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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:19:09:55:20 by Grockle.

As poster 'product placement' is pretty poor at the start of this season I thought I'd at least give you a thread for the first game of the season.

Help get you all on your way and stop the season's general threads from being bombarded with specifics for the next few days. A bit like the stabalisers on your first bike.

I've taken out about 12 pages of archive this winter.... we can start new threads for new stories people, we have the room again.







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:09:05:25:52 by Grockle.

Grockle why do you have to do that?

I am asking out of curiosity nothing more than that, I do not know what is involved in running a site such as this, I notice that the Middlesex site has 77 pages they don't seem to mind having so many pages!

Come on Mike, we all know the answer to that one.

Immensely encouraging forecast at the present time. Not sure it will be massively warm but looks like it should be bright and dry.

Do we Jim? Please enlighten us all on your theory:-)

Here's why I did it Mike

Because a lot of the stuff is one off bits about this that and the other, Major threads get lost or really difficult to get to because of the way the system loads, page by page. 32 isa whole lot more to work though than 18.

I did let people know I was going to do it and why and asked for comments well before I started during the winter.

My theory....it's because you want to keep things tidy.
What other reason could there possibly be?

Tidy

Absolutely no idea Jim. It's just that Mike didn't seem to be in the know about that so your post to him made no sense unless you had some alternative perspective that he'd forgotten he knew? Just seemed a weird thing to post. Early season for those :-)

JONNY BAIRSTOW will miss the game, and will be out of action for six weeks with a broken finger received in the three-day practice match at Northamptonshire.

It was mentioned a few weeks ago that Bristol Rob might find it difficult to get to Taunton on Sundays. If it would be any help, I can offer him a lift meeting at the Vauxhall garage in Saltford at 9.00 am. If Rob would like this, perhaps he might like to reply on this thread.
Apologies to fellow Grocklees for using the forum for this message.

No apologies necessary, Tops; at least as far as this "Grocklee" is concerned.
If it means Rob can get to HQ, then why should any of us get in the way of that.
No such thing as society??? Pish!!!!

Any chance you could pick me up just outside Swansea on match days please, Tops?

BJ: if you could just hop over to Lhasa, I could see you on to the right bus.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Many thanks Tops.
Sent you a PM.

So Yorkshire definitely without Root and Bairstow. I wonder whether Bresnan will also be rested by England.There batting will certainly not be as strong as it could have been.

There is certainly something to be said for being ignored by England.

Just reading some of the post I missed while at cricket.


Thank for explaining why you do it Grockle, it just look like it was given you more work to do.

I didn't realise that it effected how the site runs.

It doesn't really Mike. It just makes checking back almost impossible. I've kept as many reports and major threads of the time but removed things that were relevant at the time but make little sense now or were very specific to that time and that issue. Without reading everything it was down to making a quick decision but I hope I've kept most relevant stuff.

At least you might have a chance of finding it now which was certainly not the case in the past.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:10:14:07:34 by Grockle.

Yorkshire 12-man squad to face Somerset:

Moin Ashraf, Gary Ballance, Jack Brooks, Andrew Gale (capt), Andrew Hodd (wk), Alex Lees, Adam Lyth, Steve Patterson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Ryan Sidebottom, Kane Williamson.

According to Yorkshires official website.

With Gale, Ballance and Williamson, it still looks a fair batting line-up, even without Root and Bairstow.

Even with no Root, Bairstow or Bresnan, Yorks look to have a pretty strong squad.

Good. No chance for "but they had a weakened team" comments when ee are victorious

Alviro is at the ground.

Best pop down there and tell him he's a few days early, Mike.

if I spend any more time at the ground they will think I live there rather than near by.

I have been in the office twice this morning all to do with my photos.

It may still look strong, but it's illogical, Nailsea, to say that it isn't "weakened" when it obviously is given that the batting line-up with Root and Bairstow would - on paper - be stronger than one without.

But personally, I shall be delighted with a win, regardless.

But the game has never been played "on paper", AGod, has it?

Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale will have a late fitness test on a hip injury that kept him out of this week`s friendly against Northamptonshire.

However, he is expected to play.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:11:12:59:58 by cricketjerry-mouse.

No, Clarence, it hasn't but it's nevertheless fairly obvious that most County sides would prefer to have their England players available to them if possible.

When I last watched Yorkshire in the flesh, Root made a four ball duck and Lyth made a hundred.



Just saying!

Mike you are at the County Ground so much I am surprised you have not yet qualified for an incremental contract.

I think you meant "a incremental" - which is, of course, an anagram of camera in Lent - Baggers.

I was thinking about claiming squatters' rights.

Hibernation is almost over and I'm looking forward to a summer of fun AND success . Come on.........
Appologies these have been mentioned elsewhere here are the links .
BBC somerset season preview
[www.bbc.co.uk]
And interview with JH
[www.bbc.co.uk]

(Think I just heard Tractor at the Masters..come on my Bubba..seems to be working.)

I think AG has been on Grockles so much, he's qualified for an excremental contract.

I am, as always,looking forward to the season - the official start of which will, of course, be LoL's first post which ends "Sixty-six years a Somerset supporter".

14 man squad named. No surprises at all, really. Alex Barrow might be the only guy who might have seriously hoped to be in the squad who isn't actually in it.

The other folks not in the squad are Kirby and Dibble (both injured), Leach and Waller (Dockrell preferred and no chance of more than one specialist spinner being picked), plus Abell who I think is away at University.

So it sort of picks itself then.

Good omen people. The offie I use here has just decided to stock Thatchers. Real cider at the start of the season - I have hope!!

Well this is it! the first day proper of the season.

It was good to get up this morning just before seven with the sun shinning brightly.

Somerset win the toss and field (I never get that correct) and get Yorkshire out cheaply.

Good to see the season back!!

Apparently trego and Dockrell won't be playing. They're playing at Devon for the seconds today instead. Seems strange!!

That would leave the bowling weak Nellie. I would leave jones out and play both overtons

Yep.You're probably right. Batting does look fairly strong all down the order

Good morning all: am I the only one to be wondering why with the weather set fair we have put them in?

What am I missing?

Quote:

Wickham
I am, as always,looking forward to the season - the official start of which will, of course, be LoL's first post which ends "Sixty-six years a Somerset supporter".

r
Quite right, Wickham. The rule is that I do not change my signature until the first competitive ball has been bowled. So let battle commence, even without the mighty Trego.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Shame about the dropped catch, that would have been a wonderful start.
Cold hands.

Quote:

stevecav

Good morning all: am I the only one to be wondering why with the weather set fair we have put them in?

What am I missing?

I don't think that you are missing anything, Stevecav.

It's all down to our captain, I fear.

Strike one...now let's take them apart.

Number two...the deadly Messerschmitt strikes again.

The captain seems to have made a good bowling change

Quote:

Clarence Parker
...It's all down to our captain, I fear.

Well you'd hope so wouldn't you as he has been chosen to make the onfield decisions. Possibly in discussion with VC and seniors

I can see how one person might think putting them in was correct, but surely a 'committee' wouldn't...

I know I've always been a glass half empty sort of person but at 215-4 having stuck them in, I now fear not just for this match but for our season.

Look at our batting line up then look at our bowling line up, look out of the window, then tell me why we fielded....

Anyone know what the score is with Trigger ? Not selected on grounds of not being good enough ?

Was it a green top first thing that prompted the decision to field ?

Curious from afar.

Grizzzly

We have a relatively inexperienced attack out for this game with little variation it would appear.

I too wonder Stevecav.

A long season ahead of us.

After last season's disastrous decisions to bowl, when winning the toss, I too am staggered that we didn't bat. We had the chance to get Marcus in, score big runs and give the whole team confidence.

