Sunday in the Sun? Worcs @ Taunton
By Grockle
June 22 2008
After the deluge that put paid to the Bristolian's visit to Gods home of cricket on Friday we are hoping for better today against the men from Pearland! Hick and his mates will want to get revenge for their home defeat at our hands last week and we need to beat allcomers wherever we play to progress in this short form competition.
v Worcestershire Twenty/20 @ Taunton Sunday 22 June 2008
Commentary on Somerset Sound (left menu bar link)
After beating the Pears at New Road last week thanks to 40's from Ian Blackwell and Peter Trego and a beautiful late 4 for 27 from Alfonso Thomas.
Worcesterhire Scorecard
Followed by a point from the washout on Friday against Gloucestershire, we are not quite out of it but we still need to win everything and hope that Northants lose to someone else besides us!!.
The published team for today shows little change at the moment;
Trescothick, Langer, Kieswetter, de Bruyn, Blackwell, Trego, Suppiah, Phillips, Thomas, Turner, Willoughby
and that has become the setup we have come to expected and that says a lot for the performances of Arul Suppiah in the last few games and that of Alfonso through the whole tournament. Both owuld probably be indispensible in a Twenty20 lineup for us at the moment. Craig Kieswetter has been dong someintensive close catching work with Jason Kerr and I have to say he looks very reliable catching off the roller. Omari Banks is out in the nets but has his left knee heavily strapped and all the bowlers are being put though their paces by the skipper who is facing the lot of 'em..Caddick is out there as well but don't get your hopes up. It's also good to see Gareth Andrew back at the ground and Simon Jones in a cricket side, even if it is against us
It's a SKY game. Watch the toss if you can because the reporter is going to grill the captains on England's removal from the Champions League because of the playing of ICL players. Vikram is the only player that this affects....it will be interesting to see what the two skippers make of the question!!
We have won the toss and have chosen to bat first. Wes is 12th man but the side is as above.
Off we go...and Justin is not going to be pleased as he flips a bouncy warm up ball from Kabir Ali straight to the in-fielder (Moore) and trundles back to the dressing room with a first ball duck. Trigger gets off the mark with ball 4 before Banger smashes us back to reality with a fiercely cut boundary off the last.
Simon Jones opens from the OP. A bit more of a rolling run than of old but a hell of a lot of pace in the arm when it comes over to deliver the ball sraight and full. He pings one off Peter's foot and has Marcus shutting the door on another and completes his first for 9 courtesy of a Trescothick flash at a 5th ball beamer and a boudary back over his head to finish his first off. 14 for 1 after 2
Just to let Ali and Jones know its not going to be all plain sailing, Marcus puts us past 50 in the 4th taking 45 himself and loads off Simon Jones...the dot ball is at a premium and the boundary isn't. He takes 20 off the 4th and causes Gareth to be brought on at the River for over 5. His first ball is smashed to the scoreboard by his great friend Peter Trego and his second goes to the Botham with the same resulting score as Trigger gets into double figures. A full toss goes to the Brewhouse side as Mr T cuts him and then he goes to 50 at 69 off not a lot of balls (18, 9 fours and 2 sixes - a very fast one for sure).
Kabir changes ends for number 6 with 70 up and gets the same treatment from the VC as he carts him to the shop corner of the ground over the outfield. Then he's down the pitch and the ball bounces off the Press box roof as we move into the 80's. This brngs spin into the attack as Batty tries to close down the scoring. What's more it works!! Pete is LBW for 18 with his second ball at 83 for 2 (off 37 balls - fair going). Ian is the new man and he's off the mark with a single second ball faced.
Mitchell comes on at the OP end, full tosses his second to Trescothick and it flies on to the new stand. The next four is a more skilful stroke, splitting the field off Batty which brings up the 100 and it is immediately followed by one of those fours that a slip would stop...if there was one! But what is the pont of having a slip with Trescothick in this kind of mood? He has 76 out of a total of 107 off 54 balls.
Mitchell comes back with a better second over spearing the ball into the feet and keeping the score down to 4. It's 'NELSON' at half way - well for one ball until Blackie fours Batty's first of the 11th. 124 at the end of it. Ian is taking it easy but is starting to open his shoulders a bit in the 13th with a couple of lusty blows to take him into the high 20's and his side to 140 at the end of the 13th. They're taking the singles and keeping the score ticking but the mayhem of earlier is calming down a bit. Ian then reaches for one and spoons rather than fully smashes it to the boundary. It falls into the grateful hands of Gareth Andrew and Blackwell goes for 32 at 144 with one ball of the 14th left.
