By Farmer White et al
June 28 2022

Farmer gives us the ppicture of the last day of the Championship match which put the Overton twins against each other in a 4 day game for the first time.   It was a little juicy and then became a massive fight between the two sides which culminated in the last day descrbed here.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, B.F.G. Green, T.B. Abell (c), T. Banton, L.P. Goldsworthy, S.M. Davies (w), L. Gregory, R.E. van der Merwe, C. Overton/M. de Lange, J.H. Davey/K.L. Aldridge*, P.M. Siddle.

*J.H. Davey was replaced by K.L. Aldridge on the first day and C. Overton by M. de Lange on the second under the ECB Concussion Protocol

Surrey. R.J. Burns (c), R.S. Patel, H.M. Amla, B.B.A. Geddes, J.L. Smith (w), W.G. Jacks, C.T. Steel, J. Clark, J. Overton, A.A.P. Atkinson, D.J. Worrall.

Overnight. Somerset 180 and 319 for 8. Surrey 382. Somerset lead by 117 runs with two second innings wickets standing.

Final day 15th June – An almighty fightback – but just one point

The moment of the day was the sight of Jamie Smith’s off stump being sent cartwheeling by Kasey Aldridge and the delight from the bowler which followed. This was Aldridge’s second Championship match as a playing substitute and his third in all. He had finished the first two matches wicketless. He had finally taken his first wicket in the first innings of this match, and another to break Surrey’s racing opening partnership in this innings. Now, the sight of that stump careering out of the ground set the Somerset blood coursing, for here was a young man making a mark. Cheers rent the air, for with three wickets in two overs Aldridge and Roelof van der Merwe had stopped a Surrey team hurtling towards a crushing victory in its tracks. “There may be only two or three hundred here,” someone said, “but what a noise they are making, what an atmosphere they are creating.” It was three quarters of an hour into the afternoon session, Surrey were 70 for 3 and the spark of Somerset hope had been kindled. Fifteen minutes earlier, at 65 for 0, scored at five runs an over, a target of 193 had seemed only a few skips down the wicket away and the cheers were coming from the small enclave of Surrey supporters in the Lord Ian Botham Stand.

When one side is dominating, meandering the boundary is a not uncommon exercise for supporters of the other side. Before those wickets, with Rory Burns and Ryan Patel taking their bats to the Somerset bowling, this was one such time. My lunchtime circumnavigation, beginning from my seat square of the wicket and high up in the Somerset Stand, was much interrupted and had only reached a chat in the lower level of the Trescothick Pavilion when the players emerged from the Caddick Pavilion. Moving on, I had barely reached halfway along the empty shell of the new Gimblett’s Hill when another conversation began. The sun was glorious, the ball was again flying off Surrey bats, although beating them just enough to keep a vestige of Somerset hope flickering. Not hope of a win, but hope of at least of making Surrey fight. “Can we hold them until tea?” one hopeful asked as I passed the Garner Gates at the beginning of my walk. “It would be good to knock two or three over,” another said as I reached the Caddick Pavilion. And all the while the scoreboard was accelerating through the fifties and into the sixties. When van der Merwe chased down an on drive from Patel in front of the Lord Ian Botham Stand, a glance at the scoreboard confirmed that Surrey were rushing towards a crushing victory with only another 131 needed.

Three runs later, the match all but gone for Somerset, Burns hooked Aldridge and the ball was caught, to relieved cheers, on the fine leg boundary by the substitute fielder, Sonny Baker, having an outing in the sun after his long lay off with a back injury. Before another run had been scored, Patel, attacking van der Merwe outside the off stump, edged a ball fast, wide of and past Gregory at slip. Gregory took off like a grasshopper doing a backward somersault and caught the ball one-handed to his left and behind him as it attempted to flash by. The roar that went up then, for the catch, and for the thought that flashed across the mind that Somerset might, just might, have a chance, was thunderous. And then, an over later, that tumbling stump, Aldridge’s delight, and a roar that was all the more leonine after the spectacular straight drive which Smith had dispatched to the Lord Ian Botham Stand boundary the ball before. Suddenly, Surrey were 70 for 3, only 123 short of victory, but with that precious sporting commodity, momentum, for a moment at least, with Somerset, “It’s game on now,” someone said. 

Overnight, with Somerset 117 ahead with only two wickets standing, any thought of a Somerset victory had seemed fanciful. But the overnight ninth wicket partnership between Gregory and Siddle was stretched with calm assurance deep into the morning. When I arrived, I had taken the precaution of sitting in the same seat in the Somerset Stand that I had occupied the previous day when Somerset had batted most of the day. The old superstitions still bite hard in modern cricket. No-one believes they make an ounce of difference, but no-one wants to take a chance, and woe-betide anyone who moves during a long partnership just before it is broken.

The calm with which Gregory and Siddle batted gave the impression they were involved in a choreographed ballet rather than a hard-fought cricket match. It was perhaps an omen for the partnership when early in the proceedings a ball was played down into the crease by Gregory from where it rolled towards the stumps. There was no frantic attempt to kick it away, just Gregory’s boot coming down and easing the ball out of the way. The calm control was symbolic of the partnership to come.

Nor was there any attempt by Gregory to ‘farm’ the strike. And there seemed no point. If Somerset were to make anything of a hopeless situation, they would need measured defence and a steady supply of runs from both ends over an extended period. From the lazy chatter coming from the few in the ground there was no suggestion of the tension that arises from a game on the edge. It sounded more as if people were taking the opportunity of being at the cricket to chat. Rather than chatting about the cricket. Those along from me were discussing local league cricket with no reference to what was going on in front of them.

In the middle, there was no sign of desperation or resignation. Nor was there much by the way of cricketing fireworks to generate excitement in the stands. Just a batter of periodic brilliance and, with discipline, sound technique, but who has not succeeded in recent times; and a bowler who can get into line with the bat. And that is what the pair proceeded to do. Apply technique and concentration. There was little in the wicket for the bowlers and the overs started to tick by and the runs on the scoreboard began to tick up. Singles and the occasional two were neatly pushed into gaps or stroked smoothly to the deep field. No rush, no testing of throws or the speed of batters’ legs.

Only occasionally was the greater power needed for a boundary deployed. Early on, Gregory drove Gus Atkinson past mid-on with precision and along the ground, the ball ending up by running over the rope and under the covers. An over later, Siddle edged Worrall, bowling from the River End, past a diving gully and the ball again disappeared under the covers. Both boundaries brought applause, but it was steady defence and measured accumulation of singles and twos that began to build tension. After Siddle’s edged boundary 11 overs slipped by before the ball reached the boundary again. And yet, the score rose at the rate of three runs an over, and as it rose the applause rose with it.

Two overs were indicative of them all. Off successive deliveries from Atkinson, Siddle gently drove. The first, straight, was chased halfway to the Trescothick Pavilion boundary by mid-on and mid-off while the batters quietly added another two to the score. The second, to the off, was part stopped by mid-off diving hard to his right but ran on far enough towards the Trescothick Pavilion for two more to be added to the total. In an over from Overton, Gregory gently guided the ball with horizontal bat to fine leg for a single, Siddle hooked with a little more force to the long leg fielder running around to Gimblett’s Hill for another single, and Gregory took a third from the over with a push into the onside.

By such systematic run-gathering in those 11 overs did Gregory and Siddle take Somerset from 335 for 8 and a lead of 133 to 369 for 8 and a lead of 167. As the score rose, a tension-driven hush settled on the ground. It was punctuated by loud applause for runs of any number and for bats jabbed down on good balls. “How many would put a bit of pressure on them?” someone dared ask. No-one dared answer, but it was a thought which must have been pushing its way, against better judgement, into many minds.

And all the while, Gregory’s score crept up, out of the seventies, through the eighties and into the nineties. There was neither a rush for the century nor any nervousness in the nineties as he continued to stroke the ball around the field. Then, on 96, with Clark bowling from the Trescothick Pavilion End, he drove smoothly through the covers towards the Somerset Stand. As the deep point fielder closed on the ball it began to slow. The crowd willed it on. It was not enough. The fielder reached the ball before the ball reached the boundary and Gregory quietly settled for three. In the next over, against Steel’s leg spin, with the field in to prevent the single, Gregory drove again through the covers, this time towards the Temporary Stand. With the field in, the ball crossed the rope. It released some of the tension and the ground erupted into applause, many standing and continuing to applaud for what seemed an age while Gregory raised his bat to all quarters.

Peter Siddle had played a full part in the partnership, not just in keeping an end secure, but in scoring runs. He even took the lead after Gregory’s century, lofting Steel, albeit with a slight miscue, over a chasing mid-on to the Lord Ian Botham Stand boundary, sweeping Jacks to Gimblett’s Hill for three and taking his share of the pushed and steered singles. Of the 75 runs the partnership realised on the final morning, Siddle contributed 36 to Gregory’s 39.

Eventually, Siddle was struck on the pad by Worrall and given out. When the umpire raised his finger, Siddle seemed barely able to walk off, his feet dragging microscopically, one slowly after the other, towards the Caddick Pavilion before turning to face the umpire and then, finally, walking off. Whether startled by the decision or devastated by it, or both, it was impossible to tell from beyond the boundary, although online watchers thought Siddle unlucky. When, two balls later, Marchant de Lange attempted to steer a ball to third man he was caught behind and Surrey needed those 193 runs to win. By lunch they were 21 for 0 from three overs, Patel having glanced and twice driven Siddle to the boundary. Surrey needed another 171 and my lunchtime circumnavigation began.

It ended after that ball from Aldridge sent Smith’s off stump cartwheeling. Back in my seat, although Surrey only needed another 123 to win, one run in the next three overs, and that from a thick edge, built the tension further. Each time the bat was beaten applause rang around the ground. Loud applause followed any over in which the batter had been pinned down or beaten. “Come on, keep going,” someone shouted. Pushing back against Somerset, Will Jacks began to attack. He drove the tiring Aldridge straight back to the Lord Ian Botham Stand, pulled him over square leg to the Somerset Stand and drove him through the covers to the Caddick Pavilion boundary. With Surrey needing only 103 with seven wickets standing, Abell withdrew Aldridge from the attack and de Lange joined van der Merwe.

Jacks, supported by Ben Geddes, maintained the pressure on Somerset and the runs required continued to shrink. It pushed Abell into weakening the attacking field as runs prevented became a precious commodity. With 98 needed and Abell bowling an over to enable de Lange and van der Merwe to change ends, Geddes attempted to drive, the ball found the edge and flew over and wide of Gregory, the only slip. It would probably have cleared a second slip too had one been in place, but it did emphasise the importance of Jacks’ innings in denying Abell that leeway. Although the ball continued to beat the bat, the players left the field for tea with Surrey on 117 for 3 now needing another 76 with still those seven wickets standing.

Another circumnavigation of the ground, anti-clockwise as always, again left me chatting in front of Gimblett’s Hill when the players returned. With Aldridge back into the attack, Jacks, on 38, edged straight into Abell’s hands at second slip, and out again to an audible gasp from the far-flung crowd. If there had been a remote chance for Somerset it had surely just fallen to the ground. And then, two balls later, Geddes pulled Aldridge to midwicket where Green took a straightforward catch above his head. Fifty-six runs needed. Six wickets left. Too few runs, too many wickets the cold assessment. But Aldridge and Siddle were running in with renewed energy.

Hashim Amla, off the field ill since the beginning of the second day and a formidable sight to an opposition supporter, joined Jacks. “I have to collect my car,” someone said. “What a way to miss an impossible victory,” he added with a heavy dose of irony in his voice, and a touch of anxiety in his eye that he might actually miss one. It is the perpetual anxiety of the ardent cricket supporter who has to leave a lost match early, that that one impossible win of a lifetime will then occur. And then Amla, who had with Jacks pushed Surrey another 17 runs closer, missed a ball from the ever-persevering Siddle which cut in and struck him on the pad. The raising of the umpire’s finger triggered a colossal cheer far beyond the normal capacity of the numbers present. Surrey were five wickets down, the threat of Amla was gone, and still 39 runs were needed. Still beyond realistic possibility, but each wicket gave hope a quarter turn.

