format you pick the selective innings and you make your judgement and the man makes 65 in his next at bat.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep telling us he is in poor two year form

Lewis Gregory said after his untroubled tea-time canter inside the boundary ropes that he is going for a fitness test on Wednesday.

Sounds hopeful.

George Dobell brings up the B-word

[www.espncricinfo.com]

Day two photos.

The day didn't go as expected they never read my script. Turn the Somerset scorecard up side down then it will look as it should do.
Some of the shot selection needs to be examined by the coach. It was still a good day for watching cricket.



The day started with Ed Joyce getting his 100, and then Alfonso Thomas getting him out lbw.



I am not going to begin to describe how Marcus Trescothick got out playing this shot?? I am not sure I can.



The one person who need not feel ashamed is Nick Compton he had a unplayable ball from Steve Magoffin that was edge behind to Ben Brown.



Another disappointing day for James Hildreth lbw Steve Magoffin.



You should see the look on Alviro Petersen face after being caught by Ben Brown off Steve Magoffin.



A more positive photo Craig Kieswetter hitting 6 runs off Will Beer.



Not to be out done Craig Meschede also hitting 6 runs off Will Beer.



What a good knock from Craig Overton just when it was needed.



I don't know if I can describe how Craig Overton was feeling when he was out ct Chris Nash bld Rory Hamilton-Brown. His body language told it all how disappointed he was so close to his hundred, he was swinging his bat and waved the bat to the crowd who were applauding him but looking at the ground all the time.



One person who did his part in scoring runs and staying with Craig O was Alfonso Thomas seen here hitting four runs.

Early wickets is the order of the day tomorrow.

Brill photos mike. As usual. Thanks for that

So - where are we/the game?

I reckon there's no more than about a 25 percent chance of either side winning the game - with both sides having a roughly equal chance and about a 50 percent chance of this match being a draw, even if there is no further rain.

Somerset's chances, I think, probably rest mainly with George Dockrell as he seemed to get a bit of turn at the end. On today's track it took a herculean effort from Magoffin. Without his presence, I suspect we'd have run up about 380-3 for the day or something like that. The relative ease with which their number nine, Anyon, played as an opener and the speed with which Tres turned to GD, I think support this assessment.

Figures for the day for seamers not named Magoffin were;

48-4-175-2

And, in my opinion, one of those two wickets (Kieswetter's) was pretty much a fluke. So I give non Magoffin seamers credit for one wicket all day. Furthermore, I'd say that no more than about 10 balls all day that weren't bowled by Magoffin actually beat the bat.

Sussex's chances I think rest almost entirely with Magoffin. For them to win, they'd need him to bowl as well again, in our second dig, as he did today. Of course, they'd also need to make a strong total tomorrow AND probably get bowled out in the process as it's difficult to see them declaring without a big lead.

Quote:

Grockle

Quote:

AGod
Grockle - I was talking CC only not short stuff.
Before today CK had made about 50-60 runs in his last five CC matches. And had a poor CC average last season.

Yep 64 in the last 5 innings, that's 4 single innings rain affected draws and one full game.

His average last year was about 34 and a half. Jos Buttler's was just over 36 - we must get HIM in the England setup but CK's CC average is poor.

It's 38 at the moment so if he has only scored 64 in his last 5 what did he contribute to the first games of the season?

You pick the format you pick the selective innings and you make your judgement and the man makes 65 in his next at bat.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep telling us he is in poor two year form

I didn't "pick the format."

My only comments re: CK were that his form has been sufficiently poor that if he's not careful his CC place may be in jeopardy. It follows logically from that that his T20 form is most unlikely to be relevant to that.

And the fact remained that there were just over 60 runs in his last five CC matches and that five CC matches represents nearly one third of the whole season.

And, yes, he scored against Yorkshire on the shirt-front in the first game of the season (as did almost everyone on both sides) but that's not really the sort of thing that wows me, I'm afraid.

Yep, Ronnie, no way it'll be Nannes for the CC. The guy does not play first-class cricket.

