Glos over T20.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:12:11:23:43 by Grockle.

Is this now the match thread then?

I thought we were going to be using the 'Gloucs T20 thread'?

Just went to but tickets for Friday night and it's sold out! Was suppose to be taking my dad for his birthday, whoops! So if anybody has any spares then please let me know!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:11:10:46:17 by Grockle.

Yep, it was on the clubs web site yesterday only 200 tickets were available so it is not surprising it is a sell out.

Yeah didn't see that till after, was busy at work and didn't get a chance on Monday or Tuesday, nightmare! Fingers crossed I find some!

Good luck on that.

Off Subject of thread, but please move Grockle if needed.


Marcus not in the squad for tonight's T20 game v Gloucester.
Very strange that Alfonso is to Captain the side for the rest of the T20 season, assisted by JH.


Somerset will name their side from the following squad- Alfonso Thomas, Nick Compton, George Dockrell, Lewis Gregory, Tim Groenewald,James Hildreth, Colin Ingram, Craig Kieswetter, Craig Meschede, Dirk Nannes, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Pete Trego and Max Waller.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:11:10:12:27 by Roger ivanhoe.

Well done to MT for agreeing to leave himself out.

They always like to put Alf in as T20 captain and I think we have a strong record under Alf in T20.

But...if the club cares about T20 there is the obvious point of it possibly being better to give JH some captaincy experience. He has very little captaincy experience in this format because when Tres was injured previously, JH's stint as Captain was dis-continued immediately prior to the start of T20, with Alf taking over.

Really hope they don't put NC in though. What, one wonders, has happened to Burke? In the team for the last two, didn't get the chance to do much then suddenly not in the squad? (if the info from website is accurate).

True. If you are going to make space then use it effectively.

James has played enough T20 cricket to know the game, but long term we need a replacement captain for the T20 game, seems to me it would have been a good opportunity for James to get the experience.

I wonder if it is more down to James's form in the T20's.

just read Tres's WDP article and he is moaning about the fact we have to play 11/12 days on the bounce and how cricketers cant be expected to do that.

We always said in this busy period we would be rotating regardless so maybe he is just being rested for this as part of that. His form dictates it too.

I wouldnt rule him out just yet!!

If we had a larger pool of batsmen from which to select then yes, Roger, I would think 'maybe they don't consider JH to be 100 percent certain of his place.'

But the Compo pick surely indicates that we don't necessarily have lots of people that the club trusts to push it around in the middle overs of a T20. If NC plays, I assume the idea will be that he and JH should keep it ticking over in the middle overs after a (hopefully) explosive start from CK, PT and CI.

Personally, I think I'd consider keeping Ingram back to bat in the middle overs with JH, rather than pick NC - maybe give Mesch a chance at 3?

i.e

Ck
PT
Mesch
CI
Hildreth
Lewis
Craig O
Etc


And preferably no NC at all and give the likes of Lewis and Craig O a chance in finishing roles?

As it is, what we seem likely to get is:

CK
PT or CI
CI or PT
Hildreth
NC
Mesch

Not only is NC slow but his poor calling/running should be another disincentive to pick him, IMO. Would far rather Burke have his chance or we pick Jones or Barrow.

Something specific that I'd try tonight:

If a spinner is bowling and takes a wkt first or second ball without our batsmen crossing?

I'd junk the planned batting order and make Craig Overton next man in.

Why?

Huge levers. Huge reach. Huge power. I don't think he's an easy guy for your average spinner to bowl at (and they won't be bringing Ajmal!)

I'd give Craig O the brief to come out in that scenario and just whack it. Every chance that even if he only lasts four balls, three of them sail to the boundary. And if he's able to stay in for any length of time then he could totally mess up Gloucs' team plans by forcing them to not bowl spin and having to use part time seamers instead.

The whole batting and bowling line-up should be flexible. That is the way Graeme Smith played the game the year we won it and he seemed to know what he was doing. NEVER let the other side settle.

Glad that tres has decided not to play, and the day off will probably benefit him for the upcoming game against northants. What I'm more glad about is, that I've managed to get 2 tickets for tonight, thanks to the power of twitter! And even more thanks to bagpuss for retweeting as it was one of her followers that's sorted me with one of the tickets.
Looking forward to see what Ingram offers us, sounds very promising, hopefully later were talking about the massive impact he made in a fine somerset victory!