Cameron Steel to the wicket, Aldridge’s first Championship wicket in the first innings. Jacks, pushing Surrey ever closer to their target, drove straight of mid-on, just defeating the mid-on fielder and brought up his fifty. Jacks raised his bat to some generous applause, for he was the main driver of Surrey’s effort. Aldridge, beginning his 12th over of the innings, induced a wide flashing drive from Steel. The ball was edged and flew well wide of Abell at second slip. Abell dived hard to his right, stretched to his full length and caught the ball a few inches above the ground. It was a phenomenal catch, over in an instant, and Surrey were 161 for 6, 33 behind. Amidst the roar which followed, someone asked, “Can we do it?” “Not enough runs,” the cold assessment in response.

But cold assessment does not necessarily overrule emotion, and for a moment, hope ruled. It could be heard in the enormous cheer, seen in the glowing faces, and sensed in the atmosphere. Eyes turned to the scoreboard; brains did the calculations. Thirty-three runs were needed, or four wickets. Logic was against Somerset, and hope took a blow when Jacks hooked Aldridge towards Gimblett’s Hill and the ball burst through Goldsworthy’s hands on the bounce before crossing the boundary. That took the runs required below 30, then Jacks lofted Siddle over mid-on to the Ondaatje boundary and drove Aldridge through the covers to the Temporary Stand. The Somerset heart was sinking now and the Surrey enclave in the Lord Ian Botham Stand was becoming evermore vociferous, for Surrey now needed less than 20.

When Siddle struck Jacks on the pads the instantaneous appeal suggested the umpire’s finger must be raised. Siddle looked stunned when it stayed down. The next ball settled any doubt, for it was speared in, beat the bat and removed Jacks’ middle stump. That brought forth another colossal roar and a celebration from Siddle to match. Hearts pumped again, but with Somerset needing three wickets and Surrey needing only 18 runs the game was fast slipping away from Somerset. Overton played and missed a few times but survived as the final three wickets steadfastly refused to come and the issue was finally, and quickly, settled by hooked and pulled fours from Clark off Aldridge.

And so, Somerset had staved off defeat until late on the fourth day after a determined and sustained bowling performance on the second day, a gritty batting fightback on the third day and fourth morning, and a valiant assault with the ball and in the field on the final afternoon. But in the end, it was clear that too much ground had been ceded to Surrey when Somerset were bowled out for 180 by tea on the first day. For all their battling, they came away with just one point and their position in the first division is a precarious one. The next two matches are against the third and fourth teams in the table. There must therefore be a risk of Somerset, now in ninth place of ten, becoming detached from the main body of the table. Four of the final five matches of the season are against teams currently occupying places in the bottom half of the table. With uncertainty about the future format of first-class domestic cricket, and speculation, it is no more than that at present, that it could change as early as 2023, there is no time to waste for Somerset in producing performances like those of the second half of this match from the start of day one.

Result. Somerset 180 (D.J. Worrall 3-28, J. Overton 3-40, A.A.P. Atkinson 3-40) and 394 (L. Gregory 110*, L.P. Goldsworthy 67, T.B. Abell 45, D.J. Worrall 3-77). Surrey 382 (R.J. Burns 113, W.G. Jacks 88, J. Clark 63*) and 195 for 7 (W.G. Jacks 62, K.L. Aldridge 4-61). Surrey won by three wickets. Surrey 22 points. Somerset 1 point.

K.A, Aldridge took his maiden first-class wicket in Surrey’s first innings and Lewis Goldsworthy made his maiden first-class fifty in Somerset’s second innings.

As always you can catch up omm other 'Farmer' writing on his own website by clicking HERE

An Almighty Fightback Surrey CC @ Taunton

Discussion started by Grockles.com , 28/06/2022 11:02

Grockles.com
28/06/2022 11:02

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:29:11:52:06 by Grockle.

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AGod
11/06/2022 10:43

So.

Per the Beeb, Craig Overton is available.

Matt Renshaw, as I understand it, is not.

So…… re-jig the batting with Abell opening to allow somebody like Bartlett, Goldsworthy or Rew to slot into the batting order in the middle-order somewhere?

Or just a straight replacement for Renshaw, in which case it will - presumably - be Ben Green back to open?

If Gregory is fully fit, back-wise, then I assume the bowling picks itself (I assume we won’t go in with no spinner, though).

So

Green?
Lammonby
Abell
Hildreth
Banton
Davies
Gregory
Overton
VDM
Davey
Siddle

I assume that’s the most likely XI?

Only one overseas but Roussow retired from red ball and I assume MDL is behind all of the above four seamers for a place?

If, for some reason, there are grounds for No spinner then I suppose either we would include an extra batsman or MDL would be competing with Brooks for a place? With Renshaw out, I think the former is more likely, so probably Bartlett, Goldsworthy or Rew would play instead of VDM?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:16:12:47:54 by Grockle.

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AGod
11/06/2022 13:20

Jack Brooks will certainly not be playing.

He’s joined Sussex, on loan.

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Grockle
11/06/2022 13:33

Good to see him getting games if we aren't going to use him - hope to see him in the Royal London though

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AGod
11/06/2022 13:41

Did quite well in the T20 last year. Not sure of duration of this loan. It might only be until the second phase of the T20. With our T20 bowling up and down , it may make sense to have him back as an option.

This loan move may be a vote of confidence in the current fitness of our other seamers, red ball wise.

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hantssabre
11/06/2022 14:03

It’s for the next 2 CC matches but will still be available for Blast matches

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Grockle
11/06/2022 14:57

Well at least he may get competitive cricket. Is 2nd XI cricket over for the season?

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AGod
11/06/2022 15:10

Nah, there are bound to be more Second XI matches.

But first XI for Sussex will clearly be a better standard and makes more sense.

Continuing to have Brooks available for T20 also makes sense. Based on his figures (see the Kent thread), it could surely be time to give Josh a breather from T20?

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Grockle
11/06/2022 15:18

Wasn't related to Brooks it's just that the 2nd XI season seems to get shorter and shorter each season now and we will be using most of ours for RLODC before long anyway.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:11:15:33:53 by Grockle.

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AGod
11/06/2022 15:57

We have a seconds game on Monday.

There is, then, a 3 week hiatus in the schedule.

There are games in July and September but none in August, presumably due to the Blundred destroying the 50 over competition.

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Grockle
11/06/2022 16:01

Yep seem there are 6 four day games to go with a couple after all the other stuff in September.

My impression was obviously wrong

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Grockle
11/06/2022 18:08

Will George Bartlett be afforded the opportunity tomorrow?

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Scrumper
11/06/2022 23:18

Can't see George playing, probably Ben getting the nod over Lewis2 for the final 11.

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cricketjerry-mouse
11/06/2022 23:28

Surrey include 19-year-old Singapore-born all-rounder Thomas Lawes in their 15-man squad for the first time at Taunton tomorrow. As previously reported, Sam Curran, Jason Roy and Reece Topley are all away with the England squad playing three ODI matches against the Netherlands.

Jamie Overton, who has been performing better with the bat than the ball so far this season, is included, as is San Francisco-born batsman and leg-spinner Cameron Steel, who payed for Somerset Seconds before joining Durham in 2017 and moving to Surrey last year.

Squad: Burns (c), Amla, Atkinson, Clark, Geddes, Jacks, Lawes, McKerr, Moriarty, Overton,, Patel, Smith, Steel, Virdi, Worrall.

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wsm fan
12/06/2022 00:29

16 wickets from 4 matches at 22s bowling rockets.

Plus a batting average of 61 batting at 7 or 8.

Think we'd be happy if few of ours had those stats.....

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AGod
12/06/2022 06:45

Surrey’s *9th* best batting average is way better than our *3rd* best batting average.

Which batsmen have actually improved in red ball cricket - over time - under the Hurry/Kerr regime? Isn’t that one of the most important tests of a regime?

Bowling wise?

The only guy whose figures really need to improve this season (of regulars) is Gregory, whose average of 42 this season is poor. The other bowling averages of main bowlers are fine - all 22 and under.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:06:46:12 by AGod.

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Nailsea_Fizz
12/06/2022 08:27

Well this looks like being a very stiff test, you had better get those knives sharpened AGod, it could be a long day in the sunshine.

looking forward to it as always, fingers crossed for some above average performances.

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AGod
12/06/2022 08:39

It is unlikely to be a “long day,” (in a literal sense) if Somerset bat first and our bowling attack should be competitive against the Surrey batting line-up, should they bat first, thus avoiding a metaphorical “long day.”

Unless we’ve prepared the M5 in lieu of a pitch? It would be a surprise to see a competent batting performance since our red ball batting is almost always inadequate unless the opposition bowl pies (e.g Warks, OHD apart). Surrey’s bowling seems to me to have been competent this season so I doubt they shall come out and bowl like Warks did.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 08:47

As you say Nailsea we can only watch and see what transpires. All the numbers in the books are simply numbers until the players add to them over the next 4 days.

First thimg is to get in and check the scorecard for the team.. Have a good day all those who'll be at the ground. Clear but a little overcast presently at Bicknoller Towers

Should be an interesting day with both sides having plenty to work on.

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Nailsea_Fizz
12/06/2022 10:27

AGod, even on a sunny day you bring a dark cloud qith you. Is it that that's delaying the Temple Meads train.

Can't decide who i want to win the toss as we'll either be 20-3 by the time i arrive or Surrey will be. -

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Grockle
12/06/2022 10:30

The sun is trying to break through at the ground though there is low lying cloud in most directions. The strip is at the CA end of the Botham so a short boundary to the Caddyshack.

The side on the scorecard is;
Green, Lammonby, Abell, Banton, Hildreth, Davies, Gregory, Overton, Davey, LEACH, Siddle and Goldsworthy

Don't think Jack will be at 10 so probably go with the 11 others as a guide

Jamie Overton is on the Surrey side batting at 6

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AGod
12/06/2022 10:58

The way the Surrey side has been listed, Grockle, is very unlikely to be the actual batting line-up, I think. Or at least if you're looking at the list displayed on the stream, then I can say that's definitely the case, as there is zero chance of Gus Atkinson batting three!!

Personally, I think Atkinson may be a bowler that we can take advantage of. We shall see.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 11:02

We are batting first after winning the toss

Roelof is in and James isn't





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:11:05:04 by Grockle.

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AGod
12/06/2022 11:06

Brooks out on loan.

Hildreth axed (one assumes?)

Perhaps the club is starting - already - to look more towards the future, with those who may not get contracts for next season more on the back burner?

George Bartlett will surely be disappointed to have not been the beneficiary of Hildreth being dropped.

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AGod
12/06/2022 11:14

This pitch looks a good one for batting, thus far.

Somebody has fixed the broken ECB camera since the last T20 game so thanks to whoever did that!

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Grockle
12/06/2022 11:16

But you could also argue that both Green and Goldsworthy have been knocking as well.

Probably a shame that they didn't give Banton the gloves and pull in Bartlett as well.

Probably wouldn't have hut all that much even though Steve is still our best keeper by quite a while?

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Grockle
12/06/2022 11:23

Stick it out there and Ben will snick it 17 for 1

He just isn't an opener unfortunately, probably would have been more sensible to move Tom A up and bulk up behind him - would have liked to see George get a chance if you were going to bring someone in to open with Lammers.

It's an opportunity for Tom L t show he can fashion and innings up front without Renshaw

Anyway the Toms are out in the middle together now





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:11:30:40 by Grockle.

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AGod
12/06/2022 11:27

Bizarrely the club inform me that I’m wrong about the camera (and that a. new one is en route from Derby)… “bizarre,” because the coverage has been fixed even without a new camera (it’s back to being from behind the arm at both ends!!)

I guess somebody clever came up with a work around, so thanks to them for that instead!

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AGod
12/06/2022 11:31

Yes, Grockle. I really like Greener, but I see him as somebody the club should be looking to develop as a guy to compete with Lewis Gregory for a place, rather than as a makeshift opener.

