Somerset
Back in the Red - Brum in Augu....Autumn
By Grockle
August 22 2024
No skipper in the return to the four day game at Edgbaston. Craig Overton will captain the side as we return to a nearly full strength squad in a domestic competition after the August 'franchise hols' for many. Three of our 50 over heroes are on loan to other counties and they may all bat before any of our lot do in Birmingham.
Return to the Red - CC1 v Warwickshire @ Edgbaston Thursday 22 August 2024
We return to the Championship after 'Franchise August' disrupts our domestic season. The absentees return from their cosplay exercises and put the county colours on again. The side for this game is;
Andy Umeed, TKC, Tom Lammonby, Tom Abell, Tom Banton, James Rew, Craig Overton, Kasey Aldridge, Josh Davey, Jack Leach, Jake Ball
Some of the heroes of the Metrobank run are with other clubs on loan for the next two games. Ben Green has rejoined Leicestershire (where he may very well be moving in 2025 if rumours are to be believed). Alfie Ogborne has popped down to Kent, though he has been picked to play their first away fixture at New Road. Ned Leonard has made the trip across the Channel to work for Glamorgan and may be batting before any of our lot do as they are not a lot for 6 on the first morning. Good luck to all the guys.
We have won the toss here and skipper Craig Overton has decided to bowl first in overcast conditions. No Lewis Gregory - no idea why that is - and after announcing the team, no Lewis Goldsworthy either as a late change to Josh Davey may have something to do with the conditions. Grey and drizzle put the start back to 11:30 and then a shower has put it back again to 12:30 which is when it looks like we will start.
The hero of the Lions game (other than Kasey of course) Hamza Shaikh makes his debut (after his international one) for the home side as Yates and Davies face Josh Davey from the Pavilion end as we do an hour before the lunchbreak under much bluer and less moist conditions.
There are four slips for both Josh and Craig in the first few overs with 80 to be delivered in the day after the late start. Craig opens from the Wyatt Stand end and after a last ball four the home side move to 9 after 2. There are still 4 slips after 5 overs and Josh in particular is going past the bat regularly but the Warwickshire bats are starting to get a handle on the pitch and bowling attack and they take 11 from a Cove over to move the score along and force one of the slips (Lammonby) out to the gully. In answer to this Davey produces a maiden and we are back to four for the next over.
After 10 Yates has moved on to 15 (from 32 balls) while his partner has scored the lion's share with 23 from his 28 balls faced and the score has moved on to 39 for 0 with the main attack coming from the Warks captain. This promotes a double change as Jake Ball replaces Josh at the pavilion and Kasey Aldridge comes on for his skipper at the other end. By the end of his first over of the game Warwickshire have tried but still failed to pass the 50 run mark and the 12th finishes at 48 for 0.
Yates cuts a four through the gully fielder to bring up the 50 as the 13th ends at 52 for 0. It is immediately followed by the Warwickshire skipper trying to pull Aldridge and edging the ball into the grateful gloves of Rew. 52 for 1 with Davies looking up into the sky and walking off for 27 to be replaced by Rhodes. Kasey seems to be getting his eye in early with a second over wicket maiden while Yates tries to take over the scoring responsibility by attempting to climb into Jake before lunch. However, at the end of the 15th a short morning session ends with the home side on 56 for 1.
Aldridge continues with the first over of the afternoon session. Josh opens the attack at the other end (Pavilion) instead of Jake . He asks questions of Yates and produces a maiden so he probably knows something we don't about the bat.
With 20 overs gone we have held them to 84 for 1 with Davey going for 21 from his 8 and Kasey finishing his first spell with 1 for 28 from his 5. Craig returns from the Wyatt and it is 'let's change the ball' time as the box comes out and the conference about which one to choose takes place. There is then a very tight phase of 4 overs for 2 runs by the Somerset opening pair which ends when the Warwickshire pair break the shackles in the 25th. The score moves on to 94 at the end of that one and there is another change of ball!! 4 balls into the 26th Craig decides "THIS is the ball I wanted" as he bowls Rhodes for 22 at 94 to bring debutant Shaikh into the fight. It also heralds the return of Ball from the Pavilion for the 27th with Yates on 40 from 85 and the new man yet to open his account.
Yates reaches 50 in the 30th over from 92 balls but with 10 fours so he hasn't scored off all that many. The 30th ends at 112 for 2 with COve putting in a first 10 of 3 maidens 37 for 1. The next breakthrough however comes at the other end as Jake Ball tempts Hamza into an expansive drive that slides off the edge to Tom Lammonby in the gulley (or backward point according to the club website) and he departs for 8 at 125 for 3 bringing Bethell to the middle for the 34th over which is bowled by Kasey as the skipper rings the changes. Davey treturns o the Pavilion for the 39th (after his first 10 over spell went for 30) at 140 for 3. This change also works as Yates chops the 5th ball of the over onto his stumps and is sent back to the 'hutch' for a combative 69 from 119 balls. In comes Barnard to help push his side over 150 if he can.
