Welcome to the County Champions for the first run in with them this season. Welcome also to their most recent recruit - Ian Blackwell late of this county. He will be keen to show us what we're missing in 2009 and we'll be hoping to do as little as possible to help his international ambitions through notaqble performances. Welcome one and all. Here's to your glorious defeat!
Justin Langer has a the batting problem every captain wants and a bowling nightmare he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy! On the one hand he has a Vice captain in form with a centurion for a partner and a triple centurion at four. His allrounder is coming off a pasting of Kent. His solid kolpak is batting well and supporting with the ball and his wicketkeeper has finally got an average after being out for the first time and scoring less than 100 for the first time!
Unfortunately at the other end of his line-up he has one of his first choice with the ball is at least a week away from playing. His young pretender to the Caddick throne has a groin strain and his tight experienced change man is suffering from back spasms.
So we expect to see the following;
Trescothick, Suppiah (no place yet for Edwards despite a century against the students), Langer, Hildreth, de Bruyn, Kieswetter, Trego, Banks, Thomas, Willoughby and assuming Phillips fails in his attempt to be fit we will see David Stiff make his Somerset debut.
It's a great chance for the young man and he has little to lose if he gets the chance. Others might see their opportunities disappearing at the same time. Andrew Caddick seems to be starting this season exactly like 2008 where a 'minor' injury turned into a two month sojourn from the middle followed by brief appearances in between relapses. There is no recal for our Kent loan bowler Steffan Jones when you would have expected it to happen.
But we'll have to see won't we ladies and gentlemen? More tomorrow evening along with the ball by ball commentary which will start tomorrow at 10:45. The thread will be on during the evening session when I'm on so I'll be referring to your comments as long as it isn't some kind of Blackwell fan site! Come on Stiffy!
Haway the lads
Day 1
You win the toss and you puty them in in order to make the most of the overcast conditions with the ball. The idea is that you get into their middle order before lunch and skittle them out for under 300 (and under 200 if you're lucky) and be on top in the game before the end of the first day. That was obviously Justin's plan. His bowling resouterces were stretched but Charl Willoughby and Peter Trego were looking promising so all he needed was for David Stiff on debut and Alfonso Thomas to keep the line and Zander de Bruyn to offer the optional change in pace while the slows turned tightly at one end and took the odd wicket if there was something in it.
Things don't always go to plan though.... Di Venuto hadn't read the script it seems and he and Stoneman put on 98 for the first was we squandered the opportunity with too many 'spray' balls (leg then off then leg....) and didn't tie them down. Even when Willoughby, Stiff and Thomas got them to 119 for 3 (2 wickets Smith and Stoneman in quick succession at that score) it looked like a long day in the field. Another game where batsmen could hold out against the tight men and wait for the change of bowler to move the score on again. Coupled with poor fielding on our part - more than one catch going down and difficult chances just not going to hand muchel and Benkenstein started to accumulate runs allarmingly in little trouble except in the spells from the two main guys.
Stiff has some interesting deliveries and a really deceptive slow one but it's not going to be too much use if he can't get the ball inline more often and as the day went on he started to toil badly. Zander de Bruyn dropped Benkenstein early and we were to rue that as the game progressed. Banks and especially Suppiah offered a slow ball alternative but on a pitch with little in it the only things they could really do was contain and hope the batsman made a mistake. Which is exactly what happened in the case of Muchel who mistimed one and was snaffled up by Trescothick at 284. Enter Ian Blackwell who strided out like a man on a mission to warm applause from the Somerset faithful and played a measured, if not attacking innings taking no chances and playing nothing loose (and there was a lot of it). He supported his partner towards his three figures and passed 50 himself with few chances being offered. Then a lapse of concenttration and a flip to a diving Hildreth and that was it. Honours even really. He got his fifty and then caused us no more problem with the bat. Warm applause on the way back was the least he deserved.
After him we had a bit of a fight back as Peter Trego decided the Durham boys had had it too much his own way. He put the ball in front of Ian and then produced an absolute 'pearler' of a fast ball to total 'nightwatchman' Mustard in the last over. Durham shaved the first day but we would be back on par with them if we had a good first hour on the second.
Day 2
Onions is replaced by Mustard (jokes abound along with those about Stiff) and the Somerset hopefuls look for some early movement and sounds of wood being hit by leather (not the bats). It doesn't really come though and although the overnight 372 for 6 becomes 382 for 7 when the aforesaid condiment is run out after helping to add 10. Benkenstein is making the most of our muck up in the field and helped by solid support from Thorp and Claydon the opposiiton push the score past 500.
Lunch comes and goes and finally Thomas gets Benkenstein for an excellent 181 caught by Arul. 543 all out and a lot to do to get back on track in this game. But there's time and the weather is better than we expected it to be.
Onions....and the Test squad
So we're discussing the inclusion of Onions in the test side and the non inclusion of Harmison as the Somerset innings starts. It becomes not much of discussion as he bowls Trescothick, C&B's Suppiah, has Hildreth LBW and leaves his opening partner Harmison to have de Bruyn caught behind while Langer watches this massacre of his side.
40 for 4 is not a position you want to be in when you are 500 behind with two days to go. But it is a position where you can regain some stability with a wicket-keeper in batting form. Well it isn't because Onions, Thorp and Harmison bowl on the Taunton 'road' and the next three wickets go for no score although the skipper is getting some scraps. I arrive at the ground wth the home side at 65 for 7 and commentate on the loss of the rest of the batting line-up for another TWO runs!! Somerset all out for 69 and asked to return to the crease and start again a couple of overs into the evening session. Good grief - there were a couple of dodgy decisions but our loose bowling and poor fielding gave us a mountain to climb and our batting against quality seamers didn't get us into the foothills.
Trescothick and Suppiah come out to start the second innings a massive 400 and a lot behind. It's better second time though with Arul especially looking the part with some excellent stroke play. Unfortunately he gets all around one that hits him in front and Umpire Kettleborough decides it is out after an absolute age and to the incredulity of the batsman. Not sure myself it did look like he had hit it.
Hilreth comes out for that sticky session of 12 overs before the end of play and takes the fight to the bowlers with some exciting strokeplay. We survive the 224 overs and go in ahead of our first total by 14 at 83 for 1 hoping for massive rain and no play for two days.
Excellent bowling by Onions - well ahead of his England counterpart. Woeful performance by some batsmen and no luck for others but even if all three of the men who were doubtful had been given in the batsman's favour there was little that could have been said about a score of that 'magnitude'. Locked doors and full and frank discussions after play I think. No sign of the Somerset lads after the days play.....
Day 3 Rain
Lots of dark clouds and lots of heavy rain meant there was no play until the early afternoon when they managed to get on the pitch for a while at around about 2 o'clock. The second wicket partners moved the score on to 153 before they were taken off again for rain at 3:10. Marcus moved past 50 and on to 79 and James is looking at a possible 50 with 44 to his name. Although there are dark clouds about the place it is likely that they will come out again before 3:30 and Tea will be taken at 4:30 but the rain and the light are not brilliant and it is likely to be a bit of an on/off session before the umpires call the an end to proceedings tonight.
Day 4
An early spell from Onions and Harmison kept the score down and we didn't get away to push towards some kind of score that would make a game of this, Trescothick's 105 and Kieswetter's 106 were eclipsed by the captain's stolid but vital 122 and this game sputtered into a draw at about 5:30 in the afternoon,
What would have happened had there not been rain? Well us winning would have been the least likely of the three possible options. Our abject showing in the first innings and our lack of potency in the bowling department would have given the champions a real chance to pu this one away... but 12 to them and 6 to us.
The Return of the Native
Posted by: Grockles.com (IP Logged)
Date: 27/04/2009 23:06
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:02:13:50:59 by Grockle.
David Stiff is on standby for tomorrow because of fitness concerns with Mark Turner and Ben Phillips.
Turner is definitely out and Phillips is having treatment.
The news on Caddick is at best seven to ten days; he is having an injection in his back.
It looks like Banks is going to earn his wages this year he is included in the list of players for the match, with his improvement so far this season why not.
Mr Rose is using Blackwell name to drum up interest in the match.
"Merge once you have started your front page for the match."
Durham have named a squad for Taunton tomorrow that ought to put the fear of God in us - and not because of Ian Blackwell.
For it includes Gareth Breese, he of the 165 not out against us five years ago that still has me waking up in the middle of the night screaming.
Elsewhere Mitchell Claydon, a seamer who started out with Yorkshire, and Ben Harmison have also been added to the squad, and Liam Plunkett is absent with the England Lions.
That innings from Breese still haunts me too,CjM.