Well done Red.. glad you got your dad in.

A few things to look for and at tonight. Seems the dressing up box will be in more than usual use tonight according to punters I know who are going. I hope they Aren't going as the threatened French Maids. It will not be a pretty site after cider.

I believe James H is being rested for tonight, too.

Nick is in the nets having some throw downs which suggests he is playing tonight.

Hildreth is on the team sheet but then again so is Trescothick. Ingram is on at 5, Groenewald is on at 10

JH not playing would add another reason to him not being captain for the remainder of T20.

Well it would if he's being stood down, Tres style, from the rest of the campaign.

I'm all for resting key CC personnel but one irony is surely that few are more key than Alf in the CC?

For that matter, I'd suggest NC is more key to CC than JH too!!

Still maybe Hildreth is being dropped on T20 form grounds?

Difficult to see how NC is likely to do better though and fairly easy to see how he might do worse!

Well when the game starts we shall find out the team and when it ends will know who did what.

Just to keep you abreast of the actual reality. Absolutely NO information here that James is not in the team. Speculate all you like as to why he would not be there but maybe wait until it is confirmed by someone officially perhaps?

Somerset have lost the toss and will bat first.

Only change to the Somerset side is Compton in for Tres....makes NO sense to me.

Hildreth plays shock horror but Thomas is captain.

Team is

Compton, Kieswetter, Trego, Hildreth, Ingram, Overton C, Meschede, Waller, Thomas (C), Groenewald, Nannes

It's stupid.

And if NC takes up 19 balls making 7 or something then DN will have made himself look a right prune.

How do we go from Burke in the team but DNB to nowhere to be seen? What did he do - leave a Mars bar wrapper on the coach?

The only reason I can think of is that we have no Alviro and aren't sure about Ingram until we see him perform. Otherwise stick one from Burke, Gregory, Barrow and Jones in and let Trigger loose with CK in the first 6.

I've said before. still believe and will be over the moon to be proved wrong but Nick is the last player I would bat in a T20 from our present squad.

Nick sixes the second ball he faces. Maybe he feels he has something to prove.

In his earlier apps in this T20 season, NC came out in ultra-frenetic fashion looking as though he'd been asked to (or felt he should) hit the cover off every ball. It was almost wince-inducing.

Perhaps, tonight, the plan is to ask NC to bat through. CK has been trying to take on that role but perhaps we have concluded that we'd like CK to focus on outright explosion and not worry about batting through?

You can't have had a change of heart on the possibly wrinkled features of our coach already surely

Well the blistering start has gleaned 10 from the first 2 overs. Will Gidman was a handful from the River in over number 2.

Nick skies one, Alex Gidman takes responsibility but the ball falls out of his reach in no man's land in front of the Caddick. Craig then makes them pay with a six into the Museum car park off the last ball of over number 3

Compo is certainly playing a role and not doing a bad job as we pass 50 in the 6th with NC providing 35 of them. He moves on to 39 with another boundary and then takes a well run 2 to take him into the 40's

"stupid"; "no sense" - perhaps you were bit hasty in your condemnation and I'm sure you'll have the grace to admit it.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Nick has started to reverse sweep people.

I'll happily take it back (as I said I would). BUT I'd still possibly only consider him at the start of the innings because he has only one speed so if you esnt fast then put him in first.

He's just gone (caught well by Cockbain) for a very credible 46 4x4 and 2x6. Well done Mr C. Trigger in at 69 for 1

The other thing to say LoL is that it is quite obviously out of the comfort zone for Nick, he manufactures shots he certainly wouldn't play anywhere else.

If it comes off and he is happy to do it AND DOES IT CONSISTENTLY then I'm happy to be wrong and welcome him to the T20 format. BUT if it doesn't then one has to wonder why we are trying to make a purse out of a sow's ear rather than ask a more natural T20 player to come in.

Presently it seems to have worked so pardon me and well done Nick.

He did well tonight, LoL.

Still doesn't mean that I think it's a plan likely to succeed with any regularity, however.

After all, it's hardly the first time he's been tried in T20.

