Starter for 2007 Part 2
By Grockle
February 24 2007
Part 1 looked at the front end of the side but who will partner the Cadmeister into the twilight of a glittering career? A bit of young blood injected into the squad but will the younger guys get a look in or will we go with experience. Will "Jonah" be a "Jonah" or will the return be triumphant?
So we are at Number 6 and we've yet to mention the Mighty "Parsy"
Keith has been a very important part of the Somerset system for a number of years; as a middle order batsman who has taken up the job of shoring up the front end on more than one occasion, as a bowler who looks like a bit of a change bloke but has far more than that and takes wickets of importance when needed. Medium pace with a bit of mystery is the best way to describe it.
Last season he was almost relegated to the one day setup only...until they needed a four day character of quality and the great KP took up the cudgel and produced the goods required. Will he have a place in this year's setup? Personally I think it may depend on the early performances of our batting specialists and the time when Cameron arrives (it now seems he may be here from the outset as he hasn't been picked in the first 15 for Oz for the World Cup). Keith is first on the team sheet for many supporters and for me in a one day side. I don't think he'll get in to start with unless our 'paper' strongest side isn't available....BUThe ought to be the first in line for a place where a batsman doesn't show the form required. As a bowler, his abilities are a great 'extra' rather than a first choice in a bowling line-up. He'll get into a Championship line-up on the need for his batting and the bowling will come with him.
There is another name that may appear on the sheets this year. Robin Lett certainly didn't embarass himself last season when called upon and should injury cause problems then I am sure he will step into the breech. It is highly likely that he will build his reputation in the seconds so listen for the name as the second team push for their own silver.
And so to Number 7....the "wickie"? Last season this was what the American's call a 'No Brainer' as we only had one keeper of note - "Gazza"
Didn't he look fresh faced? He's a little more careworn now! 
His batting form left him during the season (well he wasn't alone in that) and the 17 year old Sam Spurway
came along in leaps and bounds in both the glove and bat departments. By the end of the season, he was first choice and improving still game by game. A competition for the gloves? Well the competitive atmosphere has been enhanced by the signing of the "European"/South African Craig Kieswetter
who impressed everyone with his strong batting for the seconds and who is no mean keeper to boot. A three way fight for the first team gloves? Well I'm not sure. According to a poll of you lot, you expect Sam to start in the position and again, Criag's appearance in a first team shirt may hang more on the perfromances of the batsmen in front of him than on Spurway's form (he seems to be assessed as the best keepr of the trio). Carl? Well he has now become the "dark horse" of the piece. Reports suggest that he is working hard on his batting and glovework. He will need to to get his place back! For me? Sam Spurway for the CC2 side with Kieswetter taking over in the one dayers perhaps because of his more explosive batting - a possible 'pinch hitter' perhaps?
And so to bowling.
We've already discussed Peter Trego as a batsman. I think that is where he must make his mark this season if he hopes to play many first team games. His bowling was not strong enough last season, although it was better than his compatriots many times. He is up against very strong competition, even from the new boys such as
Mark Turner employed as the longer term fast boy to learn and then replace Mr Caddick. He may not get a look in in the longer game this year unless injuries start to really hurt but he may be Trego's opponent for the 'boy most likely to' position.
Gareth Andrew will be working hard to compete as well. He looks more dangerous when he gets it right but can be loose when he doesn't. His batting is still a bit of a mystery but suggests a level well behind some other possible candidates and this may work against him. A one day possibility but he may not see the first team dressing room for a Championship game I suggest.
Rob Woodman came back to the 2006 fold as the "player of most promise" after some impressive bowling performances at the end of 2005. U19 honours followed and we met the 'new' Rob who seemed to have been re-modelled as a batsman. That didn't quite fit with our plans and so he kind of disappeared off the Somerset radar. Will he return as something we need? Hope so, he was looking good bowler or batsman? Bowler I hope but we may watch him in a secoonds team that could be very impressive more than in the firsts.
So, who will we see throwing the pill at the opponents? Will Terry Jenner's 'most promising spinner I've seen in a long time' appear?
Micheal Munday is said to be something special. An English spinner who headed the Australian Grade cricket wicketaking table for a lot of the 2006/2007 winter! Unheard of!! Will we see him? Again it will depend on the wickets and the performance of the batting aspect of the side. His batting is unknown to me but we can really only afford a specialist spinner this season if the top 6 accumulate a score and the Number 8 spot doesn't need to be filled by a man who has to make 50-ish. He will be a possible option to the man we expect to be playing there - Ben Phillips.
A thrifty bowler, expected to play to tie up one end and give the pacemen the chance to take oodles of boodle at the other. His reputation is as a man who never goes for many and we certainly need that kind of weapon in our arsenal. It will be good to see, especially at Taunton, where we seem to have lost that ability in recent years.
Ben playing at Number 8 assumes the successful return to the Somerset Number 9 spot of the Welsh 'death bowler' and top English seamer of last season.
Steffan Jones 2007, older, wiser and coming back as the top "English" seamer of the 2006 season. He returns to the place he wants to bowl from 3 seasons in the wilds of Northampton and Derby. Although he will still have to prove himself to the more 'optimistic' Somerset supporter, he provides us with something we haven't had in the last couple of years - the ability to remove the backend of an opponents' batting line-up. Taunton expects and I expect 'Jonah' to deliver.
And so to the newball attack (although others may share the load). We will turn to the best Championship duo of last season. They pick themsleves before a ball is even bowled. If they are fit, they will play!
Charl Willoughby was the find of the season. A 'Kolpak' who gave us everything we required and a whole lot more. He worked tirelessly, even when not appreciated and finally became an accepted top player. Our Player of the Year by a metric mile and a 'lefty' who asked questions all the time of anyoone with a bat in front of him. This season he should get the backup he deserved in 2006 and that is a real winning situation for us.
ANd we end where we began this section. He will partner the bowling machine that is Andrew Caddick. Some of us wrote him off 2 season ago and he worked through that to be mentioned in England conversations once again. There are those who wonder whether they put him out to pasture a little too early. Not our problem. We benefit from a man who will bowl all day, go for little and sometime almost win a four day game on his own. This year, we are looking at a side that might be able to back him up for a change.....we can but hope.
I'd like to see more of this;
and this
and as much of this as we can manage!!
Just a few weeks to go people!!