By Grockle
April 6 2007

Will the format of our 40 over side be any different to our Championship predictions? Will Gareth get a look in? Pinch hitters? four day and one day men? Allrounders versus specialists? Is this where the younger guys will get the chance to shine and prepare to replace their elders?

The One Day Squad

We've learned in the past that we can't expect to go through the season with a squad of 13-ish.  The four day side almost picks itself in the eyes of the supporting public but does that condemn some players at Taunton, who have tasted a fair share of first team games, to a season of second team heroics?  Or will they keep their thirst up for the heady stuff in our one day campaigns.

When you look at our one day line-up, who picks themselves here?

Cameron White - we'd be daft to leave him out with his growing reputation as one of the best short game batsmen in the business...started here in the SouthWest!

And if we pick him then we need to also pencil in his English compardre - not as popular with the national bods here but popular in a Somerset shirt - Ian Blackwell

Will White pinch hit?  I doubt it but I personally think Keiswetter or even Trego might.

Justin Langer will partner Marcus Trescothick at the start surely but will there be a place for Matt Wood?  I think that one will depend on how he starts the season.  There should be if his form allows it but will he lose out to batsmen who can bowl if it doesn't.

What role for Wes Durston, quickfire and confident one day player with a bit of slow bowling to back up the rest?  Is there a place for our one day meastro Keith Parsons.  Many would have him first on their one day list...but are our selectors among them or will they go for youth and push him out?

It isn't expected that Andy Caddick will play in all the one day matches. It might be that he plays in none.  Gareth Andrew must fancy his chances then because he was the most dangerous one day bowler from the younger end last year.  But the main problem for many of our younger seamers is RUNS.  We shouldn't need them to get some for us with the top five we should put out.  We need them to stop giving them away to the opposition when they bowl though.

Somerset is still looking for that Graham Rose replacement who can bowl you 8 overs for about 20, take two or three important wickets, frustrate the batsmen so they fall to the other seamers and score a quick 40 at the end of an innings if required.  I'm not sure we need (or have) a bowler with the last bit (although some of them may have learned at the Johnson "School of Batting" in the last couple of seasons) but Ben Phillips is Brian Rose's tip for the frugal bowler.  He gained a reputation at Northampton for being a devil to get off the square.  How will he fare at the more unforgiving Taunton?  Well he'll surely be given an early chance to show us.

We also should now have our 'death bowler'.  Too many times last season, good early seam work was destroyed by poor and loose bowling in the run chase and at the end of the opposition's innings.  We couldn't get out the establlished batsman and we couldn't bowl line and length on the wicket to the lesser partners they had.  Steffan Jones has returned with a reputation of doing for these guys.  He did it here in the season before he left and he got it back at Northants and Derby in his travels out of the county.  He is expected to have brought it back with him.

So our batting line-up picks itself to a great extent

Langer, Trescothick, White, Hildreth, Blackwell

I would say Parsons at Number 6 although Wes Durston may have something to say about that and it doesn't leave a place for Matt Wood or Arul Suppiah.  Wes and Arul may have to wait until the 20/20 for their chance.  Matt may force his way in and push KP out but that limits our seam options.

At 7 you can perm any one from three.  Sam Spurway is my prediction for the starter with the Championship gloves and he will probably keep them at the start of the one day games.  Keiswetter is my prediction for the longer term one day keeper because he is such a destructive batsman if he gets going and a gloveman on a par with both his rivals.  Carl Gazzard is still the "dark horse" in this competition.  Who knows how his glove and bat work has improved.  He has the one day experience and was a valuable member of the side in that role....but

Caddick may start the one day season to get his radar working for other games but I don't expect him to be a regular unless things go very wrong.  Charl Willoughby will be, Steffan Jones is expected to be and Ben Phillips is hoped to be.  That leaves one seam place up for grabs and I think it will go to Peter Trego.  Trigger didn't do his chances any harm yesterday by sharing 6 wickets with his Vice captain, I think he's a better bat should we need one at 8.  He has something to prove with the ball and he will have to fight off the challenge of Gareth Andrew in that case - the trouble is that no-one really knows what Gareth is capable of with the bat and that may keep him out.  There is also a 'dark horse' here.  Ex-first team seamer and U19 top 3 batsman Rob Woodman may figure in a bigger way than we expect IF he has got his bowling sights back in line. But that may be for later in the season.

My starting lineup for Glamorgan on the 22nd?

Langer, Trescothick, White, Hildreth, Blackwell, Parsons, Spurway, Phillips, Jones, Caddick, Willoughby

and for later in the season?

Langer, Trescothick, White, Hildreth, Blackwell, Parsons, Keiswetter, Trego, Phillips, Jones, Willoughby

It ain't a bad side if it clicks!  We'll get an early indication of how Mr Rose's mind is working against Devon on Sunday.  Can't wait.