Away we go again
Him or a turner?
By Grockle
April 25 2010
The start of the only one day challenge for 2010 finds us still on the road though closer to home across the Channell in Cardiff. After two defeats in the CC1, will there be changes for the 40 over stuff from Marcus? MarkTurner mustr be hoping for the call to show his pace credentials and try to book a place for Taunton on Tuesday but will he miss out to a spinner and will it be Munday instead?
v Glamorgan CB40 @ Cardiff Sunday 25 April 2010
Well the first thing to say is that it seems it won't be Munday. After being named inthe 13 on Friday, his place has been taken by Max Waller on the official site as of late Saturday. Max made his one day debut against the Dragons in 2007 at their place and maybe Somerset are hoping that brings something to the game.
The 14 named are most of the side from Trent Bridge but without Craig Kieswetter who is on his way to the West Indies on international T20 duty (good luck to him). Jos Buttler (Grocklee Extraordinaire) will take his place for the first game of this season (good luck to him to). Mark Turner is also included and I personally will be very surprised if he does not play instead of David Stiff should it be decided that pace is required.
Therefore the only question is - who will be inthe bowling line-up. Again (and possibly for the last time unless things get marginally better) the top six tend to pick themsleves from the squad.
Trescothick, Suppiah, Compton, Hildreth, de Bruyn, Trego
Though not necessarily in the order. Buttler should be in at 7, though where he will bat will be an interesting aspect of the game - he must be looking tocement himself as a batsmen as well as a competent keeper for when CK returns however the World T20 has gone.
Then....8 to 11? Willoughby and VC Thomas will play (Alf because he is our most effective one day man and not because he is our VC) but 10 and 11? Well there is absolutely no reason why anyone should think that Wright will not play and then it's three men looking for one spot.
If it's tightness we want then it's Phillips or Waller depending on whether spin will be an issue. If it is pace then it is Turner. Until Stiffy gets his radar a little more consistent I can't see him being a consideration in these one day games. The gamble on a lump of wickets relies on confidence in the batsmen to make a big total for him to bowl at and that is not a certain factor in the present side so he will lose out.
While Wright is here I think it is a straight choice between the two young boys Waller or Turner and reading this morning's official report I think Max will get the nod.
It kicks off at 1:45 with commentary on Radio Bristol (link at the top of the page). I'm not sure if Nathan is doing a live blog but I'm sure he'll link through the forum if he is.
Sooooo. Damien Wright is not fit it seems and so there are two places up for grabs. One is taken by Max Waller and because of the need for some stability, Ben Phillips is preferred for the second one. Mark Turner will have to wait. We win the toss and choose to bat - a surprise for some because there is rain in the air and many assumed that Marcus would bat second giving his men a chance to see what they were going for rather than working for a total that could be rain affected.
It seems the wrong choce when, after only 5 balls, the sides are taken off for a short sharp shower. An over is lost for the time and it gets worse when Arul Suppiah goes to the first ball faced the moment we return to the pitch. This is Glamorgan. The 15th best one day side in the country and the weak member of a group we have to win which includes Sussex and Lancashire for starters.
The captain is looking good...but tries to cut one that is too close to him and we are 21 for 2. Compton has an average of 40 in this kind of stuff but has had a mare of a season. Somerset are so nervous about the present situation that theysend Zander in ahead of Hildreth to hold the side together.
The good news is that Compo looks good. The not so good news is that ZdB looks soooo out of form he is scary! Putting bat to ball is an achievement, scoring runs is almost impossible. So it is left to a very classy looking newbie to keep the score ticking but not at any real rate against some very good Glamorgan bowling.
It is almost a mercy when he goes 19 overs in having made 15 off 50 balls while Nick has moved past 50 and we are in the 80's but looking at a sub 200 score unless someone lets loose. Hildreth enters the arena, in no real form himself and needing to do something to get his season moving. It is alomst as if Compton getting some runs galvanises him into some solid work as well and the accumulation continues from both men.
Cosker gets the new man for an excellent 73 out of a total of123 with 15 overs to go. Peter Trego is next in and we hope he takes the reins as there is still nervousness around Hilda's ability to push on. However he is moving towards 50 and looks to be moving up the confidence stages in pretty quick order. However the Dragons are trying to keep their foot on our neck and Trigger possibly tries to push on too hard and caught by Dalrymple off an excellent Harrison for 23at 171. The important thing however is that the pair have put on nearly 50 and the man still in has made more of the runs.
Phillips will probably be the next in to help push on in the last 4 and a half. But wait for it. The next man in is Jos Buttler! Sent in in front of his more experienced team-mate to support a man who has made no real runs this year. Brilliant!! Jos looks like he's been there all his life. He helps Hildreth make 68 off 50 balls and contributes 22 runs off 14 balls of his own including a four and a six. The two take 34 runs off the last 3 overs and push us past 200 and into the 220's. 224 for 5 after 39 - enough? Well it is defendable so it's down to the bowlers.