I fear this decision may have the opposite effect.

Trigger and Dockrell got 8 wkts in second team game between them and tregs is batting at 3. We go in a bowler short then put them in. 4 great decisions and it's only day 1. Oh my goodness

I see their overseas player, who probably only landed yesterday, made a duck.

I wonder whether ours, with at least another day to acclimatise, might make more of a contribution?

Just musing, of course.

As to Trego, I gather he is not quite 100% w.r.t an arm injury.

Very early days I know but have our club learned nothing from last seasons flirtation with relegation ?

To say the least a very bad day at the office - we aint gonna win this one and we know that at 18.00 on day one with a fair degree of certainty.

As CP says a long hard season beckons.

Out of interest as I am far away - is JO injured - nothing on any site anywhere and if not why is he not playing ?

Think JO is 12th man but not a great start to the season. Things can only get better!

I suspect Jove is still not considered fully fit, maybe that applies to Trigger too? I'm sure we will have better days with the ball, Its the batting we need to improve if we are to have a better year.

GIVE ME STRENGTH!!!!!!!


Writing off our chances at the end of our first day of action.


Really.....tell me......why do some of you even bother!?!?!?

You should just thank whatever you hold holy that you're not Essex or Warwickshire fans!!!!

As you'd expect, I agree entirely with FE....it took certain posters less than an hour to criticise the man responsible for leading our season.
Sad.

Trego is with the seconds in Devon.

If anyone reads into my posts any criticism of Tres, it isn't there. He is my all time cricketing hero and will remain so whatever.

It is the decision I question. I am yet to hear anyone come up with a reason we fielded having won the toss. It flies in the face of all conventional cricket wisdom. I am at a loss to understand it.

If there is anyone who can explain the decision please do it, rather than question our frustration with it.

I would imagine the Yorkshire skipper couldn't believe what he heard when he was put in.

Steve, this is a site to support Somerset. Criticism of anything Somerset is not allowed by some.

I, too, love Tres, but some of his decisions leave me bewildered.

We had a real opportunity to be where Yorks are now, but we fluffed our lines and are now in a difficult position to attempt to win from.

One thing that is certain, is that you have to have a thick skin to survive on this forum.

Criticism is fine, botham, provided it is criticism rather than just prejudice. Far too many of the negative posts come from the same tired old sources who would still find fault if we were 400 for 2.

The point is that there is NO WAY to know whether this represents either a good or bad day until they've had a bowl, too.

If you're a SUPPORTER your FIRST INSTINCT should be to SUPPORT, not to deride.

Hi Botham: I don't believe support requires unquestioning loyalty. I want SCCC to win the CC. Being 30 or 40 points off the pace after our first game because of wrong decisions like this isn't going to do it.

My skin is thick enough. I am not going away. I might have to move closer to TA1 in fact.

I would really have preferred to see us 400-5 today with Tres leading the way. We blew the chance, and we may well regret it.

Some don't appear to care about that...

Support does not require unquestioning pessimism either Steve but you'll also get that from some on here.

Botham's criticism of not being allowed to criticise Somerset comes from many years of not learning the concept of balance and having too many personal agenda's to pander to.

It is of course absolute rubbish - read the pages you'll see criticism from many and praise from the same people in other threads - some only see what they want to.

You are welcome to say what you want here. Welcome back Rodders nice to see you are alive and well.

Just be prepared to back it with a little more than just an opinion based on some bias you already have and don't take personal offence if people don't agree with your vision and question it.

Is there a critic who was actually there today that can give us some backup on the reason for the choices etc.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:13:19:50:06 by Grockle.

FE: I haven't seen any derision on this site today.

Questioning doesn't equate to derision.

Please, is there anyone out there who thinks the decision to field was correct? If so, let them stand up and be counted, and explain why.


Telling those of us who think the decision to bowl was wrong, and are prepared to say so, that it means we can't be real supporters is just nonsense.

Has someone suggested a lack of support?

Maybe a reaction that a game is over because we have 4 wickets rather than 8 or all of them at the end of the first day may be a little over the top but who suggested a lack of support?

An assumption that a decision is always an indication of poor Somerset play without any acceptance that another side also plays on the pitch is also possibly a little presumptuous perhaps? Yorkshire having a good day? Hmmm.

Ivo Tennant on Cricinfo suggests there was grass left on the strip at the start of the day.

I'd agree that Tres's decisions to bowl after winning the toss on a clear sunny day often seem odd (to those, like me, hundreds of miles away). However, and especially now we are back to the madness of the heavy roller, I suspect that he thinks, at Taunton, IF we're to get any wickets at all, they're more likely to come on morning 1 than later in the piece - esp as it rarely really turns even on day four.

That has some sort of logic, at least, to me. It doesn't seem to take notice of the concept of scoreboard pressure. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just a vaguely plausible explanation, and I've no idea whether that really is what our skipper is thinking. I would also expect that it is some sort of joint decision between Tres, VC, coach, etc - but with MT having the final say.

Anyway, some of you have already written off this season, so I don't suppose you're bothered.

[www.espncricinfo.com]

Grizzzly

Grockle: 'Why do some of you even bother?' - that says to me the writer thinks 'some of you' aren't supporters.

I appreciate where you're coming from, but the lunch score alone IMHO made it the wrong decision.

I still haven't seen any words justifying putting them in.

My point is simply, can there be any justification?

I don't think anyone has said game over either have they? Just that the game will be very hard to win from here.

I will love it if we win from here. But the decision to bowl first still wouldn't make sense to me, and by the defining silence, not to anyone else either.

I'm further away from you Shep and I also have no idea why the decision was made. However it seems it has to be 'justified' to be correct though the people requiring that also seem to be nowhere near Taunton.

A undeniable reason for the decision may never be forthcoming but until Yorkshire set their stall out on the pitch we know very little.

A weakish bowling attack I have to say - but I suppose you have to go with what you have and you may be right that the captain (with his 'commmittee' or not) may have hopes for more by giving his boys first crack.

Trigger being 'left out' or tested for fitness? Well I don't know which. Dibble definitely not available and Jove probably not being certain either. Steve K not on the park yet.

Would anyone have gone with George?

But it's our batting that will possibly shed the best light on this toss decision and that may be sometime tomorrow so some of us will have to wait to write off the season for a few more hours - just over 22 hours into 2014 for those who have lost count.

I wasn't at the match and was only able to follow the first few overs via the radio commentary. During that time, the Yorkshire commentator said that Yorkshire would have elected to field had they won the toss. That doesn't make it the right decision. But it does suggest that the brains trusts of both sides - who had the advantage over me of actually being at the ground and being able to assess the pitch and conditions - considered that the right course was to bowl first.

Well you can interpret that anyway you want Steve and it seems you will. Asking people why they bother to support a team suggests they support a team to me but what do I know?

You think it was a wrong decision. Some don't.

I've read suggestions on this thread as to why it might have been a decision of more merit. What happened by lunchtime does not always suggest the decision 2 odd hours earlier was wrong. Captains can make the right decision but their players don't execute it correctly or the other side have a good day and put the kibosh on the best laid plans.

We usually wait until someone at the ground gives us a little more information before we write off a game or season some fraction of the way through it but each to his own.

The definitive nature of the statement may be the issue for some. "This was a wrong decision so you 'others' must justify why you idiotically think it was right!"

Maybe someone could ask you to do the same as to why it was wrong?

I don't personally care. I'll wait until both sides have faced balls on the same pitch before I'll comment on a decision some 25% of the way through the game. But please keep asking.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:13:20:36:57 by Grockle.

Out all day at marathon, so heard no commentary.