86 for 1 after 10

Plenty of wriggle room available LOL :-)

It's a pity Nick didn't manage to hang on a little linger or that we haven't seen this side of him before. Maybe it's not been given the chance to show before now.

Who knows, it's a great start anyway, can we carry the rate through to the end.

Trigger puts one straight down Cockbain's throat. Welcome Colin Ingram 90 for 2

In my opinion, and those of mire than one pundit I've read, he's always possessed "all the shots", but generally chooses to eschew them in "proper" cricket.

It's not a matter of wriggle room, Nailsea.

If you thought something was a brilliant plan would you change your mind completely because it failed on one occasion?

Nick has done well tonight but I don't think that changes the fact that he's few people's idea of a T20 player.

So, where has Mr Ingram hit his two sixes to?

Everyone is trying to hit the ball over Cockbain and few are achieving it... Essex once again. Try and hit six or a four. No other plan seems to exist.

Wheels off again at Taunton and Thomas and Groenewald left to pick up the pieces. Not doing a bad job but the middle order collapse was mindless once more.

176 needed. Opinion is that its 15-20 short.

not a bad finish but a bit of an up and down innings, 20 below my guess at 13 overs, 20 above my guess at 18.

Will we win, god knows

It may be close but it depends on our bowling in the middle overs.

Compo and CK got us off to a decent start but once again we did not keep the momentum up and then reverted to a boundary or nothing approach coming up the wicket or trying to hit it into cow corner. Stumpings and catches in the deep followed until Groenewald came in and showed you how to play the game. Take what the ball offers and not what you want it to.

3 runs in it at the end of the 5th Glos at 52 and Mesch on at the River.

The problem with all of that is that if batsmen have assessed this as a 200 track then playing each ball on merit will not produce 200 unless the bowling is rubbish!

At the moment they need about 130 off 95 balls with all wkts in hand. That sounds fairly easy?

So I'd suggest that if our batsmen assessed this as a 200 deck then, thus far, it looks as though they may have been right.

I suppose you are assuming that playing each ball will only result in 1? That isn't the case so the bowling does not have to be rubbish but not every ball has to go to the boundary either.

No, I'm assuming that playing each ball on merit would produce less than about 1.6 runs per ball on average (or whatever the figure per ball would be to get to 200) unless the bowling is desultory.

Nick takes a brilliant deep catch off Meschede at 89 and Klinger goes.

If a side pressurises a bowling attack then the number of runs per over will increase as the game goes on and they run out of ideas. An average of 1.6 does not have to be scored at a constant rate. In our T20 victory year we scored between 12 and 13 an over in the second half of the games as we moved to the finals.

We also pressed the opposition in the middle overs

Difficult to do that if the bowlers are producing long hops and middle order batsmen go into 'power hitting' mode after ball 2 of their innings.

You maintain your momentum and pressure and let the opposition fall apart. You don't give it away to them by hitting balls not there to hit.

Want a target? Minimum of 6. Set the max where you like but working on an average of 10 would be working to a plan. If the guys at the front set it up then the boys at the back end should find it easier to move up the gears. But the middle order have to stay in.

Well it looks like a heavy defeat anyway.

How have we ourselves bowled?

Max provided variety, Alf has just got Marshall smacking one to Cove that got big on him and is bowling accurately. The opinion here seems to be that Tim Groenewald is a way from bowling sides out. Trigger hasn't bowled. Nannes was aggressive and loose.

Too many loose balls and not enough control against batsmen who know how to play this format and don't go to planet stupid as often as we do.

Cockbain has gone to Groenewald caught Ingram 148 for 4 and we 've got ourselves back in this one. Can we keep ourselves there.

Alf has pushed it to 19 off 2.

Nannes takes the 19th.

Dirk goes for 5 and Glos need 14 off 6

Alf has 6

1 squeaky 4
2 single
3 single
4 wicket HOWELL bowled at 168. Guided it into his own stumps
5 dot ball
6 wicket

ALFONSO the superstar wins it for us by seven runs

Oh well another heavy defeat, oh no hang on ........

Wow some late rally.

Pretty rare that you see dramatic late twists like that in this format, IMO.

Should buoy the spirits ahead of Wantage Road.

How are we still in this? Well done to Alf and Dirk and Compo for getting us going.

In front of a huge 7000+ crowd can't be bad.