Craig Kieswetter is the man in. He negotiates the last ball and Jones replaces Batty at the River for the 15th. The keeper provides the boundary to take us past 150 after nearly running his partner out at the non strikers end twice. Someone needs to tell him that his playing partners can't run as fast as he does!! 153 with 5 to go and Gareth back at the OP. Craig murders his first but the Worcester man comes back and nearly yorks Marcus. He still goes for 13 however and the VC is 5 short of his ton. Jones is on for the over that gives him that 100 out of 179 at the end of the 17th (53 ball 14 fours and 2 sixes). Majestic performance and his highest score in this competition by quite a margin.
194 for 3 at 18 and Marcus bows out with a skier caught on the boundary by Batty for 107 (57 balls 15 fours and 3 sixes) off the first ball of the 19th. Craig keeps it going though with a six to the CA off the second and it brings up the 200. Arul has joined him. Kabir has the "wickie" though as he destroys his stumps with the 3rd ball for 28. Zander strides out and is off the mark immediately. But Ali has the last word taking out Arul's middle stump at 203.
Gareth takes the last over. Ball 1 - single (de Bruyn) Ball 2 - wicket Phillips bowled, Ball 3 - single (Turner), Ball 4 - single, Ball 5 - six (Turner) Ball 6 - run out (Turner). End result 212 for 8. Less off the last 10 than off the first. It all calmed down a bit after a devastating three overs when we took them for 50 plus. Marcus was always in charge and helped by Trego, Blackwell and Kieswetter but it was the 'Trescothick show' to a great extent.
The Reply
Vikram and Graham start for the Royals. Charl opens at the OP to Solanki. Single off the first, second is wide and the third is down at Hick's feet and sliding away. Vikram has trouble with delivery 4 which spears in and lands on his foot. He's limping but he still sends the 5th to the new stand boundary. Then the mighty South African yorks him with ball 6. 7 for 1. Turner is the opener at the Colin Atkinson (or I suppose Botham end with this wicket) and he thinks he's got Hick caught behind off the third....didn't hit it though. Hick belts one up and into Blackie's hands off Mark. 11 for 2 and the openers have gone guys and gals!! Davies and Smith are in with 12 after 2.
Charl is bowling well and has them in all kinds of trouble. He has his line sorted and they are struggling to do anything with him. But it's Turner who benefits as Davies is caught by Langer off the first ball of the 4th with 15 on the board. Kabir is the next man in and he hits an absolute sitter to Zander who drops it!! Easy as they come and Worcestershire should be 4 down. 23 for 3 after 4. Hope Kabir doesn't makes us pay!!
Charl is still on and Smith bottom edges his fourth and they have 25 for 4. Moore replaces him and the Worcestershire pundits in the box are checking out the largest margin of victory in a game. Moore seems to have the reputation of being a 'blocker' but he comes striding up the wicket to CW, who simply doesn't deliver the ball and then looks down the wicket at him with a smile on his face.
Turner stays on at the River and Kabir gets the message that he means business when he tries to pass him with a drive which Mark fields and throws past him at the stumps in one fluid movement. 'Hello Kabir, my name is Mark and I'm a bowler'! Nevertheless, these two have put the wheels back on the Worcestershire wagon and after 6 they have 36 with no further loss but they are 38 behind the D/L rate required and 47 behind our score at the same point. Moore top edges one over the keeper and Kieswetter nearly gets to it. It's all a bit desperate at the moment for the visitors.
Phillips is on at the River end for the 8th as they pass 50 with the last ball of the 7th - a good over for them. His first goes for four, his fourth is loose and goes for 4 but his 5th is driven back by Moore, dropped by Phillips and it rolls onto the stumps and runs Kabir out for 27 at the non strikers! Poor bloke but 63 for 5!!
Arul replaces Willoughby (28 runs for 2) at the OP and Moeen puts his first into the graveyard. Suppiah goes for 11 as we go to double spin with Blackwell on at the River for the 10th. But it isn't looking good as they take 9 off the first half of the over and 10 off the second half!! 93 at half way. Phillips is turned around and is now coming in from the OP - no Thomas yet!! They reach 100 at the end of the 11th and Arul has changed to the River for the 12th. They seem to be resting their best 20/20 bowler. It isn't a problem though as Arul bowls Moeen for 16 with the last ball of the 12th and it's 106 for 6. Jones is next in...we still haven't seen Batty or Mitchell but we do see Thommo for the first time in the afternoon bowling from the OP end. He bowls Moore with his fourth ball - can he do anything wrong in this format? 108 for 7 becomes 114 at the end of the 13th.
