Somerset
An Almighty Tussle - Hampshire 4 day
By Farmer White et al
May 30 2022
The report on THAT Hampshire game - it all looked even and close fought on Day 1 - the rest you can search on Farmer's website for yourself.
County Championship 2022. Division 1. Somerset v Hampshire. 19th, 20th and 21st May. Taunton.
Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, M.T. Renshaw, T.B. Abell (c), T. Banton, J.C. Hildreth, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, J. Leach, P.M. Siddle.
Hampshire. F.S. Organ, I.G. Holland, N.R.T. Gubbins, J.M. Vince (c), L.A. Dawson, B.C. Brown (w), A.H.T. Donald, K.H.D. Barker, J.K. Fuller, K.J. Abbott, Mohammad Abbas.
Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.
First day 19th May – An Almighty Tussle
Hampshire were a different proposition than either Warwickshire or Gloucestershire. The pitch too was of an altogether different nature. The ball asked questions of both sides all day. Playing and missing was an occupational hazard which had to be endured. Hampshire were 29 for 0 after 15 overs of their innings at the close. Somerset had been 31 for 0 after 15 overs of theirs at the start. After 78 overs Somerset were 211 all out, or 2.68 an over, and that after a calculated assault of 44 in 54 balls from Craig Overton. It was that sort of day. Bowlers offering batters next to nothing. Batters, Overton apart, scavenging for runs among the scraps of thick edges, pushed or guided singles, and the occasional ball of doubtful length or line. And yet, all day, the cricket held the attention. Eyes, at least those around me in the elevated section of the Trescothick Pavilion, were rarely diverted from the action being played out on a strip of green set on an increasingly lush, newly seeded outfield. It was a day of cricket of the old sort.
The morning had begun with large clumps of high white cloud mixing with clear blue sky. The sun seemed to find its way into the blue sky most of the time, for the shadows on the outfield were crisp of outline. There was heat in the sun, and enough warmth in the shade for me to sit for the first two sessions in the elevated section of the Trescothick Pavilion in my shirt sleeves, although others preferred a jacket or jumper. The pitch was set well towards the Somerset Stand, in line with the end of the Trescothick Pavilion next to the slowly rebuilding Gimblett’s Hill. The crowd was a good one for the Championship and would have been in pre-pandemic times. There were perhaps approaching 2,000 in the ground, the River Stand looking particularly well populated, perhaps helped by its proximity to the pitch and its place full in the face of the sun.
Matt Renshaw and Tom Lammonby, Somerset’s increasingly settled opening partnership walked out to face a Hampshire attack headed by the three bowlers who had routed a much-weakened Somerset team at Southampton just over a month before. The tone for much of the day was set as Keith Barker and Mohammad Abbas immediately found their mark and it took Somerset seven overs to reach 8 for 0. The first boundary did not come until the eighth over, and that from the edge of Renshaw’s bat. The ball ran along the ground to Gimblett’s Hill, passing through the slip cordon which applauded the bowler, Abbas.
Somerset’s second boundary did not come until the 12th over, and that another edge, this time over the cordon from a Lammonby cut off Ian Holland, who had replaced Abbas. Next, Kyle Abbott beat Lammonby twice in two balls. Watching in the Somerset interest was an uneasy occupation not eased when Lammonby’s second boundary also flew over the slip cordon. Finally, on 16, Lammonby played forward to Abbott and edged the ball to Liam Dawson at second slip. “It’s been coming,” said the person in front of me as the scoreboard registered 37 for 1. Renshaw had looked the more confident of the opening pair and had found the boundary with the middle of the bat, leaning neatly into a ball from Abbott and driving it through midwicket to the Somerset Stand. A pull off Abbott was so well struck it went through the hands of the deep midwicket fielder with still enough energy to scramble over the rope. Twice in an over from Holland he drove, once through the covers to the Somerset Stand, and once straight to the Lord Ian Botham Stand. Cries of, “Shot!” were ringing out and the applause was gaining force as the crowd’s confidence grew. Then, Holland first defeated Renshaw’s defensive push before pitching a ball on a length for the drive. Renshaw aimed his drive at the covers, the ball moved away off the seam and Dawson took his second slip catch. Somerset were 47 for 2 with Renshaw walking off for 27 and conversation becoming more edgy.
Tom Banton joined Tom Abell who had already played defensively to a full ball from Abbott which took the inside edge and ran past the stumps to the Lord Ian Botham Stand for four. Now he played a ball from Abbas straight down to his feet. It ran back towards the stumps, evading his attempt to kick it away, and dislodged the leg bail. Abell stamped a foot in frustration, Somerset were 55 for 3 and Abell had departed for six. Someone said, “Three wickets down now.” It was a statement of the obvious, but the tone reflected anxiety about the struggle Somerset’s batters were facing to hold their wickets. A look at the clock added to the anxiety. Those 55 runs had taken over an hour and a half to accumulate and lunch was already bearing down on the match. In the five overs to the break Somerset scored another three runs and Hampshire beat the bat four times. Somerset were 58 for 3 with Banton on six and Hildreth on one. A score that might challenge Hampshire was a long way off.
My lunchtime perambulation, the works on Gimblett’s Hill still preventing me from turning a perambulation into a circumnavigation, ended as it invariably does, short of my seat. In my seventh decade of watching Somerset trying to win the Championship, there are too many people to talk to and too much to talk about to complete the task in the 40 minutes permitted for lunch. As so often, I had reached the popular gathering place of the covers store as the players reached their positions. My stay was extended by an ice cream van selling vanilla scoop ice cream (with flake). There was no alternative but to purchase an example, scoop ice cream from a van being a rarity in the modern age. Progress does not always equal improvement.
