Nil Desperandum - the shape of things to come
By Grockle et al
March 1 2020
And so we get to the season we have been watching come towards us over the horizon. It does not seem like over 2 years ago that the plans for this started to appear but they have changed almost out of all recognition since that time and we may not like what we see but as people say.... it is what it is so let's get after it!!
And so we get to the season we have been watching come towards us over the horizon. It does not seem like over 2 years ago that the plans for this started to appear but they have changed almost out of all recognition since that time and we may not like what we see but as people say.... it is what it is so let's get after it!!
It's March 1 and we are 35 days away from a side on a pitch at Taunton. It will be Easter Sunday before we welcome Warwickshire to the County Ground for the first real game. We start the Championship season 12 points adrift with another 12 sitting on the sidelines should we even consider any kind of spin in the pitch before a game is 75% finished. As we have 7 games before the 25th of May that may cause problems for us in term of 2 players as both Jack Leach and Dom Bess have been fighting it out for the England spinner mantle over the winter. Unless one of the can offer more than spin bowling as their contribution, one can't see them both playing in a Somerset CC1 side on pitches that won't offer huge spin opportunities. Jack has had respiratory issues and that may not be good in Coronavirus territory in April/May, he is also presently working on a calf injury and so may not be 100% when we start. However, if he is fully fit, one has to think that Dom will need to offer improved batting to push his way into the first eleven. England may call and solve the problem for us, we have to hope they won't take both and stick one on the bench with the drinks tray. Contracts are also up for re-negotiation and it could be we don't have the luxury of chooosing one from two for much longer unless these players can get first team cricket somewhere. I doubt Dom will be all that keen with going out on loan for another season and who would blame him.
We have some Aussie fire coming in for April/May of this season in the form of Matthew Wade as our international player for the first 7 Championship matches. Feisty and aggressive is probably what we need though there will be doubts about whether he fills the gap we need at 3 or is a much more effective number 5 or 6. It will be interesting to see how he is used and what that frontline is given that we will not be seeing Tom Banton in the early part of the campaign - and it's a lot of it with only 14 games in a 10 team event. It is too much really to expect Banton to be much of a feature until possibly when the whole thing is all but over in September because he will be dragged away for one of his other white ball 'mercenary' appearances during the July/August games - he may be seen at Kent and Essex perhaps. No news yet as to what happens once Mr Wade leaves so there is more to come I suppose.
Alongside the international component we have another 'newbie' - well sort of. Vernon Philander has returned to the County Ground as a full time 'semi kolpak'. How this pans out after this year is yet to be determined but for 2020 he is a full time part of our squad after retiring from international cricket. There are doubts about his fragility and his commitment which only he can dispel but he is a Somerset player for the summer and can be a real weapon on his best day. Is he fit? Is he keen? Hope so because is he is he will be a great addition to our already potent seam attack, helping the 'shock and awe' section and offering world class bowling expertise to guys wanting to get better and know more. I'd be worried as opposition on his best day and I'm hoping for quite a few of those.
If the weather lets us and we hit our straps early this could be a great season. We hoped that it was 'Kismet' last year in Banger's last hurrah but that was not to be and it was probably a year too long for him as well. I'm not sure we can get ourselves over the 12 point parapet and I'm not sure that if we do the ECB won't try to make sure the first champions of the new 'urban' league year are not a 'provincial' outlier of their 'brave new world'. But we can give them a damn good run for it. Eddie Byrom, Tom Lammonby, Tom Abell, Lewis Gregory and the Overton brothers have all had decent winter 'wanders' with sides around the world. Steve Davies has an important role in the early season as does George Bartlett. We have to hope the younger boys and the rest of the squad are ready for this and come back eager to get to grips with the demands of an important season with the absence of Marcus Trescothick and the mighty Peter Trego (except as a visitor with the Notts crew - go well Pete). A lot is expected and they have to come up to the mark - Hope springs eternal and all that.
Before the season starts I hope to have a closer look at our white ball prospects but there are a couple things to get to grips with in terms of that yet so I'll leave that for later in March.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:25:21:26:01 by Grockle.
Hope they pick a batting line up and stick with it initially.The likes of Hildreth,Bartlett and Abell must decide where they want to bat and not move around from one to six in the lineup.
Personally I would like Byrom and TA to open.,with Wade/Babar at 3,Hildy,Bartlett,Davis ,Gregory,Philander,Bess Cove and Jove at 10 and 11.Looks a strong batting line up to me.
What we must hope is that this will happen before the entire professional cricket season is a write-off. But with the country`s criminal tardiness in introducing the sort of containment measures that have been such a success in Singapore, this is probably a forlorn hope.
As for HM Government response? They insist they are following medical advice, but why is it that pretty much every other European government seems to have received very different “medical advice”?