Before the end of the 14th, Jones belts one to Marcus and it's a wicket to Arul and 127 for 8 for the Pears! Batty finally arrives with this game effectively gone for his side. Thomas is now bowling his 'death' deliveries and Mitchell is struggling to handle them at all. He squeezes a single to get off strike but Batty handles the man no better and with 5 overs to go they need 82 to win. It isn't going to happen as Batty is bowled by Suppiah at 139. Four overs, 74 runs or one wicket.....hmmm wonder what the end result is going to be? Well Mitchell smacks the first for four and take a single off the second to give Gareth a chance to make a name for himself. Mitchell steps way outside his stumps and scoops it the other way...straight into the hands of Trescothick and we win by 67 runs!!
England v England A Women's Twenty20
The women's version comes straight afterwards and as I'm here I'll mention a few things. England won the toss and decided to bat but it wasn't the best of choices as the opening bat was bowled first ball...embarrassing!
Generally the stature decreases. The ladies are more slight and smaller and there are far more close fielders as there are not going to be as many power shots to all parts. However, the timing is there and there are some excellent boundaries on the floor with the minimal of effort from Charlotte Edwards (she's one of those at the crease).
The bowling is not exactly fast. The opening bowler for the A side is 'pacey' for women's cricket but little over medium pace in relation to the male game. Her opening partner at the other end is floating up fast spinners really.
The fielding is enthusiastic and everyone is moving about, long boundary throws are relayed but that's no different to some older pro's. Some longer throws are still parabolic though and not as accurate as they have become in the first class game. Up close they come in flat and hard.
The rate is slower as well, none of that "smack it everywhere" stuff. England go past 50 in the 8th but they were only at 27 in the 5th so Clare taylor has upped it a bit moving to 36 att he end of the 8th. They place more and take two's.
The appealing is a little less 'bassy' than in the other version but it's certainly no less enthusiastic and it happens almost as often whether the ball was a wicket taking one or not!!
That's yer lot I'm afraid. ther duties call so I can't take you to the end of this one I can only tell you how it is at the halfway stage of the first innings. The 5,200 crowd has dwindled to a couple of hundred but the cricket goes on...England are 67 for 2 after 10.
Charlotte Edwards (capt)
Sarah Taylor (wk)
Claire Taylor
Lydia Greenway
Jenny Gunn
Ebony Rainford-Brent
Beth Morgan
Nicky Shaw
Laura Marsh
Katherine Brunt
Isa Guha
I know it is the women's match.
Look at all the 20/20 matches next year, somebody is going to be delighted. [www.ecb.co.uk]
The link to my Photos on Photobucket - [s1152.photobucket.com]Have the Super4s not gone well?
Pity,
VtF.
Academy
Jenny Halstead (capt)
Salliann Briggs
Caroline Atkins
Rosalie Birch
Kate Oakenfold
Anya Shrubsole
Lynsey Askew
Kathryn Cross
Lauren Griffiths (wk)
Danielle Hazell
Georgia Elwiss
12th player (for both teams) Danni Wyatt
Until, as I type this, he get's his first reward.
Jones looked a bit roly poly but he still has an enormous amount of power in that arm. His run up is almost as slow as Blackie's but the pace of delivery is a bit faster and less floaty!
Apparently, Hick was caught by Turner off Blackwell!?!?
Not that I'm listening, of course, and have no idea that Trescothick smote a massive century.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
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Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I saw highlights of Banger's innings on the Sky broadcast,Northants were lucky Gibbs didn't stay right to the end or they would have lost I reckon.
It's great to see Marcus in such fine form,keeping the eye in for the CC is essential.
Interesting to see who the youngster is.
Cheers again.
Well played lads.
Girls!
Might we still be able to qualify as best third placed team?
Moore Ali bld Thomas
Mark Turner hitting 6 runs
Another 100 runs for Marcus Trescothick
G Batty bld Suppiah
A Suppiah bld Kabir Ali.
A very good win with good batting bowling and fielding.
I think Justin Langer should consider dropping down the batting order.
The link to my Photos on Photobucket - [s1152.photobucket.com]20-20 points table
I watched the Sky game today.
What on earth is an "ice bath buddy"?
What is the point of it?
When rugby teams are announced do they ask "favourite jockstrap",or "best puncher in team".