Quote:

AGod
Well it looks like a heavy defeat anyway.

Spot on, AGod. Gloucestershire did indeed suffer a heavy defeat.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

LoL - do you have a nomination for man of the match, per chance...?

Yes, MotM is - for keeping us in suspense right until the very end - AGod.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

James Burke is apparently ill (as per the BBC preview of Devon's match tomorrow) - which is presumably why he didn't play this evening. Nick Compton proved to be not a bad replacement!

Ah, that explains that, Wickham. And well done to supersub (possibly) Nicholas Richard Denis.

I see - that makes more sense than him being dropped without being given a chance.

I suppose the question now is one of whether he'll get another chance in the next one?

Might he replace Craig O, given that Craig bowled only one over?

He's not likely to replace NC but, equally, it was presumably never intended that Burke would open if he was in the XI tonight.

Ah good news, no chance of him getting dropped for upsetting management then

The match at The Oval on Wednesday looks like a hemi-demi-semi-final, with the winner being almost assured of a last-eight place.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Big crowd tonight quoted as 7583, my membership card was not scanned at gate,so assume I was not the only non scan, so think crowd was in excess of 8000.

Beer,Ice Creams and food all looked to be selling well.

Bit tense come the last few over, just shows how taking a wicket or two slows run rate down.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:11:22:32:56 by Roger ivanhoe.

never looked in doubt AG after the last ball. Alf was superb in the last 5 overs

Quote:

AGod
Well it looks like a heavy defeat anyway.
How have we ourselves bowled?

Absolutely thrashed out of sight.

Nearly as much fun reading this thread having been out all evening as it was discovering we'd unexpectedly won. So many experts, so much conjecture, so few facts, so little generosity.

Still in this, despite everything

Nick Compton, much derided beforehand by the usual suspects here, was unlucky not to reach his 50 tonight.

He was just one boundary short when he was out to the first ball of a Benny Howell over - but only after he was obviously distracted by the cr*t*n of a DJ who left the blaring rap music on not only during the bowler`s run-up but after he had delivered the ball.

Compton was plainly waiting for the umpire to call a halt until the music was switched off, but when he failed to do so took a wild hack straight to the fielder at long on.

His annoyance with the circumstances was plain to see, and it was interesting that when Glo`shire batted, it was Howell who pulled away from the wicket, and refused to face the bowling, when the music was left on yet again during the run-up.

I rather doubt that Nick was aware, though, that the rap in question had been banned by the BBC several years ago for reasons best not set out before a family audience.

That really is poor, cjm. The county must sort this out - although one might have hoped the umpire would have intervened.

The choice of erm... music(?) doesn't sound ideal either from what you say.

Today's photos.

You never know with cricket five overs before the end I thought Gloucester had it, those last two overs were the winners (and taking wickets)



Craig Kieswetter just had his foot over the line for this stumping attempt by Adam Rouse.



Nick Compton dropped by Will Gidman, first photo watching the ball coming down.



Second photo he never got his hands around the ball.



Nick Compton running the ball off the face of the bat for four runs.

Do I remember some asking for NC to be dropped from t20?



My first look at Colin Ingram, I would like to see more!



James Hildreth about to be caught by Adam Rouse off Tom Smith.



Alfonso Thomas showing he can play delicate shots running this to the boundary 4 runs.



Craig Kieswetter making an attempt to stop 4 leg byes from Alex Gidman.



This was a no-ball for height from Tim Groenewald.

If Craig hadn't stopped it and it went to the boundary what would have been signalled.



Alex Gidman batting, I thought it was a bit harsh for this to be called a wide.



Alex Gidman lbw Dirk Nannes.



Craig Overton taking a catch from Hamish Marshall off Alfonso Thomas.

The man of the match was Alfonso for those who collect these facts.

Strange that the incident as you describe it that supposedly heralded NC's departure was completely missed by every member of the press in the box. I doubt very much it will be in any of the reports tomorrow and was certainly not discussed in any form at the time of the event. We all thought he'd simply skied one and was caught this time as he'd already got away with it a little earlier.

