Hants @the Ageas 2021 Four Day Cricket
By Farmer White et al
May 16 2021
Hampshire invite us to an empty Ageas Bowl and we accept the invitation... Farmer White will tell you more!!
County Championship Group 2. Hampshire v Somerset. 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th May 2021. AGEAS Bowl.
Hampshire. J.J. Weatherley, I.G. Holland, T.P. Alsop, S.A. Northeast, J.M. Vince (c), L.A. Dawson, F.S. Organ, L.D. McManus (w), K.J. Abbott, K.H.D. Barker, Mohammad Abbas.
Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, E.J. Byrom, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, G.A. Bartlett, L.P. Goldsworthy, S.M. Davies (w), C. Overton, L. Gregory, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.
Toss. Somerset. Elected to field.
First day 6th May – Somerset battle through
For the third time in their five matches to date in this competition Somerset won the toss and elected to field. Poor W.G. Grace must be wondering what the world of cricket has come to. Somerset also fielded first when Leicestershire won the toss and elected to bat. They have won all three of the matches in which they have fielded first thus far. The only match they have lost was the one in which the opposition won the toss and elected to field. The opposition on that occasion was Gloucestershire. Poor W.G. And perhaps by the end of the day even Grace was beginning to have doubts about his famous dictum. Or perhaps it is just that we live in a different cricketing world. For, by the end of a day on which they bowled Hampshire out for 79 and ground out a lead of 63 with still five wickets standing, Somerset had done more than enough to justify their decision.
It was a day in which only 221 runs were scored in 96 overs and nearly seven hours of cricket. But 15 wickets fell against a cacophonous background of demanding, imploring and despairing appeals for leg before wicket and caught behind. The cause was a ball moving in the air and off the seam. At times the bowlers did everything but pray to the umpires, but the umpires stood, for the most part, as motionless and unanswering as stone idols. Every appeal has the committed supporter holding their breath as the decision is awaited. The time before it becomes clear that the finger will not be raised, or is, seems interminable, whichever side the watcher supports. There was a lot of suspended breathing on the first day of this match. The umpire’s arms moved enough though to send back three batsmen caught behind by Steven Davies and another three leg before wicket.
The Somerset bowlers settled quickly to their task as the match began under sunny skies, the shadows on the square as sharp as if they had been cut out with scissors. In the fifth over, Gregory with that easy flowing, lazy looking, run up and action of his moved a ball away late from Holland. Holland, attempting to drive, edged straight into Overton’s midriff at second slip. There is rarely any escape when the ball is edged there or anywhere else in Overton’s vicinity at slip. Hampshire were 7 for 1, I sat a little more upright in my chair and the sun falling on the Blackdowns beyond my laptop suddenly looked all the brighter.
Overton, Gregory and Davey took the first 19 overs between them, Davey replacing Overton after Overton’s fourth over and then Overton replacing Gregory after his eighth. The quality of the bowling, the patience which the bowlers showed as they repeatedly tested the batsmen and implored the umpires, together with the helpfulness of the pitch was all reflected in a score at the end of those 19 overs of 31 for 2. The first ball of the 16th over had crashed into the left-handed Alsop’s pad. Davey, angling the ball in from around the wicket, and the slip cordon had let out an enormous appeal, convinced it seemed of the rightfulness of their cause. The umpire thought otherwise and remained remorselessly statuesque as the appeal first stopped in its tracks and then faded away in disappointment. To the next ball, Alsop, if not statuesque, did not move far forward in the crease, was struck on the pad as the ball came in, the umpire lifted his finger and Somerset supporters in front of their screens breathed again.
The Somerset bowlers had been remorseless in keeping the batsmen under constant threat with accuracy and movement in the air and off the pitch. When Abell, an increasingly effective fourth seamer for Somerset this year, replaced Davey he did not allow the pressure to relax one iota. The five overs he bowled up until lunch cost two runs. Abell bowled in combination with the single-minded accuracy and probing pace of Overton at the other end. A score of 32 for 2 after 20 overs, with the constant threat of wickets which such bowling in such conditions brings, brought further pressure of its own. Weatherley pushed Overton into the covers and set off instantly for a single. When George Bartlett hit the striker’s end stumps Northeast was not close enough to even begin grounding his bat. Hampshire were 36 for 3 and Weatherley stood head bowed at the bowler’s end.
Within an over Abell had beaten Weatherley and then, two balls later, with a perfectly directed late outswinger found the edge of his defensive push. Davies skipped one step to his right, took as straightforward a catch as any wicketkeeping catch is, and Hampshire had sunk from 26 for 1 to 36 for 4. 37 for 5 in the 23rd over when Dawson, off his fourth ball, tried to turn Overton to leg. He was caught at second slip by Gregory moving smoothly to his left to catch a waist-high ball just as he might a wayward tennis ball on the beach. There was no need for a back to my chair now, for I was bolt upright, eyes locked in a stare at the happenings taking place just three feet away from me on my laptop. Laptops across Somerset must have looked back at owners with just such eyes as the bowlers put ball after ball on a spot which gave the batsmen no rest and little opportunity.