I have this terrible fear of spiders,I can't even look at one without requiring a change of pants.
However,my fear of spiders is nothing compared to my fear of the name Gareth Breese.
I'll never forget that match,it was the closest I've ever been to crying at a sporting event.
Mind you I won't forget the Hampshire match the same season.
Hunderds of us were sitting around,open mouthed,dumbstruck,shattered when the final wicket went down.
I love Somerset.
Memories to take to the grave.
And beyond.
Fair enough, Mike. I misread it as being along similar lines to the "You used Balckwell's name to stoke up interest in the Pro40, rhen didn't pick him" threads of last summer.
Apologies.
I have a funny feeling like some of us here that Blackie could have "one of his games this week"!!
I know that he is really happy at his new county and so early on in the season he will be relishing the thought of coming back to Taunton.
Glad i booked this week off as i only realised this morning that this game is live on sky sports!!
Also had a minor twinge in the hamstring on saturday which forced me off the pitch as i was about to reach 50!!
Hopefully i will make it for saturday,away on the moon at Wemdon!!!!
Enjoy your viewing, Sam. I haven't got Sky Sports any more; I don't miss the football, but today I do regret it.
Just once I should like to read something nice about Bridgwater, where I was born. Well, Wemdon is Bridgwater near enough. Mind you, I haven't been back there since I was a few days old!
TREGO FOR ENGLAND (I thought you might have forgotten)
Ww, I see both spellings used. Is one or the other correct?
Has the b generally been dropped?
Actually, Rob, I have been through on the A38, and it does lead to whole lot of lovely places, and that place where BJ lives! I hope you are at Taunton and won't see this reply.
Ah, that's a comfort, LoL. Anywhere that leads to Taunton must be good.
Edited for shameful punctuation, and LoL might see it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:28:10:58:34 by Bobstan.
Stiff on,looking quick and big.
The green in the pitch was nothing but an illusion.
Stiff getting good pace and bounce.
He should have opened the bowling,Alfie looked like a club bowler this morning.
It's all looking very comfortable out there for the two left handers at the moment,only Charl is making them worry.
We need to make things happen,the new ball threat has been wasted.
Still no commentary. I click on to the recommended links and just get the following:
Windows Media Player cannot find the file. If you are trying to play, burn, or sync an item that is in your library, the item might point to a file that has been moved, renamed, or deleted.
It's fine for you lot with Sky and time to watch it, but some of us feel a bit cut off!
Just noticed this 11.59am - we're currently still unable to provide live commentary and have attempted to contact the ground to establish the nature of the problem. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Another one now and we're down to the rabbits,come on boys.
Interesting that the ball is doing more now than it has done in the first hour.
Maybe we're just bowling properly.
Just realised I may be culpable.
DiVa is skipper of my BestoftheRest fantasy side (as opposed to my BestoftheWest side), but I didn't think the fantasy hex/counter-hex would start until the scoring opens on May 6th. Sorry folks!"
Charl is bowling much better now than he did in his first spell.
All the bowlers,Pete aside,have struggled with line.
Far too much is being sprayed down the legside,poor Craig is having a torrid time.
Charl is getting some bounce which with his away swing is making him difficult to play.
Isn't this the same WRSmith who made a lot of runs against us when playing for one of the UCCEs? Lightning will not strike twice. (Please note Mr Breese)
CricInfo Will Smith is an opening batsman who has previously captained Durham UCCE and British Universities. He scored 156 for Durham UCCE against a full strength Somerset attack in 2005 and forced his way into Nottinghamshire's Twenty20 side that summer.
Awful first hour and a quarter,just when we needed quality most.
Let's hope we can show some control and aggression this afternoon,some backsides need to be kicked over the sausage rolls.
A bit tough on Arul calling it a drop. Fantastic dive to get to a ball going away all the time. We are no good at left handers. Langer is too short for 1st slip (the catch would have b een in Bangers midriff). Pete bowling well and Banks over was promising. I think we were right to bowl. My realistic hope was 100 for 3 at lunch 220 for 5 at tea and 375 all out at close. I see no reason to revise the tea score and expect no more than 325 all out at close.
Thanks for that geordie.
I was only partially serious in my comments about batting, and what seriousness they held was derived solely from the forecast rather than the prevailing conditions.
Much better from Alfie,Smith going leg before for 7.
It was a difficult chance to Arul as was the one to Banger in that Alfie over but they are the sort of chances that have to be taken.
Catches do after all.....
Much more like it from Alfie.
Slightly disturbing to see Charl massaging his left knee,he looked a little uncomfortable.
Sorry to report some very threatening weather coming across from Wales.
It's going to rain out West very soon.
It was a lovely catch from Craig too.
This boy Stiff could be the answer to our problems.
Get him bowling lots of overs,get him into a rhythm and he will be very dangerous.
I like him a lot.
Stiff does bowl the occasional howler,no doubt about that.
He does though have something about him,genuine pace and menace.
When he gets it right he is as unplayable as you can get.
Sign him up I say.
With apologies in advance (It's been a while) - do we think our new boy got one to pop off a length...?!
OK that's my last Stiff joke I promise.
Looks pretty slow going at the moment - keep the pressure up and hope to snare a couple before BJ's forecast rain arrives? Much better after lunch it would seem.
I'm not there people and I have a session on 'Theories of Motivation' to deliver before I get there.
It looks like someone has lost a bit of kit regarding the commentary because there is no internet access. It could very well be because SKY are there but I'll know a little more when I get down for my stint about 4:45.
More later. Great economy rate from Willoughby. Don't tink they'll be using Zander again in a hurry. Blackie the next man in. Let us know what response he gets assuming he's in before I get there.
Caddick will be talking to Sky in a short while,could be interesting.
Charl is bowling beautifully,he's got them in all sorts of trouble.
Is there a problem with "sighting"the ball with the new build going on?
Four dropped catches,although one was extremely difficult could cost us dear.Langer also spilled the one which Banger snapped up earlier on.
I wonder if they are having problems.
Just got back from hospital. I have recorded the match so far. What are the best bits to watch and what should I ignore?
Any comment about putting Durham in. I assume the comments about our poor first hour suggest that had we bowled more accurately, they could have been in all sorts of trouble!
These have been worrying times for me personally, but Luke has just come through his op and seems very well, at least until the anaesthetic wears off, so I'm afraid the cricket has become insignificant, but please keep the weather fine for me for Thursday pm!
Hmmm, there was certainly an inevitability about Blackie today. Still as someone above implies, I am sure we can permit him 50 runs.
From those who are doubtless watching or listening, the lad Stiff seems quite promising - despite his average figures.
As it happens, I cannot stand Bob Willis the commentator. I don't mind opinionated, but his lack of balance and resultant stream of criticism and pessimism really irritates me.
Blub, I can quite understand people not liking Willis's commentary. I completely agree that he has all the three qualities you ascribe to him in your final sentence.
However, it gives me quiet amusement. I wouldn't want him commentating all the time, that's for sure, but as one of a group he's fine by me.
Fair point Bobstan. I do think that i'm becoming more intolerant, as I seem to have developed an equal irritation with Andy Gray, and his equally imbalanced (is that an oxymoron?) view of all referees. (football).
Whilst i'm at it, I like Brian Moore but not Eddie Butler (Butler because he never seems to be watching the same game), but their bickering is very entertaining.
Yes, I really am becoming quite intolerant. Rant over.
On the main site Langer states that we were unprofessional and had a really bad day at the office. I wonder how we can get this right, particularly the first hour, when as in the past season we didn't bowl the ball in the right areas.
We can practice day in day out, but is a lack of temperament, or is it stage fright? I don't know. Any suggestions?
Looking at the pictures from SKY there seemed much more movement than it seemed from the 'shed' but it was wild!
I understand what Roy Kerslake was saying about how much we improved in the afternoon if that was how we bowled in the morning.
Stiff has a great slow ball which fooled Blackie and his partner more than once. But it's the same old story. Line and length at Taunton!
Absolutely awesome last ball from Pete. Every ounce of strength in it, straight and fast but what the hell Onions thought he was doing trying to put it in the Tone three balls before the end of play was beyond me!!
Are Chesterfield Mum and Dad at Taunton for the match? If so, I trust their many friends at the ground will greet them warmly on behalf of their many friends among SCCC supporters and assure them that we miss their lad but wish him very well in his new setting.
Warm welcome for the Derbyshire dude on his way out and in. A good score that covered all our bases I think. Enough for him but not too many for us - although I will assume IB will be kicking himself - it was a bit of a lapse in concentration.