Freddie Flintoff didn't play any cricket till a month ago - things change.
Whilst I don't think it likely that it will be Nannes, there is "no way" that I would be so spectacularly arrogant as to declare that there is "no way" that it will.

Well I sincerely hope it isn't him because it would be a really poor move as he's lost the pace that used to make him a good bowler and has not demonstrated any appetite at all in living memory for playing first-class cricket.

p.s. and yes, FE, Freddie last played first-class cricket five years ago... and still isn't playing it!!!

p.p.s. we wouldn't even be getting the value of "experience," in any meaningful sense of the term because Nannes has played all of 23 first-class matches in his career (to go with 193 T20 matches)!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:09:22:27:53 by AGod.

Re: Craig Overton - seems to have the same sort of mind-set as Lewis Gregory in that he would rather be seen as "batsman that bowls." But as with Lewis, I still think he's a much better bowling prospect than batting, to be honest.

Come now FE, you know that Agod is sure of his predictions whether they come true or not.

It's just like the weathermen

One prediction that is certain to come off.

You'll post ten posts about me for every one that you might post about the cricket.

Tragic, really.

...and you'll post ten about what might conceivably happen in the next game for every one that is happening in this game.

Funny, really.

Well, not true, but whatever makes you laugh, SP.

Right that's it!! Nannes for me it is!!!

And the fact remained that there were just over 60 runs in his last five CC matches and that five CC matches represents nearly one third of the whole season.

Mention the Yorkshire game and why he scored runs in it but forget to mention that the 5 you are talking about were (for him) single innings games in rain affected conditions (in most cases I think you'll find) - of course you aren't selective :-).

I think there are 9 sides in the CC1? We play each home and away? A possible 16 matches of 2 innings each? 32 CC1 batting opportunities?

You're now basing this assessment on 5 matches where there was no second innings opportunity. There's a lot goes on between CC1 matches so....

a) It's not 'nearly a third' of the batsman's season, form changes and is affected by what goes on in other formats between the holy grail of the CC1.

b) the weather isn't the batsman's fault and it is sometimes hard to rekindle form in a format when you can't get on the wicket to bat.

Oh and
c) a batsman can only bat on the wicket he stands on. Blame Yorkshire for the wicket not Craig for making hay on it.

Runs is Runs old bean you can't decide some runs are better than other runs. If you're going to be objective you have to do it ALL the time and not only when it suits your argument.

Could Kieswetter be batting better? Yep

Is he in some kind of two season slump? Not really though he probably needs a consistent set of CC1 matches to bat himself back into four dayers properly. Let's hope this game is the start of the solid two innings stuff..

Was his CC1 position in jeopardy at the start of this game and Alex Barrow considered as a keeping alternative to the failing CK? Well in your hypothetical mind it seems it was and not for the first time that hypothetical situation seems to have transformed into some kind of quasi fact. But only in your mind luckily.

The best thing you seem to be able to do for him is keep on pouring on the 'factual' doom laden stuff though coz it seems to be doing him the world of good. Criticise the batting of Craig Overton as well while you're at it... oh I see you've already poured doubt on that. Well Done AG keep it up.







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:10:04:10:44 by Grockle.

Kieswetter wants to play for England again. Has he scored enough runs. No. He would admit that I believe. Has he scored enough runs for somerset and has his wk been up to scratch recently . No. I think he would admit that too. As I said before he needs to up his game or his talent will be wasted. Spends more time on social media I believe than he should and travelling to the bright lights for nights out . Wind that in for a bit and see if performances improve. Might he worth it you know.

Sorry, Grockle, but since Somerset vs Yorkshire was at Taunton, I'll refrain from 'blaming Yorkshire for the wicket.' I don't blame Somerset either - after all the game was played in wall to wall sunshine.

As for games in which we did not have to bat twice?

Well, guess what, with Somerset batting quite well, on the whole, this season, and us living in a wet country, there may be quite a few more of those this season. IF there's much in the way of showers today, CK might not bat again in this one either. But that doesn't mean that the club can or should be content if somebody goes through five such matches in which he barely troubles the scorer.