While buying and eating an ice cream and passing conversation with spectators known and unknown the cricket can be a blur, although the important bits seem always to register. The continued playing and missing, Banton sending a ball from Keith Barker furiously on its way to the cover boundary in front of the Caddick Pavilion. The climb to the top of the Trescothick Pavilion, this time without causing a Somerset wicket. A few overs watched from the terrace under the media centre. More playing and missing, Abbas losing his line and sending a ball down the leg side to the Lord Ian Botham Stand for four precious byes. A stunning straight drive off Barker to the same spot as the byes, the identity of the batter lost in the blur. A heavenly square drive from Hildreth off Abbas to the Somerset Stand. What joy it was to be over the umpire’s head at that moment.
Then back to my seat. Hildreth forward in defence. Rapped on the pad by Abbas. Appeal. Out. “Really?” the disbelieving question from the row in front of me. Hildreth did look a long way forward, but he was walking off for eight, Somerset were 77 for 4 and the umpire was an awful lot closer to the action than the person in front of me was. Now Banton and Davies got their heads down and battled. Eight overs. Seventeen runs. Banton, driving, edged Holland past fourth slip to the Trescothick Stand boundary. Davies drove Abbott, bowling from the Trescothick Pavilion End, with barely a touch to the Somerset Stand boundary at deep midwicket and then edged him for two towards the Colin Atkinson Pavilion. From there, Abbott and Holland reduced the scoring to singles, pushed and deflected, before dot balls began to proliferate. Another thunderous appeal, this time from Abbott. Banton, trying to play into the leg side, had to give best, for the umpire’s finger was again raised. Somerset 94 for 5. Banton 24.
Gregory to the wicket. Second ball. Driven. Uppishly. Just short of mid-on. Mid-on moved straighter and closer. Midwicket closer too. Gregory drove to mid-on. Safely. End of the over. Batters confer. The Somerset innings is hanging by a thread. An over from Holland. Davies steadies the ship, takes a single and then attacks Abbott. A square drive as spectacular and effortless as you will see races to the Temporary Stand boundary. Cheers break out. A defensive stroke connects only with the edge but the ball races again for four, this time to the Lord Ian Botham Stand. Applause, for the fortuitous boundary and for Somerset passing 100. Then, “That got up a bit,” as Davies was beaten by Abbott. “Anything over 200 will be a decent score on this,” the opinion of one watcher as Davies edged short of gully and then played and missed again.
Gregory began confidently enough with a two and singles steered and clipped off his legs, but then, trying to defend against James Fuller edged and Dawson had his third catch at second slip. Somerset 113 for 6. Gregory 5. Two hundred now seemed a very long way off, but a cheer erupted as the arrival of Craig Overton was announced under gathring cloud and the disappearance of the sun. Davies continued to steer, this time wide of gully, the ball running to Gimblett’s Hill. After a careful start from Overton, and with tea approaching, Hampshire confronted him with Liam Dawson’s slow left arm spin. Overton rarely mixes his messages and Dawson’s second ball was promptly deposited over long off, crashing into the back wall of the Gimbett’s Hill construction site. Two balls later, it was the official announcer positioned in the open air next to the covers store who found himself in the landing zone as Overton lofted a six over long on.
Dawson was under fire, but with four fielders defending the boundary, Davies tried to finesse his way through and steered the ball straight into James Vince’s hands at slip. Davies hour and three quarters long vigil had ended on 29 and Dawson had his revenge. Only Banton batted longer than Davies, by two minutes. Somerset were battling, and at 144 for 7 the innings was in its 63rd over. Davey did not mince his intentions where Dawson was concerned any more than Overton had. His lofted straight drive was more understated and slightly miscued, but it still struck the same piece of the Gimblett’s Hill rear wall. Now, with the sun pushing the cloud back again, Overton and Davey steered Somerset to tea and a score of 154 for 7. “Overton looks the part,” someone said.
After tea, the attacking edge which Overton had introduced into the Somerset innings continued. In the 53 overs before he arrived Somerset had scored at 2.12 an over. In the 25 overs after he arrived the rate was 3.87. A straight drive from Davey off Abbott reached the Lord Ian Botham Stand boundary, a high lofted on drive from Overton bounced a couple of yards inside and scrabbled over the River Stand rope, while a pull crossed the Colin Atkinson Pavilion boundary. There was risk in the approach, Overton playing and missing several times, a push for a single staying in the air too long and just evading Abbott in his follow through, while Overton’s final boundary came from an edge which flew through fourth slip when there were only two. On 44, he attempted to lift Abbott into the Somerset Stand but was caught a yard short with relative ease by Organ. Somerset were 184 for 8, Overton and Davey had added 40 in 11 overs and Somerset had moved to within reach of a bonus point.
Leach picked up the mood, tried to drive his second ball from Abbott through the off side and edged it over the fine gully from where it crashed into the Gimblett’s Hill pickets next to the Trescothick Pavilion. The next ball he steered wide of gully from where it found the pickets at the other end of Gimblett’s Hill. There was still worry about the adequacy of Somerset’s score, but the pace and nature of Overton’s attack had lifted spirits and the boundaries were now being cheered as well as applauded. Hampshire kept to their task with equal endeavour. When Davies executed an extra cover drive to a cry of, “Shot!” a Hampshire fielder pounced on it like a cat on a mouse. “Shame,” someone said as the toe-to-toe tussle played itself out. A late cut off Abbott from Leach penetrated the field and crossed the much-abused Gimblett’s Hill boundary. It provoked extended applause as it took Somerset to 200 for 8 and a batting point that had looked beyond reach at 113 for 6, the wake of Overton’s assault still carrying Somerset forward.
Against bowling of the quality of Hampshire’s on a pitch which had challenged batters all day, such an assault was bound to founder eventually. Leach perished driving a ball from Holland, angled into him from around the wicket which perhaps cut in a little more off the pitch and bowled him. Leach 13 from 14 balls. Siddle drove Fuller through the covers to the Somerset Stand. The ball hit the rope with such force it cleared the boundary board. Hitting across the line to the next ball resulted in an inside edge onto the stumps and Somerset were all out for 211. Davey was not out on 22 made in over an hour. They were past the 200 suggested by someone earlier in the day as a “decent” score, the instinctive feeling of those around me though was that it was short of what it needed to be.