If that's their idea of bringing fans a bit closer to the players I find it quite sad.
It makes fancy dress seem acceptable.
Well,nearly.
Jim I think the "Ice bath buddy" replaces "the player you most admire" or something like that.
The link to my Photos on Photobucket - [s1152.photobucket.com]Where did they get that announcer from? Was it meant to be a comedy turn? I could hear him more clearly in the Priory Bridge car park than I could in the ground.
To paraphrase Douglas Adams, he knew no more about the game of cricket than a tea-leaf knows the history of the East India Company.
The link to my Photos on Photobucket - [s1152.photobucket.com]I love the photo that shows the church in all its glory; it reminds one that the Ridley Stand was not a thing of beauty and will not be missed. One hopes that Gimblett Hill will be subtly landscaped to allow us still to see much of this glorious example of English ecclesiatical architecture.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I think that the name may be changed to "Gimblett steps" if you have a look from the top of the old pavilion you will see the formation of three steps, and there is wooden board for concreting the first step.
Another name would be "three steps to heaven"
The link to my Photos on Photobucket - [s1152.photobucket.com]I ask because the caption with the photo says he was 'bowled by Kabir.'
Moreover, the shirt also seems to suggest that it was Arul batting. Did he try to switch hit? Or has someone got it wrong, somewhere along the line?
Quote:Mike BOS
I also liked the church view photo it gives some idea of the view after the Gimblett Hill is finished.
I think that the name may be changed to "Gimblett steps" if you have a look from the top of the old pavilion you will see the formation of three steps, and there is wooden board for concreting the first step.
Another name would be "three steps to heaven"
These close-up views only available to Phil and 'friends'.
Edgbaston is often a turning pitch and we know we’ve had problems scoring versus the spinners after the first six overs. Even yesterday, we did not exactly destroy Batty.
Therefore, I think it’s absolutely imperative that we take a full toll of the opening six overs at Edgbaston.
Of course, based on his long record of success in the game JL is theoretically more likely to make a big score in any given game than Pete. But, in the 20:20 the question of how quickly people are likely to make a score has to come into the equation, too. That is when you are deciding who to open with you should make a calculation along the lines of ‘likelihood of good score multiplied by likelihood of getting that score quickly.’ And, by quickly, I’m meaning 20:20 quickly i.e. not ‘merely,’ a run-a-ball.
Having said the above, I can’t believe that Gloucs allowed Ian Salisbury to bowl four overs for only 13 runs yesterday. The reason that I say this is that you’d have to imagine that Gloucs simply allowed Salisbury to settle. I mean, let’s face it, he’s never been renowned for unimpeachable accuracy and you would have thought that it would be possible to put him off his game, at least somewhat, in the 20:20. Even something as simple as motioning to come down the wicket, just as he’s about to release the ball (in the hope of inducing him to drop short) and then staying put in your crease and spanking the resultant short ball.
In fact, both away games this week will be played on pitches that usually turn. I would feel better about our prospects if Ian seemed to be in better 20:20 bowling form. It is imperative that he and Arul (and Omari should he play) out-bowl first Salisbury and Botha and then Boje and Monty (if England let him play) or Brown. The former task should be more easily achieved than the latter.
Incidentally, is anyone else wondering what the table might look like now had we taken the rather obvious decision to bat first at home to Northants??
Quote:AGod
I mean, let’s face it, he’s never been renowned for unimpeachable accuracy and you would have thought that it would be possible to put him off his game, at least somewhat, in the 20:20
Salisbury's record in 20:20 is pretty damn good (21 wickets for 461 runs from 406 balls), and I'm sure I heard one interview with him in which he was self-deprecating enough to sugest that it was his variation (intentional or otrherwise) which had helped make it so.
But then I'm not surprised you hadn't noticed that 20:20 was Salisbury's format, as you are quite clearly insane this morning
. Arul's always been RHB, SLA, as far as I can recall.Well how right you are Steve seeing as your bowling attack of Kabir, Jones and Batty IS an international bowling attack by English definition.
Who is Banger's ice bath buddy?
Makes a difference to me you know.
What, if anything, is up with Ian's bowling? Scorecards indicate that he's been a distance from his usual parsimonious best. Is he still wearing the knee brace? Might this be having an effect?
I think it's more that they use him when a batsmen gets set or has been ploughing a deep furrow against some paceman. So he is coming on against a batsman who has his eye in. Either that or he is bowling at the death when they'll swing at anything or he's on for one over here and one over there so he can't actually get into any kind of rhythm.