Charlb opens and gets murdered by Cosgrove who seems to want to score all the runs from his end in about 20 overs. Not good at all and he's off after 3 overs. Phillips starts at the other end and gets Allenby in his first over for 1. Nevertheless Glam are 24 for 1 halfway through the fourth over. Thommo takes over and strikes almost at once - cleaning up Cosgrove for 31 off 21 but it does resume faith in the bowling. It is putting the wilies up the Welsh as well as Rees shows by helpfully running out his captain Dalrymple with 8 overs down and less than 50 on the board. Feeling better about this game now I have to admit.
Rees himself doesn't last long and goes at 60 which leaves the main bulwark of Glamorgan's batting at the crease. Tim Maynard and Wright need to be put out of the way to get the points. The home side are still within sight of the total and keeping up with our own progress. Charl comes on at the other end and produces a much better spell but it is worrying to listen to the commentators on Radio Bristol who are questioning his value as a one day bowler and suggest he has lost a yard of pace from 2009. I am happy myself that we are playing a weak side when Willow has his loose game of the season. I don't know what we do if this mainstay of our attack actually can't produce the work he has done for us in the past 3 years!
Anyway back to the game. Max and Trigger get a run out in the middle of the innings and they do fine. No wickets but they aren't destroyed either. However, it is the return of the Vice captain that moves the game on again. Alf starts his second spell and Wright flips one to Hidreth. One other aspect of this year is that we have one hell of a fielding unit with Compo, Hilda, Errol, Max and Trigger. Glamorgan have problems turning ones into twos because they can't take on our inner field - great!!
107 for 5 becomes 132 for 6 as Maynard is caught by Thomas off Trego. The run rate is rising as the overs fall and the pressure is on the tail with their main run makers gone. Charl is bowled out with disappointing figures of 1 for 52 off his 8 but we are in the driving seat and the guys who take us home are Ben Phillips (excellent work with the ball and a really good catch on the run in) and Alf Thomas.
Brown is caught behind the moment Phillips returns - wide and loose but Brown hits it and Buttler moves well to take the catch. 7 for 163. Dean Cosker comes in, puts his first ball behind him, is called through by Wallace and then sent back by him. Totally stranded, he is out for 0, first ball, run out and it wasn't even his fault!! Wallace and Harrison try to move on as the rate goes over 10 but Phillips takes his third at 186 when Compo catches Wallace.
Thomas finishes off the game with Harrison's wicket without an addition to the score with two overs left and Glamorgan capitulating some 38 runs short.
We did it without Trescothick's runs and Willoughby's wickets. It wasn't a close run thing but we were playing the probable 'also runs' of the group and we did have moments when this game was anything but certain to be ours.
Excelent work with the bat from two men who needed runs and really good tight hard bowling from Ben Phillips (3 for 26 - he went for 9 off his first over!) and Alf Thomas ( 3 for 27 - had a six hit off himn late on) Max, Trigger and Zander supported but went for 5 an over so the two frontmen did the business.
Points in the bag and a bit of confidence for Essex we all hope. See you Tuesday.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:04:27:21:46:07 by Grockle.
Batsman Tom Maynard and former Glo`shire all-rounder David Brown have been added to the 11 playing at Derby in the current cc match.
8 overs isn't a lot to show your stuff but he's got to get his act together here.
Michael's chances? Interesting to see what happens there.
I really, really want to see Buttler do very well in the next few games, as I suspect that he might be our best hope of having a 7th batsmen to compete for a top six place.
Sun is "trying to come out", apparently.
If this stuff is headed to the Principality, then hope we bat second.
Quote:SomersetCCC on Twitter.
Short shower.
Game reduced to 39 overs.
Wright not picked?
If nothing else, I'd have thought his hitting would be more than useful?
Hope this one is not rained off as we really must get the win. ideally,I'd like it to come with good contributions from those who have yet to do much. But that might be a case of being greedy.
they are well ahead in the game and we declined to pick one of the guys - wright - in our team that has shown good batting form.
Edit
Whoops, hadn't realised he was out. Let's hope his 15 are invaluable.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:04:25:16:01:21 by Botham.
I don't like to see a player get out but sometimes if he is struggling it is best, both Hildreth and Trego S/R is over seventy.
Now, let's hope the bowlers can hold up the 'win' part of the equation.
Well played, young Grockler!!!!!!
I have to say, though, that I'm often surprised at how often a batsman has a really good season in one comp and, in the same season, an ordinary one in another.