“When the luck is against you, the luck is against you,” was the first thing someone I saw for the first time since before the pandemic said as he left the ground. To a Somerset supporter it felt as if, like Achilles, the stumps and the edges of the Hampshire bats had been dipped in the River Styx to make them invulnerable, but with no Achilles heel for the bowlers to exploit. In 15 overs only one ball reached the boundary off the bat as Felix Organ and Ian Holland played, missed and pushed the ball away. With Overton opening the bowling from the Trescothick Pavilion End and Siddle from the River End, by the fourth over someone was asking, “They have gone past the bat a few times, haven’t they?” An attempted drive from Organ off Siddle fell just too short of backward point, “Nearly,” someone said. The fielding was its usual predatory self, a cover drive from Holland off Overton being restricted to two runs as it was fielded within inches of the Somerset Stand boundary.
“That wasn’t far away,” the comment when Siddle beat Organ. Applause too for Siddle when he returned to field in front of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion after another testing over. Twice in an over he beat the batter. When Gregory and Davey replaced Overton and Siddle a missed cut off Gregory and an edge wide of the cordon off Davey brought the comment, “We could have had three or four wickets.” “Work at it,” shouted Abell, although it seemed an unnecessary exhortation. Gregory finished the day with two leg before wicket appeals in an over, and a text arrived from an online watcher with a forensic eye saying, “Fifteen plays and misses in the Hampshire innings.” It had looked an exceptional piece of bowling from Somerset, and they had perhaps been on the wrong end of the luck, but the hard news was that Hampshire had reduced the deficit to 182 and would start on the morrow with all their wickets intact.
There had been only 240 runs in a full day of cricket, barely three-quarters of a modern day’s ration, but the cricket had gripped the whole day long. Eyes rarely left the middle, tension regularly gripped the air, and the single operating scoreboard probably never had a ball’s respite from anxiety strewn eyes seeking solace. Good cricket is not all about runs. It is about the context and the contest, the toe-to-toe grapple for supremacy. Sixes pummelling the back wall of Gimblett’s Hill and cover drives rapping the Somerset Stand boards have their place as the batting side fights its corner. But so do batters defending their wicket in difficult conditions. So too do bowlers pinning batters to their creases for overs on end as the balance of a match is fought over. Or beating the edges of bats and rapping the pads as they build pressure aided by miserly fielders saving runs as if the match depended on each one. This had been such a day. Hampshire ended it with the edge, but it had been an almighty tussle.
Close. Somerset 211 (C. Overton 44, K.J. Abbott 3-60). Hampshire 29 or 0. Hampshire trail by 182 runs with ten first innings wickets standing.
The rest of this report can be found on Farmer's own site (click here) or you'll find links in the thread below this story.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:31:19:16:51 by Grockle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:22:10:45:02 by Grockle.
At least, hopefully, Davey and Gregory will be available to support Siddle this time, unlike last time.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:17:08:45:16 by AGod.
Legally, if he did get called up then the ECB couldn’t force him to rest but they can, of course, always “request,” that a player rest and said request can be accompanied with veiled threats e.g “The ECB Will always look most kindly on those counties that are most committed to helping England.”
Games like that monstrosity at Edgbaston have no place in the game.
Craig will also have a rest. If his knee is still playing up, then fair enough. Otherwise? By making him have a two-week rest they will ensure that he’s lost some of his rhythm by the time June 1 comes around!
But let’s hope that story is right!
There’s no excuse for making Leachy rest, but..
In my view, the England resting policy has ruined Ollie Robinson.
1. He needs time at the crease with his county to cement this form and stay at his present level.
2. Anyone new going into this side may find themselves part of a failed 'first draft' and then suffer with that for quite a while. Better to go in later
Tom is only 3 games removed from a 6 game run where he couldn’t buy a run.
He has only ten tons in 99 career FC matches - not a good return.
Furthermore, if I were England and if I had been watching Tom closely with a view to possible selection?
I’d have wanted to have seen him step up to the plate - with big runs - when his county was in most acute need of them I.e when below full-strength such as the last four games of last season or Hants at the Ageas Bowl this season.
I’d be relatively less impressed with runs made once the team is/was back to something like full-strength.
To be completely honest?
Tom Abell, at this juncture, would be more deserving of an England call for T20 than anything else. His record, there, is excellent, with an average of 34 and S/R of 144…. And if one took out his first handful of games where he looked like a red ball player trying to adapt? Those figures would be even better.
So I, personally, would seriously consider Tom Abell for the T20 World Cup party. But I think he’s got a long way to go - would need to score heavily for a couple of years in the CC - to really merit a Test call.
If A N Other player from another county with Tom’s record were suddenly parachuted into the England team, we’d probably be talking about TMC bias, or which member of the selection committee they are pals with, etc.
In recent times, Crawley and Hameed have been the only guys picked with worse career FC records than Tom.
The fact that those two were picked shows that if you catch the right person’s eye (or have a relative that is an ECB benefactor!) then selection is possible, even with a modest career record.
But I tend to the view that selection should be earnt via consistent County performances.
I'd much rather they now picked him because they couldn't ignore him than operate wth their usual 'next cab off the rank' process.
If he's good enough he'll get there as long as English selection foes not follow the system that rarely seems to change despite the change in personnel.
Vaughan was actually averaging a little bit more than Abell at the point he got picked.
Marcus had a very poor average. He was fortunate that Fletcher happened to have seen his Tour De Force Vs Glamorgan. But I would also add that knock Vs Glamorgan and Kallis and the one that he had made, as an 18 or 19 year old Vs Kumble at Northampton (151 out of about 210 for 5 at the point when we was out) suggested a rare talent - albeit one that didn’t show itself often enough in county cricket.
Tom hasn’t really had signature red ball performances of that type.
I don’t think it’s possible to justify picking somebody because they have Captaincy experience unless they are actually going to Captain. And even then they should have earnt their place through weight of runs/wickets.