As for it being nearly a third of the season. I'm sure you know full well that what I meant is that five matches constitutes nearly one third of the CC matches in a season. That's still true whether or not everyone gets two innings in them.

Oh, and as for Craig Overton? I'm not 'criticising his batting,' I'm simply saying that both he and Gregory seem to prefer to think of themsemlves as batsmen who bowl but both, I feel, are better prospects with the ball. Wasim Akram was a better bowler than he was a batsman too, but it doesn't mean that he couldn't bat...

Ron, absolutely right with your 6.30.

And yet we have comments on this thread about 'poetic justice,' when he scored 50 in this one - comments which presumably allude to his non-selection for the Test as though he had some sort of divine right to be selected irrespective of form.

Now, granted, Prior has also not done enough to be selected either but, unless they were going to pick the best available wicket-keeper, i.e Bates or Read or Foster then they were stuck in the same position as with the spinner - no strong candidate as a 'batsman-keeper,' that was in form in the CC. Therefore England went back to the guy who was player of the year in 2012. If he was completely fit it would have been a reasonable call in the circumstances..

Good, so we've established that people actually agree with the substance of AGod's comments re CK then.

I think a lot of people are waiting for ck to slip up, something about him seems to rile people - the accent?

I have no problem with his social media use - I think the player with most extra curricular and media activities is probably Compton, and yet he still manages to find enough time to work hard, so unless people have inside knowledge its a bit off to claim he's not putting the effort in.

We've got so many South African accents in our team that folks would be waiting for everyone "to slip up," a la averageside, if that were the case.

How nice it is to have not heard from Average at all this season.

i don't think you are too far wide of the mark SLC but maybe it's the Jos factor rather than his accent that's increased the attention on Craig's performances for some.

i miss Averageside as all opions should be welcome.

Quote:

Bobstan
Good, so we've established that people actually agree with the substance of AGod's comments re CK then.

and we have established that some people dont. good too Im glad we are all happy

Speaking only for myself, it's last season's batting which, for me, has increased my focus on the batting of everyone who did not do well with the bat last season (which to all practical purposes means everyone apart from NC and AP).

I think the "poetic justice" remark simply referred to CK repaying some of the runs his drop of Joyce had cost?

Oh, possibly, FE, in that case may I apologise to Little Bird.

Although, thinking about it, there CK was not, of course, the victim of any kind of unjust action viz the Joyce drop.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:10:09:22:04 by AGod.

Nailsea - the point with averageside was that not hearing from means, by definition, that we've had no bad team CC performances this season. Because he only posts when we lose and/or play very badly in a drawn game.

...and talking of absent posters what has happened to OldBoy??

I saw him at an early dd match ?Yorkshire? but he seems to be very silent on Grockles this year. Has he thrown his toys out of the pram and left?

In a nut-shell?

That is indeed my understanding of the situation.

Yes John.

What's weather looking like, Mike?

Quote:

Little Bird @ 12:15
I think we can all see now just how significant missing Joyce on 0 is likely to be.

Quote:

Little Bird @ 13:05
What a good morning's cricket (though not all in our favour!)
Every run being hard fought for, none of this 500-5 nonsense!

Poetic justice too that Craig's been our man this morning!

I think it's fairly obvious what LB was driving at re. "poetic justice": not some reference to any divine right to an England place.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:10:09:50:53 by Frome Exile.

Well, maybe, but I think you can see why someone would conclude that a comment about poetic justice would relate to somebody who had been the victim of some kind of injustice?

i.e. batsman is given out lbw after a big nick onto their pad in first innings, batsman scores big in second innings or, more seriously, man is locked up for crime he did not commit then finds winning lottery scratch card in the street..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:10:09:55:41 by AGod.

but only you could analysis it that much, However maybe Little Bird would be so kind to explain what he meant if he feels the need.


* NB - Edited to finish the sentence as I pressed go to early



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:10:10:13:14 by Nailsea_Fizz.

Has anything good happened, been out all day :-)

We're back!

When are we naming a stand after Alfie then?

Alfie's 4 wicket haul has been uploaded by Sky Sports..

[www.youtube.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:10:16:33:08 by Tumbles.