ZDB was amazing in one day stuff last yr, for instance, but ordinary in the CC. Compton's runs today represent a continuation of very good form that he showed for Middx In last season's Pro 40.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:04:25:17:40:31 by Loyal of Lhasa..
I really hope he can gain confidence from this & achieve what we all think he is capable of in the longer form of the game.
Grizzzly
Quote:Different comps, FE
Thanks for the heads up, AG. I was wondering why the action had stopped. Where would I be without you!?
I think we all share the concern that James delivers on his undoubted talent.
I think Wright was carrying an injury during the Notts game and nearly didn't play in that. Shame for Turner but they went for the more frugal Phillips.
Presently struggling to get to 200 against the 15th rated one day side of last season...slow start to the season is still in evidence, Though Harrison bowled very well at the start.
Quote:AGod
Performances of max and aril likely to be decisive, I'd suggest.
If that were the case, AG, would one not have expected Dalrymple to bowl?
Perhaps more pivotal will be our opening pair going at less than the 6 rpo theirs conceded?
What a player!
Edited to add - 6 off two overs, taken off, then 10 off his 3rd!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:04:25:18:23:59 by Botham.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
If Kartik is able to find the Same motivation levels for us as in the IPL then we should win a lot of one day games once we have him and Alf in tandem.
Congratulation to the team.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
The wheel's are (re)attached to our wagon after all.
I am particularly pleased that young Buttler claimed a couple of 'victims' to go with his useful knock with the bat.
It should make him feel a valued and integral member of the team.
Also well done to the Grockler on his batting and keeping performances.
...and Alfie is a Star again.
Well done all.
Grizzzly
His important 22 off 14 balls at the end of our innings came almost entirely off the front foot, including a splendid straight-driven six and he even had the confidence to play himself in for five of those 14 balls before launching.
His keeping appeared equally assured, highlighted by his catch standing up to dismiss Gareth Rees off Willow. Ask any keeper and they will tell you that catching left-handers standing up is considerably more challenging than right-handers. Soemthing to do with the angle.
Two fine knocks by Hildy and Compo backed up by useful efforts by Pete and especially Jos.
In the field we were are usual bubbly self with the ball pinging around to everyone in the circle,we never lost our heads when Cosgrove tried to smash almost every ball out of the ground,and in the end it was a comfortable win.
Well done to the boys,and lets hope the winning run continues in the championship v Essex.
Finally Jos kept very well,both standing back and up.
COACH
Not that I wish to denigrate young Jos in any way, of course.
I know he has had the odd big scoring over in games but he tends to go away for a couple of overs and then come back and cut the scoring right down. The one thing I would have said about him was he was frugal and took wickets but now I'm wondering about how he did last year in one day contests.
Nevertheless we dispatched one of the weaker sides with little trouble and without our batting and bowling talismen having good games and that's a good thing.
Last years stats. [stats.cricinfo.com]
Less wickets,
Econ. not to bad.
S/R a bit high. only Banks with a higher rate.
Econ rate counts for a lot in one day matches lets hope he improves.
Therefore, I think this win is a better one than a win over them last season would have been. We also had no overseas player playing.
Grockle - I suspect Charl remains a competent one day bowler. If it doesn't swing then good players can sometimes get after him early doors as happened in the champs league. I would not be averse to giving him a break from the short stuff every so often, though. After all, he has a colossal work load to get through in the CC.
One thing that I would question is the use of the lights.Is it a level platform when some grounds have them and others don't?I didn't see any signals from the umpires regarding putting them on but after a while they were turned down.Very curious as to that.
All in all it was a good day being my first game this season.A day spent in the company of a nice chap from Clevedon.
Re Cosgrove he would make the Michelin man look like a midget.
Just one complaint the announcer pronounced Trego incorrectly.As Richard Gould was there I would have thought that he could have corrected him especially as the rest of his duty was spot on.nice and clear,and loud enough.
A good first outing for him. Will he get a game vs Essex?
They were either a very sporting crowd or there were more Somerset supporters there than Glamorgan going by the applause when Somerset fielded good or scored a boundary.
.
BVI Grockle
They spangly cowboy hatted brtigade turn up for the Internationals,get hammered and read the anthem off the big screen yes,but apart from that professional sport struggles to bring them in.
The only exception would be the Wendyball.
But that,doesn't count.
Or matter.
COACH
And here's another worrying trend. It seems that Glamorgan have almost thrown in the towel with domestic cricket and the focus is completely Test or ODI.
Now that might be a fair and viable strategy...were it not for the fact that 9 Counties can now stage a Test and 10 can stage an ODI.
Too little cake to go around which could endanger some of the Test Match Grounds in the future if they don't secure the big games to pay for ground developments.
And doesn't it seem ironic that the Glamorgan's domestic team (a number of Welsh players based in Wales) should decline due to the focus on the England national team!