Yes he looked in ominous form up to his 50, thought he would have been determined to show us what we are missing (one or two in particular!)
Awful ball to get rid of him too but as has been said maybe a compromise all round him getting 50.
Thought we bowled excellently in the hour after lunch but poorly other than that.
Pitch and conditions were certainly helping for much of the day and we didnt make use of them, as Langer has stated on other site.
Realy need to polish off the tail, less than 450 idealy and then bat well in our turn, big morning tomorrow
There were a number of indicators that Blackie wasn't quite there yet. He didn't look in trouble most of the time but there were a few strokes down the wrong line (especially to Charl), a couple of wild slashes to balls he shouldn't have gone near and that last lapse.
But a run a ball is fine and you have to have the luck with you to gain the form that allows you to make your own. Trigger got us back in this game but we should have been much closer and that was due to fielding errors and poor lines....that's before we get the pitch merchants on.
As BJ posted, we may regret deeply not putting Benks away much earlier.
I don't know,Grizz.
These district nurses have a habit of coming at awful times,I' have spoken to them.
He talked about his injury apparently,though that is all I know.
Great to see Pete doing the business,very frustrating day though,we could have wiped them out by now.
I asked earlier if maybe the players were having problems picking the ball up,or sighting it with the new buildings.
The catching was shocking today,just not good enough.
Very surprising I thought,we're usually pretty hot in this department.
I went down to the game today and thought it was a decent days play.
The first hour it has to be said Somerset were poor all round,but fair play to pete before lunch and then alfie and charl after lunch they got a lot more out of the pitch and bowled in decent areas which finally gave the captain a bit of control in the match.
Dissapointed with Banks though,surely on a day when the ball was swinging you would have thought he would not get much of a look in but he did which i found slightly odd.
All in all Durhams day just but 3 quick wickets in the morning and we are back in it.
As this is a Somerset site I will not post any of Ian Blackwell good shots only the not so good.
Ian Blackwell did play and miss a few times this is off Stiff’s bowling.
After showing his appreciation to the crowd when he got his 50 you may have wondered who he pointed his bat at, it was his wife.
I spoke to his wife and gave her and Ian our best wishes, she is a very nice lady and she told me the first match the twins went to was at Lords when Ian got his hundred.
It's a shame CK had a bad day at the office when the telly was on though. But there are still three to go and we need a good hour tomorrow - partly because we need them out and partly because we only have until 120 overs to get the bonus stuff.
They were brilliant in the field on Sunday....including that wonderous catch from Mr Trescothick. Just not there today I suppose.
I can't follow the match today so I'm relying on you guys to get it right. No excuses from Rob, BJ or LoL. Wickets early, lots of runs later. Dropped catches are fine when SCCC is batting.
I'm sure that between us we can keep you up to date with happenings in Taunton,Bobs
Rob might even let you know what's going on in the cricket.
He's good like that.
Great stuff from Pete today to get us back in this one. But who do we fancy first up with a view to polishing off the tail? Isn't that what Stiff needs to give us? I'd suggest him and Thomas first up. Thoughts?
This spell of bowling by Pete is first class,he really is getting high praise from the Sky team.
Take note England selectors,this boy is a better player than Collingwood.
I think it's safe to say it's a nice wicket to bat on.
I wonder if the Durham seamers may be able to extract something out of it,if anybody can it has to be them.
The commentators seem convinced that we have to get within 150 (ie to 394) to avoid the follow-on.
That's wrong in a four day game isn't it?
I reckon the follow-on target is 344.
Law 13 The follow on 1. Lead on first innings
(a) In a two innings match of 5 days or more, the side which bats first and leads by at least 200 runs shall have the option of requiring the other side to follow their innings.
(b) The same option shall be available in two innings matches of shorter duration with the minimum required leads as follows:
(i) 150 runs in a match of 3 or 4 days;
(ii) 100 runs in a 2-day match;
(iii) 75 runs in a 1-day match.
Proves that if you bowl in decent areas long enough you will get wickets at Taunton and that bit of luck that goes with it.
Oh well rain in the morning and then hopefully for the rest of the day!!!
Steady on. Tomorrow's my first opportunity to watch cricket this season, even the Sky+ failed to record yesterday, so even if we're not playing so well, could the rain stay away 'til Friday!
Frome Exile Who wants to start a sweep on how long it'll be before KT posts, or Clarence declares us relegated already?
I trust that you have already opened a book on this Frome Exile.
And whilst you are at it, why not start a sweep on how long it will be before Langer and Somerset part company.
Now, there's a thought for you. No doubt your experience in "helping your employer navigate his way through one particular area of our wonderful legal system" will stand you in good stead.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:29:18:57:17 by Clarence Parker.
I should imagine they will part company at the end of his contract.
Don't need any expertise in employment law (which isn't my specialism, incidentally) to deduce that.
I assume (perhaps arrogantly) that your comments are directed at me rather than Kentish Townie.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:29:18:20:49 by Frome Exile.
I had to go out in mid-afternoon and look what happened. I can only follow the match for the first hour tomorrow and then not at all until late on Friday - if they're still playing then.
I realise it must be all my fault - or could it be that fickle Taunton strip?
Is rain today and tomorrow going to rob us of a chance of an easy victory? (700 all out by 2.30 on Friday and then Durham skittled for ninepence) It's almost too much to bear...
It may rob us of any play today if the present watery outlook in Uffculme in Devon is anything to go by. Can't say I'm, too bothered although I'd rather they called it off than left it to se what was gong on as I'm the evening commentator.
Don't hang around people. there's gonna be no more play today...I got it from the executive producer of SKY so it must be true!! Seems he had a chat with the umpires!!
I heard the Sky guy talking on the radio, so off I went. Still good to see my first two hours play this season. Someone's posted on the Weymouth FC forum that I was spotted, so it's just as well I allowed myself time off work!
‘Botham’ you may have been on Sky at the same time that I was, to much amusement of the ground staff they told me I was on the TV putting my umbrella up, if I remember correctly you were sat next to me at that time.
I've had a request from those using Firefox to shorten the game threads because their software dosn't cope with threads over 150 it seems.
in order to comply with this i'm going to try and halve the reports of four day games and provide threads and reports for the two halves seperately.
To do that I have to close one and refer people to the other which I'm now going to do. If you want to comment on the Durham game during Day 4 please use the other game thread.
My "sawn off" remark was a response to Jim's post, and what your colleague said about the other two dismissals.
I'm still sat in the office, so don't take my word for anything!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:29:17:10:00 by Frome Exile.
We were all set to go to Taunton when no 1 grandson wanted a lift to Tavistock. so husband set off to Devon, and I settled down with my laptop, I have thoroughly enjoyed the commentary it is most professional in fact better than a lot I have listened to Well done to everyone
if we do lose this...i reckon the most damaging part of the game will have been the dropped catches. Against the team that will undoubtably be big contenders for the title who we've alowed one of our best players in recent years to join, we put them in to bat and then after a good fight back to have them 119-3 we let them off the hook repeatedly. Ok the batting wasn't great but there were obviously a few crummy decisions and you can't expect them to be great all the time. In balance we desrerve to lose but i remain hopeful that a better effort tonight and some rain may rescue us....
These burger jokes you are talking about in response to the ct. Mustard B.Onions dismissal: I assume they included mention of the keeper accepting the chance "with relish"!
Good post,Fiddlesticks.
The dropped catches were key the outcome of this game,had we held on to them we'd have put them out for a much lower score.
We didn't so we suffered,nobody to blame but ourselves.
As it is we suffered at the hands of some very good bowling,some very poor batting and some pathetic Umpiring.
Like England in Jamaica,we sometimes get these freak scores.
It's happened before and it'll happen again.
Get our heads down now and hope we can hold on.
If we can't we just move on to the next match and pray Andrew Caddick can get fit soon.
No point in beating ourselves up over it,these things happen.
That's why we love cricket so much.
Who is making burger jokes,FE?
Is Jim Davidson amongst us somewhere?
I guess once again we gave the impetus to the opposition. What is most disappointing for me, is that our England hopefuls and any others had a real chance to stake their claim for stardom, but they blew it. Most wannabes don't get many opportunities, so let's hope we can do a lot, lot better 2nd time around.
Very poor today, once the procession started we just didnt seem to know how to stop it.
Langer looked safe and secure, every other looked like rabbits in headlights, poor shots from Zanr and Craig, would have to see tv replay to judge hildys, apparently pete had poor decision but why play the shot anyway, just duck/sway out of the way.
Not going to hold 8-11 culpable in thse circumstances.