P.s On the question of captaincy experience in that actual England XI, Alex Lees has been a Captain, albeit in white ball since he was Yorkshire’s Captain in both non red-ball formats.
About time the Somerset squad for tomorrow is announced?
=================
Can you still jump over the wall from the churchyard into Gimbletts Hill?
The reason is that Friday might see little or no play.
If it’s a 3-day game? It’s difficult to take a decisive step towards victory with the bat on day one. But you can certainly take one with the ball. And, of course, that’s also the same thing as saying one can take a decisive step towards defeat with the bat on day one of a three day game.
Somebody on FB suggested that the Tone is very high and that the water table is liable to have a considerable influence too, the implication being that, with the defective balls banished, we may expect seam and swing today.
It isn't.
Blue sky over the ground - grey ring of cloud around the place - sun has only really popped out in the last 90 minutes
It'll be interesting with Abbot turning up
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:19:10:54:54 by Grockle.
Seems he played for Somerset 2nds at the start of his career
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:19:11:48:02 by Grockle.
Marcus think Hants have bowled too short.
Caddy reckons Marcus says everyone bowls too short .... including him
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:19:12:16:57 by Grockle.
As I suggested before the start, if a game is reduced to three days, it’s very hard to get yourself into a commanding position, on day one, by batting first.
I mean, what’s the best-case scenario if you bat first? 350-3 at end of day one? If you then lose day two, then your best case is thrash 100 before lunch on day three, then declare at 450. You then have five sessions to bowl the oppo out twice, with the follow-on mark at 300. If they make that 300? Your victory chances become nil. And against a decent side and/or on a flat pitch getting 20 wkts in 5 sessions is a challenge anyway.
Now, what’s the best-case day one scenario if you bowl first? Bundle them out for 150 and reply with 150-3? If you then lose day 2, then you hope to add 180 in 2 sessions on day 3 and then you have a 180 run lead with four sessions left. Victory looks realistic from there. More so than in the bat first scenario.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:19:12:53:47 by AGod.
A strong score here would speak volumes as to his development.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:19:15:40:56 by AGod.
Realistically, I think Hants are simply better at bowling than we are at batting.
Fortunately, our first-choice attack is also better at bowling than Hants are at batting.
It doesn’t look like we will make an impressive score so our bowlers will need to be fully on their mettle once again.
I suspect that par on this is about 260-275 or so.
We shall, seemingly, fall some way short of that BUT par is based on what an average batting side should get Vs an average bowling side. And we are much, much better than merely “average,” as a bowling side. I’d say Hants are “average,” as a batting side.
Quote:AGod
It was a good knock.....And we are much, much better than merely “average,” as a bowling side. I’d say Hants are “average,” as a batting side.
Careful AG - that is almost optimism...
I can see what the pitch is like without waiting for us to bowl on it, not least because Hants also have a strong seam attack.
Overall? Not a very successful day for us, though.
Oh.. and statistically, I believe they have the 11th best average runs per wickets among the 18 counties, this season, Nailsea. So, yes, they have an average batting line-up.
And, no, 15 overs in which they somewhat rode their luck this evening does not somehow trump them being 11th in runs per wicket, so far as evidence goes, believe it or not!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:19:20:15:02 by AGod.
Unlucky Tom Abell getting an inside edge and was unable to stop the ball from hitting his stumps with his foot, the bowler Mohammad Abbas.
Steve Davies getting out of the way of a short ball from Kyle Abbott
Lewis Gregory ct Liam Dawson bld James Fuller, Dawson almost gone from view.
James Hildreth playing down the wrong line, lbw Mohammad Abbas
Jack Leach inches before he is bowled by Ian Holland.
A very good stop by Steve Davies, Ian Holland batting Craig Overton the bowler.
Craig Overton hitting six runs.
More luck for our bowlers tomorrow would be nice!
That’s the second time in three 2022 home games that we’ve been somewhat fooled by our own pitch, although this is obviously not such an extreme example as was the case with Essex.
Loved the Leachy pic (albeit hated the outcome of the delivery).
But, really, their batting is mainly him and Vince.
The averages tell the tale as far as Holland and Organ are concerned. The only score Holland has all season was against us with our heavily weakened attack in game one.
Hampshire made a huge score against poor old Kent, but everyone is scoring very heavily against them.
If we bowl anything like then, unless conditions change so that there’s zero help for the bowlers, then we really ought to be able to get Hants out for a total that, like our total, is probably 50 or so below-par for conditions.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:19:21:52:46 by AGod.
Try watching the cricket and enjoy it.
I don't like to give advice because each are to there own but try watching the match without the internet like in the Good Old Days when Big Jim was a real person.
For 11,00 to 12.00 the Beeb are saying
Light rain and showers
Humidity 82%
Temperature feels like 14C
43%chance of precipitation
7 MPH Light winds from the South West.
My analysis is it will be an on and off day spent mostly in and out of the Old Pavilion trying not to gey too pi&&ed.
Shall I chance it and make my first trip to The County Ground (Did you see what I did there?)
There is a 100% chance if I catch the 08,23 from Bath Spa to Temple Meads arriving at 08.35 then changing at 08,45 onto the Taunton bound train arriving Taunton 09.17.
By that time I'll be exhausted and catch the next traind back home and watch it on my big Telly.
For 11,00 to 12.00 the Beeb are saying
Light rain and showers
Humidity 82%
Temperature feels like 14C
43%chance of precipitation
7 MPH Light winds from the South West.
My analysis is it will be an on and off day spent mostly in and out of the Old Pavilion trying not to get too pi&&ed.
Shall I chance it and make my first trip to The County Ground (Did you see what I did there?)
There is a 100% chance if I catch the 08,23 from Bath Spa to Temple Meads arriving at 08.35 then changing at 08,45 onto the Taunton bound train arriving Taunton 09.17.
By that time I'll be exhausted and catch the next train back home and watch it on my big Telly.
.With all that's been going
on I lost the will to even go out except for medical reasons and my daughter would take me.