Thanks for including me in the 'usual suspects' ref Nick as I'm usually accused of painting everything rose coloured. Nick certainly did rout his critics tonight and I'll change my view happily if he can maintain that kind of performance consistently. They may have found the solution by telling him to go out and go for it from the start. I think FE mentioned that NC has all the shots - well he did pull some out of the closet today we don't see very often but he looked a little uncomfortable paying them however effective the result was.

Interesting role for CK in T20's at the moment as he seems the man tasked with staying there and trying to go through the innings while others put the ball to the sword if they can.

NC was very obviously trying to hit the cover off every ball he faced earlier in the competition so I think he'd not been in any doubt, previously, this season as to what his approach should be. It may be that going in first with so many men up in the circle simply made life easier, though I'm fairly sure that he's opened before in T20, on occasion, without success?

You mentioned that it wasn't the most explosive first couple of overs, Grockle, and if there has been one consistent theme to this year's T20 batting by SCCC then I think that has been it - very few runs off the first couple in the powerplay. Last time we went to the Oval, vs Middx, we made all of 3 off the first 12 balls.

I'm not sure how much CK's role will be helping him re: his England ambitions. He's scoring extremely consistently in this format, often making at least 40, but I'm not sure that England are looking for T20 openers to bat through an innings?

Glamorgan made the highest T20 score for 4 years at the Oval yesterday - and still only just prevailed. That lovable Mr Pietersen is due a score and I fervently hope that it does not come against us!

It sounded from the radio commentary that the bowling at the end was superb, expectially AT's final over. He seems to have been instrumental in winning a huge number of games for us, over the years, in all formats.

Surrey may well be without two of their stock bowlers against Somerset at The Oval on Wednesday.

Kevin O`Brien, who had one T20 season with Somerset, is away at the Caribbean Premier league and Tom Curran injured an ankle last night and bowled only two overs.

Incidentlly, it looks like welcome news that the match is on a Wednesday, for last night`s Friday crowd surpassed itself in intoxication levels, with several customers being ejected by police.

Oh, and Re:Compton opening;

I thought him being back in the T20 team was bonkers.

Grockle had doubts.

We can all see the posts now from the hindsight crowd.

But where, o where, were the posts re-assuring Grockle and I that we were wrong, that DN had a sound and logical plan and that there was a good chance that NC would come off very well BEFORE the match started?

Answers on a post-card to;

Smug Cottage
Hindsight Lane
Wise-after-Event
PE24 7QT

We have now move into the + with our Net RR we need to improve on this in case it comes into the consideration for going further in the competition.

Was there any need for that AG?

True in an ideal world, Mike.

But I'm not sure we're good enough to worry unduly about that? We need to be in positions where we 'cannot lose,' (yeah, I know!) before thinking specifically about NRR... For example if we shoot Surrey out for 109 on Wed and then reach 80 for 0 from 12 overs then we could think about trying to get the remaining 30 off only 2 overs to improve our NRR.

But if Surrey get 160 and we're 130-4 off, say, 15, there's no way we could or should take risks to try and knock off the remaining 31 - need to win the match first!

When I went out of the ground the police were not allowing drink to be taken out into the street. so they were either drinking it or pouring it into a bucket.

It wasn't directed at yourself, Mike.

You HAVE said, in the past, that you think NC can do a job in T20 and I am aware of that fact.

But more widely? If folks want to have a pop? They should expect to be called on it, IMO.

Thank goodness for that, so it is not hindsight by me.

Clever AG, getting all clubby with Grockle now [JOKE!!!]

It's not so much hindsight or being wise after the event - it's more not rushing to judgement too soon or decrying one of our players (or an opponent for that matter) before they've been given a chance. It's about not having a new opinion every minute of the day and rushing to get it out there, or assuming a premise or plan, then knocking it down and criticising those who may or may not have actually come up with it.

I don't think Nick is at all suited to T20 but it's not that I don't think he should ever be picked. I wasn't on here (only partly due to the fact that I was out of the house) saying he WOULD be no good before he had a chance to prove his worth, one way or another.

That's not hindsight or wise after the event (tho I will plead guilty to smugness from time to time); it's being measured, having grace, giving someone an even break.

It's not true, SP, that NC had not been given a chance in T20. He's played several times before, including this season.

Had he never played before or only once or twice then I'd take your point completely.

My point wasn't even that he definitely would fail - just that management would have zero cause for complaint if he did, given previous outcomes when he had played. It was that old thing about definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Well, in the event we DID get a different result, so good for NC and (if management changed something to make it happen) then on management too.