I read, today, that the idea behind HMG policy is to avoid trying to suppress the outbreak, for fear of a “boomerang effect,” later in the year. Instead, they want to spread the outbreak out and the hope is that 60% of us will contract the disease, thus leading to “herd immunity.” But since the country only has 4078 intensive care beds, after years of Tory cuts, and if even 0.25% of our population were to contract the vírus at the same time, then an estimated 7,500 people would need intensive care, then I’d say the chickens are about to come home to roost for the austerity policies of previous Tory governments.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:13:21:59:49 by AGod.
I was really looking forward to the June Roses match at Scarborough but doubt if that will take place.
Quite right about austerity too
If anyone can cheer us all up or prove me wrong in my pessimism by pointing out some positives, I'd be very glad to hear them, but I can't help thinking that the powers-that-be are determined to alienate from cricket the people who love it best.
(So that's a slightly depressing return from me after not posting for ages ... how is everyone else?)
So.. . we continue the journey and enjoy what there is to enjoy.
While that is the case then the spirit of Somerset as an entity continues.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:16:08:10:59 by Grockle.
We may indeed have to wait quite a long while for cricket, but I think about those of my parents' generation, for whom there was no first-class cricket in ten of the seasons from 1914 - 1945. Cricket recovered from the two long wartime breaks and will probably do so again, despite the efforts of some men in suits who seek to ruin the game we love.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
The bad news is that you're opening the batting, against Joel Garner.
(Adapted from a joke elsewhere, made I laugh)
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:16:11:51:52 by Somerset LaLaLa.
(Also heard elsewhere)
Farmer
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Yes I do come into the vunerable category at the moment.
I've kept myself in self isolation this week but like everybody I suppose it's a job to know what to do.
I've tried to do a bit of walking early in the morning while nobody's about but it keeps raining.
I may not post on here much but I still read the posts every day.
It's so important to keep getting exercise, but not so easy to avoid people. Our son is coming up to see us and we are meeting at the bandstand in a park where we shall keep 2 metres apart and speak very clearly!
One of the best ways I find of keeping positive is imagining myself batting to LoL's bowling.
Bob: Isn't it windy today!
Bob's son: No, I think it's Thursday.
Bob: So am I, let's go for a cup of tea.
I respect Bobstan’s recipe for positivity and he has probably already guessed that it is enthusiastically reciprocated. Incidentally, with diminishing opportunities to sit on Gimblett’s Hill this season, what is going to happen to Bob’s tan?
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:20:12:26:19 by Loyal of Lhasa.
We are blessed with places to walk along the old S&D railway line to Midsomer Norton and Bath and the GWR line to Frome and Midsomer Norton. I actually live where the railway sidings were in Radstock.
I found an isolated bench this morning in town and watched the world go by. Fresh air really does you good.
Don't get me on dog walkers. "He/she won't hurt you "they say as it's running straight at you or jumping on you.
Tractor I'm a bit worried about you going for a stroll. You'll be telling us you went out jogging next!
Keep safe everybody and don't forget to wash you hands!
And everyone !
Grizzers.
Meanwhile I'll be working at home while also supervising the home schooling of the three ss jrs. The new Wisden should arrive soon, but what will there be to put in next year's? Answers on a postcard, or possibly on a post on the PQQ thread ...
As I had an area of skin cancer on my nose last year (totally eradicated - the cancer that is) losing Bob's tan does seem to be the only possible advantage of not being able to get down to Taunton this year. Mike TA1 knows why my middle name is Stanley - a Somerset connection.
Equinox today. March 21st always used to be the first day of Spring, but that seems to have transferred to March 1st.
Good to hear from Rob, walking is good to keep fit.
My root to avoid people is the bypass from the bottom of Priory Bridge Road to the railway station area, I didn't pass one person yesterday on my walk until I got to Priory Bridge Road on my way back (it's impossible to avoid everybody).
Yes Bobs be grateful they didn't call you Mary!
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Now that would be precocious.
I am, and have been for some time, self isolating. My health condition is somewhat complicated and I have , or have had, 6 or 7 of the factors which make self isolation imperative. Still I am sure that there must be many, many more worse affected than me so I don't seek sympathy. We must all soldier on but sadly without any cricket to either watch or follow for several months.
At this moment in time I can neither think about or dwell on the fortunes of our club and cricket in general at the moment.
I still keep in touch with one or two by way of PM's, thus being able to enjoy some friendly banter.
Very best wishes to everybody.
Clarence.
And I would be very reassured to hear from old boy!
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:24:17:52:19 by Loyal of Lhasa.
Also Yorkshire CCC are considering getting taxpayers to pay their players 80% of their salaries under the governments scheme whilst they are at home keeping fit.