One Day Conundrum


By Grockle
April 4 2005

Our part time one day captain Rob Turner has a real problem on his hands and a fortnight to sort it. He has good one day players, but he can't use them. He has to rest his fragile squad members but can he afford to? And he has 5 TSL games to deal with before he can hand over to his South African boss....could all be over by then Nod!

Starting points

Questions

If we are to use Carl Gazzard in the role of pinch hitter, as last season, can we afford him with a wicketkeeper already in the side?  Rob T has not shown the form to be a specialist batsman in recent seasons so one would expect he will keep. 

The other question is who will partner the opening batsman?  Is John Francis up to the job of holding one end down and scoring while a strokemaker puts the first 15 overs to the willow sword? Please get the master Jayasuria here at the earliest possible date! 

Is Mike Burns looking to be in this first spot?  He is the kind of player who can do you a number of jobs in a short game and he is the kind of batsman who can put it about a bit.  Matt Wood?  Well if you are going to use him in the one dayers, he has to come in below 5 but can he push the score along or is he to be held in reserve should the anchorman go early?

Jayasuria would open without question if he is here and John Francis ought to partner him to play a more adventurous sort of Peter Bowler role.  If Sanath isn't available, then you could do worse than give Gazza a go, he can surprise and he certainly provided the runs on more than one occasion.  Burnsy has a role but it may be a choice between him and Woody and it depends, to some extent, on what is happening with the ball how that goes!

Certainties are James Hildreth and Ian Blackwell.. One would expect one of them to be sitting at number 4 to push the score on if the front end fails or put the nail in the coffin for the opposition if it doesn't.  They will probably both be in the first 6 whatever else happens.

If Noddy is going to be at 6 or 7, then it comes down to our bowling decisions whether we plump for one more batsman or a bit bowler (Woody  or Burnsy).  Aaron Laraman holds the key.  He could be the difference between us winning and losing close games.  His role is to provide quick runs/support in the run chase and tight wicket taking overs with the ball.  Gareth Andrew may be looked upon to do the same if AL fails but that is the pivotal role in this team.  Mike Parsons may be a more competent wicket taker but he is a number 10/11 batsman.

I ,personally, expect the older bowling to be protected during the one day games. This has been usual practice with the more fragile players.  Early on, it looks like that will be Richard Johnson, who is doubtful to start in April because of an ankle injury.  The problem is that Johnno can get you the wickets and provide with the bat in short games if he is on form.  Andy Caddick was your rhythm bowler who will keep the runs down (at least he did a season and a half ago).  If he can do that again, he opens the door for bowlers at the other end when frustration sets in. What happens if he can't is anyone's guess and probably the end of Caddy's one day career.   Nixon can be used at the start of an innings for shock value but he will not keep the score down at the end and is most effective when used sparingly. 

So who will get the wickets?  Simon Francis, step up to the plate.  He and Laraman/Andrew have to be more penetrating this year while we rely on the slow bowling of Blackwell to draw the net closed with frugal overs and a stump or two.  We may very well miss Dutch until Smith  arrives because we will only be able to hold one end down at a time.  I doubt that Noddy will risk Suppiah or Wes Durston in the early games unless injury dictates.  (Although, again personally, I'm not sure how much of a risk Wes would be.  He's always impressed me in a one day role). 

Jayasuria and Smith may have a say in later games but we need to be knocking on the door before they arrive if we are to be a candidate for top three.

The opening side then?

1. John Francis

2. Carl Gazzard

3. James Hildreth

4. Mike Burns

5. Matt Wood

6. Ian Blackwell

7. Aaron Laraman

8. Rob Turner (capt/wicky)

9. Simon Francis

10. Andrew Caddick

11. Nixon McLean

I'd like to see Johnson replace one of the last couple but only if Franky Snr takes wickets and I think Burns and Wood will probably only see one day action until the internationals arrive.  IF we stay injury free!  Burnsy may however be preferred to the gamble of Gazza.

Now there is a question.  Quite rightly brought up by members on the messageboard and a subject I was coming back to after Tuesday.  Is there a place for KP (our best one day batsman last year)?  Well, no I don't think he will be in the reckoning.  There are a number of reasons and they don't all have the same level of merit. 

Keith is still the man to have in a fight but his knees and therefore his bowling value is not what it used to be.  Therefore as a batsman who bowls he is probably not in consideration.  Mike Burns has his testimonial this year and can still turn his arm over for a limited amount of overs and so he would probably get the 'batsman who bowls' berth ahead of KP if it came down to it.  We also have another 'batsman who bowls' in Sanath Jayasuria.

So why not as the extra batsman in the side at number 6-ish?  Well, if the club follows its youth policy, then we already have an extra batsman in Carl Gazzard if we play two keepers because one is the captain.  If Gazzard doesn't play then KP may have an early chance if Burnsy acts as pinch hitter.  But the moment Smiffy arrives that goes.  There is also the case for using Suppiah or Durston instead and following the aformentioned youth policy.  KP is not a long term option for Somerset and we have to find another one.  There is also the case above for the development of Aaron Laraman and he is in competition with anyone for the allrounder post.

With a new baby in town (congratulations to Keith and Sharon by the way) and a second team role to fill, sorting out a team in April.  I can't see Keith figuring unless we get injuries to key people.  If that happens, he'll come in and do the job we all expect of him.  If he gets his chance early then he'll do the same and the rules of the game change but he is not an initial choice in my mind because I don't think he is an initial choice in the club's.  Let's see who figures on Tuesday if the weather stays dry and of course....

We'll find out at Edgbaston...pray they find the money for a certain Sri Lankan to be available.  That would make a hell of a difference to my level of confidence about the front end of the short game season!