Superb performance by alf and Tregs.Tres and Myburgh making light work at the moment,but a Tres injury might be the only sour point .

Wow are we in a hurry or what!! 41-0 off 4.2 overs.

The world class bowler not so effective in this innings

Sounds as though Marcus might have done his ankle again but he's still batting , though with a runner. Hopefully it's something else entirely

2 down. Lets not panic

Tresco injury so I'd suggest that we will have to abandon our practice of playing two Test openers at numbers 3 and 4 (!).

Surely at least one of them should now be pushed up to open for games which Tresco misses?

Calm down please boys, lets secure the victory there is always tomorrow.

Quote:

Nailsea_Fizz
but only you could analysis it that much, However maybe Little Bird would be so kind to explain what he meant if he feels the need.

* NB - Edited to finish the sentence as I pressed go to early

The word is analyse. But never mind.

Commentators seem to think it's a calf or hammy for Marcus. If the former, might not miss much time.

To be honest, I'm sure he would not want to be rested from T20 games, but it might not be a bad thing if he now has to miss a few provided he's not out for too long.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:10:16:51:55 by AGod.

thanks for the correction

Please posters be very careful about celebrating other posters absence from this board.

We know almost nothing about the age, health and general well being of forum members.

It is very unlikely ( speaking for myself ) that ones partner / wife / husband would bother to post on here that a forum member had passed away.

Criticise their opinion but do not make a good thing of their absence.

End of lecture and well done the lads today - surely we must win this one now !

Rodders - I think in this one case, people would be more worried if it didn't happen every time Somerset win a few games.

Congratulations to Alfonso Thomas on taking four wickets in four balls.

Rodders - I take your point... up to a point.

In this case, as and when we lose a CC match, I fully expect to see average back amongst us.

Take your point SLC but we don't really know do we !

Amazing performance from AT - there is obviously plenty of life left in the old dog yet !

Stonking stuff.

Grizzzly

You get support from here again Rodders (we've got to stop doing this).

Please leave your comments about posters until they either have done something to deserve them or are active on the site to reply people.

Comments of all kind are welcome and you all get the chance to comment on the comments when they are made. In reference to the two posters you mentioned.

In one case this is not probably the season (at the moment) where he feels he wants to make comments. When he feels he does want to participate I hope we will all discuss his posts based on the merit they deserve.

In the case of the other poster he chose to remove himself for his own reasons and is welcome back to comment on the cricket at anytime. Casomer I believe also left on that basis at the same time and under the same open offer to comment in the future.

Please let's all accord them their right to choose their own level of participation

I agree with your sentiments rodders12 but I don't think people always consider these things whilst posting.

Also I think it's a general social media thing.

Still back to the cricket Compo has taken up the challenge with two successive 6's

Compo slipped the gears and a four from Hildreth too.

Craig is a child of the social media age gentlemen. He learned his lesson quite a while ago and his tweets are pretty innocuous to be fair. So he uses his mobile phone. It actually isn't a crime, he isn't alone in the cricketing world, he seems a lot more sensible than some of his fellow professionals and I've never seen him doing it while batting.

The debate about Craig's form was not about the fact he needs to provide more for his county if he wants to play for his country. I think a couple of others hit is on the head - he seems to be the one to poke at the moment in some sections of the site and media.

The debate was about the assessment that he seemed to have been struggling more than others over a two year period which is a much harder case to prove.

Awfully sorry about the error about where the Yorkshire game was played but the comment about choosing which are 'good' and which are 'not so good' runs still applies and damages the argument put forward IMHO. Objectivity in all cases or it is a waste of time because the assessment then becomes subjective and the 'facts' become meaningless in the analysis because they are not assessed against the same yardstick in all cases but on an opinionated and unmeasurable scale made up by the analyst.

There ya go...

Have we won yet?

Oh bloody hell that Kieswetter bloke is in again

and that England bloke who doesn't score quick enough is now hitting sixes

Well done lads a fantastic win in three days, shame we now have a break in the CC this coming weekend

Grockle yes we have...excellent stuff.