Said the other week that I thought we had more bowling options than for some time. Still think that. However, I suspect that Gregory and Meschede are the only SCCC bowlers that had sufficient pre-season bowling.... Both Overtons missed time, as did Alf and Trego and Dockrell was away with Ireland. So we probably only have two properly prepped bowlers (who between them took 4 of 5 wickets).

Probably true AG- anyone upset with the effort of Meschede today?

Craig particularly will need a while I would possibly suggest and may not have been here with this responsibility had others been available.

Are some really suggesting that had Pete been fully ready to go he would have been discarded for Craig after the length of his layoff - truly is looking for things where they probably don't even register?

A little bit of light at the end of some long and very dark tunnels for some perhaps?

Also, not at ground, heard no commentary etc but said to others prior to start that I'd have thought that we should field first.

Partly, that's because I'd think the track should get flatter as we can put the heavy roller on it if we want.

I also admit that, in part, I'm not really sure - after last season - that I'd want us to bat first on an April morning where there might be some moisture in the track.

"I know I've always been a glass half empty sort of person but at 215-4 having stuck them in, I now fear not just for this match but for our season."

"Very early days I know but have our club learned nothing from last seasons flirtation with relegation ?

To say the least a very bad day at the office - we aint gonna win this one and we know that at 18.00 on day one with a fair degree of certainty.

As CP says a long hard season beckons. "


But no-one's said "game over".

Steve - I really don't think these comments were aimed primarily at you, though I suspect that phrases such as " I now fear not just for this match but for our season", "A long season ahead of us" and "a long hard season beckons" have exasperated those of us who prefer not to jump to such half-empty thoughts on day one of match one.

As for JO omission - can anyone that was there offer a view as to whether track looks very slow?

I speculated, beforehand, that Jamie Overton may be left out if a slow track was expected.

Right guys, I'm going to back off here.

I still think either today's decision was wrong, or conventional cricket wisdom is wrong. Regardless of where day 1 finished up.

I hope over the next 3 days I am shown to be the one that's wrong and put securely in my place.

I look forward to supporting us to hoisting the CC pennant as a loyal supporter should, and many more hours of exchange of views before September.

Till tomorrow...

Day one photos.

Could have done better my teacher always said!

A day of some good bowling and some loose bowling.

A day of 'that was dropped, did that carry, that was a hard one, that was brilliant' I hope to show you something from all four.



“A good one” Gary caught off Ballance lbw Lewis Gregory.



I saw a Dickie Bird at the ground today.



When I saw a Devon Air Ambulance helecopter hovering over the ground today I thought a player had been injured at the Second XI match today.



“That was brilliant” For something a bit different three photos after Lewis Gregory took that brilliant catch to dismiss Adam Lyth off Craig Overton.

Photo one.



Photo 2



Photo 3 Put him down Craig



This is “That was a hard one” trying to dismiss Adam Lyth off Lewis Gregory Craig Kieswetter had to run a long way when the ball was hit high into the air, he did get his gloves to it but it spilled out when he hit the ground. In the photo (if you can see it) the ball was still in the air about ten feet up and ahead of him. Almost impossible I think.



“That was a good one” a good ball from Craig Meschede beating Andrew Gale's bat.


[/URL

Two photos
This is “Did that carry” to Marcus Trescothick (I don't know) off Alex Lees bat.

[URL=http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/cricketphotos1/media/Cricket%20Photos/2014%20Somerset%20Cricket/LV%20County%20Cricket%202014/Somerset%20v%20Yorkshire%20starting%2013th%20April/AlexLeesdiditcarrytoMarcusoffLewisGregory2.jpg.html]


Second photo, he dropped it anyway.



Some might say a very appropriate advertisment on the umpires back.
Not today they were okay.



This is “That was dropped” by Marcus when Alex Lees was on one off Alfonso Thomas.

A bit of a mixed day.

I can't quite get one of the photos code correct so I left it in.

Steve Cav - you don't need to 'back off,' nor apologise for your views.

Re:the toss decision, I note that Craig M said that if you pitch it up in the right area 'the ball will talk.'

This, and a separate comment by DN imply that the decision at the toss was the correct one, but that the Somerset bowling and catching were insufficiently consistent.

A few points from someone who was there.
1. I was surprised that we inserted when we won the toss. There was a fair covering of grass, but not excessive and with the fine forecast and remembering what happened last season when we put the opposition in and regretted it, would have expected us to bat.
2 I believe that Tregs and Jove were left out because they were not 100% fit and we had available options.
3. On the whole the seamers bowled quite well against a good batting side, but sadly we dropped some crucial catches, the most culpable being two by Alviro at 3rd slip. Being so recently in the country and with Nick C's competence in the position showed earlier, it was no surprise that Compton went there later in the day.
4 We decided to play an extra batsman and, I am afraid that Myburgh looked an occasional bowler. When he was on the pressure was noticeably relaxed , making me sorry that we had not picked George. To me, Lewis, Craig M and craig O have the ability to be a perfectly respectable 7,8,9.

And yet Ivo Tennant says Gale would have bowled, too.
So if Marcus is a fool, he has company.

I haven't apologized for my views AGod, just decided to let it go, as my increasing frustration at the scoreboard, and lack of substantive support for the toss decision, has obviously got the better of me.


Going for some light relief watching the Masters....

Talk of the Scoreboard..

So how was the new one and is the other one any brighter?

First match nerves!!! maybe thoughts going back to our season starts over previous couple of years.

I think the dropped catch by Alviro off lyth in the first hour was a big factor in a somewhat disappointing day.
Yorkshire got off to a fast start, at one time going at 4.5 per over.

Shoulders seem to drop mid afternoon, with no one trying to motivate the team. When the new ball was taken it seemed to be wasted at times, we had one over where the batter did not have to play one ball.

Yorks seemed to find the gaps in the field with ease, and with a fast outfield resulted in a lot of boundaries.

Another day tomorrow, looking forward to it.

I find it incredible that after all these months off, it should be suggested that some aren't ready or fit.

My feelings are that latterly last season, although the wicket seemed to have a green tinge, we discovered that any early bowler friendly conditions would soon disappear and as usual at Taunton, batsmen would prosper. I see no reason to change this thinking and I've seen no evidence to the contrary.

Last season Tres a 'mare' with the bat and team confidence wavered as a result.

Today Tres, had the opportunity to start the season with a bang and give confidence and belief to the rest of the squad. I feel he and we have missed out on a tremendous opportunity.

These feelings have nothing to do with whether or not I support the team any more than the equally predictable FE.

Those of us who have been posting for many years are extremely predictable, but we have no more right than anyone else to make our feelings known.

To Steve, if you can be bothered, hang on in there and you'll get some quite reasoned debate, but more often than not, when we're doing well.

I have spoken with several who no longer post due to the aggravation it sometimes involves, but currently it is the only forum to discuss Somerset cricket, though I'm hoping the 'new kids' on the block will soon change that.

Cricinfo view on todays play. [www.espncricinfo.com]

Quote:

Roger ivanhoe


Shoulders seem to drop mid afternoon, with no one trying to motivate the team.

If that is so, it is of great concern to me.

Poor first day but how easy is all this in hindsight hey!

None of us know exactly how fit or not Jove and Tregs are, if they aren't 100% then very sensible not to risk them.

Toss in early April on a green tinged pitch, with all 4 days weather set fair.
Quite understandable I'd think that if it was ever going to do anything it would be first morning?
Also I'd guess an element of safety first, we ahd a number of first innings home collapses last year.
Although we've had a poor first day we aren't out of the match.
Had it been Somerset 160 all out, Yorkes 150-3 I think that would have been a far worse first day.

We had very little luck today, at least 3 dropped catches, and at least 50 runs through third man via edges (Marcus why didn't we have a third man, PLEASE!)

Although our bowlers bowled some poor stuff it was all off side on the whole so I think we could have dispensed with 1 leg side fielder and posted a 3rd man, could have knocked 40+ off their close of play total.