It seems he can't as he drives at one that is not there to drive and the ball goes through to a diving keeper at 144 for 5. Barnard departs without scoring and Josh has 2 for 34 in his 11 and a bit. In comes Mousley to complete the 41st over of the day and hold the score at 144. A wicket maiden for Mr Davey. The score of 144 seems extremely hard for the home side to get past as they go into Tea on the same score after 42 overs. That session was probably Somerset's as 56 for 1 has become 144 for 5 from the 27 overs bowled since the lunch break.
After Tea, Josh keeps the pressure on with another maiden with COve looking to hold the scoring at the other end. He can't keep them from making runs and they pass 150 with a flashed 4 that goes wide of the third slip fielder but not by any distance that would make a bat feel comfortable 151 for 5 from the bat of Mousley in the 44th.
Jake returns at the Pavilion for the 49th and keeps up the pressure as his 10th over is a maiden. Warwickshire keep hitting walls at certain scores and 165 is one of them... they are struggling to get past it. This is not helped when Craig gets one to zip away from Mousely in the 50th. He gets a sliver of it and it thumps into Andy Umeed's 'bread basket' at first slip to move Warwickshire to 165 for 6 and introduce Burgess to the middle. The speed of that delivery put Andy on his back.
The next set of changes take place in the 58th as Kasey returns to the Wyatt end while we see Jack Leach for the first time with the ball in the 59th at 190 for 6. With 20 overs of the day to go Warwickshire reach 200 with Burgess on 20 from 33 and Bethell making hard work of it with 31 from 83 balls. They end the 60th on 204 for 6.
With the end of the day's play in sight, it might be true that Somerset are letting Burgess and Bethell get away a bit as they move their side to 226 at the end of the 64th. Because the hold this afternoon has been so tight, taking 22 off 4 overs can be seen as a 'slackening' of the grip. Kasey can lapse a little at times and Somerset need to keep hold of this day. Jack has only gone for 14 off his 3 so the runs seem to be coming from the pace end of the attack as Aldridge has gone to 66 from his 15 which is only 4.4 an over but is also the highest runs per over of all the bowlers with Jake and Josh going for less than 3 each over the same number of overs. Hence he is replaced by Jake for the 66th over from the Wyatt. However, once you let a bat get some confidence in their play it becomes difficult to hold them without removing them, especially after a long and hard day in the field. Ball is still working hard however and holds Bethell below 50 as the home side move to 232 with the Warwickshire man on 49 from 106 balls.
Bethell steps away and forces the ball through the covers to complete his 50 (53) from 107 balls with 9 fours from Jack Leach's second ball in the 67th over. It moves Warwickshire on to 238 for 6 and is followed by the first six of the game I believe from Burgess to take them to 244. He looks to be expansive to the next one and nearly loses his off pole but the over ends with 250 on the cards and in the last 7 overs the visitors may very well believe that their opponents have wriggled off the hook to some extent - and they would be right.
The 250 finally arrives 2 balls before the end of the 70th over and Somerset would probably like another wicket before the close of the day's play to say that Day 1 belongs to them. However Burgess and Bethell would like to disagree with this as Burgess takes his personal score over 50 with a second six off the Somerset spinner to move him to 51 from 66 and his side to 262 for the loss of six wickets. Jack is asking the umpire to have a look at the ball, but that one has been tried a number of times and it doesn't work. It does however result in another boundary and a hundred partnership between Burgess and Bethell at 266 for 6.
Leachy's 14 off 3 has become 44 off 7 and so the skipper brings himself on at the Pavilion for the first time in the day to try and stem the flow of runs and hold his side's advantage on the first day. With 8 overs to go and 266 on the board he really wants to hold the Birmingham lot to less than 300 and that wasn't going to happen if he left things as they stood. He has already bowled 17 over himself so this is a last Day 1 throw of the dice and the problem when you have a limited number of optionsin your attack. Having said that he does have some 'occasional' bowlers in Tom Lammonby (with a bit of left arm seam) and Andy Umeed with another slow bowling variation. It does not seem that Tom Abell is the option he used to be and without the two Lewis' in the side his options are limited when things don't go to plan completely. He therefore turns to his opening partner Josh Davey to finish the day at the Wyatt end . In the hope that the two most consistent performers during Day 1 can hold the scoring until tomorrow morning when the attack has rested and witll be fresher. Burgess and Bethell have other ideas of course as they would like to keep the momentum going before the close of play. Therefore the day ends with a fascinating contest between tired bowlers and a batting pair who have worked themselves into a decent position over the last hour or so. The 'nip and tuck' of long format cricket.
Day 1 finally ends as bad light brings them from the field with Bethell on 60 from 134 balls, his partner Burgess overtaking him on 68 from 79. The day is 4 overs short of the 80 overs required with Warwickshire on 277 for 6 which is an improvement on where they were a couple of hours ago. Honours are probably just still the bowling side but not to the same extent that it was. We will see if Somerset can make a move towards finishing this innings in the early part of tomorrow to push home any advantage they may have. A good day of attritional cricket.