Taking the bus to Bath then 2 trains and a walk from the station could be challenging,
Farmer
I do hope he hasn't set off, because I'm two or three miles west of the ground, where the weather is coming from, and it's a bit more than drizzle here, and no sign of a break in the cloud at all.
I think what Rob needs to do is plan any trips to the County Ground with military precision - look for a day when the weather is guaranteed, there are no foreseeable issues with the buses and trains, and the cricket looks well poised for some excitement. Perhaps then all the physical issues would fade into the background, and getting to the cricket would be something to look forward to, rather than a painful chore.
Surrey away in April - fine
Glos away last week - fine.
Both happily welcomed supporters on at both break times. Surrey even had dodgy grass but sensibly cordoned off the dodgy half leaving the other half free for oldies to wander & kids to play bat+ball.
Whoever is upholding this Taunton ban is getting it badly wrong, it's just such a simple PR win for zero possibility of a downside.
We get 7 red ball match chances (no way we'll be allowed on at any white ball)
So with this match I assume out that leaves 4 chances left which includes a whole ONE day of weekend chances for kids until 2023 🙈🙈
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:20:09:34:49 by wsm fan.
The average age of a 4 day crowd must be 60+???
All wearing flat shoes & with an average walking speed of around 2mph.
The chances of any damage made by a few hundred oldies strolling for 20mins is somewhere between slim & none.
Use the lawn as little as possible during the first season. If autumn-sown, try to avoid using it earlier than June and if spring-sown, use it as little as possible up to late autumn. Royal Horticultural advice on newly sown lawns.
Link: [www.rhs.org.uk]
The CACG playing area is not a lawn of course and presumably had additional seeding rather than a complete re-sowing, but the same principle would apply. How much of the outfield was re-seeded I don't know, but it would be helpful to know.
Farmer
I agree we are family unfriendly, championship admission prices here are higher for children (Surrey a nominal £1, some grounds free). Also junior membership reviewed by Somerset and now not free for the few matchdays they can come.
Stewards still scanning at 4.30pm yesterday. This is just a deterrent to children coming home from school, do the club really get much extra revenue from not allowing passers-by to walk in after tea?
It is getting a bit brighter, which is hopeful.
[www.metoffice.gov.uk]
Farmer
I could only just see one of the groundsman removing the pegs holding the sheet down.
That is not why the camera was moved so we are unable to see what is happening on the square?
Whilst I usually go on the outfield where permitted , I think it’s far from a deal-breaker if not permitted, for me.
I do agree with the poster that queried making kids pay to come in after tea. Not exactly a forward-thinking policy, that one!
It is embarrasing to hear the announcements of free entry to most grounds after Tea followed by "while at Taunton... no change from a fiver and bring your bank card kiddies" Doesn't say 'family ground' or 'community' to me I'm afraid
Farmer
Lammonby
Renshaw
Abell
Vince
Hildreth
Davies
Gregory
Overton
Leach
Abbot
Abbas
Probably should have Siddle for Gregory but didnt like the long tail... Dawson for Hildreth maybe j(but then again nah) holland in place of Lammonby?? It's a pretty good team whatever...
Hopefully play will start soon...
A combined XI would probably look like this:
Renshaw
Lammonby
Gubbins
Vince
Abell
Davies
Gregory
Cove
Barker
Leachy
Abbas
I stuck to CC eligibility rules, so there are only two overseas. I went for Barker for variety.
In truth Siddle or Davey for Gregory would probably strengthen the bowling but perhaps weaken the batting a little too much.
Abbot is unlucky to miss out but Renshaw has to play as easily the best opener in the squad.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:20:12:55:43 by AGod.
On the other hand, I think Brown has scored only against Kent and playing the SE county has been a luxury not yet afforded to Steve. Kent are conceding an average of 67 runs per wicket or 670 as an all-out team total.
I like the idea of Abbott being 12th man though. Seems like the tupe of guy who'd appreciate the rest...
Albeit, Peter just got a good one past the bat.
Or perhaps we’ve simply been out bowled by Mr Abbas, who was exceptionally skilful yesterday.
I lament the lack of pace in the deck which - even allowing for the fact that both sides are much better at bowling than batting is partly responsible for the slow RR in this match so far.
Runs per wicket ratings this season?
Batting;
Hants 11
Somerset 17
Bowling:
Somerset 1
Hants 2
Last season?
Batting
Hants: 11
Somerset: 14
Bowling:
Hants 4
Somerset 11
If they do play, I will watch it on live stream.
I'll mention no names but watch my lips.
I’d say that was correct.
400 wickets now, for Cove, as Holland goes.
Excellent bowling from Cove.
Hants, potentially, on the run now..
Apparently it is the case that one of the fixed cameras is broken, hence the change to the stream. Hopefully they will manage to fix the broken camera for future games.
144/5 with only Craig having bowled at his best.
So, if the others come to the party tomorrow , then still every chance of getting rid of these for a score similar to ours.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:20:18:47:31 by AGod.
I didn't take many today, I only stayed until tea, that heavy rain caught me by surprised, by the time I covered my camera to keep dry and other things I was quite wet, so I stayed home and watched the live stream.
Only four photos.
Ian Holland edging the ball to James Hildreth, the ball hitting the ground just in front of him, the bowler Josh Davey.
Felix Organ beaten by Peter Siddle.
Two photos next same wicket.
Lewis Gregory bowled a good ball to Felix Organ, he edged it and ----
And Lewis Gregory caught it.
Better weather tomorrow, I believe.
Not sure whether you’ve got the Beeb guys or Trade Nation?
Peter T (on Trade Nation commentary) was certainly not overly impressed with yesterday’s bowling, Craig apart. And from the bits I saw this morning - admittedly after Craig and Peter S had finished their opening spells - wasn’t very much different from yesterday.
Realistically, Lewis Gregory has clearly been far too expensive in the context of the match, unfortunately.