And Myburgh I'm afraid is no front line spinner, maybe a part time option and possibly useful one day wise but we can't go into 4 day games with aim of him bowling anybody out, not even a Suppiah I'd say, closer to Alviro or Kiesy!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:13:23:08:47 by wsm fan.

Reading Ivo Tennant's report on Cricket info.

He mentions Craig's drop" but failed to mention Alviro's easier chance, when Lyth was on 14.
In defence of Craig he also did well to even get near the ball,
But then I suppose Ivo was the other side of the ground.

Not sure even if Jove had been playing he would have been given the new ball at the start of game.


New Scoreboard....stuck a couple of times, but that might have been operator error.
But vast improvement from two weeks ago, now easily read from the CA area.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:13:23:15:31 by Roger ivanhoe.

That gives it a bit more of feel. Seems we didn't quite get it sorted when a decision was made whether it was the right one or not.

Ahh Mr B - the friendly guide to newcomers of everything 'Grockles.com'

I'm not sure whether the injury comment was 'incredible' because of people suggesting selection issues on the first morning or because players being injured after a long lay off is 'incredible'. I'm certainly with the first interpretation but I'm not sure what miracles are expected to be performed on injured players to have them fit *(I don't think anyone is suggesting they are simply 'unfit') at 11:00 on the first day of the season if the injury appears late or more serious or decides not to have healed by that day. Every county seems to have the same 'incredible' problems.

I'm not sure the morale at the end of last season was poor on the field either. Supporter morale was struggling in some parts of the forum but the players on the field seemed focussed and got the job done.


On another subject

We are not the only site you can go to any more Mr Botham - I've often suggested you could set one up more to your liking but you don't seem to be that bothered although quite capable of criticising those who provide you with a voice however strange your view can sometimes be.

However there is now

www.thein-cider.co.uk



that has just started. May be more to your liking and particular requirements. Please don't feel you have to stay and suffer here.

There was an excellent article about Nick Compton last week and far more blog entries than I can get to for the first part of the season given the distance. A seemingly good source for up to date information and we wish it all success.

Maybe you could offer to moderate for them so you could keep those positive people away who might question what they may see as excessive pessimism based on very little evidence.

Anyway good luck. (ahh on further perusal it seems you've already found it. Hope it goes better for you and occupies your time more happily than your time here seems to)

The implication that posters are no longer posting because of 'the aggravation' of posting?

Well there are those for whom forum posting is not to their liking. Some dislike the language, some dislike having to justify their opinions and some dislike anyone controlling their unfriendly demeanour towards their fellow posters.

I think you've probably had conversations with them all and lent your support to some their activities to further your own agendas in the past. However I think I ought to point out that I rarely have to moderate more than a handful of posts per year, I rarely have posters sending me PM complaints about posts made on the site and we have only had one permanent ban here in 19 years - though a couple have come close.

Grockles is full of debate AT ALL TIMES despite your inability to see that and we have a strong following of knowledgeable posters from all points of the Somerset view who seem to be able to talk to each other quite easily and without long term damage. I'm sorry you don't feel that you are in that group. Some modification has been suggested in the past but still seems to be falling on deaf ears.

But maybe happy days may be here for you again.







Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:14:05:18:03 by Grockle.

For those who have not been there yet, here is a little taste of the material on the new site;

Tykes Day 1

Seems whoever made the toss decision was in agreement with the new Yorkshire official Mr Harold Bird.

Anyway Day 2 on its way.

Re:comments about fitness, my observation was simply that, of the seamers, only Craig M and Lewis G seemed to get plenty of bowling under their belts in the pre-season.

Thomas and Trego missed most of pre-season. Jamie Overton missed the start of it. Craig Overton had a game where he bowled 2.3 overs then went off with some sort of thigh injury. So I think we have a significant number of guys that may not be as 'grooved,' as DN (and the guys themselves) might have wished for.

In the case of Alf and Craig Overton they should be further along by the time of the Durham game next week, simply due to having bowled in this one. Whether Jamie Overton and Pete will get the chance to bowl outside of simple nets before CLS, I do not know?

Well, this morning hopefully we'll bowl 'em out, then my Fantasy players will take them apart.

From this far away I have no idea what the pitch was like but if both sides would have bowled then that will do me.
A positive was that we pulled them right back after lunch.I still stick with my rule of thumb for every game; 105 for 2 at lunch 240 for 4 at tea. 350 for 7 at close.
Any variation on that gives me cause for rejoicing or otherwise depending which way it is and who's batting. Another day and here it would be a great batting day so Tres in by midday please.

Some shots from yesterday

The Tractor was in place!

[dl.dropboxusercontent.com]

Craig Meschede was rather pleased with Chris Jones' catch.

[dl.dropboxusercontent.com]

Yet another four despatched.

[dl.dropboxusercontent.com]

Craig hares off after the skied pull....

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...and doesn't quite cling on (Great Effort tho')

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A very chatty 'Dickie' Bird came by!

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Nice pictures John, thank you.

GM, my point is that we are used to the wicket, having got similar decisions wrong last season. The opposition skipper could have been forgiven for not reading it right.

He must be delighted that he lost the toss!

Craig collects in front of second slip from a wide by Alphonso!

Is it still 110 overs for 1st innings points?

Yep.

Disappointing that having inserted we only end up with one bowling point...and even more disappointing that we take the 6th wicket 3 balls too late.
Onwards and upwards

GM: Haven't you heard the new rule that applies only to matches at Taunton this season. Batting points apply only in the first 100 overs, while bowling points can be secured in the first 150.

I've just heard reference to our old friend Ned Harding on the radio commentary; it's been a long time since we heard from him here, unless he is now using a different name.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

As you say, GM; disappointing: but not terminal.

So: 450 it is then, in four and a third sessions.

Seven and two thirds left.

650 by lunch on Wednesday; Yorks all out by the close.

Simples!!!!!





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:14:14:07:03 by Frome Exile.

At least we'll now get the chance to see how this wicket our experts have assessed and categorised already from a distance plays for the other side in the game. It usually now turns into a minefield if experience is anything to go by

Having spent yesterday blind to any logic behind decision to bowl, I now wonder if Tres thought we were unlikely to bowl Yorks out twice, so our best chance of a win is a Yorks 2nd inns declaration and a run chase?

Hmmmm...

May also explain why we left Trigger out.
Yorks will NEVER set us another target with him in the side!!

Quote:

Ajay
Talk of the Scoreboard..
So how was the new one and is the other one any brighter?

It had a couple of 'hick ups' where it stopped for an over or so (I think around 15th over mark, and again around 50 overs) but otherwise worked without problem. It's a vast improvement and really bright from any side of the ground. Very similar to the screen at Lords that flips between scoreboard and video replays.

I presume that the screen at Taunton can be used when Sky are in town, instead of a temp option?

That's 1000 first class runs for Jones. Congratulations to him for today's innings, though with an average still in the low twenties he still has a lot to prove.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

True LoL. Let's hope consistent cricket leads to consistent scores of this size and larger.

A nice (and encouraging) way for Chris Jones to start the season - his highest score in the county championship.

Ajay - the old one is no better. In bright low sunlight it is impossible to read the lesser figures.

Also today a drive into the new rolling advertising hoarding in front of Colin Atkinson Pavilion damaged the LED's and left a largish block of LED's unable to change. Hope they can re-boot it for tomorrow!

Day two photos.



Nick Compton bowled by Liam Plunkett.



Up until that dismissal Nick Compton didn't seem to be any trouble.



Jack Brooks tries to wind Nick Compton up, he was having nothing to do with it and turned his back on him.



Chris Jones had a good day and played different shots after he played himself in.