Vince, perhaps the one remaining batsman who might offer a major threat to Somerset hinted at it when he clipped Overton over midwicket for four. Any doubts creeping into the Somerset mind, or hopes into the Hampshire one, were dispelled in Overton’s next over by the ball of the morning, although that is a claim which might attract a number of challengers. It was straight, cut in markedly off the pitch, took the inside edge and crashed into the stumps. Vince 6, Hampshire 42 for 6. 43 for 6 at lunch after 29 overs. The score, albeit in helpful conditions, did not flatter the bowlers. The pressure placed on the batsmen was intense and continuous, the leeway offered, none. The lunchtime analyses of the bowlers give clear evidence of that. Gregory 8-5-9-1. Overton 11-5-16-2, Davey 5-1-13-1, Abell 5-3-2-1. It took a minute or two to absorb all that I had seen before I could leave my chair and find some lunch.
It was not a day to return late to your seat, although it took an over or two for the bowlers to re-create the pre-lunch intensity. Davey was glanced by Organ to the fine leg boundary and Gregory driven through the covers for four by McManus. Nineteen runs came from the first four overs after lunch and the first pangs of anxiety began to trouble the pit of the Somerset stomach, perhaps balanced on the emotional sporting seesaw by the first strands of hope at the other end for Hampshire supporters. No Somerset supporter, especially those of us who were there will ever forget Abbott’s 17 wickets for 86 runs here in 2019. Somerset would have to face him in this match and Mohammed Abbas too who has been in outstanding form for Hampshire this year. This pitch might suit both, and Somerset could not afford a partnership which might bring any sort of total which would give them a base from which to pressurise the Somerset batting.
Then, as the partnership looked like it might develop, Gregory cut a ball back into McManus just enough to beat the inside edge of a drive and hit the stumps. McManus 13, Hampshire 65 for 7. 68 for 8 when, in his next over, Gregory bowled wide of off stump and, like McManus, Organ attempted to drive. This time Gregory found the inside edge and Davies took the catch. Hampshire simply could not get a foothold in the innings and the Somerset bowlers did not let up from applying ball after ball of unrelenting pressure. Davey induced a hint of outswing to Abbott, but it was enough to find the edge of a defensive bat and for Davies to take the catch diving across Hildreth at first slip. In Gregory’s next over, Barker played a slashing drive which sent the ball through backward point for four. When he repeated the stroke two balls later, the connection was sufficient only to send the ball into Davies gloves and Hampshire had a total of 79 to defend. That it took 40.3 overs to make stands alongside the ten wickets as testimony to the sheer excellence of the Somerset bowling. Bowling which, except for two or three overs during the attempted break out by McManus and Organ, never really gave the Hampshire batsmen any opportunity to establish themselves.
The question on the minds of most Somerset supporters would now have been: can the batsmen withstand the bowling assault which would undoubtedly come from Mohammad Abbas and Kyle Abbott? Tom Banton had had a nightmare start to the season as an opening batsman and had been replaced by Eddie Byrom who had gained a reputation in 2018 as an intensely defensive opening batsman who could hold an end secure, at least until the shine had been removed from the ball. Here, we saw a different Byrom. By the end of Barker’s first over he had seven runs after two attempts to turn the ball to leg. The first flew past the slips for four and the second went where intended for three. A straight drive off Abbas in the second over of the innings brought four more. Lammonby began more circumspectly to the movement which Barker was finding and departed lbw to the final ball of Barker’s over, having defended every ball. It fitted the pattern of most of Lammonby’s dismissals this year. When, in the next over, Byrom attempted to drive Abbas again he was caught at gully for 11 and Somerset were 11 for 2 and in familiar territory. Suddenly 79 looked a little more daunting and visions of 2019 swirled around the Somerset mind.
Abell and Hildreth were now at the wicket for Somerset and Hildreth soon made his intent clear with a neat cut off Abbas for an all-run four. Two fours came from Abell in an over from Abbott, one driven through the off side and one edged past the slips. In Abbott’s next over Hildreth clipped a ball off his legs for four more and Somerset were suddenly within a boundary of being halfway to Hampshire’s first innings total. But, in conditions such as these, hope can so easily come before a fall. A ball later, Hildreth tried to play Abbott into the on side, was struck on the pad and Somerset were 36 for 3. One more wicket now and Somerset’s score would match Hampshire’s at the same point in their innings. It was a crucial moment. Pressure on the bowlers to push home the opportunity of advantage that had just opened up. Pressure on the batsmen to withstand the bowlers and re-establish the advantage Abell and Hildreth had been developing for Somerset.
What developed from that crucial point were two fighting partnerships for Somerset which for intensity and determination matched that shown by the bowlers in the Hampshire innings. The ball still moved in the air and off the pitch, and Hampshire had the bowlers to use it. But first Abell and Bartlett and then Abell and Goldsworthy, who showed the grit and application he had shown in his debut against Middlesex a week ago, took Somerset from 36 for 3 to 137 for 5. 101 runs which may turn out to have had the value of cricketing gold dust on this pitch. They took 31 overs of the most intense concentration as both bowlers and batsmen applied pressure and both at times seemed to be gaining the upper hand. But, as the score gradually mounted and the wickets held firm, the bowlers began to look less threatening and, towards the end, perhaps a little disheartened at times.
In the five overs from the fall of Hildreth to a brief shower bringing an early tea, Abell and Bartlett concentrated hard on defending their wickets, eked out just five runs, and Bartlett survived a huge lbw appeal from Barker. Somerset were 45 for 3 in the 18th over, 34 runs behind. After tea Bartlett drove Abbott through the covers and Abell pulled Holland imperiously through midwicket, both for four. But from there, as the Hampshire bowlers came again, the next five overs realized four runs, a plethora of appeals and Bartlett was dropped low at second slip. Then, in an over from Holland, ten runs came. A three from each batsman and a four driven through extra cover by Bartlett. Four byes then took Somerset into the lead, still just three wickets down. When Abell drove Barker through midwicket for the second all-run four of the innings the score reached 90 for 3. Somerset were just 11 runs ahead but those seven standing wickets and the obvious determination of the batsmen must have being weighing heavily on Hampshire hearts, just as they were lifting Somerset ones.