Perhaps over the past 3-4 weeks we've had DH or somebody working specifically with NC on striking the ball in preparation for him to play this format or something like that and it's paid dividends.

Or perhaps nothing has changed and this was a one-off.

Time will tell.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:12:10:09:00 by AGod.

For those not into readings tweets, a nice message from Pete.

Peter Trego @tregs140
Thanks to all @SomersetCCC supporters who attended tonight's game!! Definite extra player with us at the end!! #awesome #ciderarmy
Retweeted by Somerset Cricket

DN made play on the website about a departure from our usual tactical approach viz bowling Nannes for an over in the middle of the innings (although I think it was actually the 14th or something?)

Wonder if that was an Alf 'on field' tactical change or something plotted beforehand?

Many of us have had reservations about tactical inflexibility in one-day cricket so good to see something different being tried.

You were near AG Dirk Nannes bowled the 13th over.

Edit - error made.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:12:10:28:43 by Mike TA1.

Although I haven't previously commented on Compton's selection, I was one those who doubted whether he was suited to the T20 format. (By way of analogy, Sam Robson has been picked only four times by Middlesex for T20 matches.) Like others, I am delighted to have been proved wrong yesterday evening.

As AG suggest, it may well be that Compton's best role is as an opener in this format.

When it comes to team selection, I am always conscious that those who select our teams are privy to far more information than even the most avid watcher - about how players are shaping up in the nets, whether they are "up" for a particular match, etc.

It seemed to me that our tactics throughout were more flexible than has generally been the case. For example, when we were batting, Meschede and Cove were both promoted: although these moves met with limited success, it seemed to this armchair follower that they were the right calls.

I note that, in the Yearbook, CK says of Alf's captaincy that his field settings (in T20) 'tend to be more aggressive than Tres's.'

I'm not sure we've played NC as opener have we in this format? I recall Trego usually opened with CK when MT has been injured in the past.

I admit to groaning when he left the first three balls but after that he played beautifully - I wonder if its easier for him to just go out knowing the situation from the off rather than coming in at 3/4 and having to see the innings out.

Not sure where CK is going with his batting, he seems to want to carry his bat. I don't want the crazy days of him coming down the pitch first ball and putting it into the hands of long off (see Essex QF 2012) but somewhere in between would be perfect.

Special mention to the old guard at the end.. I was worried when DN was taking the penultimate over but he set it up perfectly for the Fonz to do what he does best.

Great atmosphere last night too, very close to a full house so the clubs accounts should be looking good this morning. Do agree the DJ was OTT the last night - we've been traditional in keeping our name and not having the Sabers tag.. maybe we could lose some of the music razzmatazz as well?

There was no "hindsight" in my "has all the shots" post.
And for what it's worth (and whether you choose to believe me, I care not a whit), when Grockle (I think) described Compo as "not anyone's idea of a T20 player" I did mentally compose (but was too busy to post) a reply that he is my idea of a very accomplished cricketer, who should therefore be able to adapt.

Edited for spelling.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:12:11:29:02 by Frome Exile.

It's not as though punters will forget to buy cider if there isn't some awful music blaring out.

I thought NC had opened, on occasion, before in T20 though most of his T20 stuff has been middle-order, without doubt. He certainly had not opened in T20 this season.

I have heard that NC is extremely keen to play T20. I seem to remember DN saying last year that he had been specifically asking to play and telling management that he could do a job.

I had expected either Pete or Ingram to open, particularly because I thought I remembered Ingram being a top-order player in the CL (we beat his team).

He hit his second ball for 6 Tumbles. I groaned after the first!

AG and I have a strange relationship on here. We agree more than you'd notice(or care to in some cases) and when we disagree it is between us most of the time so comments about it are probably not appreciated by either of us thanks a lot. He has a point about some of those who seem to have always known NC is a T20 player courtesy of that old favourite hindsight.

Maybe we have found a niche for Nick, accident or not it would provide us with some extra ummph. But observation wise and opinion wise I need more evidence. As AG says NC has been given ample chances to show his T20 prowess and hasn't but never, I don't think, in this position. He did not look comfortable at times last night but he did his job very effectively and deserves the credit. FE talks about adaptability and that will be the key here. Maybe we have just put the man in the best position to adapt his game. If he can he'll a better all round player because of it.