I so wanted Marcus to have a good day with the bat, well timed shot for four runs.



Somebody said it was reported that Marcus was clean bowled by Ryan Sidebottom, I would question that with the bat that high!!



Jack Brooks was lbw off the bowling of Johann Myburgh.



Steven Patterson was bowled by Alfonso Thomas.



Ryan Sidebottom was caught by Marcus Trescothick off the bowling of Johann Myburgh.


Very good photos John.

Suspect from those photos Brooks wasn't giving Nick lessons on batting technique.

So, what did the track do today, people? A bit? Nowt?

Still excellent track, very little lateral movement, seam or spin, bounce only if really wacked in, the very occasional ball keeping a little low

Thanks, Tops.

Unusually all 7 current CC fixtures look at least reasonably well balanced.

Let's hope we're able to bat this game into a cul-de-sac tomorrow.

Thanks Mike - and yours as usual!

The club said on Facebook that Marcus was bowled by a yorker. If so he needs to re-address his technique on how to play a yorker from the bat position your photo (!). Think they got that wrong!!

Great shot of the Compo wicket. As you say he had played well until that point.

I thought the wicket had more pace in it today and the Tykes tried the bouncer on many occasions.

I was glad to see a decent score from Chris Jones. I really like him and hope he has a good season.

Yorkshire may be forced to put the slow bowlers on when they don't want to.

The bowlers over rate was -3 at the end of play, sometimes that can change over night, we will have to see in the morning if it is still the same!

We were +3 at the end of the Yorkshire innings.

It was good to se the number of fours in Chris's innings as well. He has a solid game and development of the more expansive shots will give him that little extra - as he showed a number of times in his one day games with CK

Yes Grockle - it was noticeable that he defended with care and chose well when to hit the ball. They often ended in boundaries. He hit a superb cover drive to reach his fifty.

He is composed and well organised.

And when you ad his fielding on day one and a super catch he has had a good match so far.

When (not if) Hildreth reaches 46, that will be 11,000 career runs. I shall not be around at the time, as I am about to go out for the rest of the day.

If any among you who have my mobile number care to send me a close of play score, I shall be mightily grateful.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

He's an economist SJB - what would you expect?

Ned Harding mailing in to the BBC this morning.

So... do we think that, the moment we get to 300 we should fully "pedal to the metal," it to try and get to 350 and get the fourth batting bonus point?

Or is there still enough risk of Yorkshire getting far enough ahead to put us under pressure at the end of the game, that we'd rather just carry on batting sensibly with a view to minimising the first-innings deficit?

in view of the possible overton injury I would supect the latter

My guess, AG, is that by the time we get to 300, the batsmen will conclude that there is little prospect of reaching 350 without taking undue risks.

Overton injury?

Yeah, what's happened to Craig O?

Craig did his back yesterday bowling (during his good spell) but I didn't think it was too major as he carried on bowling after the initial issue.

Let's keep everything crossed that it is unrelated to his previous (serious) back issue.

Might well get the extra point here, Craig hitting out a bit.

In spite of only 3 batting points I am very pleased. All the batsmen have built solid platforms at a far slower rate than last year where we scored not very many very quickly.
This is a good opening match so far.

Today's events might appear to imply that this pitch is just getting progressively flatter. In which case, I think we can feel pretty glad that we did not opt to bat first....

And yes, GM, hopefully this innings might be a sign that DN/DH are starting to get through to players as to the value of actually staying in!

Well we haven't won the game at a canter so some will say the season is over.

However with a bowling attack that was always understaffed and was weaker still for this game I have to say I am also happy that most of the frontmen got something of a start and significant openings for Jones and Myberg may have smoothed worried brows.

The criticisms of the skippers decision to bowl seem to be vindicated by the flatness of the pitch and we have not collapsed in a quaking heap on our first time at bat.

If you can't win, don't lose, especially at home.

This game may however put into perspective our CC objectives for this season. I personally don't see us having the bowling to get 20 wickets often enough (very happy to be proved wrong and with Meschede's start)

It might be that our silver aspirations may come in the shorter formats.

Suspect we'll find wickets far easier to come by next week (we're at CLS). Of course, Durham are also likely to find wickets easier to come by.

Both sets of batsmen (ours and Durham's) could be in for a rude awakening having played the first game on something pretty flat. Batsmen on both sides will be feeling in-form and confident which is good, but it will need to be confidence rather than over-confidence as over-confidence - for either side's batsmen - could prove fatal on a helpful track next week.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:15:15:57:27 by AGod.

Moved on already Agod, we haven't finished this game yet. :-)

Match Drawn, Nailsea, in case you were wondering...

Probably AG, but maybe a declaration on 400, and see if they want make a game of it with their declaration before lunch tomorrow. That would explain the rapid increase in our run-rate prior to tea. We can't lose it in two sessions, surely.

Trego or not, I just cannot imagine Yorkshire wanting to leave another declaration at Taunton - not unless we agreed to massively generous terms.

The only apparent route to a non-draw result from here is for SCCC to bat past Yorkshire and then inspire some sort of ridiculous "collapse from nowhere," by our visitors.

Certainly, I think we should try to bat well past them and then have a right go for 20 overs or so with the ball and see where we are. If we make no progress in those 20 overs or so, then with our bowling resources arguably looking stretched, then I think we should probably call off the dogs and bowl out the game with the likes of Myburgh and AP.

Yep, it seems Banger was correct in putting them in, if this pitch was going to do anything it would have been on the first morning.
A good solid performance...it's going to be a beautiful summer.

What a difference a day makes - this is the kind of batting performance that was sadly lacking all last year.

Maybe my glass is half full after all.

Here's looking forward to a win tomorrow!

Seems I may have been wrong about the toss. Happy to admit it.

First innings deficit, what first innings deficit. :-)

Top man, Steve.

This has been a splendid batting performance. I am a happy (Easter) bunny. Roll on Monday

Harold Bird's campaign to get Rashid into the England team is not exactly looking bomb-proof..........

Good to see Lewis walking, nice to see the game being played in the right spirit.

OK guys a great and consistent batting performance and well done all but my original post statement - we knew at 18.00 on the first day we were not going to win this match - remains true !

Have to agree with Grocks for once - I cannot see us bowling teams out twice often enough to win the big prize !

Cue the Taunton is ruining cricket posts but they have a point - if your pitches AT HOME are such that batting is easier than bowling you will not win a lot in the longer term competitions.

Not just my opinion - revisit Justin Langer and his thoughts on why we aint won nothing !!

Nonetheless it would be churlish to deny a vg overall batting performance !!

The pitch JL was talking about was one before considerable work was done and a pitch he was blaming possibly for his own captaincy failings in one particular match. More relevant to an analysis of the pitch is LOL's analysis of results on it over a largish sample which suggests it's influence on results is pretty much a myth.





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:15:18:44:00 by Grockle.

Don't judge anything on one game's worth (or not even that yet).

We may have been preparing a flat deck to compensate for expected April weather, and then been surprised by three solid days of sun.

I agree that it looks like it might be a big ask for this XI to regularly bowl sides out twice at home.
But not losing your home games, certainly your first one, is vital, and the addition of Jove, Dockerell and Trigger as circumstances allow, mean that wins will come.

Very true FE. 'Fortress Taunton' has been important in other successful - ish campaigns. I hope Alf still has more left in the tank than is presently being suggested. Trigger is a vital aspect if Lewis and Merch are going to be something important. George and Jack also have a role. But I have to say I think we needed a bowler more than a batsman. Though the options were probably sparse.

Anyway we have others who could surprise and it's very early so stand up and be counted Messrs Overton and Dibble.

Absent the possible injury to Craig Overton, I'd have thought DN will be very pleased with this...three of the young players to whom he awarded new deals have performed well AND his lone new signing made 90 odd and took a couple of wickets.