But the appeals were still coming from the Hampshire bowlers, almost by the over, and the bat was being beaten as the pitch continued to offer up aid. In such conditions against top first-class bowling every batsman has his term. Here it was Bartlett. After an hour and a half at the wicket he finally misjudged a lifting ball from Abbott, attempted to steer it to third man and edged it high to Dawson at second slip. Somerset were 90 for 4 but Bartlett had made 27 critical runs as once again he had scored runs for Somerset when they were most needed.
Bartlett’s departure brought Lewis Goldsworthy to the wicket after his two crucial innings in the last match against Middlesex. The first had helped bring Somerset’s first innings to within distant range of Middlesex’s, and the second had been critical in Somerset’s winning second innings. Here he scored 24. Like Bartlett’s innings, relatively small in numbers, huge, to use the modern parlance, in the context of Somerset’s innings. At first, as against Middlesex, he barely scored as Abell gradually took Somerset forward at the other end, but perhaps gave an indication that he knows how to lay the foundations for an innings. He had faced 22 balls before he scored a run as it took Somerset nine overs to add ten runs after the fall of Bartlett, the bowlers perhaps again sensing an opportunity.
Goldsworthy was at the end of his 11th over at the crease before he found the boundary, and that off an inside edge past the stumps as the bowlers continued to threaten. Eventually he began to accelerate, just as he had against Middlesex, with a glance to the fine leg boundary and a steer to third man for three, both off Barker. A four driven through extra cover off Holland hinted at more to come. But his innings had had its term and a ball from Holland cut in sharply, may have shaved the inside edge of the bat, and struck the stumps. Goldsworthy, in just his second match, had made 24 in 12 minutes under an hour and a half at the crease, but crucially had stayed with Tom Abell while they added 47 runs. They had taken Somerset 57 into the lead.
And all the time, Somerset’s fighting captain had stood firm, not immune to being beaten, surviving appeals and leaving one or two balls uncomfortably close to the stumps as is the standard fare for any batsmen surviving long in these conditions. But, along the way, he had scored 52 runs in over three and a half hours at the crease, an exceptional piece of concentration, determination and skill in the prevailing conditions against the quality of pace bowling on show. He reached the boundary only six times in that three and a half hours, not least with the neatest of glances off Abbot. It is a stroke which used to take Abell’s wicket too often, but at which he now seems to be becoming more adept by the match.
A cut through backward point of equal quality brought up Abell’s fifty. He will score more fluent fifties and he will make more runs in three and a half hours, but he will rarely make 52 more valuable or hard-won runs than the ones he scored on the first day of this match. He took Somerset into the second day, with himself and nightwatchman Jack Leach at the wicket, 63 runs ahead of Hampshire with five wickets standing in some of the most bowler-friendly they are likely to face. The match is far from won for Somerset, there will be opportunities aplenty for Hampshire to come back and there is much for Somerset still to do. But, for the moment, perhaps W.G Grace may be thinking again about his dictum.
Close. Hampshire 79 (L. Gregory 4-26). Somerset 142 for 5. Somerset lead by 63 runs with five first innings wickets standing
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:17:16:43:23 by Grockle.
Eddie hasn’t exactly been flying in the seconds, though, so I wonder if we’ll see Tom L, Tom A, George, James, L Gold and SD as the top six and back to four seamers?
MDL, Cove, L Gregory and JD are all available and in the travelling party.
Hopefully Banton scores well in the seconds and comes into contention for a middle order place, later in the season.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:15:12:12:18 by Grockle.
"Hants Lewis and BrooksieDavey" as the title.... Daaaaamn!


Hope he gets his mojo back. He is a stunningly talented played.
Grizzers
21-year -old batsman Felix Organ, who also bowls off-spin, also joins the 12 who travelled to The Oval last week, where Hampshire suffered their biggest losing margin since 1911.
Quote:It's a shame we don't have a Holding in the team - we could have 'The batsman's Holding the bowler's Organ'!Scrumper
Felix Organ? Sounds like a Viz character.
I’m sure he pulls out all the stops.
And so forth.
I would think Tom Abell, having won the toss and inserted, would be very disappointed if we're not batting shortly after tea (assuming this track plays anything like it looks).
Pitch looks painfully slow and not much bounce, so I can see why we didn’t pick MDL on it, so maybe the answer is simply management don’t want to consider the youngsters and so Leach is preferable to Brooks, even if the SLA doesn’t bowl much?
This looks a “kiss the surface,” type of deck - which suits him, rather than a “bang it in,” pitch.
Of course, “kiss the surface,” also likely to suit M Abbas.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:06:12:18:56 by Loyal of Lhasa.
Good job, Josh.
Quote:Bobstan
You may need to PM me , LoL, to remind me of the identity of the Bishop.
It will remain a mystery. I thought your vox humana might pipe up on my organ puns, to be honest.
Thank you, LoL. I always make sure to have a look at the board every now and then. I have mostly been training the next generation of Grockles, one of whom was heard singing, as he drifted off to sleep last night, “‘E be up yon wurzel tree, an’ oi be after ‘e.”