My own particular ref and issue to CK's social media use centres on Manchester. He tweeted at just before 11am I think, was next man in, we lost early wickets and was back in the hutch by 1115. He should have had his game face on and not on his phone. I dont at my work!!

Im not against it and fully appreciate he wants to do it but there is a time and a place surely.

Fantastic game, what a win!

We sit proudly top at the half way stage.

This is the stuff dreams are made of...

Top of the table and the only unbeaten side at the half-way stage - AND a day, tomorrow, when I can get down to something useful instead of being glued to the commentary.

I'd like to put in a special word for Trego, who took six wickets in the match and added invaluable runs with Kieswetter after the first innings had started so disastrously. He's a real team man.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Magnificent, (but entirely predictable, not to say predicted, twice, before we even had a first innings lead) win.

I believe, gentlemen, that we top the table this evening.

15 in 5 for the keeper but it has to be the 5 in 10 that ripped the heart out of Sussex here.

Alphonso coming to the end of his career and possibly not up to it any more? Who said that? I have just cut the hugest piece of humble pie which I will eat while praying to the image of the great Alf.

Please be this good at Nottingham and weather go and bother someone else.

Looking forward to seeing us continue our drive towards the Championship when I'm over later in the summer !

Great result chaps.

Anyone know what the situation is re Marcus's "injury" ?

Grizzzly

I don't think my nerves can stand another 8 games of this kind of roller coaster ride.

But for me that match is REAL cricket, and pretty much had everything, and I would have said the same if we'd have been 98 all out and lost. I would have been gutted, but that's sport. You don't always get what you want...

Time to look at the forecast for Headingley tomorrow.

In the meantime well done to the team - the double over Sussex feels sweet after last year.

Can't beat four-day cricket - that ends in three days...

Quick quiz question.When were we last top of the CC Div1?

10 reasons to be cheerful tonight...


1 In the recent history of the CC, quite often the winners have been a surprise team who half way through the previous campaign looked doomed to relegation but who rallied late in the day to stay up. Durham were thus, so were Warks and Lanc..could it be our turn to keep that 'sequence going'?

2 Low expectations. A few of us might be getting a bit excited tonight, but I bet most of the national 'experts' and neutrals still reckon Yorkshire (or Middesex) will win it. There won't be much external pressure put on us.

3 Our resilience. We've had few bad sessions all season, let alone bad whole days, but when we have (yesterday morning and up at Durham etc), somebody has always dug us out. We show great character and this season people are standing up and being counted and not relying on one or two others all the time. Added to that losing our (then) leading bowler through injury, plus all those early matches when bowlers were limping out the attack during matches, and it's not hindered us.

4 Teamwork. We don't seem over-reliant on any one batter to get the runs or one bowler to get the wickets this season. Our 3 leading bowlers have 27, 25 and 22 CC wickets..our 3 top batters have 517, 485 and 445 runs. Responsibility is being shared around more equally.

5 Blend. We seem a great blend of experience and youth. Our most experienced players (Marcus, Pete with the ball, Alf) have all bounced back brilliantly from lesser seasons last year, while the great crop of young talent we all knew we possessed are finally winning matches for us (a trend started in the run in last season that kept us up) Personally I feel this exciting side will get even BETTER as the season progresses.

6 Stability. Other than AP, and George's Ireland dalliances, we should escape relatively lightly on the call up front this season. Better than our rivals for certain. And worth noting too that Lady Luck has favoured us fixture-wise so far, as we've faced teams without their international players..unlike previous seasons we've not faced Bell or Prior or Broad..we even escaped what was bound to have been an emotional reunion against Jos.

7 No such thing as a gimme of course, I don't mean to be disrespectful but we've yet to play the bottom side. 2 fixtures against Northants will be seen as very winnable.

8 The weather. It often feels as if we are cursed, but actually despite the rain that denied us a chance to win at Lancs and earlier at the Riverside, we'd probably not be top tonight had Middlesex's recent home game not been totally rained off..all 4 days! And Yorks look unlikely to win their current match due to rain. Maybe it's just a perception that we get the worst of the weather and nobody else suffers!