I'd think only the catching would fit in the 'not pleasing,' category.

Solid.

Shepton says it on one word, solid is perfect.
Slow, steady, solid, perfect, just what we needed.
Contributions from 1 to 9, partnerships all the way down.
Draw the 95% favourite now but who knows, get the lead up to 110/120 by 11.30am, get them 3 or 4 down by lunch whilst wiping out that deficit and nerves/wobble may set in.
Certainly only 1 team that can win from here and it isn not the Yorkies!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:15:20:16:59 by wsm fan.

A glorious and Somerset-affirming day at the office!

Great to see every batsman trouble the scorer and several make significant runs. Well done Johann Myburgh - a solid performance with the bat. Good runs for Craig K and Lewis G. Good knock also for Craig O.

Yorks are a good bowling side but they looked like they had been in a tough fight by close of play!

Day three photos.

What an enjoyable days cricket watching Somerset bat as Dave Nosworthy ask them too, not worrying about scoring at four an over instead batting sensibly.

Yes the score is 6 – 4 to Yorkshire but not losing means a lot.



What a delight to watch Craig Kieswetter bat.



Craig Kieswetter got hit on the head by Liam Plunkett and he never went up to him to ask if he was okay. He bowled a lot of short ball during the day and near the end of the day he got no balled for bowling too many in one over.



Craig Kieswetter hitting four runs.



If you want to hear a bowling go over the top (I don't) with his celebrations Jack Brooks is your man. You should have heard him when he had James Hildreth out lbw his yelling was so loud he disturb the people buried beneath where I was sat.



Craig Kieswetter hitting six runs.



Johann Myburgh keeping a yorker out, he knows where to put his bat. Didn't he bat well today!



Lewis Gregory hitting six runs. I must look at the scorecard it must look good reading looking at the batsmen scores.



Johann Myburgh seems like a good buy.

Who knows what will happen tomorrow?

Yorkshire all out 79?

Probably coincidence I'm sure but day 1 where perhaps we didn't do so well, pages of negative comments writing the season off and moaning about various weaknesses.

2 days later a superb batting day to follow up andimproved day 2 and barely a murmer, guess its far easier to complain than praise.

A typical British trait sadly in my opinion, people are so much happier generally if they have something to moan about.

Cue the inevitable responses...!!!

Have you read the same posts that I have WSM? I seem to have read nothing but positive comments today- and there has been no moaning about the batting point haul. Without reading back over 9 pages I seem to remember that the main topic of dissension was the fact that we fielded, not how we did it. I will hold my hand up to a negative when I said I was disappointed that we missed a bowling point by 2 balls.
Is this what you describe as "the inevitable response"

It is worth remembering, when calculating Somerset`s chances for the rest of the season, that three of our four leading championship bowlers in 2013 - Jamie Overton (33 wickets), Peter Trego (31) and Steve Kirby (26) were in the hutch for this match for one reason or another, as were our two left-arm spinners - George and Jack.

They were but I'm looking more at the end of last season - a period in which Meschede and Gregory arguably showed rather more incisiveness than Trego or Kirby (or, for that matter, Overton, J) had shown earlier in the season.

Nobody here really seems to have commented on the actual merits or de-merits of the first day bowling - only that people, obviously, would have liked to have taken more Yorkshire wickets more quickly. Bowlers can obviously not be blamed for catches going down. Had they not done so then this contest might be further advanced and the draw might not currently be a very strong favourite.

Personally, large total on what Myburgh described as 'a very nice pitch to bat on,' notwithstanding, I shall not be surprised if the Somerset batting proves more of an achilles' heel this season than our bowling. I said before the season that I thought law of averages/regression towards the mean would dictate that the batting would surely be better than last season and I certainly stick by that. But the pertinent question in terms of ambitions towards the top end of the table is - how much better?

I don't think we could or should look at this game and use it as ammunition for worrying about the penetration of the bowling unless, perhaps, we also think that Yorkshire should be similarly worried about their attack? Flat tracks can make bowlers look very ordinary! And batsmen can look much better than usual! Watching Durham at Wantage Road on Monday, you would not know that they have an attack that gave up only one batting bonus point in games at CLS last season....Northants do not have a strong batting line-up and yet a number of their top five were largely untroubled by Durham.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:16:07:03:42 by AGod.

I think wsm has a fair point, gm, in that the NUMBER of complaining points after day one was greater than the NUMBER of praise points after yesterday. I would say that we're always like that on here - though will also hold my hand up in saying that some of those earlier posts were from people like me, complaining against those who were moaning

I'm now more convinced than earlier that we may have to get used to matches like this at HQ, esp if the weather stays dry, with Tres bowling first (and opp captains, seeing a Taunton belter, batting first), and 400+ in both first innings, hoping the bowlers can get something out of it in day four. Given that, we will def need to get George, maybe also Jack and/or Max into the XI instead of a batter...usually.

I think this is nothing more than a fluke engendered by preposterously good April weather... Similar to that in April 2009, I think it was, when Hildreth started with a triple century.

I see no reason to suppose that we are going to be plagued by abnormally flat pitches at HQ.

Having said that, thinking back to last season, our home opener was played on a track that got flatter and was at its flattest under cloudy conditions towards the end...

...However, that seemed to have little bearing onsubsequent home games which included results (and with plenty of time to spare) vs Middx, Sussex, Derbyshire and Surrey.

Of the other 3 games that were drawn, I think the rain was a culprit in a couple (?) with only the home game with Durham featuring something really flat (though even then Barrow had to stave off defeat on the final day).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:16:07:45:26 by AGod.

I'm very concerned about the perception that some of our players aren't match fit, having had many months for rehab and fitness training.

Is it possible that by going overseas, some aren't getting enough rest?

Most SCCC fans will be delighted and a few surprised that our batsmen have done so well and it's well known that when we are playing well, the forum is very busy and the opposite applies when things aren't going so well.

Maybe me and the glass half full brigade are quick to criticize, but some of us have been posting for a long time and probably wont change, whereas some only post when we're winning, which makes reasoned debate more difficult.

It always amuses me when some of us criticize, the same group express shock and disbelief that others dare to post their feelings, rather than suffer in silence.

I think the issue was simply guys like Alf and Pete having not had enough pre-season bowling because they had injuries. It can happen.

And I'd guess that a bowling attack that features a combo of old bowlers and young bowlers might pick up more injuries than one where most bowlers are aged 25-30?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:16:07:49:30 by AGod.

Quote:

Botham
Date: 16 April, 2014 07:44
I'm very concerned about the perception that some of our players aren't match fit, having had many months for rehab and fitness training.

To which players are you inferring, as far as we understand the ONLY players not available for selection due to fitness were Kirby and Dibble.Kirby had hoped be available,but chipped a bone (pre-season) and Dibble has had on going injuries for sometime.

And I have the official view on Jamie Overton, the coach decided it was too soon for Jamie to return after recovering from his knee injury and that he needs to get more overs in first before he returns.

We would all moan if he returned too soon and had a recurrence of the injury.

I did post 'perception', being what I had understood from reading reports and other's posts. I was not accusing anyone.

It seems Andrew Gale refused Banger's kind offer of a contrived end - can't imagine why!

Andrew Gale's Thoughts

By the way - anybody else having problems viewing Grockle's with the Firefox browser at the moment? I'm having to use Internet Explorer as it looks as if some advertising content is incompatible with Firefox.

KB

Yes, Mike, IMO Jamie clearly did not get enough pre-season bowling under his belt in matches (no idea obviously how much people might have bowled in nets) and, thus, was in the same boat as Alf and Pete.