I think that’s a mistake.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:06:12:48:27 by AGod.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Two bowling points in the bag by lunch on day one. That'll do nicely. Amazing how the fielders make the bowling look even better if they hang onto catches.
Quote:Loyal of Lhasa
I have been dredging my sink of a mind to search for appalling puns to link with the Happy Member and shall avoid all hints of Swell to Great.
I’m sure you have litanies of organ puns, but I appreciate your not bellowing them at us.
I’d suggest that Organ may be in the side because they think he bats better than seam alternatives such as Wheal or the other seamer that has dropped out from the last game.
I was concerned that they were threatening a mini revival but that’s nipped that in the bud.
With Abbas and Abbott, how competitive will that prove?
If we just let their new ball bowlers bowl at us, then there’s arguably no logical reason to expect us to do better than they did... I mean maybe if we get through the new ball spell not too many down, then you can wonder whether our support seam bowling is better than theirs and will give us an edge there?
I think that going for our shots to try to transfer some pressure back onto the bowlers may be the way to go here? I mean if we score 150 that would be a huge lead in the context of this match?
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:06:14:47:23 by AGod.
I think this match will be over by tea tomorrow.
Well done our bowlers, especially Lewis major.
Hoping for a very dull rest of the day.
Grizzers
96 overs in a day so, if the wicket rate continues, that would imply 24 wkts falling today ... só Hants 4 down, in their second knock, at the close....
Quote:AGod
If we get 250 on this then there should be medals all round, LoL!
Who is the Head groundsman ?

Quote:Bishop Odo of Cluny
If Miles Hammond gets back into the Gloucestershire team we could have Hammond b Organ.
I’m sure he pulls out all the stops.
And so forth.
It's only really a Hammond Organ experience if a Leslie is also involved (rock band trivia comment).

Good effort from George, particularly Vs Abbas.
Excellent battling knock from the skipper.
It would be great to see him really go on tomorrow so as to reduce the chances of our being left with a nasty run chase vs Abbas and Abbott.
I think that was our best day of the season so far, all told - exemplary bowling, held the catches and fought hard with the bat.
A splendid captain’s innings by Abell.
Good to see Tom A. battling through to an unbeaten half century.
Grizzers
Hopefully we can push on to somewhere above 200, or even 250, today and then put them under some real pressure.
If it fails, they still have three accredited batsmen in the hutch. But should he plunder 20 or 30 runs in the first half-hour, the all-important momentum (with Somerset for most of yesterday) will be up-and-running again.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:07:09:10:29 by cricketjerry-mouse.
They don't have a Finn type to bounce Leachy out at short leg
Leach is now being selected as a specialist nightwatchman - today's the day to pass his previous highest score
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Looking at the forecast though, we may need to wrap this one up today. Another 120 runs in quick time then bowl them out before stumps!
It confirms that lavish movement is still feasible ... and, as such, I suspect it may have alarmed the Hants batsmen as much as it will have pleased their bowlers.
I would be quite happy if Hants had to bat for 20 mins before their lunch.
Quote:Loyal of Lhasa
Three bowling points in the bag and we've already avoided the follow-on. Let's score a minimum of 250 by lunch tomorrow and then bowl Hampshire out again before Saturday's downpours arrive.
Well some idiot came up with that suggestion and got it all wrong. 272 is rather more than 250 and there is power to add. Some others suggested that achieving 250 would be miraculous.
I think I am correct in saying Somerset can't declare because it will stop Hants of getting a third bowling point.
If Somerset desperately wanted to declare now, would they have to deliberately lose a wicket so they could declare?
In my judgment, tomorrow’s forecast would be sufficient justification for a declaration, should Tom opt for one.
Cove gone, so one imagines any thought of a possible declaration is at an end.
That's a simply tremendous effort by all of the middle/lower order, especially Craig who really is worth his weight in gold.
Grizzers
Hopefully, this is just the temporary effect of the roller. It was doing pelnty of Abbas and Abbott with the second new ball.
Good disciplined, patient stuff from Somerset. Hants battled hard.
Could use another soon.

Abbott can be a dangerous lower order batsman so happy to see the back of him.
Eng like all of Jimmy, Broad, Woakes, Jof, Wood, Stone and S Curran. So that's 7 guys that might still be ahead of him in the deluded eyes of the England selectors?
Of those 7, I think only the first 3 ought to be (under English conditions), really, and if Eng want Jimmy and Broad to go Down Under, then one assumes that they will use them sparingly?
Hats off to everyone in the team for a superb effort today.
A few hours rain rest tomorrow, then back at 'em.
Grizzers
Quote:Goonie goo goo
What more can Overton do to get a go with England v N Z ? Fully deserves a crack now no doubt
The stats quoted today sum it up 2% of England players come from Somerset and large double figure %s come from the Home or Pennine counties.
If Craig wants England he's gotta be in the selectors eye and the South West is hardly on their map.
It's not what you can do. It's about how convenient it is for those the ECB listen to to see you without going out of their way too far to do their job.
Being a Somerset cricketer in UK cricket is like being a capable womon in a supposedly equal opportunity industry.
We are the Rachel Heyhoe Flint statue supporters in the ECB's MCC. It isn't going to change

I just love watching him. There is always something happening in the game when he is batting, bowling or fielding. I know I’ve often mentioned it on here before, so apologies for repetition but among my favourite cricket watching memories is his nine wickets at Scarborough in 2017 when he so richly deserved 10. Although he didn’t get him out in either innings, he made Handscomb look rather scared and I got the distinct impression that PH didn’t like it up him. He was nothing like as quick then but he certainly looked it in that match due to his hostility and the bounce that he got from just short of a length and it was that which made me think that he would be a good choice for that Ashes tour where he certainly wasn’t disgraced although he had bad luck.