For one of the few who stuck it out until 6.35 we looked much better second time around, umpire must have took 10 seconds to give Arul out, did the tv back him up?!
Think we need to be batting at 5pm on Friday to save this one, any help from the weather to get us there would be welcome im sure!
Any idea why JL didnt come in at 3 second innings?
I'd love to have been in that dressing room at close of play, i bet he went nuts!!!
All very well saying its "one of those things", but bet JL didnt say "never mind lads"
I know we did this a few years ago early season, 45-8 dec, but that was at Lords with the ball swinging around corners, this was on a 500 strip at Taunton in the sun.......
Langer sent Hildeth in at No.3 in the second dig, as he wanted to keep a left-hand, right-hand batting combination.
Apart from Onions, who was excellent whoever was batting, the Durham quickies, especially Harmison, found it more difficult to hold their line against left-hand, right-hand.
On JL's tactics do we know why he rotated Pete and Zander in 1 over spells for the first 6/7 overs in Sundays FPT game, i couldnt work that one out at all, not that it didnt work necessarily just didnt understand at the time...
I was out all day so didn't catch the score until 5.00. O dear. At least it is higher than oour lowest score against Durham. Mrs GM says she thought that Onions bowled superbly and agrees that such a flat batting track at Taunton should have something doen about it!!!
Pretty shocking stuff, Blackwell must be laughing his head off. To concede our customary 500 in the first innings and then get skittled is beyond embarassing.
Myimpression was the pitch was (deliberately) a little greener than usual. Onions didn't do much more than bowl straight and get the ball to grip a little. Trescothick just missed a straight one. Caddick in his prime would have loved the surface.
How we are in a situation where three fast bowlers are injured and one is on loan in the second game of the season is beyond me.
I liked what I saw with young Stiff,that boy has a future.
I'd give him a good run in the team,let him settle down and find his rhythm.
The bowling after lunch on day one by our lads was excellent,if we'd have caught a few,like we normally do then the game would look a lot different.
We got skittled,we haven't played well.
It doesn't make us a bad team,we need to look at areas we were poor in and make sure they don't happen again.
These things happen,it's cricket.
How were we possibly skittled out on this pitch that regularly concedes 500 in the first innings KT? The 'road' perhaps not as much of a 'road'? Or is it just that we are facing quality bowlers who can get the most out of this pitch - as our quality bowlers can....hmmm
This variable argument is wonderful. However I do have to concede that Steffan should be back and I am now worried that he hasn't been called back.
Stiff has to get his radar a hell of alot better tuned to have a future FE but he has some potential IF he can do that.
Genuine question, Grockle (you've seen them both in the flesh this year and I haven't): is Stiff's radar significantly worse than Turner's?
Figures would suggest they're similar in this respect.
Bowl well on this pitch and you'll get rewards,both teams have proved this.
Bowl badly and you'll get punished.
Just look at our bowlers figures,Pete and Charl bowled well consistently whilst the others didn't.
Onions and Harmison did what was required and what you'd expect from bolwers of their quality and experience.Nothing fancy,they bowled a good line and length and at good pace.
At times our bowling looked like the attack of a club team,wayward medium up and downers.
I'm just glad Davies isn't playing,the way we played we wouldn't have reached 50 if he had.
If you are referring to Somerset's first innings performances with both bat and ball, then I would have to agree with your statement, Frome Exile.
Quote - Grockle:-
"However I do have to concede that Steffan should be back and I am now worried that he hasn't been called back."
That's another variable argument isn't it?
Although Stiff is only here on a 2 month trial, it's a bit ironic that we let Steffan go on loan to Kent, which is one of Stiff's former counties.
I said here on 11th. March – “I learnt something of David Stiff when he was involved with the England under 19 set - up, and recall that his radar was often way off target. Sadly, wides and no - balls were far too commonplace.”
As I have not seen at first hand any of the current game could anyone who has, express their opinion as to whether my view of Stiff from a number of years ago is now a thing of the past.
I was surprised personally that Somerset signed him, but they may well even now have made a shrewd move. Perhaps too early to assess just yet.
I suspect we'd have called Steff back if we hadn't had Thomas and Stiff waiting in the wings, each worth a try at least, esp after the Cardiff game - it's not as if the cupboard was totally bare.
Stiff has shown real promise,when he gets it right he looks dangerous.
I'd give him a proper run in the first team,build his confidence and give him a chance to sort his radar out.
He's a lad I've been following for a few years after rave reviews from friends on another website,his problems since are well documented.
He is a long,long way from being the finsished article.
Well worth a chance though.
I wasn't, Clarence, but if you'll permit the addition of the words "in this match" after "first innings performances" then I would, in turn, most certainly concur.
Don't hang around people. there's gonna be no more play today...I got it from the executive producer of SKY so it must be true!! Seems he had a chat with the umpires!!
Let's get things a little in perspective. If we had held our catches they would have got about 300, irrespective of our bowling.They would have been about 130 for 5 and at that score anything could have happened (take out Benkenstein and Muchall-whose dad incidentally was my GP) If a couple of umpiring decisions had gone our way and Banger hadn't got the ball he did, we could have staggered to 150. Our second innings batting so far has been proper Taunton type Somerset batting. We had two bad days- it happens. Depending on weather and batting we could come out with 6 points as against Durham's 12 which would would be a total travesty but we have everything to play for today and we may look back at the end of the season and decide that today was the most important day of the season. I like Steff a lot but his figures for Kent last time out were nothing special and we have to look at Stiff if we think he's got something.
This attack of Harmison and Onions is worth watching,they really are brilliant.
Harmison needs to playing for England,problems and all.
See sense before it's too late.
Craig facing Thorp,everything very tense.
Craig dances down the track and smashes Thorp back over his head,over mid off and out of the ground.
What a shot,what a shot at this stage of the game.
Skipper has a word with him.
I think he said well done.
That's the 400 up.
Langer pads up to Blackwell,and with an appeal so loud the good folk of Minehead will have gone deaf Umpire Kettleborough says not out.
It's heart stopping stuff.
We dropped catches in their knock,a few bowled very badly though Pete and Charl were excellent.
We then just got blown away by the Onion whirlwind,he bowled beautifully,as did Harmison and we simply couldn't play him.
A few decisions were poor but we can't hide behind the fact that we were second best.
We've batted surperbly today,and yesterday between the showers.
Caddy should be back in about a week,Ben got injured in the warm up on Sunday.
Steff is not back,though many feel he should be.
I always talk to myself,Both.
Agreed about Zander too,LoL,he has looked very rusty.
Hats,shoes,socks,trousers and vests off to Craig.
An absolutely amazing knock,this must be his finest.
Given the context of this match his innings,supported by the boss has been one of real beauty.
If we save this these lads deserve the freedom of Taunton.
Stunning stuff.
I've been trying to keep across things this afternoon, but events in Mexico have rendered me too busy to comment until now.
Agreed Jim that this is almost certainly Craig's most significant and impressive innings to date. well played young man!
I meant to say that I can hear you loud and clear, too!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:01:16:40:37 by Frome Exile.
It's also having a pretty peculiar effect on your spelling sir.
I've got a question for all those who said (when Blackwell signed for Durham) that they were hoping that Blackwell was going to bowl Langer first ball. How do you feel at the moment? Nervous that Somerset might get a draw, or nervous that they might lose?
Have we got enough overs to surpass their first innings score for fewer wickets down?
Would that be
a) some degree of moral victory?
b) a significant morale boost?
c) enough to prove that the first knock was an aberration?
I doubt, FE, that professional players would take any succour at all from passing their first innings total for fewer wickets down. I think the only way our players will take anything from this is if the draw is actually salvaged.
Otherwise it will be a demoralising, 2 point loss.
'When does Neil Edwards get a game? (given that ZDB has scored 10 in three innings so far).
I'm not convinced by Suppiah as an opener and would have'
I'd put Neil back at the top of the order, LoL.
As for Zander, you may recall he looked pretty dreadful at this time last year, too. When you and I were on hand at Whitgift he kept nicking everything through the slips, and that was after what had been a poor start to his season, elsewhere. But he did come good not long after that, and he does have one-day runs under his belt in both games so far this season, so I would persist with him for the time being.
Langer's knock has typified everything the cricket world has come to expect of a player of his ability.
When he came to the wicket this morning we were staring down the barrel of a gun,a wicket then and we would have lost by an innings.
He has batted with class and authority,he has moved around the wicket effortlessly,almost gracefully playing shots of the highest order whhilst watching over his young charges at the other end like a tank commander moving his troops around the battlefield.
We owe the man our highest praise,he has saved us from a humiliation in our own back yard.