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AGod
12/06/2022 11:35

The club found a way to make the MTP camera produce a “behind the arm,” feed from both ends which sounds jolly clever to me. Excellent.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 11:36

But Tom L is 'fairly adjacent' and we are 21 for 2..... so the opportunity passes him by.

And so Tom Banton gets the chance





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:11:38:04 by Grockle.

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AGod
12/06/2022 11:36

Sadly, though, the score looks the same whatever the view

Nothing wrong with that lbw decision.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 11:40

Not the view from the Press - 'bit marginal but probably correct'

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AGod
12/06/2022 12:00

Truly awful from Abell.

Pathetic execution Vs a long hop from Overton.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:12:05:42 by AGod.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 12:01

Jamie gets his first with not the best shot selection from the skipper

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AGod
12/06/2022 12:01

Before Hamza comes along to blame the pitch? This pitch is blameless.

Surrey have bowled accurately and, as ever, we can’t cope with accurate bowling, even when there’s little movement.

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AGod
12/06/2022 12:05

Time for Davies soon:

Will he have learnt anything from his double debacle at the Oval?

We can guarantee they’ll throw a few wide ones up for him in the early going.

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AGod
12/06/2022 12:07

When I said Surrey had bowled accurately, it would be more accurate to say the opening bowlers were accurate.

Atkinson and Overton not so much.

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Scrumper
12/06/2022 12:08

Banton seems determined to catch some fishy.

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AGod
12/06/2022 12:17

Banton Is trying to rein his instincts in, as he has - generally - done in red ball this season.

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AGod
12/06/2022 12:20

Having taken Abell’s wicket with an undeserving ball, Overton produces a good one to Banton but then their Aussie does a great impression of a Team England peasant in the slips , Banton escapes and then smacks a later wide one for four.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 12:24

James Hildreth is suffering today - he and his kids missed an event on Friday as well so 'axed' is probably a little previous.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 12:36

The side screens are still a little sad and grey here - thought they had ordered new bright ones?

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AGod
12/06/2022 12:38

Worrall producing some quality outswing bowling and it has looked too much for Goldsworthy.

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AGod
12/06/2022 12:41

Banton’s attempts to rein in his attacking instincts arguably cause a second shouldering arms dismissal in recent red ball innings for him.

Barring a rally from the lower order then we are, rather predictably, going to be dismissed for a wholly inadequate score here.

The pitch has a bit of pace, but little lateral movement. There is swing. So perhaps Lewis Gregory might be a key man with the ball, but unless he and Overton and VDM do really well with the bat, LG and co will - as so often - have little to bowl at.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 12:44

Atkinson gets one to come back a lot and Bants is done leaving one

For those wondering, Gimblett's does need some finishing work. The walls are not topped yet - plastic dividers still in, electric cables still at the boundary fence not plumbed., railings to be put up There's more to do. Probably lots given they want it open in about a fortnight.

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Scrumper
12/06/2022 12:45

Equally sad applause as we reach 50.

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Devonboy70
12/06/2022 12:55

No only has our batting today from the top order been drivel , it’s been slow drivel !

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AGod
12/06/2022 13:33

We are, as you know, Devonboy, a very, very poor top six batting side.

From the club's point of view the options, moving forward, at the end of the season, would appear to be:

a) Do nothing and hope that the results are somehow different (definition of insanity).

b) Give up even paying lip-service to red ball cricket, becoming instead what Gloucs were under John Bracewell - a side unashamedly aiming for white ball success only, and make all recruitment decisions accordingly.

c) Take the decision to recruit better red-ball batsmen, on the basis that the guys we have are neither already good enough, nor making any obvious strides towards being good enough.

d) Assume that the batsmen are good enough to succeed in red-ball but have just not been developed properly, in which case keep the same batters and make changes within the cricket management.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:13:35:16 by AGod.

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dilly
12/06/2022 13:58

I see the lovely Jamie Cox is in the ground again today. Does he live around here in the summer?

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Nailsea_Fizz
12/06/2022 14:11

Had the pleasure of listening to Jamie and Vic Marks chewing the fat for 1/2 hour.

Seems he has a job at Lords.

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AGod
12/06/2022 14:24

As usual, our bowlers will have to bowl out of their skins to give us any chance at all in this match.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 14:28

He was here last week and looked pretty much the same except for greyer hair. One of his boys is on the groundstaff at Lord's I believe or does something there/ is interning or something.

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wsm fan
12/06/2022 14:28

This Overton chap looks a handful.

3/31 off 11 & bowling rapid.

If only.......

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Grockle
12/06/2022 14:35

Straight through RvdM

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AGod
12/06/2022 14:37

He wouldn’t get to bowl at the country’s worst batting group (other than in the nets) had he stayed here, though, would he, WSM? (Let’s face it almost everyone that bowls against our shower - bar Warks mainly reserve bowling attack - comes out with good figures.)

Apart from that?

Bowling isn’t really our problem, tbh.

One must also add that Surrey are NOT using Jamie in the way that he, supposedly, was demanding to be used here, I.e with the new ball.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:14:40:30 by AGod.

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AGod
12/06/2022 15:10

All we need now, to seal an innings defeat, is for England to pull Overton out of this match due to finger injury, or whatever ails him.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 15:26

Overton v Overton

and he smacks him on the head ball 2 and Craig Overton retires not out





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:15:30:43 by Grockle.

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AGod
12/06/2022 15:32

I guess MDL will have to be the concussion substitute?

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Scrumper
12/06/2022 15:35

Is he out of the match?

That was a hell of a clunk. Keep it in the family 😖

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AGod
12/06/2022 15:38

He’ll have to go through the protocol but one would imagine that it’s more likely than not that he’ll be out. Guys seldom seem to pass the protocol these days.

We might need Aldridge to replace Davey as concussion substitute as well, now.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 15:38

And now he's smacked Josh as well but they say Craig has been OK'd to bat aqain

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Nailsea_Fizz
12/06/2022 15:39

Jamie cox's lad is an intern on the groundstaff, doe to return to Uni in Brisbaine. Plays the game locally.

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AGod
12/06/2022 15:41

Both guys hit on the so-called stem guards, per Peter. That’s the bit that, when unguarded, led to the death of Phil Hughes.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 15:42

Craig is back in then it seems - so shock horror a batsman has passed the protocol. Josh has also been classed as "retired not out"





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:15:47:02 by Grockle.

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AGod
12/06/2022 15:43

Overton coming back, thank God, so must have managed to pass his protocol.

Sam Dalling seems to think we can’t use MDL as a sub for any of our bowlers, as he’d be too quick.

However, my understanding is that it’s up to Surrey to decide, not the umpires, as to whether to accept any proposed sub.

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AGod
12/06/2022 15:46

Given that this pitch clearly has some pace and bounce then MDL could actually be interesting…

(Should a sub be needed and should he be permitted to be it).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:15:47:19 by AGod.

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Scrumper
12/06/2022 15:46

What was that announcement? PA is crap.

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AGod
12/06/2022 15:47

Joel Garner has replaced Josh Davey…

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wsm fan
12/06/2022 15:51

THIS is what we have lost.

Absolutely frightening what Jamie can do to teams on this form.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 15:56

Have we 'lost' this? He wasn't doing 'this' here and he didn't do 'this' for the year after he left.

Jamie had to re-assess to do 'this' would he have done 'this' at Taunton because he had the chance to stay we did not release him

Sometimes bowlers have to go to reset - good on him but it is not all Somerset's fault that Jamie Overton was not the world beater you seem to think he has become (on limited evidence at the moment one must admit) WSM

He may very well have had to come to terms with a few home truths and worked damn hard to be where he is now. Has the new environment contributed to that mindset? Probably. Would it have happened at Taunton - no idea.

Personally I wouldn't have been massively surprised to have seen Somerset offer the third year to keep Jamie but I'm still not convinced that this 'Road to Damascus' change would have happened had he stayed.

Personally think the move was the best thing he could do and we were right to refuse to expand our offer but that is just one opinion in a debate with many points on both sides





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:16:39:01 by Grockle.

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AGod
12/06/2022 16:00

Darren Venness seems to think that getting Azhar Mahmood as bowling coach has made a very big difference for Jamie.

Peter Trego seems to think Jamie has matured as a person “cutting out the nonsense,” as he put it (he was referring to onfield stuff, not anything off it).

There’s no doubt that Jamie’s stats last year were horrendous (with the ball) and so he must have worked out a way to bowl successfully on the Oval roads, over the winter (with Mahmood’s help, per Venness).

(Mahmood replaced Johnno as bowling coach over the winter).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:16:02:25 by AGod.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 16:02

Josh is less likely to bat again - though nothing definite yet.

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AGod
12/06/2022 16:05

Yeah. I have to say that, if I were Surrey, I’d probably refuse to accept MDL instead of Davey. And if the umpires have to adjudicate, then I suppose they would agree with Surrey’s refusal.

In that case, with Brooks at Hove (who would otherwise be the replacement), it will have to be Aldridge or Leonard as sub.

If it was MDL for Overton I’m less sure if the umpires would find in Surrey’s favour, had they objected to any proposed switch.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:16:08:29 by AGod.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 16:10

Tea at 167 for 8 - but how many is this partnership?

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AGod
12/06/2022 16:13

It seems that the umpires will just decide themselves as to whether any player we might nominate to potentially replace Davey is an acceptable “like-for-like,” replacement.

The rules don’t seem clear as to whether the umpires can be more picky than simply “paceman replacing paceman,” “spinner replacing spinner,” etc.

That is, I don’t know if they can prevent MDL joining the fray just because he’s ten mph quicker than Josh.

They can, obviously, stop an all-rounder replacing a specialist bowler or a specialist batsman replacing an all-rounder etc .

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Grockle
12/06/2022 16:20

Josh is done and he is replaced by Kasey Aldridge and he can bat if he is here

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AGod
12/06/2022 16:22

Awful news.

Wonder if the umpires refused to let us play De Lange or if we didn’t even try to get him subbed in.

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Botham
12/06/2022 16:23

I wonder whether the Surrey bowling coach does a better job than ours did with Jove. He is bowling far more responsibly in both facets of the game.

As far as the batters go, their self confidence must be as low as ours in them.

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AGod
12/06/2022 16:25

Darren Venness seems to think Azhar Mahmood is on a different level as a bowling coach. Then again, they are colleagues.

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AGod
12/06/2022 16:35

Not sure that I share Peter’s faith that KA making a load of runs for WSM means that this is somehow a beneficial swap for us.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 16:37

A bowler bowling better is not entirely down to the coach Botham there are all kinds of aspects - one being that this change has taken about 18 months.

Jamie does look a little 'chunkier' so those who used to criticise Daz ref bowlers may have to consider that.

He is certainly coming in off a shorter run up as we have identified before during the T20

But I'm sure people will find reasons to blame Somerset coaching for Surrey's fast bowler changes without much evidence - tends to work that way.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 16:44

Quote:

AGod
Not sure that I share Peter’s faith that KA making a load of runs for WSM means that this is somehow a beneficial swap for us.

Suppose we'll all have to wait and see won't we? Kasey has to see this as an opportunity whatever the end result is. Out for 3 but what was he doing an hour ago?

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AGod
12/06/2022 16:47

Let’s face it, Somerset’s bowling is seldom an undue problem.

I reckon we’re “only,” 170 below par.

The pitch offers little lateral movement.

It has pace and bounce. But we don’t have an out and out quick on the team sheet. Either we mis-read our own pitch OR MDL is so far out of contention it’s untrue.. I mean what’s the point of having a genuine fast bowler on the staff if you don’t pick him on a quick deck!?

There was some swing. So there’s that.

But Surrey have made loads of runs all year.

If we bowl REALLY well.. maybe we can limit them to 250 BUT, I wouldn’t give our top six batters a prayer, batting again and under the pressure of an 80-run first innings deficit anyway.

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AGod
12/06/2022 16:49

Peter Trego certainly pouring the credit on the Surrey staff for Jamie’s improvement

Peter said he thought Jamie’s career might fall by the wayside, but Surrey have turned him around.

