2006 Waddyathink

Back in the fold
By Grockle
September 25 2006

So the 2006 sojourn is over and we sit back and look at where we are..or aren't. Bye bye to some old names, hello to some others returning to the fold with some newbies as well. What will the winter hold and will we reach the height of optimism for the 2007 series after this journey?

The end of the season was so normal.  Surrey at home should have been hard and we ate them for breakfast, in the words of "Bumble" - we murdered them.  The question floated around the supporting public.  "Where has this team been all summer?". It appeared all too briefly against Gloucestershire, Sri Lanka and a couple of other mini revivals but it was absent without leave for the rest of the campaign.

Ian Blackwell arrived back and looked good - but no cricket for the winter.  James Hildreth showed his talent but now we have to wait for six months to see it if has returned for more than a short visit.  Others started to look like mature and solid county professionals...but there wasn't any pressure and there wasn't any cause, they could just play for the enjoyment.

The powers have already started adding the names for next year.  Cameron will be returning and so will Jones the Bowler.  Another Turner will be on the team sheet - no it isn't Jamie (he has a few years yet) and it isn't Noddy but a young bowler from Durham.  We have an "English" South African wicky but a doubt about whether we will see Richard Johnson bowl again for the county.  No contract yet but interest from other counties for his services.

Rumours and possible contracts are still flowting about the place.  The Darrren Maddy one won't go away.  We are still looking for a domestic allrounder it seems and the second internaional signing is still not definite although the odds on Justin Langer must be short at the moment.

I'll be asking you for your Player of the Season quite soon.  A short list of one in my humble opinion but I'll let you see if you can work it out for yourselves.  I'll do the end of season report if I can summon up the strength to go though it again and then it will be into regional AGM time and speculation.  We then have the Ashes and the reports of the mighty Bagpuss as she follows the boys to a result I can't personally see us being happy with.

New bitd of stadium, new players, new persepctive on Somerset cricket.  But will it be joined by a new purpose and desire to produce the best we can?

All for the future.  If you're on your way to some football stadium for the winter then enjoy and winter well.  If you're staying for the colder days then we'll try and keep you active if we can!