Predicted outcomes changing faster than the westher again. :-)
A side that is 11th in runs per wicket this season and was 11th in runs per wicket last season is, very clearly, average overall. One innings does not magically change that. And scoring more runs than a very clearly below average SCCC batting side certainly doesn’t mean that the side doing so must, by extension, be better than average.
What are our chances of 280 Vs their attack?
Considerably less than 50:50, I’d guess.
One would think that a ton from Renshaw or Abell is probably essential if we are to achieve our goal.
I did a summary of the first part of the red ball season yesterday and mentioned that the 'told you so' brigade had been quiet in May... well maybe not after this.
But if there were any people that genuinely *believed* that it had?
Suffice to say that we are still nowhere near good enough to deal with the better bowling attacks in this division.
I’m sure Hamza will be along, presently, to blame our groundsman for this result.
Sigh.
Did anyone go to the members Q & A last evening/did any pearls of wisdom emerge ?
Grizzers
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:21:15:53:13 by Nailsea_Fizz.
Scores level Hampshire require 1 run... oh for God's sake!!
This time last week we were looking up Somerset's largest victories by an innings and then we get this......
At least it's never predictable
Management will, no doubt, say afterwards that Hants have a good bowling attack and that they bowled well. Both of those things are true BUT we can’t have an acceptance (or resign ourselves to the fact) that any time the oppo have a good bowling attack and/or an oppo bowls well on the day, we should somehow expect not many for 5 as our default score!
Average batting, however, proved far too much for a woeful SCCC batting outfit.
We had made our way up to 17th in runs per wicket after the Gloucs game.
But we shall most emphatically have reclaimed our “crown,” as the worst batting side in the land, bar none, after that shambles.
And, yes, weather permitting Surrey will annihilate our inept group.
I submitted my questions to GH for the online forum recently, but received neither an acknowledgment nor a reply.
As for todays effort. No comment needed.
Grizzers
Difference between the first Hampshire defeat was we were at full strength today, or so I thought.
Some very poor dismisals: Banton playing a white ball shot, Abell and Lammonby to name a few. Also players looking to get out between wickets eg Davies.
Renshaw was not looking his best this match, allowing the rot to set in.
Hampshire bowled well, but no reason we couldn't make it to beyond tea.
I would bring Goldsworthy in for Banton and Rew for Davies when he is available
Davies has had a truly awful season with the bat, thus far.
This was our last game for some time (possibly all season?) with a full-strength red ball attack.
On the past 5 occasions when we’ve had to play with a significantly below strength attack?
We’ve lost 5 of 5, all of them by either an innings or ten wickets.
Such is the paucity of our batting group, that our chances of beating anybody with our having an attack that is significantly under strength are all but nil. And this isn’t the type of batting line-up liable to force draws on tracks with anything in them for bowlers either. I’d suggest that management ask our groundsman to produce absolute roads for our remaining home games in the hope that the pitches will be so flat that even we can get high-scoring draws.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:21:16:50:35 by AGod.
Perhaps they will compete with us, Gloucs, Kent and Northants in a mini-league of bad teams in a kind of “second half,” of CC1?
Bob Key is rumoured to want three divisions. And CC1 is shaping up as 5 decent / half-decent teams and 5 poor ones. The 5 poor ones arguably look incapable of beating anyone apart from each other.
I don’t agree with Tom that we bowled “brilliantly,” by any manner of means but at least he’s not trying to blame the pitch, the weather, or anything other than our abject lack of fight with the bat.
If you fail to apply yourselves properly 70% of the time? Jobs really should be on the line, I’m afraid.
At the end of the season it’s the job of management to sort it out.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:21:18:36:02 by AGod.
I am not saying much, except what a disappointing day.
Similar photo to one I took on the first day, the ball about to hit James Hildreth's stumps bowled by Keith Barker.
.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
James Fuller hitting one of his sixes.
James Fuller player one too many big shots, bowled by Peter Siddle.
Craig Overton played some nice looking shots, maybe that is what he intended to do when he came out to bat, before he was bowled by Keith Barker.
Ben Brown lbw by Peter Siddle.
Aneurin Donald, an appeal for caught behind off Lewis Gregory, the wicket keeper looked like he knew the batsman didn't touch it.
Aneurin Donald, a good sight for any bowler, it was for Peter Siddle.
A big question, why are Somerset playing matches like this?
Are we venturing into the loan market come the second half of the season?
At that point?
Quite frankly, everyone who has any responsibility for the top six batting should be under the microscope.
And who bears responsibility?
1) The batsmen themselves.
2) The people who select the batsmen for matches during the season.
3) The people who are in charge of the recruitment of batsmen to the squad.
4) The people who are in charge of appointing the cricket management (since cricket management are responsible for items 2 and 3 above).
We might switch to total roads for all remaining home games and manage a few 600 a side draws to try to paper over the cracks. But if there’s anything in the tracks at all? The top six futility will continue, I’n sure.
I thought we'd learned about this. Batters will be rolling their eyes as they congratulate Overton and wondering where else they could get a contract and perhaps play on decent decks.
Even if we did replace the hapless 11 we stupidly pick each week he would soon find fault with the replacements.
If the batsmen want to leave in a fit of pique, as you imply?
Fine. Let them go. I shall not miss them.
P.s As I pointed out to you before, Abell has been alone in recent times in having a notably better record away from Taunton than at Taunton. So you’d best warn our batsmen, on their way out the door, that there’s every chance they’ll do as badly or worse for another county. Davies, for example, has been comfortably worse away from this nefarious groundsman of ours that you blame for our ills than he has at Taunton!
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:21:20:42:38 by AGod.
Either we bowl *brilliantly* or we lose. That’s the story for Somerset. Didn’t bowl brilliantly in this one, so lost as the batsmen never pick up the slack if the bowling isn’t superb.
And that in a match featuring six bowlers that have played Tests, four of them seamers!?
Somerset are far from alone. Warks, apparently, have not allowed it since the pandemic started. Glamorgan have never allowed it at their stadium. It has, apparently, never been permitted at Headingley. And Worcs, Kent and Durham all used to permit it, but don’t anymore.