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Hamez
12/06/2022 17:02

Yet again it's a pitch made for Overton and Davey. Alas the opposition have an Overton too who knows just how to bowl on it.

Can imagine Tom Abell walking off with a wry smile and roll of the eyes. How long till he's off to a Surrey or such to make a mountain of runs and start his test career away from these decks.

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AGod
12/06/2022 17:09

Absolute nonsense, Hamez.

There is NOTHING wrong with this pitch.

If, as you suggest, any member of our useless top six wants to flounce off due to blaming something other than their own manifest inadequacies for their perpetual failure…

…I’ll drive them to their new team myself.

If you seriously think that the pitch played any role in Abell’s *abysmal* dismissal?

(Shaking head).



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:17:12:30 by AGod.

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AGod
12/06/2022 17:13

Let me guess, Hamez?

The pitch was responsible for Patel’s giveaway Vs Siddle just like it was for Green and Abell getting out to very wide balls!?

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Scrumper
12/06/2022 17:28

Talking about this match on TMS now. How often has a player retiring hurt has been replaced by someone who was retired hurt?

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AGod
12/06/2022 17:31

We seem to be getting very little out of “yet another pitch designed for Overton,” Hamez!!!

Could it, per chance, be the case that the problem is very simply that we are strapped with the worst top six in the land? Perish the thought!?

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Grockle
12/06/2022 17:37

Well you are both pretty 'perennial' with your talking points to be honest

'managed wickets' v 'worst top 6 eva!'

Think we have the general gist now guys

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Hamez
12/06/2022 17:44

Quote:

AGod
Absolute nonsense, Hamez.
There is NOTHING wrong with this pitch.

If, as you suggest, any member of our useless top six wants to flounce off due to blaming something other than their own manifest inadequacies for their perpetual failure…

…I’ll drive them to their new team myself.

If you seriously think that the pitch played any role in Abell’s *abysmal* dismissal?

(Shaking head).

Come on now. This is yet another match that will be over in 3 days with Davey and Overton running amok whether we're on the right side od the result or not. The evidence is in every scorecard.

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Hamez
12/06/2022 17:47

Quote:

Grockle
Well you are both pretty 'perennial' with your talking points to be honest
'managed wickets' v 'worst top 6 eva!'

Think we have the general gist now guys

What do you think Grockle?

I'll accept that I'm perhaps verging on hyperbole with my criticism of the wickets but I don't believe there is anything wrong with our top 6. And given the way Overton and co frequently run through opposition batters and we so rarely see a fourth day I don't think the pitch is a fair contest between bat and ball at all.

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AGod
12/06/2022 17:48

Now I know you’re just on a wind-up, Hamez, and haven’t even been watching.

I bet you £10,000 that Josh Davey does NOT run “run amok,” in this game…



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:17:48:46 by AGod.

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Hamez
12/06/2022 17:52

Quote:

AGod
Now I know you’re just on a wind-up, Hamez, and haven’t even been watching.
I bet you £10,000 that Josh Davey does NOT run “run amok,” in this game…

Yes he's crocked I see. Let's hope for an Overton ten wicket haul and some support from Siddle then.

I did indeed stop watching much earlier today when it was clear what will happen. Because it's terrible to watch. Wicket, wicket, wicket, wicket, wicket.

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AGod
12/06/2022 17:58

And how many of those wickets that you saw featured balls that:

A) Kept low

Reared off a length

C) Seamed prodigiously

Or

D) Turned square.

Come on, admit it.. the answer is NIL.

Because there’s nothing wrong with this pitch.

The Essex pitch seamed a lot. All the other home pitches this season and 100% of them last season were fine - nothing wrong with them at all.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 18:00

There is something wrong with our top 6.

It's 6 batsmen mostly who would be working in the 4,5,6 positions trying to create a full front end of a Championship side. We were trying to identify in the box today when Somerset last had a solid and dependable front 2 that allowed the other batsmen in the lineup to work to their strengths in the middle order from a base against an older ball and a non opening fresh bowling pair.

I'm going back to Cox and Bowler some others are suggesting Trescothick and Suppiah and others are saying with Compton at 3 and Hildreth in his consistent phase we had something like it.

There are no openers in our top six - Steve Davies is no longer. Tom Abell is probably where he should be. When Renshaw is here he is the closest we have but the other end is always open. I pray James Rew may be used after his A levels - he's the closest I've seen of the ones possible.

Will any of them develop into what we need? Well your guess is as good as mine but market forces are working against them as red ball players and time is NOT on our side.

It is a constant lottery with who we have in front of us.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:18:07:45 by Grockle.

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AGod
12/06/2022 18:09

We had a spell when Mybs did a good job opening with Banger.

I think that would have been after Arul had to quit with his knee.

But certainly the year Compton averaged 100, batting three, would have been one where we had a fair base.

In 2010, Hildreth averaged 87 and Marcus about 70, so that was a year where we had big runs from two of the first four, at least.

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AGod
12/06/2022 18:11

Aldridge doing okay here, but the pitch looks *flat* in the evening sunshine.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 18:17

The Mybs bit was a bit of a lottery as well but at least Banger was still in some kind of nick then. The problem with the Compo me was that Marcus wasn't in that same nick any more so we were always looking for a base with 1 or 2 down - but at least we had a batsman coming in who could act like an opener. We don't have that in either format though we are presently more likely to work from a base in white ball than in red.

Someone today suggested - half jokingly that maybe we should move Josh to opener and I thought 'Why the hell not' Could it be worse?

We are presently seeing what a decent set of openers does to a new ball attack when it does not capitulate within the first 10 overs. Surrey can work from here.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:18:19:48 by Grockle.

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Hamez
12/06/2022 18:19

Davey did start his career as a top order bat, though more at 3 or 4.

Rew does indeed look a prospect.

Quote wasn't necessary it refers literally to the post above. Please don't overuse the facility as it makes threads much bigger Thanks



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:19:53:00 by Grockle.

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AGod
12/06/2022 18:20

Peter T has been banging the drum to move Josh up the order!

Tbh.. when he’s actually available, I wouldn’t even mind Leachy opening the batting.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 18:23

Well we need something to build around because it's all foundations in sand presently

Not pouching Hashim Amla doesn't help of course





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:18:25:35 by Grockle.

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AGod
12/06/2022 18:27

Aldridge has drawn a couple of outside edges with decent balls from Amla as well as a top-edged cut that burst through Cove’s hands.

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AGod
12/06/2022 18:35

KA looks to be improved as a bowler, to me.

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MisterMurph
12/06/2022 20:17

Jamie Cox does indeed work at Lords:

[www.lords.org]

He is a regular speaker at dinners, and always speaks incredibly fondly about his time at Somerset.

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Mike TA1
12/06/2022 20:35

Somerset v Surrey 1st Day photos.

What an eventful day, Somerset struggling to bat, players being hit and injured. Substitute batsman/ bowler. What will tomorrow bring?



Steve Davies couldn't get out of the way of this fast ball from Jamie Overton, it came off something that I can't see, straight up in the air to Dan Worrall.



Roelof van der Merwe was bld by Dan Worrall.



Roelof van der Merwe scoring 4 runs.



Craig Overton lbw Gus Atkinson



First Craig Overton was hit on the hand by Jamie, he was in a lot of pain. - and then.



and then Craig Overton was hit on the head from his loving brother Jamie.



Casey Aldridge lbw Gus Atkinson.



Ben Green ct Will Jacks bld Jordan Clark.

What will tomorrow bring?

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Grizzers
12/06/2022 20:38

Grandkids kept me away from Taunton today & did me a favour I think, as the day was joyous.

Just so dispiriting to see that we have folded yet again, on a reportedly inoffensive pitch.

Yes, our problem of course remains the top six, but I keep coming back to the fact that our management/coaching team have failed dismally over the last decade to get out of them anything like what the batting line up are capable of in red ball cricket. Nor - clearly - did we do so from Jamie.

Yet JK gets a new two year contract and AH remains as silent as ever.

I really can’t see how rewarding failure (yes, I know we’ve been in the top division for years, but we have won nothing and are going backwards) can lead anywhere positive.

Still, we are very good at platitudes and ticking ‘pc’ boxes.

Desperately wish we had someone with a harder edge in charge. Both on and off the field.

Grizzers

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Devonboy70
12/06/2022 21:02

Unfortunately whilst we have the current management team , failure will always be rewarded with constant selection, at least where are batsmen are concerned.

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AGod
12/06/2022 21:05

AH seems to spend a lot of time sunning himself.

As to the pitch, Lachlan Stevens' close of play comments sum things up rather nicely.. something to the effect of:

"We shall have to keep putting it in the right areas for extended periods of time and keep going and hopefully make some inroads, though it will be hard."

Certainly not the comments you'd get from a home team official if he thought there was a great deal in the track for the bowlers.

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Devonboy70
12/06/2022 21:26

Lachlan Stevens he’s the batting coach isn’t he …….

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Grockle
12/06/2022 21:37

Well he has been the batting coach since April

Who do you suggest we select if we don't select those presently playing Devonboy?

Are there viable alternatives who will suddenly turn this ship around? How many of them are available?

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Grockle
12/06/2022 21:55

And where should Andy hurry be AG? It's sunny. Is that his fault? If he wasn't seen what is it he should be doing that would solve this seemingly immediately?

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Devonboy70
12/06/2022 22:31

Well Grockle I don’t know who we should currently select as a top 5 . All I do know is that those who are constantly picked always seem to constantly fail. With the exception of whoever we bring in as an overseas batsmen the current bunch have been given so many opportunities. We seem as a club to accept less than mediocrity when it comes to our home grown batsmen . It’s a way of justifying all the money that’s ploughed into all levels below the first team squad . Gone are the days when we produced batsmen of real talent at the top level . If I had my way I would be looking to other counties players to bring to the club , but alas we rarely seem to go down route. I guess it’s too much trouble for our management and nice and comfortable to keep the current squad happy.

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Somerset LaLaLa
12/06/2022 22:36

A day of 2 halves for me, the morning followed our woeful batting script when a total of 100 looked a good outcome , the afternoon some fightback from the tail. The ferocity of the rivalry between Craig and Jamie was incredible, it looked like Bodyline for a few moments.

One observation is how much we miss Renshaw. When he has made around 100 in a match this season, Somerset wins. Around 50, we have narrowly lost. Less than that, we lost heavily. And without Renshaw against Hampshire away, we were thrashed

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Grockle
12/06/2022 22:43

So you are talking end of season Devonboy?

The selection is therefore what it is with limited options of variation until the end of the summer and for all the stuff at the end of the 2022 summer that is IT.

The guys there now have to do it OR the only solution is at least in the medium term of winter changes

These players, these coaches and this management sort this out or we are talking 2023 at the earliest.

Selection changes possible are minimal Variations are more available. But these people are who are in the pot like it or not. Not ideal but its the pack we have to play with whoever's head you demand as payment people





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:12:22:44:02 by Grockle.

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Grockle
12/06/2022 22:47

You've hit a nail SLLL.

Renshaw is the batsman we need. Another like him might fundamentally change our structure to an alarming degree because it would take pressure off so many others.

But who and when is the question

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Scrumper
13/06/2022 00:39

You'll never get the answer if you don't know the question.

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AGod
13/06/2022 07:04

Our biggest problem of all, top six-wise, is that Hilderth and Davies have been performing as zeroes, really.

Unless blessed with exceptional young talent (let's not kid ourselves, we are NOT, from a red ball batting standpoint), no county wants too many inexperienced players in its top six, nor does it want to have to count on them for too many runs every week.

But Hildreth has done little since the end of, I think, the 2018 season.

And, except for a laudable but brief stint as opener, last season, Steven Davies has disappointed with the bat, too, in Somerset colours, really - and he has been especially poor this season.

If those two were actually performing, with Abell and Renshaw then we might get an average of circa 150-160 runs on the board from the top six even if whatever two younger players we were selecting with them were out for ducks (and 200-210 runs if the younger players averaged 25 each, which is about what most of them do actually average). And that would be a base from which to build reasonable totals most weeks.