9 HQ. After the first 2 matches, those rather dull draws, lots of articles appeared about us not having a chance of challenging this season because of the flat tracks at Taunton. Since then? 2 wins, both in actually under 3 full days of playing time!

10. Tosses! We don't need to win the toss to win. Our 3 victories this season have come when we've LOST it! Psycologically that must be a huge boost..never mind what the opposition asks us to do, we'll beat them anyway!

Added to those reasons the fact we may go out the T20 at the group stage and therefore might not be spreading ourselves so thinly by trying to challenge for everything.....

Not a bad place to be at the half way point of the season is it!!

Have a good evening everybody



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:10:18:02:01 by Little Bird.

No news as yet Grizzly, they never mentioned it again on commentary once he was out.

It'll be on the main site later on no doubt

Quote:

AGod
Oh, possibly, FE, in that case may I apologise to Little Bird.
Although, thinking about it, there CK was not, of course, the victim of any kind of unjust action viz the Joyce drop.

Sorry only just caught up and seen the debate that followed my 'poetic justice' comment..

Yes it meant because Craig had dropped Joyce, it was great that he was the one batting so well when I wrote it!

He re-paid 60% of those runs!!

Anyway, it doesn't matter now because we won the game, and neither of the two dropped catches on day one cost us!

In fact, if anything, they prolonged this enthralling match a bit longer!

We really are all so lucky to be following Somerset this season..a wonderful team, a lovely blend of youth and experience, and some lovely characters too.

If there really were a Cricketing God, Marcus would definitely be lifting that trophy at Leeds in September!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:10:18:29:03 by Little Bird.

2008 I think nellie when we beat Surrey at Whitgift school. We lost to Yorks in next game I think but we were top for a bit Im sure.

Loving the sentiments expressed above, LB.
Agree with every word.

Yes, nice 1-10 piece LB, most eloquent !

Grizzzly

Excellent day, excellent win! Well done to all, maybe especially young Alfie.

RE Compo's sixes, is he after Tres's T20 place if injured?

Yep, have to concentrate on work tomorrow...

I am really pleased for loyal supporters like Tractor, who will have seen some tremendous cricket these last three days.

Being a Somerset fan is never boring. We are off to Trent Bridge hoping for great things but not via 39 for 5!!.

Well played all 11.

Quote:

Grockle
Craig is a child of the social media age gentlemen. He learned his lesson quite a while ago and his tweets are pretty innocuous to be fair. So he uses his mobile phone. It actually isn't a crime, he isn't alone in the cricketing world, he seems a lot more sensible than some of his fellow professionals and I've never seen him doing it while batting.
The debate about Craig's form was not about the fact he needs to provide more for his county if he wants to play for his country. I think a couple of others hit is on the head - he seems to be the one to poke at the moment in some sections of the site and media.

The debate was about the assessment that he seemed to have been struggling more than others over a two year period which is a much harder case to prove.

Awfully sorry about the error about where the Yorkshire game was played but the comment about choosing which are 'good' and which are 'not so good' runs still applies and damages the argument put forward IMHO. Objectivity in all cases or it is a waste of time because the assessment then becomes subjective and the 'facts' become meaningless in the analysis because they are not assessed against the same yardstick in all cases but on an opinionated and unmeasurable scale made up by the analyst.

There ya go...

Have we won yet?

Sorry, but nobody said he'd struggled more than some other SCCC batsmen since the start of last season. For example, he and Hildreth have been about the same. Both struggled last season, neither has pulled up any trees this season. Trescothick was also about the same last season, but has turned things around this season.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:10:19:41:41 by AGod.

A solid performance from all concerned.
It's good to see us at the top of the table.
Well done.

As you yourself alluded to the other day, FE, it might be as well for SCCC to not linger too long in the spotlight. Let the media keep focusing on their "darlings," from Yorkshire etc

This could be the year," Thomas admitted afterwards. "I'm starting to believe. Taunton is home now for me and my family don't want to go anywhere.

"That was the first hat-trick of my professional career and has to be right up with the highlights. But yes, the turning point of my career came when a man called Brian Rose showed belief in me. I love Somerset."