Let's give him that chance and see what he does with it before we tell the 'usual suspects' how it was always obvious or accept that Mr Compton has more dimensions and can adapt his game to the shortest form.

One extra thing. NO ONE has EVER criticised the ability of Nick as a cricketer of very great talent. This is a discussion about him and this format NOT a personal attack on him as a cricketer so please give the people involved in it the same courtesy and discuss the issue rather than the other person discussing it if at all possible.

Gosh there's me getting all clubby with AG..





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:12:11:31:07 by Grockle.

FE - I think NC was already into his knock by the time of your 'shots,' comment?

Because I think it was in response to Grockle's account saying that NC had already started to unfurl all sorts of shots?

But, I'm aware FE that Compton's own view is said to be the same as yours.

AGod and Grockle both had the grace to admit very quickly that their comments on Nick Compton were unduly pessimistic. And that's where the matter should rest.

To accuse those not making counter-comments before the match started as smug misses the point. Some of us prefer to keep our concerns to ourselves and just see how events unfold.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Yeah... can't do that and run a website LoL. Have to stir the pot occasionally. Not with jibes (though I have been as guilty as others) but with comments to get the blood moving.

If we all kept our own counsel where would this lump of old internet flotsam be?

You've stolen my line, Grockle, for my reasons for my 'speculation,' that is often frowned upon...if we all waited patiently until the end of a match to see how it turned out then the forum would have a completely staccato performance with nothing for four days, then a flood of comments and then back to a desert of comment as soon as the next game starts!

I would like to add a small comment on my part, I have not read any comment made before or during the match (no time) so I do not know what was being said on the subject of NC I have only read post since my photos were posted.

But the point, AG is that it wasn't said "with hindsight" because neither my perception of Compton, nor my belief that the best cricketers are simply the best cricketers, irrespective of formats, were changed one iota by Nick's performance last night.
That's me done on this subject.

Your posting of 11.45, AGod[b][/b], belies what is obviously your high intelligence. Of course speculation is worth articulating at any point in a match and we know that it fuels many threads here. My simple view is that some of us prefer not to be unduly pessimistic about the expected performance of certain individuals before they have actually performed.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

I have to say that my pessimism of T20 Nick came from the same stable as FE's view and was based on earlier observed performance.

The best cricketers are the best cricketers but some are not the best cricketers in all the formats or the best cricketers in the same positions.

A while ago LoL you made a comment about having different awards for different formats (TiC I believe). It is a consideration now.

ARC was not a good T20 bowler though he had his odd day.

Jos Buttler will be a better cricketer without the gloves and given the opportunity to find his spot in MHO

If anything Nick's performance last night did make a case for thinking outside the box and seeing what the good guys can do if you move the perceived goalposts

So, do we think that Trego of Peter should open the batting at the Oval?

I can't see an out of (T20) form Tresco and Compton opening?

Jones has played in each of the two most recent T20 games at the Oval (including last year's QF).

Will somebody be delegated to try and 'anchor' the innings in the sort of role that CK has been trying to play?

Craig's injury may create a rethink about MT and T20 but in some ways I personally hope not. Let's fiddle with things by all means but not Pete up front. If you do that you would probably have to ask Nick to revert to the anchor role and that hasn't worked in the past. Let him keep this new responsibility and give him another anchor. Chris played it for Craig last year quite successfully.

And let James R have the T20 gloves. Though I would expect we'll bring Alex in, maybe he could take that up front opener spot?

Yes, of course, AB will probably keep and therefore be a candidate to open the batting.

I don't really get the situation with the seconds, Regan and Barrow. Developing Regan's keeping is all very well but the club's reserve keeper surely needs practice and the evidence of the Uxbridge team selection suggests that Regan is not considered the first in line reserve keeper (not for CC anyway).

I'd have thought it would have more sense to share or alternate keeping duties between the two.

Still, won't be a problem for the next several weeks.

Quote:

Grockle
He hit his second ball for 6 Tumbles. I groaned after the first!

Definitely the forth!

[www.espncricinfo.com]

IN My opinion James Regan is not good enough yet for first team WK.