But we haven't managed to recruit anybody domestic/long-term from without to plug the gaps between the "fading older players," and the "still learning to play the game younger players."

This season, more than ever, there is a simply huge gulf in batting averages between our lot and almost everybody else in this league. Our averages for our top six are normally a moderate amount worse than most other teams but, this year, other teams have been involved in run-feasts and so have much higher averages than they normally do, whereas our lot are doing as badly as ever.

I suspect management are desperately hoping that Aldridge, Leonard and Baker come on enough, this season, that they can take a punt on no overseas bowler for next season, so that they can try to address the huge batting problems with not one but two overseas batsmen.. even though overseas players are, generally - by their very nature - a sticking plaster solution (the exception is if you can find somebody who has retired from Tests and can maybe do 3-4 years in the county game).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:13:07:07:34 by AGod.

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AGod
13/06/2022 08:34

Apparently, yesterday was the final day of weekend CC cricket that Somerset will be involved in this season, or so I have been told.

Edit: and, apparently, there are only 4 weekend white ball games to come!!

So the weekends will be - overwhelmingly - cricket-free zones.

Well done, Execrable Cricket Board!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:13:08:35:30 by AGod.

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wsm fan
13/06/2022 08:50

6 if we make T20 finals day AND RL50 final......

June 19 Essex away T20
July 3 Surrey home T20
July 14 FINALS DAY
Aug 7 Glos away RL50
Aug 14 Midx home RL50
Sep 17 RL50 FINAL

So 4 more weekend days of cricket this season out of 15/16 weekends



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:13:10:51:52 by wsm fan.

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AGod
13/06/2022 09:01

Ridiculous.

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Scrumper
13/06/2022 10:50

Apparently MdL is in for concussed Cove.

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Grockle
13/06/2022 10:51

Cove has had a delayed reaction and will be replaced by MdL. Amla is ill and is retired not out at moment

He can return but no one here is yet sure what the narure of the illness is.

So.. let's see if that lot has any effect on the day

It will, of course, produce a little "re-analysis" and I assume "Look what we 'lost' and look what we 'gained"' comparisons here I have no doubt. 🤔🤪





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:13:11:08:14 by Grockle.

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AGod
13/06/2022 11:32

We’re doomed.

There’s not much left to hope for bar no more bowling injuries and - indeed - no more concussions when we bat again.

Of course, it would be nice to be something other than soft and weak when we bat again, but…

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AGod
13/06/2022 11:36

Might as well put MDL on and give them some chin music back.

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AGod
13/06/2022 11:39

Gregory no-balls speeding us to defeat.

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AGod
13/06/2022 11:53

Pitch looking an absolute road when we’re not batting on it!!!

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Grockle
13/06/2022 11:57

Yep the general opinion around the media is that it has turned into a Somerset M5 motorway track. They blamed the swinging ball yesterday - it's not doing a lot of anything today.

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AGod
13/06/2022 12:00

Yeah swing but also pace and bounce yesterday (not only Jove).

Peter just managed to swing one away from Geddes but it’s generally doing very, very little.

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AGod
13/06/2022 12:03

At least KA is doing okay, all things considered.

Need to avoid over bowling Peter here.

Get MDL on, and get him some work.

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AGod
13/06/2022 12:13

Got the ball changed and a very good over from KA to Burns ensued.

However, now that we’ve got a new cherry that might swing we have to bring MDL on, who isn’t really a swing bowler.

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AGod
13/06/2022 12:33

MDL needs to give Geddes a throat ball or two.

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AGod
13/06/2022 12:39

A good combined job by MDL and Lammonby.

Just keeping us just about hanging on… but desperate for a couple of wickets.

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AGod
13/06/2022 12:46

We should probably try Green next as we continue to bid to slow their progress.

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Grockle
13/06/2022 12:46

Someone has just mentioned that this seems like lunch on Day 4. The only bit of that which might be different is the result

Not sure where Somerset wickets are coming from to be honest

Oh they are coming from MdL!!





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:13:12:48:11 by Grockle.

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Mike K
13/06/2022 12:48

Well done Marchant

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AGod
13/06/2022 12:48

MDL gets one!!!

Didn’t have to give him the throat ball in the end.

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Grizzers
13/06/2022 12:52

He’s certainly bending his back, that’s for sure.

Meantime, can anyone recall any first class male cricketer having longer hair than Rory Burns ?

Grizzers

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AGod
13/06/2022 12:52

And then very, very good bowling from MDL to Smith (who is a dangerous player).

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Grockle
13/06/2022 12:55

He's worked hard for that one

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Grockle
13/06/2022 13:04

Good spells from Lammonby and MdL with 7 overs 5 maidens 8 for 1 from the big man being the pick of the spells so far I think

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AGod
13/06/2022 13:04

I think I’d try Green with maybe another Aldridge spell immediately after lunch.

Siddle, I think, should be saved for the second new ball.

So maybe go back to the MDL/Lammonby tandem after the first Aldridge/Green tandem after lunch.

Trying to keep a lid on the scoring is the only real game in town at the moment.

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AGod
13/06/2022 13:54

Apparently, Dom Sibley has - thus far - declined to sign a new deal at Warks.

An approach has been made for his services and, surprisingly, it’s not from Surrey.

Info is from George Dobell.

I wonder if we might, possibly, be a bidder on his services?

He’s probably not got a prayer of a Blundred deal so all that franchise@#$%&may not be relevant in his move.

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Grockle
13/06/2022 14:06

And Kasey earns one as well. That was his maiden Championship wicket Smith caught Davies for 6

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Grizzers
13/06/2022 14:09

Nice bowling from Aldridge. Well deserved wicket.

Grizzers

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Grockle
13/06/2022 14:26

NEVER write off Roelof.

I just did and first ball Bye Bye Burns!!.... excellent knock from the Surrey man though

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Grockle
13/06/2022 14:51

Unfortunately we can't bowl Lewis Gregory for too long as he is going for over 4 an over in what is still quite a tight game.

He really isn't doing it at the moment.

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Grockle
13/06/2022 15:00

You'll all be pleased to know that Tractor is presently inspecting the Gimblett building works for quality and discussing the merits and demerits with a member of the blue tabarded staff - not sure what the decision is unfortunately.

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AGod
13/06/2022 15:05

Well done, KA!

I really think that, Gregory apart (is he really fully fit?) we’ve bowled pretty well.

MDL, Aldridge and Lammonby have all stepped up nicely.

I don’t think we should give Gregory the second new ball.

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AGod
13/06/2022 15:18

Abell is taking the new ball himself!?

Why!?

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AGod
13/06/2022 15:20

At the same time?

A bit mystifying that no sign of Ben Green with the ball, all day?

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AGod
13/06/2022 15:22

Or not, since VDM is still going

We don’t want the new ball?

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Grockle
13/06/2022 15:30

Lewis has taken it at the MT end after bowling a loosener with the old one first

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Grockle
13/06/2022 15:42

Steel has now been cracked in the head by Siddle but seems to be remaining on the field





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:13:18:12:13 by Grockle.

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AGod
13/06/2022 15:53

Edge from Siddle nowhere near carrying. Annoying.

Gregory finally managed a good one from the other end.

Surrey a bit lucky in the last few overs before tea.

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AGod
13/06/2022 16:18

MDL now with some sort of injury, maybe cramp.

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AGod
13/06/2022 16:21

Peter gets some reward.

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Grizzers
13/06/2022 16:56

Wonder how this benign pitch will play when we bat again ?

Just pondering !

Grizzers

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AGod
13/06/2022 17:00

We’ll make it look unplayable.

Elsewhere?

Jack Brooks and co are getting carted by former SCCC men, Eddie Byrom and Colin Ingram. Brooks, as ever, too expensive.

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Grockle
13/06/2022 17:32

Jacks and Clark partnership pushing this game beyond us I think. Will require a VERY dogged and determined batting performance in the second innings to get anything out of this game at the present moment.

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AGod
13/06/2022 18:02

Two words very seldom associated with Somerset batting over the last few years.

Indeed, this game completes a kind of cycle, over 11 months’ duration, that started with the game at the Oval last July and ends with this game.

Including that game last July, our record over that run of 11 games (this is the 12th CC match) is:

Won : 2

Drawn: 1 (that actual match at the Oval)

Lost: 8

That’s relegation form in anyone’s book and the record will be 2-1-9 by the end of tomorrow (if not sooner).

The batting has been the opposite of “dogged,” in all eight of those defeats. It would be a massive surprise if we show sustained spirit with the bat in our second innings.

Unless the club has privately decided to prioritise white ball, then the position of our cricket managers must rapidly be becoming untenable with a recent record like the above.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:13:18:06:42 by AGod.

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Grockle
13/06/2022 18:19

Well it's not quite a 'relegation' record yet of course becauae you are referring to an 11 month record not one season. The rest has been posted more than once so not sure what posting it again and again does but each to their own.

Somerset players should go for the boring and learn to leave what they don't need to play and concentrate on learning what to do with the good stuff they have to play.

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Somerset LaLaLa
13/06/2022 19:12

We have previously relied on the tail to make good for the top 6, but this season even the tail are not producing the runs (with the exception of Davey).

Averages from Cricinfo (2021 / 2022):
Gregory 49 / 16
van der Merwe 30 / 12
Overton 24 / 17
Davey 26 / 31
Leach 25 / 15

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AGod
13/06/2022 19:14

That’s right.

In the past, the final five wickets have not infrequently matched or exceeded the first five.

But you really can’t - as a professional cricket club - expect to rely on that and, as you rightly say, that well has run dry as well.

We’d been continuously bailed out by very good bowling and the batting of the bowling all-rounders and bowlers. I don’t know whether management complacently assumed that this would always continue or whether they realised that the top six issues were more than just a passing problem but have simply been unable to sort it.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:13:19:21:06 by AGod.

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Grizzers
13/06/2022 21:47

Felt we stuck at it pretty well today in difficult circumstances. I watched from various vantage points around the ground and saw no-one who wasn't giving 100%.

But it's time to be honest. We are going backwards and it's not pretty. We have the feel of a bombed out shell of a team, collectively performing (largely batting if course) massively below their potential.

Why does no-one challenge Kerr, Hurry etc re this ? Anthony Gibson had a go at Kerr a few weeks ago, but JK's response was dismissive, almost to the point of ridicule. No idea why, as I can't see any good reason why JK has been awarded a new two year contract. Perhaps I'm missing something.

I have no idea what goes on in the background, but whatever 'systems' & 'processes' are being used, they ain't working.

I guess it'll carry on until someone in the dressing room, or of suitable seniority within the Club, has the spherical objects to stand up & insist that change is needed.

By which time I fear we'll be in a very precarious position.

Grizzers



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:13:21:48:15 by Grizzers.

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Mike TA1
13/06/2022 21:52

Somerset v Surrey Day two photos

Not much luck for the Somerset bowlers early in the day, a lot of playing and missing by the Surrey batsman.



Will Jacks bld Marchant de Lange, the bails are somewhere.

Two photos same wicket.




Rory Burns after playing for his 100, soon afterwards he was ct Lewis Gregory bld Roelof van der Merwe,



Jamie Smith getting an edge on his bat, ct Steve Davies bld Casey Aldridge



Ben Geddes a short ball from Casey Aldridge

Two photos same wicket




Ben Geddes ct Lewis Gregory bld Marchant de Lange, Ben Geddes looks to the heavens after being caught.

It is going to be a hard day for Somerset tomorrow to save this match, but I never give up.

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AGod
14/06/2022 08:20

Well, I suspect we might not start our innings until shortly before lunch... but... when we do looks like overhead conditions could not be more heavily in favour of the bat today.

We'll be miles behind, of course but - with the pitch blameless - there should be no excuse for the top six not to manage to make at least some runs today. The lower order has been weakened by the double substitutions, of course.

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wsm fan
14/06/2022 08:45

Kasey hit 140 for Wsm Saturday 😜😜

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AGod
14/06/2022 09:29

Yes, I know.

In a one-day game in league cricket, not FC.

However we dress it up?

Aldridge and MDL represent weaker batting - on paper - than Cove and Josh.