[www.espncricinfo.com]

The above is also the article in which Du Plessis is bizarrely suggested as the replacement for AP even though they will surely be playing in the same team for SA.

Who would have thought I will be saying third and final day's photos.

I have not had much chance to look at much yet on here and on the match reports.

Alfonso Thomas must come first four in four and another one.


This is Alfonso Thomas's first wicket of James Anyon



This is Alfonso Thomas's second wicket lbw Rory Hamilton-Brown



This is Alfonso Thomas's third wicket Ed Joyce ct Craig Kieswetter.



This is Alfonso Thomas's four in four bld Matt Machan.



And the celebrations after Alfonso got his fifth wicket Luke Wright ct Marcus Trescothick bld Alfonso Thomas.



Ben Brown was ct Alviro Petersen bld Peter Trego and Marcus seems quite pleased about it.



Not everything went according to plan Alviro Petersen missing this chance to catch Ben Brown off the bowling of George Dockrell.



Craig Kieswetter enjoyed watching James Hildreth take that catch from Chris Nash off the bowling of Peter Trego.



Lets not forget Peter Trego's wickets, Luke Wells ct Craig Kieswetter bowled by Peter Trego.



Marcus in trying to win quickly was out caught by Steffan Piolet bowled James Anyon.

At the end of the day we can reflect on what a good match this was to watch.

Magnificent sequence of the four in four, Mike, quite superbly done - thank you.

That first one especially is lovely. Looks like a nice shot too!

Great photo's Mike.

James appears to be smiling as the third dismissal (EJ) is in course.

This is all rather spiffing !

Grizzzly

Great post, LB; and great photos, Mike.

From George Dobell's report (the second sentence is spot on, in my view):

While his powers as a batsman may be dimming and he will undergo a scan on his groin after pulling up sharply while batting in the second innings, there is a sense that, after an excellent career touched by sadness, he deserves the success that has eluded him and every Somerset cricketer before him.

And if you needed one moment to sum up Trescothick's commitment, his desire, his selflessness and his humility, it is the sight of him, over after over, perched under the helmet at short leg. "Someone has to do it," he says matter of factly. Not many 38-year-old captains would take such a view.

Watching the video of Alfie getting the Hat-Trick and Tres running after him like a teenager brought a huge smile to my face. The peoples champion.

Excellent LB - almost totally agree.

I would add the factors of leadership from the three coaches - we seem to have a resilience this year that in years past has eluded us. We seem to have a new mantra that we sell our wickets very expensively - even if that means batting very slowly and carefully against the new ball.

Even today when we lost three wickets quickly in the chase the rum rate which had been almost 10 an over fell back and back as Compton in particular dropped anchor for a while and blunted the Sussex progress. Then he hits two consecutive sixes off Beer and looks like a T20 player (wash my mouth out!).

Superb win and I am happy to award the MOM to the Greeat Alphonso after that amazing 4 in 4.

It it feels this good being top after 8 games I can't wait until Sept when we "could" be there for real.

Feet on the ground, not getting ahead of ourselves etc etc but I'm really not sure Headingley is big enough should that be a winner takes all game. They have a good county support and I'd imagine half of Somerset will make the trip up if this "could" be the year.

Lets wrap up the boys in cotton wool until Sunday week, this bish+bash stuff means nothing now, it's all about the big one.....

Excellent photos again, thanks Mike.

Yep, WSM. Let's use T20 to reward the second XI that did well in their T20 comp. Let's give them a chance to play in front of some decent crowds, under the lights etc.

We already lost Gregory to an injury sustained in hit and giggle and I don't want any more important injuries arising from a competition that is more of an inconvenience than anything else.

The holy grail?

Maybe Scrumper but there's a lot of cricket to go yet...George D does sort of put it in a sentence though doesn't he.

Yes I agree Sloop John. Certainly, looking in from the outside, the coaching changes seem to be helping us. Over the winter I read Steve James's very good book about the rise of English cricket under Fletcher and Flower, and Dave Houghton got some good praise in that one. While we're still a bit short of centurions this season, already this CC campaign 12 of our players have hit 50s. In fact Alf is the only regular that hasn't, although I'm sure we will forgive him that after his exploits with the ball! And on a serious note, worth noting he did make his highest score of the season so far in this match, when we really needed runs from the tail.