He has usually batted well when I’ve seen him too (except against Maharaj). I realise that saying this is probably punishable by death when I next cross the Somerset border but I actually have more confidence in him batting than I do our living legend.
I love his evident passion playing for Somerset too although there are occasions it could do with being tempered
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:07:22:34:12 by Des Platt.
As for Peter Handscomb? He strikes me as a very unimpressive individual, I'm afraid. Anthony Gibson has been talking about the gulf in demeanour and apparent attitude between Tom Abell and Handscomb in the recent match at Taunton. The latter, apparently, did not much more than shuffle around, looking somewhat morose, with his hands in his pockets and barely seemed to engage in any dialogue with his bowlers. If I recall correctly, he didn't pull up too many trees when he was the overseas player in CC2 for Gloucestershire. I'd forgotten all about his Yorkshire stint which, I assume, implies that he didn't necessarily cover himself in glory up there, either. He seems to have been a somewhat bizarre choice as Middx Captain and that county should be worried, in my view, if they really have so little leadership ability in their ranks that they had to import a guy who doesn't seem to be any great shakes as a leader himself.
Should be ready for prime time soon. Irish domestics coming up next.
County Cricket Links Blog--Round 5--Day 1-2
Enjoy
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:08:09:57:52 by cricketharris.
"A delayed start to day three at @TheAgeasBowl but the forecast looks to be improving as the day goes on"
I would expect for some play today and believe the ground drains quickly. Somerset must fancy their chances of some quick wickets
I noticed that about Handscomb at mid off with his hands in his pockets. The only time he really intervened, he seemed to completely mess up one of his bowlers who was bowling well and then started trying to bowl exclusively yorkers at Lewis Goldsworthy ; they all ended up as either low full tosses or half volleys . I’d forgotten about his spell at Gloucestershire but you were right that he was underwhelming at Yorkshire. In that match he got single figure scores in both innings and although I think it was TG/ LG who got him , his experiences at the other end certainly unnerved him.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:08:17:23:17 by Des Platt.
The live feed shows some covers have been removed already
Perhaps lunch at 12.50 and a start at 1.30 might not be completely outside the realms of possibility?
I guess a 2pm or 2.30 pm start might be more realistic, though.
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
And, for ease of reference, here is the link to my First Day Report:
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
Farmer
Farmer
Is there, one wonders, a certain lack of urgency from the home outfit to get everything dried out? Something that would be there, were they on top.
After all this delaying they deserve to lose ALL their remaining wickets today.
Farmer
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:08:16:31:49 by Farmer White.
A joke.
Only 16 overs.
I hope Hants end up in Div 3 in September.
This has been a joke today.
Yesterday the Hants commentators were insistent that the ground dries in a trice and that no long delay should be expected (after cessation of rain) based on the forecast. The actual weather seems to have been more or less as forecast.
It always seems that there are interminable delays getting games going again after weather interruptions. Again I would assume it's the Umpires that decided on the timing, but a whole hour is frustratingly excessive and does nothing to promote Cricket to the spectator
Never makes any sense and seems to have very little to do with how much work the groundstaff are or are not doing

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:08:16:54:44 by Grockle.
Edit - did anyone see how black the sky was at Lords and the lights shining really bright, but that game continued - No consistency, that's what is so annoying.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:08:18:15:08 by Rod1883.
In poor light, it is absolutely vital to attack the stumps, but at the most the batsmen only had to play two deliveries in every six from Lewis. A wasted opportunity, especially after he had bowled so well in the first innings.
Sit back and relax because we will win this at a canter.
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
And, for ease of reference here are the links to:
Second Day Report
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
First Day Report
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
Farmer
I find it *very* hard to believe that they would have seemed so uninterested, had the home side been in the ascendancy.
Hopefully, Hants get what they deserve today, though I'm a little worried that - after the first few overs with the new ball (with which LG bowled well) - only Cove has really looked like taking wickets in this second innings. From a wicket-taking point of view, others surely need to come to the party, too, today. I'd give JD a go first up, rather than Gregory, after the unthreatening way in which Lewis bowled last night. I think we're going to need Leachy to wring something out of this strip, too.
Have they got bad lighting, because there was very little sign of shadow from the players caused by the lighting?
The umpires in county cricket are awful when it comes to rain & restarts, but they are consistently awful. They didnt not play yesterday in some anti Somerset agenda passed down from the ECB to stop us winning.
The same with the pitch penalty. Given the weather we had choices, we go normal and come second or push it to the absolute limits to try and win our first title ever & risk the resulting consequences. We took option 2 and are dealing with the fall out.
The same for England recognition. In the old days maybe yes there was a big county bias but not anymore. There is a huge network of scouts watching everyone. Caddick Johnson Tres Compo Craig Lewis Jack Dom Banton etc in more recent times.
I'm Hildys biggest fan but his peak years have coincided with a very settled England top 6. He was never bashing the door down when the gaps arose. He has said this himself.
Career records arent a stick to beat the selectors with, its about being in form when the gaps arise and taking your chance.
I'd be chuffed to bits if Craig makes the test squad this summer but so would fans of Stone Robinson Woakes Wood Curran etc.