Craig,Marcus and James have also shown why they too are top quality players,surely International honours await the younger lads sooner rather than later.
Durham have fought well,Blackwell has shown us that he is still a good player,but I for one don't think he has improved significantly from where he was last season.
Onions and Harmison are class,different class.
We need to sort our front line bolwing out pretty sharpish if we are to be in with a shout of the Championship.
An excellent match from first to last ball.
Great cricket,high quality fare.
Done Finished Sorted!! SKY again knew in advance but who cares we've pulled our thingies out of the fire and got out of jail.
Well done Justin Langer captain's innings and well played to our other centurions plus Peter Trego who played an uncharacteristic but no less important innings at the end.
Sorry for the monotone but when there is just you there is just you!!
Night all!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:01:18:00:37 by Grockle.
Rather surprised that they gave up quite so early and didn't maybe give Onions and Harmy a quick blast. Hat-Tricks do happen and you never know. Would we have been comfortable defending 30 off 2 ? Not completely ;-(
Still a good result in the circumstances! Well batted in the 2nd dig!
I posted this morning that today could be the most important day of the season. I think that could well be true. We have let Durham have only 6 points more than us rather than 20 and we have regained our self respect.Remember those wonderful innings from MT JH JL CK and PT when we see the final table in September. Today was far more exciting than 20/20
I have just caught up on all the post today and I would like to congratulate you all on keeping going.
Jim your humour today has been fist class.
I would like to go on record in saying that this season so far Justin Langer’s batting has been the best I have seen him bat, and long may it continue.
Wouldn't it be nice to see a great 'winning' performance on Sky sometime. It's great to have the cameras there and add's a little something, but we rarely do well in front of the media.
It's also a huge bonus to have our 'own' commentator, providinga sort of interactive service without pressing the red button.
Poor 1st innings but showed great character to bat out for a draw, what chance us doing that 3 seasons ago when 4 down at lunch??
Great effort JL, different class this week.
Hilarious when Onions tryed giving him the verbals, Langer 100+ tests, Onions 0, JL saw him off a treat, great!!!
That's something that kept on going through my mind too,WSM fan.
Maybe it was because it was Durham and the memories of that infamous game that kept springing to mind but comparisons have to be drawn.
Prior to the Langer/Hurry era we would have folded quicker than a pack of cards in a Las Vegas casino.
We all know what we were like,it was distressing for all of us.
They showed real guts yesterday and today,proper fight.
I was proud of them all,they were all heroes.
Langer is the master,a legend.
Marcus is not far behind.
And if young Craig continues to show form like he did today then we'll be mentioning his name in the same breath very soon.
Brilliant.
Yep, i feared for a post lunch collapse but they all did the job superbly.
Must say im glad we never got as far as Banks, as 8-11 v Harmy and Onions may not have lasted long.
Hope this was JL's motivation and he and Craig ground it out superbly.
Surprised how Harmy wasnt used past about 3pm but guess his figures show he wasnt a huge threat anyway.
Lets move on to Bath monday now, good forecast at present so lets make it 3/3 in FPT.
Who they were bowling may have been due at times because of the over rate.
That at times was erratic, when the opening bowlers had their long bowl at the start of the innings it was saying +1 for ages, and we said at the time it wasn’t changing then it change to +2 after a long time.
Then Blackwell was on and oddly enough it went up to +3, and then after a break in play in went back to ‘0’.
yes how it went from +3 before tea to zero straight after confused the MT stand members.
All i can think is umpires gave them compensation for 'some' stoppage beyond their control?!
The many strangled pointless appeals and hands on heads wouldnt have helped.
Would also be interested if tv proved our thought that a "four" from CK beyond point ran to the boudary, (down to new Somerset stand just up from MT stand) Stoneman chased it, it hit the board, with his hand on the board however he picked it up, threw in and didnt signal four, it seemed clear as day to us, did tv suggest 4 anyone?
That boundary would have normally been referred by the umpire automatically other times, and it wasn’t until the crowd shouted out that he did refer it.
Our poor attack was taken for the usual 500 at our batsmen in the first innings were taken apart by a vastly superior attack nurtured in conditions that encourage their development.
We returned to business as usual in the second innings, cheap runs with no hope of victory.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha - brilliant KT do you do weddings?
It would be really scary if you were being serious but we all know you're posting for effect most of the time now.
But a good belly laugh is always a good start to a weekend.
Didn't see any cheap runs being plundered by Pete Trego. Did see a good spinner versus new batsman duel though.
Saw a class batsman taking on a good young prospect who bowled on Day 4 the way he bowled halfway through Day 2 as well.
Saw some Somerset loose stuff give away runs and some poor fielding give them about 150 more runs than they should have got - must be a usual part of a Taunton first innings as well though can't remember that commonality.
Then again I only watched every ball so what do I know?
We cant win and dominate every single match we play.
We have to be realistic, we have an aging attack and a very good batting wicket at Taunton.
Whilst our bowling or feilding werent great Tuesday the way things went after lunch that day on aother day it could have been 200-7 at tea.
Many "supporters" seem so keen to knock us at the slightest mistake.
2 draws and 2 FPT wins to me mark a goo start to the season.
Sure id have liked us to look more threatening bowling wise but i dont see us stearollering 20 wickets against anyone this season.
We have a top 7 to match any in the country on paper, if we can have a bit of luck with the toss on nice days our best chance is to set big 500+ first innings totals and put pressure on that way.
Lets all try and be positive, too many are quick to forget where we were at the end of the 2006 season...
I haven't read much here or anywhere else about Hildreth's innings, but it sounds to me as though it was a great exercise in self-discipline (and was critical to our survival). He can't score brilliant triple centuries in every match, but if he can score at a slower pace and hugely reduce the risk of defeat in a potentially dangerous situation, then he's as good as some of us have been saying for years.
And Trego's self restraint was also admirable - almost in the league of our very own KT.
You're spot on WSM fan a very fair assessment.
This was a cracking good game of cricket,highly competitive and entertaining.
Sadly we have some fans who just like to criticise everything the lads do.
That's their prerogative of course.
Just don't expect us all to agree with them.
I missed a good chunk of Hildreth's innings yesterday,LOl.
We had the nurses here and they wanted to talk to me.
Very irritating.
James did very well,he dug in and didn't ever look like getting out.
Not even when he was out did he look like getting out,he played on to a cutter from Thorp,he was very unlucky.
It's obvious that the likes of Trescothick and Langer offer invaluable experience and support for our younger players.
Our second dig was a proper team effort,really heartwarming and encouraging.
Don't your nurses know that the T20 season is almost upon us and that you'll be free for day after day? I note that there is almost a month between our next two CC games, which is a shame and a scandal.
Stunning pictures,Mike.
They are all superb but I love the one of Craig dispatching Onions into the stands.
If only we could hear the sound of the ball coming off the bat when it happened,a sort of scratch and listen.
It was sweeter than a bag full of sugar coated marshmallows,it just went "ping" as the ball sailed merrily away into the green seats.
2 interesting things from today, both from Langer and both verbal. I was delighted that every time an interviewer was talking about hundreds JL always mentioned the Hildreth knock and his talent. He was right. That innings was probalbly better than his 300. The other was his frequent references to his pink Somerset helmet. His is a different colour and shape.Any body know why?
Great result in the circumstances, confirming we have the 'character' to fight back.
Really don't know what possessed us in the first innings (is Onions really that good, or did we flatter him ?), but we fought back magnificently. As someone who has been critical of JL, I have to admire his grit & determination on days like this.
Questions remain as to our ability to take 20 wickets, but our batting has at least confirmed it can deliver what it promises.
At the very worst, we should be a darned hard side to beat this year.
Onions in the first innings?
He was excellent,we didn't have a clue how to play him.Marcus did a spell on Sky today and admitted they were not prepared for what he had to offer,he felt they should have perhaps done a bit more homework.
No problems second time around though,they appeared to be trying to bowl a much fuller length which suited the boys a lot more.
When they put it in that "corridor"on the second day we struggled as badly as the score suggests.
As some of us said at the time though,these things do happen occasionaly,it was a freakish performance.
In general, absolutely not. His record attests to that.
However, those that were there do seem to say that he bowled really well in the first innings here, so fair play to him.
A great escape duly completed. Very, VERY excited about Craig (though fearful he will be taken from us soon). Excellent stuff from most of the others, too.
But what about the decision to field first (again)?
I understand some catches went down, but I thought I read they were after we got them to 119 for 3 (from about 100 for 0). Did we bowl badly first up? Did they bat brilliantly? Was there just nothing in the wicket? Is Langer going to go on inserting?