It is allowed at the Oval and Old Trafford.
But suffice to say Somerset have much, much bigger problems with which to concern themselves.
The whole club is a joke. At the first game of this season, I noticed several parts of the ground which were nor ready for use. One part, Gimblett Hill still isn't ready. This, a fairly small part of the ground which they have had since last September to sort out. Will it even be ready for the 20/20 matches.
Again at the first match I went to the local bar to get a pint to go with my picni c. That'll be £6.50 I was told. I've changed my mind I said. Luckily she hadn't started pouring at that stage. That's an outrageous price to charge. Obviously a number of people felt the same as me, as that bar, underneath the Botham Stand has been closed since.
It's about time the club stopped taking it's members and members of the public for granted otherwise it will lose all the goodwill it has built up over the years.
I am disgusted and very disappointed by what is going on.
50 Warks (home) 2011
56 Durham (away) 2003
69 Durham (home) 2009
I seem to have deleted the two Durham games from my memory banks.
How many did we get in the Horsham debacle!?
I'm not go to beat myself up reading the posts above.
I'm sure somebody has analyzed everything in fine detail , then analyse the analysis posted 5 minutes before.
I'm sure there are many sensible posts too.
At the end of the day it's just a game and nobody died.
I'd love to compare Big Jim's analysis with the analytic expert of today.
Mind you I'm glad Big Jim is no longer on here.
His analysis would probably be "S&it happens, have another cider.
Remember in the word of D B Close It just a game, or was that somebody else.
It's 04.30 here in rural Radstock, it's just getting light and I'm going to enjoy the day.
I missed all of the game yesterday because I was on a mission to Stogursy with my daughter and her husband to check out a thatched cottage we are renting there in August. Lovely village. Checked out the Greyhound Inn opposite the cottage. I can see it getting messy.
Happy Sunday folks.
Indeed, I’d say the top six of the past 2/3 seasons is probably the weakest in my lifetime.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:22:07:06:35 by AGod.
Save 'The Somerset Six"!!!! 🤣🤣🤣
As you say Rob...about the end result AND the interminable analysis of 'The Six'
You know Big Jim is still here only as Owain Glyndr don't ya?
Anyway down to the short game for a while now
For those who don't know him, he is a very likeable chap from Bath, a retired solicitor (I believe),
Quote:AGod
I was sure you’d be along to blame the groundsman again, Hamez!
If the batsmen want to leave in a fit of pique, as you imply?
Fine. Let them go. I shall not miss them.
P.s As I pointed out to you before, Abell has been alone in recent times in having a notably better record away from Taunton than at Taunton. So you’d best warn our batsmen, on their way out the door, that there’s every chance they’ll do as badly or worse for another county. Davies, for example, has been comfortably worse away from this nefarious groundsman of ours that you blame for our ills than he has at Taunton!
It's abundantly clear we've no interest in putting out pitches that provide a fair competition between bat and ball.
First it was the "Cyderibad" pitch set up for Leach and Bess to run rampant on. That wasn't as bad, as other counties didn't generally have spinners of the same standard to run through our own batting.
These days they're set up for Overton and Davey to run rampant but unfortunately other counties also have good seamers. You only have to look at Overton's ridiculous bowling average at Taunton then compare it to his much poorer England offerings to realise this. Just look at how many games at Taunton fail to go 4 days.
Our batters will be getting very fed up. You can cite stats all you like but their confidence will be in the hole when they don't have a chance to ever chock up the runs at home.
Keep blaming the batters if you like but there's clearly a bigger issue.
You can’t compare Overton’s *county* bowling average at Taunton with his *Test* average because the standard is different!
What is Craig Overton’s away County bowling average compared to his home county bowlibb no g average at Taunton? If you want to make the point that you clearly want to make, then that’s the stat that you would need to produce!
Again, though, there’s no way the first two innings would have lasted 150+ overs with two Test pacemen on either side if the pitch for the Hants game was somehow dodgy in any way.
And our demise yesterday? Brought about by skilful swing bowling! Given the same atmospheric conditions and the same ball, Barker could have done the same thing on an absolute road! And, of course, not every side is as incompetent Vs a swinging ball as we are!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:22:10:24:40 by AGod.
Here are the figures for 2021. If your excuse for our batsmen last year is that our home pitches were “rigged for Overton”? Your claims have zero substance if examined through the prism of Craig’s figures:
Home: 97-30-252-13. Av: 19.38, SR: 44.76 ER 2.59
AWAY: 127.2-46-254-24. Av: 10.58!!! SR 31.75!!!! ER: 2
Ergo, either
A) Somerset’s attempts to “rig their pitches for Overton,” were extremely inept.
OR
Opponents thought “Craig is doing well at Taunton, so let’s rig our own pitches to help him even more!”Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:22:10:52:19 by AGod.
Changing only the identity of the one overseas batsmen isn’t sufficient to catalyse significant change.
Byrom and Bartlett were in 'The weak Six' of 2021 though. We took Hampshire out for 79 and won away by 10 wickets... Eddie had to score 2... kinda mirror of this one really.
Or are we referring to the June draw at Taunton?
Whether an overseas actually played in any one specific game is neither here nor there since my point is that we are picking (for all CC games) from the same batting pool this year, apart from the fact that the overseas guy (when available) has been changed. Since guys of the calibre of Langer or Smith or Cook, let alone Viv or Punter are no longer available, it’s hard to imagine any county’s top six being transformed by changing from one overseas pro to another.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:22:16:10:31 by AGod.
I mean it’s axiomatic that it’s certainly not the best Hants top six, since they used to have Greenidge, the Smiths, Jesty and Nicholas, but I couldn’t begin to tell you whether it’s their worst.
I mean clearly teams used to be able to actually field their England players and genuine world class overseas players were available at one point in time. But most of that stopped round about the time two divisions were introduced (2000).
So maybe Hants current top six is weaker than any they had before 2000 or so in my lifetime but I’ve no particular reason to suppose it’s worse than others since 2000.