The main thing is he is at the absolute top of his game, fit, firing, it will always come if you keep quietly doing the right things consistently. Especially bowlers, gaps always happen & rotation is a clear England policy. Jimmy & Broad have 12/18 months left at the very best.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:09:08:48:15 by wsm fan.
Stone and Wood are seldom fit for long and Archer has his fitness issues too.
Craig is almost certain to be absorbed into the "bubble," and it will be immensely annoying for Somerset if all he then does is carry drinks.
If England have been paying attention, they'd know that Chris Woakes - unimpeachable home record though he has - is no kind of a prospect for overseas tours and, knowing the England selectors, they will have more than half an eye on the clash with the main enemy Down Under this winter.
The England plan for Down Under - in their ideal world, would be to take the two veterans for one last hurrah, and to have all of Joff, Wood and Stone fit, plus take one other big, tall bowler (for which Craig would be very much in the frame). In reality, the chances of all of Joff, Wood and Stone being fit to tour are about 3%, which only improves Craig's chances of touring even further.
I know it's difficult to really judge the light from a camera view, but as Mike says there were no clear shadows from the lights, but at Lords the sky was black with lights shining really bright where they played on.
Surely the Umpires should be ensuring that the groundstaff are making every effort to get the game restarted instead of standing around and not using the blotter etc etc etc
As I said previously, this apparent attitude of abandoning play at every opportunity will drive people away from 'traditional' cricket into the arms of the flash bang wallop '100'.
Craig Overton is going to be heavily involved with England over the next 3-4 seasons. Assuming sustained fitness, that seems all but certain.
And we're already short on pace bowling options this season, even with Craig leading the attack every week.
Jack Brooks is not one for the future, and he doesn't look capable in the present.
This club almost certainly needs to recruit a bare minimum of two and, really, three new pace bowling options, going forward.
Pace bowlers don't grow on trees.
Despite our top order batting issues, Andy Hurry is surely going to have to adopt a "two overseas pacemen," strategy, going forward, given that it's unlikely that we can simltaneously recruit lots of pace bowlers from other counties?
Yes Craig is flying now, but it is VERY tough to break into that inner circle. Rightly or wrongly England have their inner group which once in are under different rules.
Woakes Wood Jof Jimmy Broad Sammy C arent worried in April May about taking county wickets. Craig & Ollie Rob need to bash the door down with performances.
The IPL has or would gave affected June NZ selection.
Stokes is huge in effecting the balance of the 11 selected.
The following white ball series will affect who may, may not get selected for tests.
Add to that injuries and their general summer rotation plans.
I couldnt be anymore bias in wanting him to make it (well maybe him & his family!) but i'm sure Higgins & Robinson fans would say the same plus the 7 or 8 already in the inner circle who will feel they have already "made it" so to speak and be deserving of kudos/history built on previous performances.
The main thing is Craig is at the absolute top of his game and still growing/improving.
Keep doing the right things & everything else takes care of itself.
Quote:Rod1883
I don't think it's anti Somerset wsm - it's just the poor, inconsistent, and lackadaisical attitude and performance of the ground staff, Umpires and authorities.
I know it's difficult to really judge the light from a camera view, but as Mike says there were no clear shadows from the lights, but at Lords the sky was black with lights shining really bright where they played on.
Surely the Umpires should be ensuring that the groundstaff are making every effort to get the game restarted instead of standing around and not using the blotter etc etc etc
As I said previously, this apparent attitude of abandoning play at every opportunity will drive people away from 'traditional' cricket into the arms of the flash bang wallop '100'.
Spot on. Its awful across the board in the county game, especially in red ball with minimum or no crowds, a total lack of urgency all round, but for all counties, not just Somerset.
Certainly, Ryan Higgins - in my view - has a zero percent chance of being taken Down Under.
Craig has the attributes to succeed both at home and away from home. Higgins is sort of a poor man’s Woakes and Woakes’ away record is horrendous at Test level. Personally, I rate Ben Coad more highly than Higgins, but Ben is another with a shaky fitness record.
Objectively speaking, I’d say Craig has the attributes to replace Broad’s role in the England team. Woakes - for home games - will probably be stepped up into Jimmy’s role. And England will pray for sustained fitness from their outright fast options (but their prayers are likely to go unanswered).
I think that - since the start of last season - Craig has been giving Somerset performances of Andy Caddick type quality.
Meanwhile its up to our team to take their opportunities TODAY and get the job done A.S.A.P.
I also see little point in the regulation about the lights. Who cares if they provide more light than the natural light? The priority should be to keep the show on the road. If most of the light needs to come from the floodlights? So be it. The pink ball day night stuff was deemed safe with the lights providing all of the light, so...
It might be a case of second new ball or bust.
Perhaps a lapse in concentration from Vince might be our best chance of a breakthrough prior to that second new ball?
There was a period of time when James inconsistency would have worked against him but had he gone to Surrey in the days of the Unicorns can anyone really say he would not have had at least 1 game? Is Craig really further down the pecking order than the second Curran?
I don't think the policy is 'anti Somerset' any more than it's anti Northants or Derbyshire or Leics etc.... it's just lazy Home Counties M1 corridor ambivalence which means provincial players need to be good for longer and need to bang on the door harder to be noticed or talked about by those selectors listen to including scouts and those they send to look. It's institutional 'cricketism' if anything
When would Banger have played (and he would have done) had Duncan not been involved in THAT game v Glamorgan?
Just makes it harder to keep good but impatient players. Jos? Bet it was in Jamie's mind. Still amazed Graham Rose never played but I'm sure there's Gloucs fans who can name as many. Kim Barnet? Mark Alleyne? Who had nothing like the international careers you would have thought.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:09:13:59:09 by Grockle.