Given that most of us would agree that bowling is not, at Taunton at least, our stronger suit, would we not be better trying to put runs on the board first? Or was this one of those pitches where they had ordered Mr Frost to make it damp to start?
Finally, I would like to see Jonah recalled, sharpish. Get the man with the huge heart back out there in the bowling attack.
i'd have to guess that, as well as Onions bowled in that first innings, we were probably guilty of at least some complacency, too, having not been remotely challenged by a pop-gun Warks attack and having also smashed Kent's reserve attack.
Banger apparently said something to the effect of we should have prepared more thoroughly.
AG Is Onions that good, Grizzly?
In general, absolutely not. His record attests to that.
Generally agree, AG, (and from everything I've read he was helped significantly to the figures he got here by some of our guys and by the men in the coats!) but if he couldn't get his dander up on the day he got the England call he was never going to, was he. I think the selection of Onions and the non-selection of Harmison may have had a psychological effect in that first innings. Was our preparation a bit Harmison-focussed and did the sudden shift in emphasis to Onions unsettle confidence? It shouldn't have, of course, but it does seem too much of a coincidence to be altogether disregarded.
Banger's comments you report may indicate some mileage in that theory?
ah - interesting, FE. I'm in the far East so had no idea that Onions had been called up - is it a full call-up for the Tests, or is it the ODIs?
As for Banger's comments, I hasten to add that that was something that, I think, I read on this board. I.e that another poster said that Banger had made comments to that effect. Either that or it was on the 'other,' site, since they and cricinfo are the only places I have looked on.
I don't recall Onions being particularly devastating in Durham's first game vs Yorks? Do we know why he was suddenly called up (if it was after our first innings, I could understand it more!) but, evidently, it was not.
p.s. what price Craig batting at five in the CC side within a matter of weeks? And then possibly even four if JL wants to either open or give the young guys their head by dropping down the order himself?
Onions has been in and around selection for about 18 months. He's been named in the 12 for the first WIndies Test and will almost certainly start. The announcement was made prior to the start of play on Day 2.
He took a five-fer against Yorks which included Vaughan.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:02:08:40:00 by Frome Exile.
Incidentally, Albion helmets are manufactured from coloured plastic whereas most other brands are covered with coloured fabric. The resultant colour difference is most noticeable in the redder colour ranges.
Most teams, both domestic and international, feature users of all brands, as players have their preferences.
This photo shows Langer going out to bat in an Albion with Matt Hayden wearing a Masuri.
None of our conspiracy theorists have mentioned the excellent body langage between Langer and Blackwell at the end. Copious pats on - not stabs in - the back.
The relationship between Blackie and Trego over the tense final hour was even more entertaining. They just couldn`t stop grinning at each other, despite the intensity level of the cricket.
They did appear to be enjoying it though the look on Pete's face was a treat when a huge appeal went up from Blackwell and his Durham chums just after Pete came in.
The comments Banger made appear on an earlier post,FE.
He was quite honest about it and it did give an insight into why we were blown away in the first knock.
Do not take anything away from the Durham bowlers in the first innings,they were stunning.
Likewise take nothing away from our lads knock in the second innings.
They didn't suddenly start playing on a different track,there was plenty there which rewarded good play.
As much as I like Arul I think that Niel,as suggested earlier has to open in our next CC match.
Zander looked rusty but as AG suggested,this is how he started last season before suddenly exploding into form.
It was a fantastic game of cricket.
A few senior players likened it to Test match cricket in its intensity and quality.
And they know a lot more about the game than me.
Think Arul needs more of a chance yet, as does Zander.
I do like Neil and Tres opening but Arul has got his chance and need a few more games before we dtch him again. His bowling does also give him the edge there.
I too noted the good humour between JL and IB, they are both big boys now, guessing they have put their differences (and there were BIG differences) aside and both getting on with new seasons, good to see.
Did the Times mention that the third day was destroyed by rain and that the weather made the bowlers bowl on the fourth day NOT the pitch?
We would not have survived against that bowling attack for TWO days so this was a result pitch and the result was rain affected.
No one knows what would have happened had we held our catches on the first day rather than providing our "usual 500 run first innings". They wouldn't have got to 500. They got there through OUR inconsistency not because of the pitch.
As I've personally said somewhere. You don't win at Taunton by relying on the last day. You have to play well all four days and that's how it should be IMHO.
The pitch offered movement on the first day - we didn't utilise it.
The pitch offered something on the second day - they did
The pitch offered something on the last day- the batsmen had learned their lessons and we have good batsmen.
Day Four was good cricket - no boring move to a draw as some of our perennial "supporters" talk about with unusual relish.
It was bat against ball and ability against ability. Marcus won, Justin won, Craig won. Hildreth and Onions was a score draw. Zander lost and Pete v Ian was a real treat for about an hour.
I had a good day. Then again I wasn't looking for failure and I'm not sure what the Times correspondent was watching.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:02:12:07:08 by Grockle.
"None of our conspiracy theorists have mentioned the excellent body langage between Langer and Blackwell at the end. Copious pats on - not stabs in - the back. "
I would strongly suspect that both guys are enormously happy to no longer have the other guy as a 'problem' in their sporting lives.
I think it was something that needed to happen. The joy Langer showed when he hit 100 was above his usual level. I'm sure it wasn't totally because it came off a Blackwell ball but it sure helped. They had a good tussle and while they'll probably never be bosom buddies they at least seemed to respect each other as cricketers.
When Justin came off at the end of the game the Durham team clapped him off including Mr IB. Peter Trego and him had a real good workout. Overall it was a good visit for everyone.
Well you may think there are digs going on Both but I don't believng there have been any.
The whole thing was positive for all the characters as far as I can see. It was a storm in a teacup and all came out with something.
Talking to Blackie at the end of Day 3 he was happy and relaxed and that certainly seemed to be the view at the end of yesterday. Justin had saved a game with the not inconsiderable help of some of his young batsmen and Ian looked the most likely to get a wicket at the end of it.
So it is OK then, Botham, for some posters on this site to spend the second half of last season, and the entire winter, dumping time and time again on the Somerset captain, and at times the Director of Cricket, for allegedly undermining and eventually driving away someone they seem to view as the greatest cricketer ever to play the game.
But when the evidence is before their eyes, at the very first meeting this season, that two very fine cricketers don`t actually appear to hate each other`s guts, anyone daring to record this welcome fact is told to `move on - no more digs`.
If the conspiracy theorist cap fits ...............
urrrm he may have a point Mr B. I'm not sure they love each other CJM but it certainly was better after this game.
If you're a professional cricketer you have to appreciate it when someone takes your best ball over the top and goes to a hundred and you also have to appreciate that it was hard work getting there because the bloke at the other end was bowling at you. Real professionals appreciate the skills, show respect and get on with it.
Think we saw that. Maybe they weren't the only ones who learned something.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:02:18:19:27 by Grockle.
They were merely professional as one would expect. Who knows what Blackie really feels? Employment contracts often prevent repercussions.
You acknowledge that Blackie is a fine player, so why wasn't he selected in last season's one day games , when we frequently played as if we desperately needed him?
Sadly, some of the other decisions by our management team are looking a bit suspect, but hopefully they won't be found out.
I've moved on, but you stay on your soapbox, if you like.
Your view hasn't altered one inch as those comments prove...you just don't seem to want to talk about it any more. Is that because the animosity that you thought was there wasn't.
Had it actually been there would you have taken your jumper off and shown your 'Blackwell' Somerset shirt perhaps in order to "support" your "side" with the TV here?
The issue seems to be over because there doesn't seem to be one. Ian has moved on. Justin has moved on. Whether you or others move on or not is pretty immaterial
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:02:18:51:33 by Grockle.
Had it been warmer, as I said on the Durham site (as you well know!) I'd have worn it with pride. I didn't agree with the decision, I still don't but I support Somerset and Blackie.
I don't agree with the management's decisions as to which players to keep and which to bring in, but as the majority of your readers listeners do, I usually keep quiet, but today was obviously a day to have some debate.
Mind you, this site used to be objective, but now it seems that as soon as a poster has the temerity to criticise anything, they get brow beaten until they fall back into line.
It's wonderful to see so many of our batsmen hitting form and Langer's batting, this week has been eggceptional, but how are we going to take 20 wickets in a match?
The only reason to make any statement about an edit is if that edit is made AFTER a reply to it is made. (Are you 'Clarence Parker' in diguise Mr B?). Who told you different and when?
I'll make the same statement to you as I posted to him when he also implied it.
You want to question my integrity in editing my texts? Do it OUT IN THE OPEN and back it up rather than simply implying it.