P.s Just for sake of it, opened two random Wisden: 1995 season, Hants top six for game one:
Terry
R S M Morris
Giles White
Robin Smith
Nicholas
Stephenson
So: One World class - Smith
A couple of strong County players - Terry and Nicholas
A rapidly fading once good county player - former Essex opener, John Stephenson, batting down at six.
Two guys who I think never pulled up any trees - Morris and White
2002 season
Kenway
Kendall
J Crawley
R Smith
N Johnson
Pothas
Incidentally, Jimmy Cook was in charge that year.
That time?
Two international players - Smith nearing the end (39, and one year away from having his contract cancelled, an incident which sadly pushed him into alcholism and Crawley)
Two openers who never amounted to much
Two Kolpaks who were decent.
What do they have now?
Two dodgy openers
Two strong County players - Vince and Gubbins, one who has played Tests, one who I think will do so and has played Lions etc
Dawson who has played Tests in the spinner that bats role
A decent keeper batsman whose career batting record is near identical to that of Pothas.
I’m not sure I see much Hants difference between now and 2002, for example? FWIW - the results they’re getting now are much better than what they got in the two random years that I looked at.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:22:16:25:31 by AGod.
I heard the tail end of a comment that in scoring his first run Hildreth had reached some kind of record. (Unfortunately, it was also his last run). Can anybody tell me what Hildreth's single achieved? Though one of his greatest advocates, I am beginning to fear that not many more records await him.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Ahh well
You still reckon that
Byrom, Lammonby, Abell, Hildreth Bartlett & Davies
are a stronger 'Six'
Than 'The Six' presently of Renshaw, Lammonby, Abell, Banton, Hildreth & Davies
The "weakest in my lifetime"?.... ahh well it's an opinion I suppose
Which ones are Byrom (released and not ripping up trees in Wales) and Bartlett (unable to get into this side) stronger than? Think the international makes a difference in that comparison but you know best.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:22:16:55:46 by Grockle.
My comment about the weakest top six relates not to the specific XI vs Hants in the debacle just finished but to any combination that we have been able to perm for our top six over the past 2-3 years from the resources available. In other words, pick whatever combo of the current top six you want and I think it’s weaker than I can remember .. partly because Hildreth and Davies just seem to be getting progressively worse, Steve’s brief, but successful, spell as opener aside.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:22:16:58:57 by AGod.
Still don't see how last year is stronger than this year because as Bartlett has gone backwards, Banton has surely taken over that position at least to Bartlett 2021 levels? So Byrom is a stronger option than Renshaw on your reasoning? Damn! we should have kept him!!
Maybe keep the 'worst eva!' till the end of the season perhaps?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:22:17:06:22 by AGod.
We don’t always start out with, say, 40 for 3. For example, at the Oval Renshaw and Abell batted together for quite a long time, then Hildreth and Abell did the same.
BUT… when they do start with, say, 40 for 3 or thereabouts? We seem to be nailed on for 70 or so for 5 (or worse). Sometimes (as in the Hants game last year) the team position is saved, but it seems to always be the lower order that do the saving in that type of situation.
With the top six? It seems that, once a coupla three go early, the rest tend to swiftly follow. I mean I can’t remember the last time we saw a successful rebuild and/or counter attack from within the top six, following a poor start. Was it, perhaps, as long as about three years ago, via Abell and Bartlett at Trent Bridge? In that one, both Tom and George played what must surely rank as the best innings of their careers, in redeeming a 35-3 start in which Tres, Az and Hildreth had all gone cheaply: [www.espncricinfo.com]
In previous incarnations of SCCC squads we usually had somebody to counter attack and/or otherwise save us - at least sometimes - in that top six, whether it was an IDB, or Peter Trego or Graham Rose or Neil Burns or (as overseas) Shane Lee. Obviously all of the above, when trying to counter would sometimes play a daft shot and nick off for four but sometimes - sometimes - they would help us turn the innings around. That just almost never seems to happen anymore. Equally, it’s very rare that one of the top three scores well as early wickets tumble around him.
Nobody picked in the top six seems to have the required combination of skill and/or brio and/or grit to turn a bad start around?
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:22:17:53:59 by AGod.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
But a quick look at the Somerset batting averages from 2017, when we almost got relegated, compared to now suggests there isn't much difference. Abell higher, Davies lower:
Trescothick 29 - Lammonby 28
Elgar 47 - Renshaw 47
Abell 26 - Abell 50
Hildreth 30 - Hildreth 26
Trego 21 or Byrom 27 or others - Banton 30
Davies 35 - Davies 17
Based on the 6 matches so far. The Gloucs encounter will have distorted the figures
Where have I seen those words before? Wisden 1950, reporting on the previous season. I don't expect things to change in what is left of my life! Maybe that's why I have supported my county so long...
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I suspect you will not be disappointed.
One of the basic tenets of behavioral assessment is: The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour.
Understanding that makes following Somerset so much easier to live with. And the rest of life too. I regularly promise my wife I will buy her the earth and the stars when Somerset win the Championship. Both she and I know the promise is sincerely meant, and will cost me nothing.
Farmer.
Descent into Oblivion
Link:
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
Mercurial Somerset indeed. We wouldn't have it any other way ...
Farmer
b) mercurial? Yes, some consistency would be nice
I've only just summoned the courage to catch up on last Saturday afternoon's happenings in Taunton. I was at a rugby final in Ealing (featuring a try by one of Somerset's finest young rugby players, hopefully to star in the Premiership next season and a good friend of George Bartlett) - I saw the first innings had finished with us 60-odd behind. I then watched the first half of the rugby, checked the cricket scores at half-time expecting something like 60-2, maybe 50-4 if things hadn't gone well - and we'd lost by ten wickets already! Horrifying.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:05:26:16:55:05 by AGod.
Farmer.
Link:
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
And, Day 2 - Hampshire with the edge - just
Link:
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
Farmer
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:01:17:22:50 by Farmer White.
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