I know Alf played in the end but, perhaps, he would not have done had we had another fully fit front-line option that HAD had sufficient pre-season work?

I wasn't at all sure that Craig Overton had had enough pre-season work either, especially as he pulled up in one of them but, again, we had to pick some bowlers for this match!

Has anyone heard any further word on Craig Overton's back thing?

Both interesting and pleasing, KB, that Gale says that the Yorkshire game-plan was (and I paraphrase) to bore the Somerset batsmen out but that he is praising the patience that we showed with the bat.

Also, the fact that Gale professes no dissatisfaction with his side's efforts with the ball/in the field even though there is 530 on the board, supports the view that we should not read much into this first game from a point of view of SCCC bowling prospects, either.

I think AGod's posts give a very balanced reflection on this game, which barring a miracle today, will be consigned to history as a bore draw on a featherbed of a pitch.

For me, whilst you can obviously take positives about our batsmen finding some form, our inability to get at least 4 batting bonus points is a crime. We needed 11 from two overs and could only muster two singles and a leg-bye. Surely that extra point was worth some calculated risk-taking, and with a bit more intent earlier on we could even have got maximum batting points. I know it can seem like a small thing but those points could be crucial. We have an 80 run lead yet have two points fewer than Yorks, who are clearly a bit more street-wise as this should not be the case. We are a cautiously managed side at the moment, as our selection for this game shows. We went in with a side packed with batting, indeed there is no tail. Surely we could have found room for Jack or George?

I'm not a moaner by nature but I just hoped we'd see a slightly more adventurous approach this year. Anyway, let's hope we can rip into them early on today and then you just never know.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:16:10:16:35 by 9th brother Dredge.

Safety first in my opinion, it's the opening game of the season, no need for heroics, just a good solid performance.

I asked friends to text me the close of play score and two of them, BJ and Wickham, very kindly did so. But how can they expect me to take them seriously when they quote a score of 500+ still with a wicket to fall!

That is quite ridiculous, especially when we all knew our season was doomed the moment Trescothick invited the opposition to bat.

Get real chaps!

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

There's a logical tension inherent in DN's desire to have the batsmen occupy the crease for extended periods of time vs a bonus points system which calls for runs to be harvested at a specified run-rate.

I think the partnership between NC and Jones did a nice job of building the innings, in that it took up plenty of deliveries, placed some wear and tear on the Yorkshire bowlers and meant that later batsmen would come in against an older ball. I think it was thoroughly appropriate - even on a pitch this flat - in response to 450.

Whether it might have been worth the risk of being a bit more expansive after lunch yesterday in the hunt for extra batting points is a tough call to answer. But I think coming down on the more cautious side of the equation makes sense in the context of what might be described as an attempt by DN and DH to "build a new batting culture at Somerset."

Overton and Thomas not fielding thismorning.

I'm not sure where you got your 'perception' from Mr B as I can find few posts except yours that suggest any inference that players are not 'fit'.

The issue in most cases is being behind normal levels of time on the field because of injuries they are in rehab for or have collected during the off season.

Most of the assessment of this game has been of a balanced nature as the game wore on and it was very pleasing to see strong critics of the first day coming on to say after relection and a bit more play they probably over-reacted - how refreshing that is.

It may also be an indication of a higher level of overall confidence that the team has moved on and some things that came out last year have been sorted or at least seem to be going that way.

As a couple of people have said; once we'd got over the scary part of sitting through Somerset batting in a CC match for the first time and it was alright, this game had a forgone conclusion you would probably have put money on at the end of the first day.

But Yorkshire are strong and we haven't come a cropper so things are looking up and Average will have to wait a while before re-appearing.....perhaps.







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:16:11:51:33 by Grockle.

I get what you say, AGod, and hopefully we will bear the fruit of this approach in the long run. I'm sure once we put a couple of wins on the board I'll feel a bit more relaxed - Maybe I'm still stuck on my anxiety setting from last season's relegation fight!

Good grief, two of four main seamers off the field is far from ideal!!

I guess it will be a long old bowl for Myburgh and AP for most of the rest of today then - as we can hardly afford to flog Gregory and Meschede into the ground all afternoon...

And one wonders which bowlers will be fit enough to join Gregory and Meschede on Sunday at CLS? Let's hope Pete is judged to have enough bowling to be available. I'm sure we have spinners that we could pick, but I'm not exactly anticipating conducive conditions for spin up there!!

Pete's tweets about the Devon game seemed upbeat so I think we can hope that is going to happen AG.

LOL, sarcasm doesn't become you.

... but irony does!

Thank goodness that SLC understands the use of figures of speech better than Botham does.

I would have thought that sarcasm requires a target, but I'm blowed if I can see who I was getting at, save perhaps myself for being so gullible about believing what BJ and Wickham told me.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Reports on here about Myburgh's bowling were not particularly flattering but the Beeb Radio guy seems to think that Myburgh may have a bit going for him with the ball.

He'll need to improve on his stats so far than to be much more than a containing option.

Kirby, Dibble, Trego, the 2 overtons and Thomas all injured- wow!!

If the batting coach is working then the bowling one has a lot of work in front of him.

This would also explain why Tres went to Gale to try and manufacture a game at tea yesterday......

Antony Gibson seems to think that SCCC may deliberately try to produce more flat tracks for home games this season, having been somewhat "spooked", by the magnitude of home thrashings by the likes of Sussex and Middx last season in games played on "sported up," pitches.

I can't really see that making much sense because you can neither win a CC title, nor avoid the drop without winning games!

that would be a particularly disppointing way to go.

Also, if true would show we have no real faith in the batting!!

But surely it is understandable early season. When our batting is more robust - then we can be more adventurous.

Probs with broadband last night so late images! Craig O avoids another Plunkett bouncer!





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:16:13:15:38 by Sloop John B.

Myburgh cutting for four.

Craig M shows how to deal with another Plunkett bouncer - upper cut for four.

I see trego and J overton are in the second team today ina 2 day game so they at least must be in the running for the next game. Still no Dibble though.

And finally a six from Lewis Gregory

Ronnie yes, good. I'd have thought Pete in particular might be the sort of guy who does not need a massive amount of bowling to get into some sort of rhythm.

If he were to replace an injured Craig Overton for the trip to CLS that would further strengthen the batting.

Whilst I wouldn't put too much money on any individual bar, maybe, Compton making a strong score at CLS if it's a seaming track vs Onions and co, we might find that we do rather well at CLS by dint of sheer number of guys in the XI who know which end of a bat to hold.

Quote:

Loyal of Lhasa.
Thank goodness that SLC understands the use of figures of speech better than Botham does.

Where does SLC come into this?

Who needs specialist bowlers!?

Indeed.
Marcus should put himself on at the other end!!!!!

Sorry, Botham, I mean SJB.

And apologies to SJB and SLC as well.

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:16:15:16:02 by Loyal of Lhasa..

Down to around twenty overs left, by my reckoning, so with the lead at around 80, I'd say that's that.

No worries Lol - I knew who you meant!

Feel sorry for Jack, George and Max having to watch this. Are they all fit/available?

There has been no information to the contrary.

Did anyone ever hear what was supposed to be wrong with Alf?

In fact, if Pete is available but they decide that Jamie Overton still doesn't have enough bowling "underneath him," and Craig O and Alf are injured then we could end up selecting a somewhat extraordinary line up for CLS (if we're expecting a seamers' paradise).

Said line-up could include just the three main seamers: Meschede, Gregory and Pete with "back up" bowling from Hildreth as a seamer and Myburgh as a spinner!!

Craig Meschede, having batted nine in this match and made a 50 might find himself a number 11 in that line-up, if the changes were Trego and Barrow for Alf and Craig Overton!!