Blam! In comes the 'democracy' card the moment your statements are questioned. Every time your view is not agreed with the words 'bullying' or 'brow beating' tend to creep in.
I personally am all for 'objectivity' that is why subjective statements used as fact gets up my nose.
You started this particular part of the debate. Vigourous debate needs a bit of fortitude I would suggest and most people on here are quite capable of fighting their corner if they have a corner to fight.
I have no idea what you post on the Durham site unless I happen to go past it in my own reading there (which is minimal I have to admit). I only know you had your talisman on because someone from the Gimblett end mentioned it in conversation at the OP bar. I think I commented on you wearing it at some point on one of the sites but no idea which and how I knew is also pretty irrelevant isn't it?
Wear it over your jumper when it's cold dude - that's what I do with my Laraman tribute shirt.
If you want to state your view then please do. But don't then preach about what others should do simply because they are talking about an alternative perspective.
CJM can make a point without being accused of 'digging' and if he is accused then he has every right to reply. If you can't stand the heat then why don't you simply stop coming into the kitchen with a blowtorch?
Your diverting last point is irrelevant to the discussion. Our ability to take 20 wickets in an innings would still have been the same issue had Ian still been here.
Want some objectivity? Omari Banks took 2 wickets in 15 overs of bowling for us in this game. Ian took 1 in 21 overs. He was more economical but less incisive it seems.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:02:20:01:34 by Grockle.
Apart from Grockles match report this is the best I have read outside of this web site.
Extract.
Durham threw everything into trying to prize out nine wickets, but the pitch held together as they so often do on this ground. However, it wasn't as flat as some that have been produced and the quicks continued to get bounce throughout the game while Ian Blackwell found turn in the closing stages. A high-quality spinner would have been fascinating to watch and was about the only skill missing from this match.
Too true Mike. But Ian kept them wondering, especially Peter who had some "good fun" during the last bit. Someone reporting for cricinfo musthave been there and watched what happened!! Amazing,
Calm down, calm down, no-one's questioning your integrity. I just recall you grumbling about frequent / multiple edits and am just reminding you of that fact.
Is it possible for all users to see a list of members, as I was just wondering how many actually post on a regular basis. I just checked a long thread about a recent match and there were only 23 posters, which is quite surprising given the record number of hits the site is receiving.
My point about 20 wickets has nothing to with the slow bowlers. I was really surprised we didn't sign a strike bowler, given Phillips and Caddick's recent injury problems. We have no cover. Hopefully messrs Stiff / Turner will come to the party soon.
The comments about our poor bowling in the first hour on Tuesday were pretty worrying, as the same was often said last season.
I wouldn't dream of mentioning the democracy card, again, to a self-confessed autocrat.
I rarely come into the kitchen nowadays, as I realise my controversial viewpoints are generally unwelcomed and the there's little point in being inflammatory.
I'm surprised my Blackie jumper was mentioned in the bar, as at no point did I remove my coat, but I would always wear it with pride, in tribute to my hero, as I would with Botham, who also played for Durham. I see no conflict of interest supporting Blackie and Somerset.
However, if you feel I am winding you up, I'll duck out of the debate, as I wish you no malice.
Edited to add 'un' to welcolmed!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:03:06:37:26 by Botham.
I must stress that my views about being able to take 20 wickets have nothing to do with whether or not Blackie was playing.
I just feel our attack lacks a potent strike bowler, as it did many times last season, so I was really shocked that we ddn't sign such a player. Maybe we tried but suitors we're prepared to work hard at Taunton.
You know full well Grockle that Botham and I are not one and the same person, so will you kindly apologise to both of us on that front?
And furthermore, what is it that you claim to have posted to me on another thread? I am sure that many contributors here will be most interested to know - as indeed I will.
I responded to a posting of yours, by which time you had previously gone back to amend it. That having been done, my reference to your 4th. and last paragraphs did not make sense, because you had amended the structure of your posting.
That is why I sent another one - line post to say that I had noticed your own editing.
You claimed to have “cleaned it up and expanded the points where you thought it necessary.”
Is that "OUT IN THE OPEN" enough for you?
As you appear to have problems with an increasing number of posters to this site, perhaps you can explain to all and sundry why so many people seem to fall foul of your role on here, and then perhaps we can all move on.
You gave this thread the heading "Give me your innermost thoughts" - is that what you really want or encourage?
I'm afraid I don't appreciate comments about edits based around my posts at about the same time irrespective how you justify them.
If you don't wish me to be offended then maybe in future you'll make your reasons for the comment clearer and in no way related to a debate currently going on - too co-incidental for me I'm afraid.
Especially as another poster with roughly the same views made almost exactly the same comment within the last week.
The comment about 'autocracy' taken entirely out of context gives me a window into your thinking I'm afraid Botham rather than what you post.
I see no reason why the number of posters should be an issue. Make your own list if you want to as it's so small. It isn't a requirement that people post to register from my point of view. If you want to know how many unique addresses were used to log onto the site last month it was 4,971. Forum's are notorious for having more readers than posters and "hits" does not refer to users
The jumper must have been mentioned because you'd mentioned it I really have no opinion as to why it was mentioned it was your issue how I knew of it not mine.
Your comment about the nature of your 20 wicket point simply strengthens my point about it being irrelevant to the discussion going on so thanks for that.
Clarence Parker You know full well Grockle that Botham and I are not one and the same person, so will you kindly apologise to both of us on that front?
No insult to apologise for CP but no intention to offend either of you it just seemed a little ironic to me that the same suggestion should come so closely behind yours
And furthermore, what is it that you claim to have posted to me on another thread? I am sure that many contributors here will be most interested to know - as indeed I will.
"The Kentmen Cometh" CP. I posted at 22:04 on the 26th. I extended that post at 22:14. You posted a reply at 23:28 (an hour after that edit) and then inferred at 23:46 that I had done something to my 22:04 post. I asked you to make your accusation out front at 23:46 - I cleaned that one up at 9:00 the next morning but it made no difference because this is the first comment I've had from you on that since then.
Hope that clarifies the point
I responded to a posting of yours, by which time you had previously gone back to amend it. That having been done, my reference to your 4th. and last paragraphs did not make sense, because you had amended the structure of your posting.
But that must have been because you misread the post CP NOT (as you imply) because I had changed it after your post - edits are timed and impossible to alter. IF I had amended afterwards then it would have stated that in the time. Apologies from whom Clarence?
That is why I sent another one - line post to say that I had noticed your own editing.
You claimed to have “cleaned it up and expanded the points where you thought it necessary.”
It is important to emphasise that all that editing happened ONE HOUR BEFORE you replied to it. NOTHING happened after your reply at all. I 'claimed' nothing I did what I said I did and I resent the implication you make
Is that "OUT IN THE OPEN" enough for you?
Yep thanks. Hope these explanations are also OUT IN THE OPEN enough for you as well
As you appear to have problems with an increasing number of posters to this site, perhaps you can explain to all and sundry why so many people seem to fall foul of your role on here, and then perhaps we can all move on.
I fall out with you at the moment CP - or you fall out with me who knows?. KT occasionally but he has a much more flexible view of things. I've fallen out with Botham semi regularly for 10 years. No others that I know of.
My role on here is to police others at the occasional times that is needed and post myself when I feel the need to comment. I police because it's my site and there's no-one else to do it. Most of the time I have no ned to do anything. The people on here mostly self-police and respect each other - it's a mutual thing and I'm very grateful for it
I don't need to justify myself to the population because they are free individuals who can choose to post here or not without any coercion from me. If my manner offends then people can tell me. If I agree then I will apologise. If the majority agree they will also tell me and I will abide by that view. If I don't agree then the issue becomes one for the poster who is still welcome to post but may feel this forum is not for them.
You gave this thread the heading "Give me your innermost thoughts" - is that what you really want or encourage?
The title has always been one I encourage but just because you state them doesn't mean others have to agree with them - I'm not the only one you are falling out with at the moment I would venture to suggest.
I will however fight my corner should I feel a personal attack and I will confront implications if they suggest I am dishonest about what I write. I stand by what I say and I will not accept implications that suggest otherwise. I expect honesty from posters and they should expect it from me.
You want to accuse me then back it up. If I'm in the wrong then I'll say sorry. If not I will require the accusation to be withdrawn. I now require that from you Clarence unless you check my information and find it faulty - which is always possible
Don't remember 'complaining' Botham. Just said it was irrelevant to the point and you confirmed it.
I've never stopped you or anyone else posting irrelevancies and have no intention of making any such attempt - especially to that degree in your case :-)
Edited to emphasise four words!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:02:22:35:22 by Grockle.