He has offered up the odd dolly ball but four overs isn't a whole lot of anything, especially if it isn't in a spell and can be fragmented over 20 such.
Not a worry really. He's stopped the rot more than once.
I see their website is still recording Worcestershire`s Steve Davies as c Kieswetter b Turner 4 yesterday, when everyone at the ground (apart possibly from that idiot of a public announcer) could see that Davies was pouched by Langer at first slip.
Bring back real journalists, I say, rather than former players trying their hand in the press box.
I trust your insanity (!) was an a.m. thing only, AG.
Incidentally the commentator yesterday mentioned a piece of untidy fielding by Arul. That must be close to a first.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:23:22:30:58 by averageside.
VtF.
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Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
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Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Windies change their keeper as often as we do as they can't find one who scores runs regularly.
NZ: McCullum seems to be playing more and more as a batsman and Hopkins has become the more regular keeper.
Aus: Haddin seems safe for the time being but will be expected to score regular runs.
Pakistan - not sure who their current regular keeper is, but rest assured he won't feel his tenure is safe!
Indeed, one feels bound to ask the question of whether it is any fairer to expect a keeper to automatically be able to bat than it would be to expect the same of each and every bowler? The fact that folk seem to automatically consider that the keeper must be able to bat well but that the same criterion is not applied to the bowlers, would tend to suggest to me that it is actually the bowlers, not the keeper, that are considered to be the more important. That, after all, is the logical conclusion of saying that a keeper must be able to bat to justify his position in the team but a bowler does not have to be able to do so.
In fact, I wonder whether, if Freddie can get fit and return to at least a semblance of competence with the bat whether that – combined with Stuart Broad’s development – might finally ‘allow’ us to pick the purist’s keeper that so many would like to see?
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
There are obviously various schools of thought on this subject,I'm not sure which way the English team management seem to favour.
As for Prior and Ambrose I think they went for the option of picking two players that looked so alike that nobdy would notice too much when they were changed.
What do you mean look at the names,this is modern sport you nincompoop,get up to speed will you.
I always go for picking your best keeper,and then help him along with his batting skills.
No point in having somebody so useless with the gloves that whilst he's able to bag you the odd half century he drops most of their top order allowing them to score big runs.
Craig seems to be an exceptional talent who may well be ready for Test cricket very soon.
He's able to do both skills well and whilst not yet the finished product he promises plenty.
Edit:* and with that in mind, perhaps we better hope their attention hasn't been drawn to Taunton!
On the wider point, I think the make-up of one's attack also has a part to play in whether one can "afford" a less competent keeper. If he will spend the majority of his time twenty yards back taking balls which beat the bat and the occasional regulation knick from seamers, then any decent fielder with the required mental aptitude to concentrate on, and want to take every ball should be able to do the job. (To be honest, whilst it may sound harsh, the nature of the South African attack over the years has left Boucher comfortable depsite being at the upper end of that bracket. Most West Indies keepers of recent vintage come into that category, too). If you want him to regularly stand up to medium pacers who rely more on swing than seam, or to keep competently to spinners, then that's a different issue.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:24:13:53:36 by Frome Exile.
Another piece of info from that same area. For those who were wondering about why Sam Spurway seemed to have been rejected in favour of Carl at the end of last season...
Has anyone seen the size of him this season? He's way over 6 foot and it looks like if his future is in cricket, it isn't as a keeper. That's the presiding view anyway. He just grew out of the job.
Wasn’t Rob Turner 6’2?
Unless Sam is suddenly standing nose to nose with the great Andrew Richard Caddick then I think that would be a fairly poor justification for their decision from the powers-that-be.
I understand that crouching in a conventional keeper’s position is more difficult (in terms of strain on the back) for taller men. Then again, Rob Turner was exceptionally good and he did not usually bother with the conventional crouch, preferring instead a kind of walking, but bent slight over stance.
There are many sports where convention has dictated that position x should be filled by someone of stature y. In most sports, there are many examples which, over time, have displayed the paucity of imagination which is inherent in saying that somebody needs to be tall/short/light/heavy etc to fill a particular role.
Nevertheless, I do struggle to think of many successful tall keepers, Rob aside. As always though, one wonders to what extent it has been the case that taller guys have simply been denied their chance because they ‘do not look the part’ and to what extent tall guys have actually been given a fair crack of the whip and been found wanting?
Quote:Nevertheless, I do struggle to think of many successful tall keepers, Rob aside.