Well worth getting up at 4 a.m. to watch on you tube on a grimy spring morning here !
As for Craig & England, he can't do more than he is right now. His batting will also surely be a consideration and help his case. When it comes to the trip down under, it can't harm his chances that he managed to bowl out Steve Smith in prime form last time around.
Grizzers
Does anyone know what pace in miles per hour that Craig now gets up to? Tremlett actually was not lightning quick supposedly but on the hostility index he was well up there
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:09:12:47:16 by Des Platt.
In terms of James Hildreth, his great misfortune is that his one truly great season - 2010 - coincided with a time when there were zero vacancies in a strong and settled England batting line-up. James complained, the other week, that many people who lack his overall record have got their chance as a result of one great season... but the reality is that it’s all about timing in those cases .. there has to be a vacancy.
That said, there’s no doubt in my mind that an above average but far from great county cricketer is much more likely to be given a random England call if he happens to play for Surrey and, to a lesser extent, for the other “traditional,” TMCs.
Notts will have won 3 matches in 3 years, two of them Vs Essex.
I hope it’s a good batting track and we can win the toss and bat to provide them some extra recovery time.
I'm presently amazed how on the fringe Craig is.... he gets a look and then is overlooked. The 'good team-man' mentality still seems to exist along with the 'one from the provinces' mentality. The sooner the old @#$%& leave the selection group the better but it never seems to change anything.

:-)
Grizzers
Davey steps up again as fully expected, we even took two wickets whilst Craig put his feet up for a while.
Hampshire holding out nicely they might even get to Tea.
I think we can see the effect of eight points for a draw here. Hants fighting, tooth and nail really. Fair play to them.
Wish I had some !
Grizzers
2 wickets session 2 including their best player.
Session 3 now 37 overs at their 8 10 & 11.
Absolutely nothing to be remotely worried about.
Brilliant 4 day display YET again 💪
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:09:16:23:08 by wsm fan.
But Hampshire's belief has to grow with every over - it makes the last afternoon exciting but you have to ask whether this would be an issue if we had had at least another hour yesterday at any time in the day.
Ahh well makes cricket worth the watch.

Grizzers
If Eng are paying attention, it must greatly increase the chances of a “He must rest,” order being handed down for the next game.
Perhaps time to try something different - Lammonby, maybe?
We may very well be wishing, even more, that Hants had got a wriggle on in getting the outfield dried out yesterday, now.
You have to give a lot of credit to their players, though, for what has been an epic rearguard action, full of defiance and spirit.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Phew!!!
We should, surely, be able to wrap Abbas up quite quickly, albeit Barker will try to protect him.
Brilliant from Davey.
What the hell was the umpire doing?
Cove immense and Josh extremely good.
We didn’t really put a foot wrong .. and kept plugging away today in frustrating circumstances.
That said, I think Tom Abell is bowling really well so maybe I should say 5 main seamers.

Great effort to win at Hants. and all credit to them for putting up one hell of a battle.
There will be some sore bodies out there right now.
With two more games this coming week and next, there will surely have to be a rest for either Craig or Josh v. Surrey, meaning that Jove v Cove might not happen for a while yet.
Grizzers
Well done Hampshire (county of my birth) for a very obdurate batting display.
Well done Somerset on a great win, some tired bodies after that I'm sure.
Thank goodness that the nonsense that we saw yesterday with Umpire's decisions on light and some pretty tardy work to get the field fit for play didn't count against us!
The umpires likely would have refused to take the field, citing the light.
As it was, they conferred about the light before allowing the one ball we needed!
Quote:sfwithers
Well, Somerset's openers have come in for a lot of criticism this season, but what a second innings today! They knocked off the target in drizzle and poor light at an average of 12 runs an over without losing a wicket. Hats off, I say! Hats off!

I agree it's about time the rules are changed regarding bad light, which only encourages the worst negativity.
Well done Somerset anyway, that next Gloucestershire clash is looking very interesting
After 47 overs v Middlesex and 51 overs this week he HAS to be in that New Zealand bubble.
The whole point of the ECB bowling contracts are to have the control to TELL counties to rest bowlers. If 98 overs inside 10 days doesnt qualify im not sure what does.
Sadly its self inflicted by SCCC as by only playing 3 main seamers 2 weeks running it has inevitably led to crazy workloads for our stand out bowler.
A NZ bubble "could" be formed in time to exclude him playing the Glos match.
A month in the test bubble is possible.
Then maybe 1 of the July rounds before his 5/6 week stint with the Southern Brave starts.
Oh, and if the NZ month goes well it may well lead to August/Sept him being busy with the India series.
If we are lucky he may be allowed to play the BWT final i guess 😉
JK will call it a great opportunity for another squad member to step up, not sure we have a spare Craig O ready & waiting sadly.....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:09:19:39:01 by wsm fan.
It’s been a good start to the season, the shock Gloucs defeat apart, but I think it will be really hard to keep it going as - minus Cove - we seem to lack the ability to put four decent frontline pacemen on the field.
We’ll have to hope that Baker, Leonard or Aldridge can really hit the ground running or, if management insist on Brooks, then we’re going to have to hope for a very sudden improvement in his form and fitness.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:10:07:29:06 by AGod.
Without him we are half the attack. He is our leader, the others feed off him.
His accuracy and threat means batters see him off, or try to (and fail). Therefore taking risks at the other end.