Thanks for that Clarence glad my 'diatribe' was clear.
I am assuming that you have in fact withdrawn your accusation that I edited a post after you had replied to it.
You only need to reply to this if I have misread your last post. Unless of course you feel the need to for another reason.
I understand that factual information can be a pain so that's it as far as I am concerned.
However. Apologies made with the good grace to accept an error are usually better received. One's that are simply hooded insults tend not to achieve the objective.
You'll need to be careful with that fine line in future. Your opinion of me will have no bearing but I will invoke the rules should it be necessary.
Grockle
I am assuming that you have in fact withdrawn your accusation that I edited a post after you had replied to it.
You only need to reply to this if I have misread your last post. Unless of course you feel the need to for another reason.
You'll need to be careful with that fine line in future. Your opinion of me will have no bearing but I will invoke the rules should it be necessary.
If you are able to provide me (and for that matter other readers to this forum) with unequivocal proof (not just your misguided interpretation) that I made an "accusation that you edited a post after I had replied to it", then I shall be happy to apologise. That applies to both this thread and the one with the heading “The Kentmen Cometh.”
I am confident that I shall not be obliged to do this.
By the way, your diatribe wasn't in the least bit clear; hence my response being what it was.
And as far as the last paragraph of your post is concerned, if it makes you feel better then feel free to "invoke the rules [whatever they may be] should it be necessary", but don't use this forum to publically make veiled threats to me.
It will bring a removal of your posting rights on this site unless you withdraw the implication within the next 48 hours.
If you require a technical statement of why it is impossible then the main SN technical people can give you that. You can also appeal against my decision at the same point.
You have implied that a poster has been dishonest and it will not be tolerated on this site irrespective of whether it is me or anyone else.
Goodnight Clarence.
I hope the day brings some sense but the clock is moving and the ban will come without a withdrawal. I'd closed this issue down you seem to want to open it up again so I have no option but to invoke a moderation decision. Please don't interpret this as a bluff. The threat wasn't at all vieled and you have now crossed a line.
Edited to replace two words - see 'Implication' thread
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:02:23:55:38 by Grockle.
Thanks for the PM Grizz, Much sense there and agreed this issue has very polarised views and heat that could be tempered.
Unfortunately this is not the point of this issue. There is a statement involved from CP;
I responded to a posting of yours, by which time you had previously gone back to amend it. That having been done, my reference to your 4th. and last paragraphs did not make sense, because you had amended the structure of your posting.
This - to me - implies I altered a posting and CP's reply made no sense because of it. That suggests alteration AFTER the reply.
Is that the suggestion? If not withdraw it - simple no harm no foul.
Ref your comment about the timings. Correct sometimes the forum flips between BST and GMT but the WHOLE site does it at one so postings are all altered by the same amount. Even if that was not a case, the alteration took place over an hour before the reply.
It's simple.
Does this poster believe that I manipulated an earlier post to alter the meaning of his reply after he had made it?
If not it is something that should be cleared up and then we get back to important stuff.
If that is what is believed then I will not provide access to someone who questions my integrity to operate fairly with posters on a site that has had no such accusation in its lifetime.
The evidence proves this is not the case. Accept the evidence withdraw the implication or explain your meaning and everything is sorted.
If Clarence believes he does not need to then that is OK as well.
The operator of this site requires that explanation for continued membership but respects the posters right of refusal and to post on other sites so will simply remove access to Grockles but leave the poster's rights on SN untouched besides that.
Not what I want but I will not accept this implied insult to what I see as important and require a withdrawal/explanation of meaning within the next 40-ish hours.
Couple of red seated ones only. Lots of room for your own chairs though but the parking could be a real problem so don't fill up the complete hamper - just light snacks.
Parking will be a problem tomorrow for those thinking of driving. No Rugby pitch parking available I'm afraid. advice seems to be to make use of the park and ride
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:03:12:02:18 by Grockle.
Good to see most of the players getting their form together where they should be doing it too,on the County circuit.
The sooner that IPL nonsense comes to an end the better.
Now young Mr Hughes (99* at tea) is on the verge of his second century of the season in only his third innings (putting him almost in the Hildreth league). He's certainly making the most of his early experience of English wickets, but presumably will have run out of runs by the time The Ashes starts.
Strauss simply carried on where he left off in the Caribbean. It was quite a surprise when he edged a cut on 150. Mind you, I suspect the bowling in the tests won't be quite as friendly as the Leicestershire attack. Hughes seemed quite content to play second fiddle. If he decides to go for it tomorrow it could get messy...
Hughes has duly got his century first thing this morning - that makes two centuries and a fifty in his first three innings in England. There is little doubt he is something special and I'm looking forward to seeing him at the Lord's FPT match on 17th May.
Michael Vaughan was unable to take the field against Worcestershire at Headingley today after injuring his leg in the warm-up before play started.
Already this season a similar fate has befallen Azhar Mahmood and Ben Phillips. Both Mahmood and Phillips are still out, and on none of the occasions was the injury received before the match began, allowing the player to be replaced.
Back to a pint of bitter and a couple of butties before play, I say.
They have to warm up,maybe the method needs to change a little.
A good mate of mine,a Welsh rugby International used to run at least ten miles prior to every game,he felt your muscles needed to be working properly from the first whistle.
I was a pint and sandwich man myself.
The daft sod used to run home too if it was from a fairly close ground.
One of the best tacklers I ever played with.
He'd knock the best into next week.
Steff's form got a bit better it seems. 1 for 61 off 17 overs became no wickets in 9 overs but only 9 runs conceded and 5 maidens in Kent's amazing win. We could do with bowling of that level of tightness.
I wish Steffan every success, but we need a wicket taker, which unfortunately at the moment he's not. It's a shame he can't find some cricket nearer his home and family.
Of course the Kent and Essex game would have found a fine parallel with the Somerset and Durham game if only we hadn't been robbed of two thirds of a day or more by the rain. We would easily have scored 700 and then skittled them on the last afternoon.
Not for the first time against Durham at Taunton we woz robbed.
At least he's getting first class cricket. But it worries me also that he was not called home after the injury to Ben Phillips.
However we need tight bowlers as well as wicket- takers and whether Essex were looking to survive or not Shep there weren't 8 no balls and 5 wides in his spell.
Club has pretty much announced an unchanged team, so as you were from last sunday.
Understand Turner fit again now too and with Caddy playing 2nd xi game mid week we'll soon be back to a fully fit compliment of quickys!
My weekly Sunday sports paper (Sunday Independent), popped through the letter - box earlier this morning.
Brian Rose has a column (amounting in fact to a full page), one part of which today states:-
"FINALLY, this week an update on our injured bowlers.
Andy Caddick has had a scan and an injection in his upper back and won't be back in action for a couple of weeks.
Ben Phillips bowled for the Second XI on Friday after the back spasm he suffered during the Kent game, but Mark Turner is still on the sidelines with a groin strain.
Hopefully, he will be fit in a matter of days."
So there you are. Believe it or believe it not, and on this site I am not usually believed, it would seem.
Anyway, I probably won't be able to tell you what appears in next week's paper, as it would appear that I am going to be banned.
I am really excited about it, because I have never previously been banned from anything in my life.
There's a first time for everything, it would seem.
It was announced six days ago that Caddick recovery will be seven to ten days, so that has already been extended (I was afraid of that).
Mark Turner was having a good work out during the Durham break-in play, he didn’t seem to be any trouble while bowling, and from what Rose said it looks like he is nearly there.
It does depend whether the report in the paper was a late announcement of the news from Rosey at the start of the Durham game or not - as it fits quite closely to what he announced then it probably is. It's a weekly paper isn't it CP?
That would put it in the time frame for Caddy to play in the seconds this week. That would suggest that he would then be involved in the FPT games in mid May because he can't be ready for the Notts CC1 at Trent Bridge and the next one after that is June 6.
Ref the other issue - my action is based on your choice Clarence
If he goes through the mid week run out then he could be in for Scotland next Monday or Warwickshire on the 14th. That will make selection interesting if everyone is fit - who stands down?
Dont think there is an intention to play Caddy in much of the shortstuff this season.
Maybe though it would be a good to give him a run out against Scotland at home
He has to play in the short stuff WSM. There is no longer stuff after next week until the start of June and as a rhythm man he needs some first team overs under his belt.
well we play 11, 14, 16, 17, 20 so good chance he'll get a couple of games.
Think we'd be wise to rotate a bit with our quicks, especially if we keep up our good run and maybe w can even rest if we qualify early...
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