At least both KA and MDL bowled presentably in unfavourable conditions. Both showed decent accuracy and stamina. I thought Tom L did pretty well too, especially given it was his first CC bowl of the year.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:14:09:47:23 by AGod.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 10:45

Beautiful morning in Taunton high cloud but lots of blue sky. There's even a man working on Gimblett's!!

Surrey 202 ahead. Interesting to see how long they will bat if we don't get them. There's no real time pressure or probably any expectation of our line up batting out the duration - only real hope is that we defeat that expectation on a pretty benign pitch.

We've batted on 'benign' pitches before. One has to hope that Surrey have been a lesson in the way they have left balls they don't need to hit for our 'expansive' batsmen - there is no time constraint on us either.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:14:10:56:52 by Grockle.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 11:02

Well there's a start Lewis

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Grockle
14/06/2022 11:06

So that's over then because Amla isn't going to bother - the amount the ball moved one probably would have liked them to bat the life out of the place for an hour or so.

Game on people!!

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AGod
14/06/2022 11:15

Really? All over in no time?

Meantime, at the Test England stupidly fail to follow SCCC policy, having their unreliable slips stand to Leachy and Root immediately shells one..

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Mike K
14/06/2022 11:27

Not really sure that Ben Green is an opener. Good catch though

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Grockle
14/06/2022 11:28

Mark that down to Ben Warren - who came in, sat down, said "This is going well" (or some such) mentioned the pennant and BANG! Ben G feathers one.

Someone has just suggested some reverse psychology of having the first 5 batsmen coming out together and three sitting in the dugout already kitted up





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:14:11:30:25 by Grockle.

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AGod
14/06/2022 11:40

Ben’s not an opener at this level.

Made little sense, to me, that we ignored him with the ball yesterday, meaning that 100% of the pressure would be on his batting.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 11:41

Seems there might have been a 'frisson' of discontent expressed at last night's Q&A although there were no cricket questions as no one was present from the coaching or DoC area - (a decision made by the club it seems after the issues in the crowd and press coverage being the items of the day in their minds)

It seems some members have been expressing that discontent in not a particularly nice way to people who are a) not responsible for the problems and b) in no position to do anything about them other than to report the problems.

So the discontent seems to be a bit if a two way street at the moment.

On that point I have been asked a couple of times in this game what concerns you are expressing online so if anyone wants to send me something by PM or on here I'll happily pass it on to Spencer on your behalf - though you can of course mail it to him directly if you want to.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:14:11:45:04 by Grockle.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 11:47

Have to say I doubt Ben Green would classify himself as anything but a "trainee opener" at best. Really think we missed a trick not playing George Bartlett and adding to our knowledge about his front end capabilities.

But hindsight is a wonderful thing as most of us know

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AGod
14/06/2022 11:53

There are plenty of complaints on social media about the batting too! It’s not only complaints about the bars.

I guess the difference is that folks might get a specific answer viz the bars and what the club does or doesn’t plan to do about the situation but any talk from management about the batting would necessarily be very general:

“Of course we will continue to do everything we can to try to improve the batting, looking both within and without etc”

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AGod
14/06/2022 11:58

Awful, wild slog from Lammonby, really.

What is it about “have a look at a new bowler,” that our lot seem entirely unable to grasp?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:14:11:59:52 by AGod.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 12:05

Same point made at the ground...

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Grockle
14/06/2022 12:11

Here's a question

Who was the last Somerset batsman to make a double hundred at home?

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AGod
14/06/2022 12:19

Compdog?

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AGod
14/06/2022 12:28

Right.. here comes a spinner… remember, lads, it’s a *red* ball game and there is *zero* need to go looking for quick runs..

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RadstockRob
14/06/2022 12:32

If you e-mail the club don't expect to get an answer.
That's from my experiences so I don't bother anymore.

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AGod
14/06/2022 12:33

Conversely, if you tweet them you will often get a very rapid response.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 12:38

I did mention that complaint to them Rob - you aren't the only one to mention it.

Difficult to tweet a particular gripe that isn't to do with 'we don't bat very well do we?' AG

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Grockle
14/06/2022 12:49

Most recent I can find is James Hildreth 220 not out against Worcestershire in August 2015 - anyone got one more recent than that?

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AGod
14/06/2022 13:15

Not at all difficult, Grockle, no.

Can’t say I’ve ever tweeted them about the batting but if you tweet them for info? You’ll usually get a quick response.

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Mike K
14/06/2022 14:20

What a shame, the skipper was looking good

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Whome
14/06/2022 14:22

A strangle and stupid run out, seriously poor cricket.

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AGod
14/06/2022 14:25

Amateur hour yet again…. WHAT are you trying to run a quick two for!?

Brainlessness is, arguably, the most consistent feature of our top six batting. Truly dreadful.

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AGod
14/06/2022 14:31

So far a maximum of one of four wickets has involved Surrey having to bowl a good ball.

It’s not rocket science, Somerset: Teams that win the CC make opponents EARN both runs and wickets. We make them earn only the former and are happy to just donate our wickets in feckless fashion.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 14:45

Yeah I suppose you don't need to tweet when you put it on here over and over and over again instead .....

Try tweeting them and see if you get any better answers perhaps?

Definitely take the point though that an extra run was completely unnecessary in this situation - but I don't think they all put their brains in gear and just operate on batting autopilot sometimes rather than READING the game.

It was something Ramprakash pointed out about Buttler when he was talking to Jos - there were certain things he took for granted in a red ball situation that Buttler hadn't even considered in his prep for a game and how he read it, it seems





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:14:19:27:21 by Grockle.

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AGod
14/06/2022 15:08

Nah. Customer relations staff are going to answer info requests.

Hurry, Kerr, Abell etc aren’t going to be manning the club Twitter feed and - even if they were and even if they had plans to fix the batting, they could not reveal them ahead of time.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 15:14

Not gonna do it on Grockles either AG - doesn't stop you here

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Nailsea_Fizz
14/06/2022 15:50

Unlikely to use the same language face to face either given the chance

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AGod
14/06/2022 15:59

Good to see Goldsworthy at last get his maiden FC 50.

Has scored plenty in the seconds but has found the step up hard. Hopefully this gives him confidence going forward.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 16:28

He struggles but he does stay in longer than most and works at it - got a lot of time for red ball Goldsworthy. Last season he was the young batsman who delivered more often than not whenever he was at the crease.

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AGod
14/06/2022 16:54

Well this was his first ever 50 and he had an average of 18, coming in, so he didn’t deliver in red ball very often, clearly.

He did have a very good white ball campaign.

Gone now, which is a shame.

Hopefully he can take some confidence from this.

Will Hildreth get his place back? If so, will they take the gloves off Davies and have Banton do the job? There’s plainly no point dropping Goldsworthy now that he’s got that maiden 50.

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wsm fan
14/06/2022 17:16

Banton is NOT a wicket keeper.

I know you'll bite back but he isnt, he has no interest in doing it & isn't a patch on Davies.

A wicketkeeper job is to catch the ball.

You won't find any stats on how much confidence it gives the seamers, or not, on having a keeper they trust behind the stumps.

Ask Craig Siddle Lewis Josh who they want, it really does matter

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Somerset LaLaLa
14/06/2022 17:20

England batting (especially Bairstow) sensational after tea. Maybe time for a new broom at Somerset as well

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Grockle
14/06/2022 17:20

Don't think he played a lot of red ball last season did he?

We did vote him our best young player last season but by all means denigrate any achievement he made - it's not unusual - unfortunately despite your emphasis on red ball almost constantly the club has more than one format to operate in.

He isn't looking to be the solution to our main Championship opening problem I don't think but he is the one who shows a level of 'stickability' among his peers and hopefully will continue to improve from his present position including hopefully improving his red ball average of course ... at number 7ish





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:14:19:29:30 by Grockle.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 17:38

Actually Lewis played more than I anticipated - he played in 10 first class games (though not as part of the 'worst top 6 of all time) all that often I don't think

I said he contributed most of the time and although AG immediately goes to the average (when doesn't he) you will notice if you look that in his 15 innings he was over 20 for 7 of them and over 30 for 5 of those. The average is of course pushed down by single figure scores of which there were 5.

It's not wonderful but in your first season and in a struggling side any contribution is worth a look.

Build on it Lewis we need all the building we can get





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:14:17:41:53 by Grockle.

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AGod
14/06/2022 17:39

Your post, Grockle, said red ball specifically (“I have a lot of time for red ball Goldsworthy. He delivered last season more often than not.”)

That’s why I was talking about red ball last season!

I agree with you that he tries hard to battle away but “delivery,” implies runs and this - today - is his first delivery of an FC 50.

Well done to him for scoring it and let’s hope he forges on from here in future CC games.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:14:17:58:10 by AGod.

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AGod
14/06/2022 17:43

Personally,WSM, I think the keeper makes a huge difference if it’s turning.

To seamers? Tbh, you seldom see keepers shelling much against seamers.

Obviously Davies is the more accomplished ‘keeper.

Maybe they’ll fiddle around so that we have fewer bowling options by moving Davies to number 7 so they can get Hildreth back in without dropping Goldsworthy. Equally, it’s perfectly plausible that Banton will, himself, be deemed to have not done enough with the bat this season.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 17:45

You are such a wonderfully balanced and fair saint of a poster AG how can anyone ever doubt you? And if they do the 'told you so' post is always on hand.

But I suppose you dialled it back from the "he's done Sweet Faith Arkwright" post you immediately went to so.... little victories aye?







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:14:17:49:37 by Grockle.

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AGod
14/06/2022 18:19

Kent might beat useless Gloucs, which would leave us in a ton of trouble.

Elsewhere Hants look like they might beat Yorks, to help them keep pace with Surrey.

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AGod
14/06/2022 18:32

I see that Andrew Umeed, who once made the second slowest ton in the history of the CC (for Warks Vs Lancs) made a ton, opening, for the twos.

He had a really ordinary record for Warks but not as bad as Compton for Notts and so maybe he might be worth a look, given that the club arguably has zero bonafide openers beyond our overseas player on our books (Lammonby was not an opener below the ones and has rather been pressed into it as Banton was before).

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Mike TA1
14/06/2022 20:28

Somerset v Surrey Day three photos.

Today had everything.



Tom Banton, leg glancing somebody of Jamie Overton speed will always be hard, edge off his bat to Jamie Smith



Tom Abell showing he can play shots off Jamie Overton



Steve Davies playing on one knee.



Steve Davies lbw Will Jacks sweeping.



Lewis Gregory hitting a boundary, I can't remember if it was a four or a six.



Lewis Goldsworthy, was caught by Jamie Smith bowled by Will Jacks.



Lewis Goldsworthy, ball on his helmet, I don't seem to remember if he was hit, or the ball past by his helmet.



Gus Atkinson ct Steve Davis bld Lewis Gregory



Casey Aldridge, I like the look of him, A player for the future.

What will tomorrow bring, I seem to be asking that a lot.

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Grizzers
14/06/2022 21:01

I thought we batted generally very sensibly today. The pitch wasn't offering much, but aside from Tom L's shot & Tom A running himself out, we were pretty solid and positive with it.

Jamie O got the most out of what was available from the pitch. He looks a formidable character this year, not sure if he's filled out or not, but he's not someone I'd want to upset in a dark alley at night (or day come to that !).

Odds are stacked against anything other than a heavy defeat tomoorw, but at least we made them work for it today and who knows, maybe miracles do happen. Very occasionally !

Grizzers

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Grockle
14/06/2022 22:18

I wonder what posts might have been made after Jamie had bowled his first over for about 12 had he still been our books. He does look better now than he did last year but I've seen this Jove before at Worcester a few years ago now.

I'll believe it when it is the consistent state of affairs I hope to see it become. He may even get true England recognition at last if that happens.

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wsm fan
14/06/2022 22:33

The difference Grockle is how he has been treated.
Backed, given the right fields, used properly in short spells, not berated for going at over 2 an over.
Given confidence, which he needs a bit sometimes, to do what he is good at, not worry about the wayward stuff.

Pace gets wickets, have any of us seen any other bowler in recent years produce what Jamie did Sunday afternoon?