51 overs for 82 runs is simply outstanding.
He does his job superbly well BUT makes life easier for the others.
4 wins from 5 puts us in a great position so hopefully we can maintain top 2 regardless now.
Quote:sfwithers
Well, Somerset's openers have come in for a lot of criticism this season, but what a second innings today! They knocked off the target in drizzle and poor light at an average of 12 runs an over without losing a wicket. Hats off, I say! Hats off!
Very true, even though Lammonby once again failed to score...
If the umpires had not allowed the fourth innings to start, there would have been riots throughout the land and they would have been summoned to Lord's for a dressing down.
It was a much longer day than I had hope for or expected, but we got there in the end.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Perhaps I’m wrong and management actually have a lot of faith in one or more of Aldridge, Leonard and Baker and see them as fully capable of good contributions in the CC, as soon as this season.
If, however, they don’t have such faith, then I’m afraid that “fingers crossed,” seems to have been all there was.
I mean, really you need at least 6 pacemen you trust in your squad to cover injuries, loss of form, rotation etc... and if you’re a “4 pacemen every week,” team as we had been for the past several years (up until two games ago), then that number should ideally be 7.
We have only 5 “senior pacemen,” in the club, one of whom we do not control and who may play very little between now and the end of the season and another one of whom was known to be coming off a very serious injury.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:09:22:17:16 by AGod.
Therefore Gloucester will be a must win if we have any intention on Winning the CC assuming they carry on as they are at present.
Somerset get no say.
The ECB own Craig not us.
He is on an ECB bowling contract.
If they say rest our response is "how long"
The more in their thoughts he becomes the less they will let him play for us.
That's how it works.
If he is rested and in case the perfect solution everyone but our entitely inept management saw coming and seem to have done nothing about does not come to pass (and it probably won't) then we will have to use the resources we have at our disposal.
Looking at that rather than whinging about all those bowling stars we didn't sign I have to agree that unless Brooksie has come on in leaps and bounds it might be time to blood someone.
MdL should be back, Josh has done this workhorse stuff before but I'm still not sure personally how fit he is so Lewis will be stepping up and with Tom as supplement 4th (thought he bowled very well this game). The question is who fills that other option? I hope they don't pick Jack B on seniority if he is going to be a liability, Kasey won't ready one would think so...... are the other guys in with a chance? Leonard took 4 in the last secomds innings I believe. It's an interesting time but you have to do it sometime.
I assume we'll spend the next few days thinking about this and they'll comevup with something else.

There've been zero indications from the seconds that Brooks has really found form.
IF conditions vs Surrey happen to be absolutely perfect for swing bowling then, I suppose a case could possibly still be made for Jack B......... *however* from what I've seen conditions that assist swing make Sonny Baker more than a little dangerous...
If Craig has to rest, they can bring MDL in. I do wonder if MDL has spent two weeks with his feet up precisely because they intend to ask him to shoulder an abnormally high workload (for him) as part of an attack in which Tom continues to operate as the fourth main seamer. That is, maybe we knew that these games vs Middx and Hants would be Craig's last two games and so the plan was to recharge MDL's batteries as much as humanly possible.
Perhaps it will be L Greg, Josh, MDL and Tom A vs Surrey and Gloucs and we just hope and pray they then stay fit for three other games in the group that are to follow.
If not? It's blood the youngsters (which I'd be happy with given no relegation), fall back on Brooks (not an attractive option) or......... well the only other choice would be to exploit the loan market.
If I was making the decision and if England said "Cove must sit out one of the next two rounds," without specifying which, then I'd definitely rest him vs Surrey and then unleash him vs Gloucs. BUt I fear we've seen the last of Cove for this season.
But, yes, very limited impact with the ball.
Surely we ought to be able to produce something that will turn in the second half of the match, but that doesn’t turn big on day one?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:10:15:59:46 by AGod.
It may not be an international superstar but hey they don't always come good or become available. I'm with you AG. If we have to go young then Baker had something about him.
Ref support for Jack L? Well they haven't used the other string to the Goldsworthy bow yet and I'm sure RvdM would be happy to oblige if you want the experience.

I did, however, read a longish interview with him and there was zero indication of him being English.
What I found out about him included:
- He was on the MCC Young Cricketers programme.
- He has played for least four county second XIs before.
- He has played a lot in league cricket in Kent and a bit in Warks.
- He played against us, for Kent second XI two years ago. In the second innings, he saw off Marcus and 4 other players.
On Wikipedia he's listed as South African.
However, it's possible - perhaps - that he might have qualified for England by residence, by now? I mean he's played for a laundry list of English sides!?
[heritage.derbyshireccc.com]
The interview, which I read about him dates from March 2020 and is here:
[bowledthroughthegate.weebly.com]
p.s Ben Green bowled rather well today.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:11:10:29:46 by Loyal of Lhasa.
Link to Final Day Report:
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
And, for ease of reference, here are the links to the other three days:
Third Day Report:
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
Second Day Report:
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
First Day Report:
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
Farmer
We got a decent season out of David Stiff (only one though) We picked up Paul Jarvis when others had pretty much finished with him and he did us some good for a while.
There was another we tried about that time who didn't come good, can't for the life remember his name. Gemaal Hussain wasn't a success Mike Parsons had a few good ones. Alf was.... older but not pulling up trees elsewhere until.....
If the resources are about and the backroom guys think they may do a job... give them the chance if we need 'em as backups.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:05:11:10:44:45 by Grockle.