This would be the antithesis of the Somerset line-up from a few years ago which I disliked so much from a batting stand-point - the one where we had an 8, 9, 10 and Jack of Mendis, Hussain, Kirby and Willoughby..

... Myburgh, Trego, Gregory and Meschede might look rather more solid!!!!!!

Craig Overton slight side strain unlikely to go to Durham.
After having a workout in the seconds Pete Trego should be OK to Travel to Durham, as will Jamie Overton.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:16:18:20:59 by Roger ivanhoe.

Well hugely pleased that Craig Overton's injury has nothing to do with the prior stress fracture.

In amongst all of that lot, did you find anything out about Alf, Roger?

Alfonso's non appearance today, was if I remember correctly described as cautionary.
But not sure what the caution was over.

Caution may have been because he wasn't likely to be able to affect today's result, but we will need him up north?

Edit: anyway, today not such a bad result, esp compared to some recent starts. I'm happy enough...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:16:18:36:58 by SheptonPaul.

Ditto.

Hear! Hear!

Hear what these men say. Hear.

That's hear say.

Forth and final days photos.

A draw was expected and that's what we got, still in one way I enjoyed the match with good weather and company.

I didn't think I would find many photos to post today but I managed to find a few.



Adam Lyth, both teams were about even in the batting and bowling and on a normal Taunton flat pitch a draw was always on.



Alex Lees gave Marcus some hope of a catch off Johann Myburgh but it was always out of reach.



A very good catch by Craig Kieswetter to dismiss Alex Lees off Craig Meschede down the leg side.



For a while there were some concern if Craig Kieswetter had hurt himself taking that catch, they helped him up and he carried on keeping.



Adam Lyth reaching for a wide ball with Craig Kieswetter waiting for a catch.



James Hildreth bowling.



A good catch down the leg side by Craig Kieswetter to dismiss Andrew Gale off Alviro Petersen.

Thanks Mike - looks from your pics as though CraigK was our player of the day!

Back spasms fir tommo apparently !! Glad Craig's injury is not what her had last year

I guess back spasms are the kind of thing that could go on for several days, resolve completely and never come back, or be on and off with little warning.

I'd think that if there's any repetition between now and Sunday, then DN would be reluctant to start Alf up at CLS.

Personally, unless we have to due to a shortage of other pace bowling options, I don't think I'd start with Jamie Overton at CLS. Three no-balls and a wide in his first four overs vs Exeter Uni does not seem to me to constitute putting his hand up to say "I'm now in rhythm."

I would fear that if we played him whilst he's still searching for the right groove then he might be abnormally expensive compared to other bowlers in what might be a low-scoring game.

If I said "really hear hear" to all those comments above about a much better start to our season than in recent summers, would I be guilty of sarcasm?

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

A predictable day's cricket yesterday played in front of what I considered to be a poorish crowd on a lovely summer's day at Taunton during school holidays.

Some of the Somerset team appeared to have cold hands though, as they walked around lethargically with their hands in their trouser pockets.

Also, at one point in the afternoon, one or some of the players (Kieswetter?) appeared to become somewhat vociferous, and not in an encouraging sort way it seemed to me. I have never heard noises like it coming from a cricket field. It was more akin to caterwauling in my opinion.

Can someone else who was there enlighten me please?

Myburgh bowled tidily.

Forgone conclusion perhaps got the better of them? Moral degradation has set in? Pockets are made in the trousers so people put their hands in them?

Only things I can think of CP

Keep thinking then, dear boy.

CP, are you referring to the time when Craig K, fetched the ball from boundary in front of the CA Pavilion.
If so a member had suggested that Craig have bowl, what followed was some banter between Tres, Craig, James, and members on the suggestion,Craig's request was turned down, but not long after James H come onto bowl,perhaps Tres was not to keen to take the gloves, as not sure who else we would have used at the time.

As far as the cold hands are concerned, Alviro called for Hand Warmers on the first day,and cold hands may well have not helped when he dropped the catch in the first hour.
Alviro, Tres, and James do generally pocket their hands more than others.

Good to see CP's started the season in such a jolly frame of mind.

I didn't hear anything CP what I did see at one point was Marcus doing a bowling action but not getting his arm above the shoulder. And a player (I can't remember who it was) walking up to the stumps to bowl and having the ball taken from him, I can only imaging this was cause by the nature of the pitch.

Quote:

CP
A predictable day's cricket yesterday played in front of what I considered to be a poorish crowd on a lovely summer's day at Taunton during school holidays.

That is the problem with the fourth day, when one side has made it plain that they are happy to settle with a draw.

Maybe some incentive should be made to make the final day more of a contest, it's a bit boring for the paying public and the players, when you reach stalemate on day three.
Giving the knock on effect of a lower than hoped attendances.

In general we had a reasonable crowd, over the first three days, 1800 was quoted for the first day, which might well have been higher, as I heard they still are having scanner problems so not all members were recorded.

Thank you for the explanation in your message of 12:04 Roger ivanhoe.

There was more than one outburst of the cacophany that I heard, but never mind.

CP....Well you did ask to be enlightened on one point, but now say there was more than outburst.

I do remember the point that Mike TA1 made, but just a bit of harmless fun, thankfully brought into the fourth day.

Players talk during the game? Sack them, they should play in silence!

Quote:

Roger ivanhoe

CP....Well you did ask to be enlightened on one point, but now say there was more than outburst.

You are correct on that Roger.

Missed even following the bulk of the game due to work.

Still, good to see a robust batting performance, at a somewhat staid scoring rate, (albeit I'd happily take that over a rapidfire 200 all out !).

The number of early season injuries is a trifle concerning, but at least we aren't off to a horrible beating, such as we have seen over recent early seasons.

Will be interesting to see how things pan out from here.

Grizzzly

I've always thought that boredom is one of the great charms of proper cricket. One then has time, if not necessarily the ability, to think deep thoughts.

That, Bobstan, explains why you always appear to be thinking deeply when in my company. I do my thinking at the shallow end...

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

As far as CC cricket is concerned, I think it's always possible to find something of interest within a game even if the overall match situation is uncompelling.

For example, bowling on an apparently futile final day on a very flat deck could give a window into the character of those that bowled ... Did they still run in hard? Did their heads ever go down? Did they look like they were on auto-pilot or were they trying lots of varieties etc to try and remove batsmen?etc etc

I really like your first sentence, AGod.

Absolutely no sarcasm, irony, metonymy, litotes, alliteration, assonance, metaphor, simile, hyperbole, euphemism, paradox, oxymoron or onomatopoeia is intended. Not even a pun.

I just like it (in a post-modernist way, of course).

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but in the Cricket Paper 'Dizzy,' Gillespie mentions that SCCC declined to make the heavy roller available for the game.

I think this was the approach that most of us expected the club to take to the heavy roller.

AG I don't think most people thought twice about it at the match, the only thing I was asking was when do Somerset's captain tell the umpires and the opposing captain, is it at the toss??

Yes, well said, Mr God. I can only agree that there is invariably something of interest going on.

Despite my previous post I have not been bored at a cricket match since watching the South African tourists batting against Middlesex in 1955. They took boredom to the level of an art form that day. Then Paul Winslow came in, and it was like a shaft of sunlight on a dull, dull day. He became an instant hero of mine.

I'm not a little angry, LoL to say that I had to look up one of your denial list - and no, it wasn't litotes.

Yes, Bobstan, pun is a very hard concept to understand...

LoL

Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Paronomasia is not at all punney, LoL.

There is a thread started by Barmier Kev on the Middlesex site which seems to have been inspired by our match against Yorkshire.

I know many of you don't look at threads on the other Grockles forum so I thought I would point you to a post there from Kev. This has a link to the relevant thread on the Middlesex site.

It's much more than just our old perennial about Taunton killing cricket.

Been there done that.