Given opportunity higher up the batting order too where as he rarely got above 10 for us despite obvious potential.

Azhar Mahmood & Stewart seem to have succeeded where we failed.

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Grockle
14/06/2022 22:42

Well I know little about that in relation to a comparison with how he was and how he is wsm... I've heard stories from both sides. He's happier and that's good. His coaches are also happier and that is also good.

Why that is can be an amalgam of all parties working together. But I can only say I've seen this version of Jamie before and it wasn't playing for Surrey and it wasn't last year after he left.

The environment seems to work for him, the environment has worked for him before. It takes 2 to Tango and I hope the dance continues into the future





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:14:22:44:39 by Grockle.

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Scrumper
15/06/2022 00:29

Didn't think he was looking very happy when he was trying to decapitate his twin brother.

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AGod
15/06/2022 06:51

Was Jamie Overton ever “berated,” by actual Somerset decision-makers for giving away too many runs, WSM? That’s Decision-makers as opposed to folks on social media etc who have zero bearing on selection.

If that was by the current decision makers, then I’d be surprised given that they - at times - field Jack Brooks who is exceedingly expensive. If they don’t like bowlers who don’t bowl dry? They never should have signed / resigned Brooks.

So far as Surrey is concerned? A team that can bat properly has less need to put huge emphasis on bowling dry as they have more runs to play with. For example, Surrey very seldom are bowled out for less than 250 at home. During Jamie’s Somerset career? We would have been bundled out for less than 250 at home at least 1 in 3 times, I would wager.

Personally, I think it’s a little early to claim that Alec Stewart has “succeeded where we failed,” given that we’re only a handful of games into this season and that last season was *not* a red ball success. Therefore? Jamie’s bowling figures over his last two seasons for us will certainly be better than his composite figures for Surrey so far.

Did Jamie Overton ever eliminate opposing bowlers from a match when he played for us? Not that I remember. Does the fact that he effectively wrecked any chances that we might have had in this game by forcing 2 of our 3 best bowlers out of the match, mean that he is now “better,” than he was?

Or does it mean that he found extra motivation for this one match?

I mean, has he forced non-Somerset players out of games earlier this season? Or are Cove and Josh his only two victims?

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AGod
15/06/2022 07:28

Also... WSM... if Jamie Overton has responded extremely well to Azhar Mahmood, as Darren V seemed to think had been the case....... perhaps this is partly a case of Jamie Overton being more open to coaching having moved to a new venue? For example........ Jamie has reduced his run-up. Were Somerset's coaches *really* never bright enough to suggest that Jamie conserve energy by doing that? Or did they suggest it but Jamie not want to do it?

Maybe the suggestion coming from a guy who had a much more successful professional bowling career (Mahmood) compared to Jason Ian Douglas Kerr might have made a difference as to how the suggestion was received?

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Hayseed
15/06/2022 11:40

How many more runs do we think we need to be realistically back in the game and even in with a chance of winning? 70? 80? 200?

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Hayseed
15/06/2022 11:47

Doesnt look like the sort of pitch were we're going to blast them out in two sessions...even if we do manage to get a 210, 220 lead but then, you never know. Theres always hope!

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AGod
15/06/2022 12:38

Poor lbw decision vs Siddle and that’s that.

Though we could not have known it at the time… with hindsight, had Lammonby and Abell not donated their wickets to Surrey?

We might well have escaped from this one with a draw.

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Mike K
15/06/2022 12:38

Looked like it was going down leg to me

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AGod
15/06/2022 12:40

The answer to your question would have been about 500, Hayseed, for this now - is an old style Phil Frost Day 4 M5!!

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AGod
15/06/2022 12:41

Hard lines to Lewis Gregory who did very well. And, indeed, to Peter.

Ultimately? Not enough runs from the top six (200) to force a draw given how far behind we were on first innings.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:15:12:42:47 by AGod.

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Grizzers
15/06/2022 12:42

Well played Lewis and well done Peter Siddle for supporting him.

Now would be a good time for the pitch to change its characteristics dramatically.

Grizzers

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AGod
15/06/2022 12:48

I think Peter has just had a little light-hearted chin wag with the ump about the poor decision that he got.

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Hayseed
15/06/2022 12:57

No a lead of 192 doesnt seem like a defendable total does it. ..! Couple of early wickets though!? Think we might be owed a few lbw's

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Grockle
15/06/2022 13:43

So the question this afternoon is

"How long can we be the fly in Surrey's ointment"?

The sad thing about this all is that the effort put in will result in 1 point probably

Got to do it in the first innings to make a difference I'm afraid.

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AGod
15/06/2022 14:09

Yep. One point.

With hindsight, Abell might wish he'd followed the old Tresco plan of almost always inserting at Taunton (which was the plan when the pitches would generally get flatter).

The ball swung more on day one than day two. And the pitch seemed at its quickest on day one. But the track itself was never, ever a sub-200 pitch, batting first.

I honestly think we did as well as possible with the ball, given the double injury blow and the flat surface and overhead conditions.

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Hayseed
15/06/2022 14:35

Stunning catch...8 more of those and we'll be home...

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Grockle
15/06/2022 16:23

"Right Hashim!! Off your sick bed and come and sort this one out!!" In comes Amla to finish this one off

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AGod
15/06/2022 16:39

Back to your bed, Hash..

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Nailsea_Fizz
15/06/2022 16:41

Looks like Jacks may turn out to be the difference.

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AGod
15/06/2022 16:43

A very encouraging day for KA, anyway.

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dilly
15/06/2022 16:44

I just hope it’s not Overton who hits the winning runs. He seems to have turned into a rather nasty individual

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Hayseed
15/06/2022 16:46

This is so much closer than it was ever supposed to be...a great effort

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Grockle
15/06/2022 16:56

Kasey Aldridge has looked better and better as this game has gone on - with Cove and Josh out for Friday - hopefully he may get a look in then as well

Good to see this amount of effort in a cause that was probably always going to result in absolutely no change in the final result. Certainly not all negative in the end analysis with more than one Somerset player looking back at good stuff frm some point in the match.

However, 1 point is all we have so on we go.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:15:17:05:33 by Grockle.

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AGod
15/06/2022 17:08

Fantastic from Peter.

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AGod
15/06/2022 17:13

First time that we’ve managed a combined bat/ball fight back from way behind for a really long time (Essex, for example was a bowling only fight back).

No way of knowing it at the time BUT that bad lbw decision Vs Siddle, unbelievably, might have ended up costing us this game, which is unreal.

And I think we can now say that there’s a very good chance that, had Lammonby and Abell not donated their second innings wickets, then we would actually have completed what would have been a magnificent second innings fightback.

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Nailsea_Fizz
15/06/2022 17:18

You can say it but as always it means didly squat.

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AGod
15/06/2022 17:39

Grockle - I'd imagine they will be bringing Jack Brooks back from Hove for the T20. Brooks did do pretty well in T20 last year.

But KA might get a game too.

I think Sonny is still in the "back to normal in every area bar bowling," phase?

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Grockle
15/06/2022 17:53

Not certain they will. Max is still wearing thumb protection so he may not be an option. All a bit vague today but it is protocol as far as I am aware that there is a 7 day waiting period for concussiions





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:15:18:36:07 by Grockle.

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AGod
15/06/2022 18:23

Just seen that, as well as being given out lbw for no good reason, Peter also should have had Jacks given lbw too, albeit bowled him next ball anyway.

Some pretty dodgy umpiring, though.

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Mike TA1
15/06/2022 19:16

Somerset v Surrey Day four photos.

The result that I expected, but still entertaining the last two days.
Batting let us down in the first innings, I also thought our fielding today could have been better.



Will Jacks was lucky the ball before when Peter Siddle had a shout for lbw, next ball there was no doubt about it.



Ryan Patel was well caught by Lewis Gregory off Roelof van der Merwe.
I seem to remember Lewis Gregory took some good catches in the slips.



Lewis Gregory hitting his 100 runs.



Jamie Smith bld Casey Aldridge.
I had my fingers crossed he would get five wickets, sadly he didn't.



Ashim Amla lbw Peter Siddle.

Only one point from this match, not good enough.

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wsm fan
15/06/2022 19:20

Kasey has a K 🙈🙈

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Mike TA1
15/06/2022 20:01

Thanks wsm, i do not mind anybody correcting me.
i now need to edit all the photos I took of him.

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AGod
15/06/2022 20:03

Fielding was a curate’s egg today, Mike, really.

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Grockle
15/06/2022 21:11

Max Waller has just tweeted... think he might play on Friday...

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Farmer White
15/06/2022 23:25

Further to a post of mine earlier in the season when I pointed out that the top five clubs in Division 1 were counties with Test Match grounds and the bottom five were non-Test Ground counties, we are back in that position again.

Warwickshire, the lowest-placed of the Test Ground counties in fifth place are only two points above Essex, the highest of the non-Test Ground counties, in sixth, although Essex do have a game in hand. However, the fourth placed county, Yorkshire, are a further 18 points above Warwickshire. Quite a gap is therefore opening up between most of the Test Ground counties in Division 1 and the rest.

There is a ray of hope for Somerset, currently second from bottom, if we can follow through from the excellent performance over the last three days. Once we have played Lancashire, our next match, and Yorkshire, the one after that, our final five matches are against Warwickshire, the lowest of the top five, and the four teams currently in the bottom half of the table with us. In other words, when we reach the final five matches of the season, we may have done most of the hardest work, although we may not have Peter Siddle and Matt Renshaw in September according to the information given at the time they signed for the club.

With regard to Division 2, Nottinghamshire and Middlesex are pulling clear of the rest of the table, and Glamorgan, the only other county playing at a current Test ground, are in equal third place.

Edit: Apologies to those who saw the half post which appeared when I inadvertently hit the 'post message' button too early.

Farmer



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:15:23:51:14 by Farmer White.

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AGod
16/06/2022 06:42

If club want any real shot of staying up? They’ll have to find replacement overseas players for Sep if Matt and Peter aren’t available.

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Grizzers
16/06/2022 10:28

If we are to ‘succeed’ (definitions on a postcard please !), we simply have to get more out of whatever eleven players we put on the field.

As a team, we consistently under perform relative to the individual abilities of the players. As far as the batting is concerned that has been the case for many years. That surely has to be a failure of coaching/leadership.

Until we can find a top six that will perform with energy, drive, determination and grit, we will continue to struggle.

Don’t like posting in this vein, but i.m.v.h.o, it is simply the truth and I wish the Club would be more open in acknowledging it.

Grizzers

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AGod
16/06/2022 11:40

They can’t (and shouldn’t publicly) undermine their own players with words BUT actions speak much louder than words and so there simply must be change this winter and that means new top six batsmen coming in.

If, as Grockle alluded to, some of our white ball stars take themselves off to counties hosting ghastly “franchises,”?

So be it. That would free up budget.

Tbh, one would hope some budget will be available anyway as one imagines that this will be the final year for both Hildreth and Brooks and neither of those two guys will be on low salaries.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:16:13:19:37 by AGod.

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Grockle
16/06/2022 12:33

We won't get (and don't necessarily need) 6 entirely new names in our front 6 red ball games We'd struggle to find 6 new players with our needs anyway.

The second half of the Surrey game did show that application is the key. 100% application 100% of the time. We did not apply in the first innings and in the end the difference was probably that and the absence of Matt Renshaw

Abell will be in that front end in 2023, an international will also be there though may not be Renshaw... though its not certain. Lammonby has merits but not at 2. Banton has merits but not probably at 4. There are hopes for Rew, there are hopes for Goldsworthy. We would welcome a certified Championship opener because we don't do well without 1.

Our Championship side has a strong back end and a strong bowling attack. We start very badly... 2019 was our worst front end performance for 21 years... the 1st wicket averaged 16 (lowest) the second only added 50 (poor for us). The number 3 is also key. Our best years in the last 21 were 2007 and 2009. Marcus in his pomp with Arul and JL at 3.... The openers set a base number 3 builds if number 3 goes early one of the front 2 adapts and steps up.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:16:12:39:29 by Grockle.