That, in a way, can be the problem with stats. I've been reading the debate on this thread about Kieswetter's form with the bat, and it's true he's not blown us away in the manner of a Compo or Alviro this season. But his innings on Monday started our recovery, it was massive no doubt about that. The record books will show it as 65, and people might turn round and say 'oh he's not made a century yet this season'. But those 65 runs were most likely worth more than a 150 in a high scoring draw bore.

Thanks Mike, super photos once again particularly of the 'Alfie Thomas 4'. I do hope he has access to this site to see them for himself.
Apart from Alf and Pete Trego too who rightly got plaudits for his bowling, it was good to see George Dockrell bowling with a good amount of variation and deservedly picking up a couple of wickets at the end. I have often wondered if the amount of one day cricket he plays for Ireland might be hindering his progress in the longer, proper game - hopefully not.

Hear hear LB!

Mike TA1 - the Fonz would no doubt like a composite of those excellent shots of his four-by-four!

In case more are thinking that about Alfonso's four wickets, I am going to put them on a CD for him plus one or two others.

---

Thanks for your thanks, this match has been the best opportunity for photos for a while, I do try to post a variety so they are not always the same.

Another reason for feeling happy, that I didn't get to include on my 10 of yesterday, is the extra 2 points for the draw this season.

As the only unbeaten county, we've been the beneficiaries of that. If we can't win games, as we couldn't at HQ in April and early-mid May, at least get the 5 for the draw.

Usually the CC leaders (and eventual champions) are the team with the most wins (as we know to our cost!) but we've won fewer games than Middlesex who will be 3rd by tonight.

Yes, usually more than the 6 wins that we are "theoretically," "on pace for", are required to win CC1 but the extra 2 points for the draw (at least compared to the past couple of seasons) could make a difference.

I think at other times in CC1 the draw was worth 4 points, but I'm not sure it's ever previously been 5?

With two games v Northants & Lancs at home you'd have to fancy (weather permitting) that we could get more than 6 if our form continues.

Draws against Middlesex & Yorkshire wouldn't allow either to capitalise.

Good point in George Dobell`s review of the match on cricinfo yesterday. Peter Trego bowled on all three days without complaint into a strong wind and still finished up with six wickets - only two less than Alfonso - in the match.

..and to think he was 'dropped' by all accounts for the first match of the season. Crazy.

Yes, Peter Trego is without doubt an honest, hard working pro, it is difficult to imagine a Somerset side without him.

It looks like Notts are doing their damnedest to help by holding Yorkshire up.

For those who haven't seen it, Alfonso interview. [www.bbc.co.uk]

George Dockrell will now definitely be available for Somerset during the September championship run-in. Ireland today cancelled their proposal tour to Pakistan in that month, in the light of the recent terrorist attack at Karachi Airport.

Could be a key bowler if we have a dry late summer.

Good news (even if derived from a terrible event)

LoL mentioned during the match that Mr Hamilton-Brown's place in Sussex's future may not be secure in view of his (batting) form since his return to Hove.

I forgot to mention it, but the thing that stuck out about Hamilton-Brown was, I'm afraid, the poverty of his fielding. They put him at slip when the slow bowlers were on and he played as though in a trance, repeatedly moving only after the ball had been hit past him. It was bizarre to watch and the Sussex fans in front of me were not at all amused with his fielding.

Lovely to watch:

[www.ecbtv.co.uk]

Grizzzly

I'm still staggered at how well Somerset are doing with essentially the same team that struggled so much last year. On the face of it the opening bowling - minus Kirby - of Thomas and Trego doesn't look fearsome, but it seems to be working. The batting looks deep, which was clearly Somerset's aim this year, but they've performed so much better as a team. I was expecting them to do well in the 1-day format and struggle over four days; for some reason the reverse seems true at the moment.

Hey ho,

Simon

If it was predictable, it'd be dull, wouldn't it Simon!

[I'm sure AG told me that ]