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AGod
16/06/2022 13:22

The second put on 50? Or the second put on 34 (making 50 in total, on average?).

16 for the first is, clearly, atrocious.

As I commented before, in that 2019 season we were less than 100 for 5 in precisely half of our innings!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:16:13:53:00 by AGod.

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Scrumper
16/06/2022 13:25

Jove has been added to the test squad!

[www.ecb.co.uk]

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hantssabre
16/06/2022 13:28

Along with brother Jamie!

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wsm fan
16/06/2022 13:45

Well well well 💪💣🚀

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hantssabre
16/06/2022 13:48

I knew you’d be pleased wsm

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Grockle
16/06/2022 14:00

No on average they added 50 in 2019. I'm planning to look at the figures in more detail and possibly put something on the frontpage next week

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AGod
16/06/2022 14:03

I said when Jamie Overton left that England’s desperation for pace is such that IF he put it all together then England would probably come calling.

When deciding whether or not to even attempt to compete with Surrey’s offer, that should have been an important factor I.e

A) If he doesn’t put it all together then he’s not worth paying top dollar for

If he does, England take him away.

IF Jamie now makes it with England, then one would have to question the value that Surrey will have got from this deal:

They got one ineffective season and about six (or whatever he has played) effective games this season.

Would it have been worth competing with Surrey’s offer for six effective games?

Nope.

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Grockle
16/06/2022 14:05

Good news for Jamie. On his day he is what England could do with. He obviously impressed more than wsm in the first innings. If he gets the opportunity he hopefully will take the chance and smash it out of the park.

Doubt we'll ever see the brothers play internationals together but more suprising things have happend

The cynic may wonder what effecr "Jamie Overton SURREY" had in the consideration. None of course except people in the mix might have seen more of him in London perhaps.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:16:14:09:41 by Grockle.

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AGod
16/06/2022 14:10

Given the fitness records of the current stable of England bowlers? Very possible.

Also… Jimmy barely bowled in 2nd dig at TB.. carrying an injury, per chance!?

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AGod
16/06/2022 14:31

I don’t imagine Alec Stewart is shy about picking up the phone to bang the drum for his players, either, Grockle, to judge from the way he has - in the past - publically called for various Surrey players to be picked.

That will have helped in addition to London visibility.

The ridiculous injury crisis which has as many as nine (I think?) Eng pace options injured or not yet being considered (Curran) will also have helped!

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wsm fan
16/06/2022 14:43

A question there might be why doesn't Hurry bang that same drum for Somerset players 🤔

It's a plus for Alec if he can talk up his own.

No reason Andy can't do similar.

England pick players on merit. Not because a DOC talks them up.

Jamie was just awesome on Sunday.

More qualified people than me clearly think the same and have picked him.

I just couldn't be happier for him.

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Grockle
16/06/2022 15:08

Do you know Andy Hurry doesn't WSM?

Do you think he has the same voice with cricket establishment figures as ex international son of Micky man of Surrey?

Not sure England's record on picking 'on merit' is great or the definition of 'merit' may mean different things to different people

Also happy for Jamie. But I've seen him that 'awesome' before - didn't push him straight into a Test squad - though the resource issues will have helped.

I've watched James Hildreth be 'awesome' on many occasions when 3 and 4 international batsmen resources were sparse.. no squad call up.

Is that Andy Hurry's fault or should James have said YES to Surrey at the Exmouth game against the Unicorns?

Don't blame 'Hurry' or any of the provincial DoCs for cricket establishment's issues regarding selection... the evidence is there over a lot of years.

But if it gets a deserving player on the field... hey let's see what he does there.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:16:15:22:52 by Grockle.

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AGod
16/06/2022 15:20

Yeah, having never had a serious (pro) playing career of his own, I’m not sure Hurry would have a lot of caché. B B McCullum almost certainly knows who Alec is. He may have no idea who Andy is.

Tbh… I think the headlines that Jamie got by “knocking out,” two players were probably decisive in sealing a call-up. Had he bowled *exactly* the same as he did but not eliminated two opponents from the match? I dunno that he would have got the call. I mean he didn’t have a huge haul of wickets. And the wickets he got weren’t necessarily magic balls (the opposite in the case of Abell) and there’s definitely no prestige in dismissing the SCCC top six anyway!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:16:16:00:58 by AGod.

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Grockle
16/06/2022 15:43

Just gotta hope this is another 'Duncan Fletcher visits Taunton' selection incident where Jamie gets the nod and the rest is history 👍👍

It's not how you get there it's what you do when it happens.

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Mike TA1
16/06/2022 15:55

I like to think Somerset help Jamie get picked.

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Grizzers
16/06/2022 16:13

Many congratulations to Jamie.

He has the x factor, which - for whatever reason - Surrey have managed to unlock this season.

Would be terrific to see him & Craig playing, but I guess the reality may be that if Jamie plays, it may be at Craig’s expense.

Brotherly rivalry taken to new levels.

Grizzers

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Grockle
16/06/2022 16:35

As said a couple of times he had that 'X' factor at Taunton as well.

Has he been more consistent in the 7 CC games of this season? The only thing I see as different is the batting he has been doing.

Perception? Never mind... go for it if you get the chance.

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Grizzers
16/06/2022 18:06

Jamie's first class bowling averages:

SCCC:
Wkts/Av/Econ.

2017 - 12 @ 26 @ 3.02
2018 - 26 @ 24 @ 3.63
2019 - 28 @ 18 @ 3.32
2020 - 15 @ 12 @ 2.72

Surrey:

2021 - 6 @ 75 @ 3.19
2022 - 21 @ 21 @ 3.37 as at mid June.

Stats. can be garbage, but my perception from what I've seen in person & online, he looks a more confident and controlled bowler. Let alone his improved batting.

Hopefully he gets his chance v NZ & shows what he can do.

Grizzers

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Grockle
16/06/2022 18:13

Yep certainly focused in our game (wouldn't have expected any less) but the deciding factor is that he keeps doing it.

I thought he was getting somewhere in 2018

Good to see he has dropped the new ball bit. Last year would have reset anyone's view I'd suggest. Of the chance comes I'm sure he'll take it. Quite a lot is suggesting it could be his time...👍👍

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AGod
16/06/2022 18:27

It really is about how desperate England are for pace.

As a batsman? You have to have more than one prolific season (and back-to-back) to get in, as Hildreth would attest. If you’re a finger spinner? The same, as Leachy would attest. If you’re RFM, like Cove or Ollie R? Same.

But if you’re a quick bowler and you string six or seven games together where you stay fit and put up good numbers?

You’ll be in.

Same is why, if you want to win the CC? You’re better off developing “traditional English seamers, a la Neil Mallender or Tim Munton,”
than you are investing a ton of time and money in fast bowlers. Invest in fast bowlers? They’ll be a bit erratic either for quite a while (like Jove) or forever (Stiff, AVT) and then if they do put it all together then England will remove them from the county circuit!

Incidentally, from a budget point of view, I’m a bit worried that Leachy may lose his central contract (as they want Mo) and Cove might do too if any significant number of injured guys get fit (I.e Robinson, Woakes, Curran)… if that happens that would wipe out any savings from not having Hildreth and Brooks on the books for next season. We’d have Cove and Leachy more - which would be good - but might then have zero spare budget with which to address our batting deficiencies.

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AGod
16/06/2022 20:23

Grockle - viz your numbers for opening stands etc from 2019.

Here are the numbers for 2021 for the opening stand (I'm not joking about these numbers!)

Home

4
2
16
0
0
13
143 - yay!!!!!! (Conway and Davies)
2
10
0
69 (Green and Lammonby)

11 home opening partnerships: 259 runs @ 23.54 (obviously skewed, very heavily, by one Conway and Davies effort).

Average without the one Conway and Davies effort would be 10 home opening partnerships and 116 runs @11.6 (!)

Away from home, the opening stands were:

4
11
25
10
7
0
31
9
2
2

Away? 10 innings. 101 runs @ basically 10 runs per opening partnership.

Overall 360 runs in 21 opening partnerships @ 17.14 runs per opening partnership (so wholly consistent with what you found in 2019!!!!) BUT this actually represents an even worse return in 2021, because the 2019 slate was all CC1 whereas 2021 included Middx and Leics.

* The highest oppo opening stand at Taunton all season was all of 44!!!! (41, 17, 44, , 43, 15. 30, 36 and 7 - 233 in 8 innings so an average of 29.12 for our oppo at Taunton from openers... but noticeably only one single figure opening stand vs 6 for SCCC

* Away oppo opening stands : 5, 7, 31, 40, 1, 17, 1, 98, 25, 1 = 10 innings, 226 runs @ 22.6

So Oppo made 459 runs in 18 innings @ 25.5 runs per opening partnership.

Overall oppo opening partnership advantage? 25 vs 17, basically.

-------------------------------------------

The opening partnership is one problem but, collapses from the top six as a whole are also a huge issue:


For the first 5 wickets, here were the home totals for the first 5 wkts for 2021 (the opponents first 5 wkt total is in brackets, where relevant note: DNB doesn't necessarily mean that a team did not bat at all, but it means they never lost 5 wkts in that innings)

110 (160)
68 (DN
188 (239)
118 (62)
43 (110)
311 - yay!!!!! (DN
206 (177)
72 (194)
85 (DN
65 (201)
233 (DN

Whereas in 2019, we were <100 for 5 in exactly half of our innings (home and away), this applied on 5 of 11 occasions at home in 2021( actually <86 for 5 on all occasions below 100).

AWAY

143 (21)
137 (37)
214 (130 and 126)
40 (218)
175 (127)
260 (178)
39 (DN
68 (122)
18 (DN

Above are the figures for the first 5 wickets away from home in 2021. We were <100 for 5 (in fact <70 for 5!) on 4 of 9 occasions.

So.. whereas in 2019 we were <100 for 5 in exactly half of our innings, in 2021, the equvialent figure was 9 of 20... so very slightly better BUT 2019 was played vs a full slate of CC1 opponents and 2021 was not.

Basically our top six continues to fold about 50% of the times that it goes out there. Our opponents were <100 for 5 on only 3 of 15 occasions on which they lost 5 or more wkts.

***It is my contention that - as bad as our opening stand is - it is the overall collapsibility of the top six that is the biggest problem *relative* to our oppo.***

Further - the above numbers, showing a relatively small advantage in the opening stand for the oppo but a big difference in overall top six collapsibility imply that our biggest problem is that numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6 are very rarely able to recover after the openers have failed (rarely in comparison to our oppo)



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:16:20:51:01 by AGod.

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Grockle
16/06/2022 21:01

😴😴 Yeah... I just took the first wicket and 2nd wicket scores added them up and divided by the number of games. Worked for me...

wHOOPS!! Maybe I should have mentioned that my numbers did NOT include sometimes 'shady' and non normal Uni or Tourist fixtires but only purely CC games?





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:17:03:41:23 by Grockle.

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AGod
16/06/2022 21:06

Yes.. me too, for the first wkt, but I listed them. And it’s obviously relevant to look at what the oppo did too.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:16:21:30:03 by AGod.

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AGod
16/06/2022 21:28

First time we’d lost at home to Surrey since 1986…. Repeating a similar “feat,” Vs Notts that where we ruined a similar record last year.

First time we’ve contrived to lose both games to flaming Surrey in a season since 1960.

Both stats courtesy of Surrey CC.

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Farmer White
19/06/2022 00:14

Here is the link to my report on the final day of this match, entitled:

An almighty fightback - but just one point

Link:

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

Farmer

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Farmer White
05/07/2022 09:56

And now, for the record, I have finalised my first day report, The Return of Jamie Overton

For anyone interested, here is the link:

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

I will add days two and three to this post once they are complete:

Day 2: Surrey take a grip

Link: [farmerwhite.co.uk]

Day 3: "Come on Somerset!"

Link: [farmerwhite.co.uk]

Farmer



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2023:01:25:17:28:33 by Farmer White.

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Grockle
05/07/2022 10:04

Thanks Farmer... whatever order they come in they are most welcome

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