Day 2
Better early conditions this morning with a bit of breeze and sun in a blueish sky with high cloud. There is a minimal prediction of rain today so we should get a full day in with luck. Somerset need early breakthroughs while keeping the Warwickshire tail from wagging and then they need to set out their stall for the whole day and pass the present lead of 277.
Craig starts from the Pavilion to Burgess and he nearly has him with the third ball which just doesn't carry to Aldridge at 2nd slip (is he too far back?). The ball slips through for the first boundary and its 281 which becomes 285 after the Davey over from the other end. However, all is not lost. After an addition of another 2, Burgess is caught behind off a little edge by Rew standing up to COve. He departs for 69 from 90 balls and Rae replaces him. In the next over the partnership is truly broken as Bethel is bowled by Davey without a change in score and Rushworth strides out to partner Rae.. The new ball is taken and Rae treats it with no respect as he sends his county over 300 with a mighty straight six to the pavilion.
This tailend counter attack continues as Rushworth and Rae move the score on to 320 at over a run a ball while our opening attack try manfully to remove them finally sending Rushworth back thanks to the bowling of Davey and the safe hands of Tom Banton. It is 321 for 9 and the last man in is Hannon-Dalby. Rae continues to give it the very long handle depositing Somerset bowlers into the stands and moving to 28 from 18 with his third six of the innings. Craig decides that the best way to deal with this is to keep Hannon-Dalby on strike and Rae away from the "hitting" end. This is how the 85th over ends (328 for 9) and the 86th starts
Hannon-Dalby has some shots of his own however as a beautiful straight drive back past Davey shows followed by a squirt just out of the third slip's grasp as the score moves towards the 350 point. It does however end with the next ball as a skiedtop edge ends Rae's fight with and Aldridge catch and Warwickshire are all out for 337. Overton ends with 88 for 4. Josh has 80 for 4 with Kasey and Jake taking 1 each.
Somerset open with Andy Umeed and TKC against Hannon-Dalby from the Wyatt with the moving ball. It goes pretty much as you would expect, Tom nearly goes to his first and does go to the second snicking behind one that went away from him. We are 1 for 0 and Tom Lammonby who sems to have found a place at number three that suits him is in before the end of the first over. Rushworth takes the new ball duties at the other end and Umeed is bowled by the fifth ball he faces and we are 2 for 0 with Tom Abell doing his duties as number 4 in before5 overs have been bowled to face a new ball attack that has hardly broken sweat. No one seems to be able to explain to us why we insist on opening our innings with a pair who are susceptable to the new ball moving. Lewis Goldsworthy must be wondering what he has to do to get into a red ball top five who have still to find a red ball based opening batting partnership of any stability at all after nearly 3 years of trying. Frustrating is not even the word for it. If TKC and Andy have a place in this line-up, it isn't as an opening pair and it probably isn't in the top 3.
Bats 3 and 4 reset the innings and after 5 overs we have 12 on the board and a little more sense of the job at hand. After 9 overs some kind of normality has been returned as Hannon-Dalby and Rushworth are replaced by Barnard from the Pavilion and Rae from the Wyatt. Most of the work has been done by Lammonby who has 20 of the 29 runs scored by Somerset Abell has a mere 3. Rae exhibits an interesting use for the headband... it does not keep hair in place (he has none - though he seems to shave his head and not be naturally totally bald) so it must be to keep the sweat out of his eyes!!
At 36 for 2 in the 12th, Tom Abell misjudges the line and height of a ball from Barnard and shoulders arms to one that is ajudged to be going on to hit. He is out for 5 and Tom Banton is the new man in for the county. It did look high but the umpire says it wasn't and we are 3 down.
The Somerset 50 arrives at the end of the 15th with most of the scoring work being done by Lammonby who has moved on to 38. Banton doesn't get off the mark until the next ball when the takes a single off Barnard bowling the 16th. He opens his shoulders later inthe over and puts the wqarwickshire bowler to the boundary to move to 5. However the bowler comes back immediately and dismisses the Somerset keeper caught behind by Rhodes just before the lunch interval. In comes James Rew with a job to do to get this innings back on some kind of track hopefully during the afternoon session. However his first task is to take the county to the break without any more losses. 56 for 4 is not where we wanted to be even if it is not unusual for us to be there!!
We stumble to lunch at 57 for 4. After regaining the advantage with an effective bowling performance we have yet again given it away with poor batting at the start of a first innings in a Championship match. When, Oh When will someone decide to sort out this opening partnership problem we have had for far far too long? It is a way back into this game and this afternoon may well decide the result of the match if we cannot maintain some kind of discipline. We need 120 to pass the follow on and rather than be looking to be ahead at the end of Day 2, getting somewhere near being on par seems to be the best we can hope for. Ho Hum.
The afternoon session starts with us on 62 for 4 as Yates starts the bowling proceedings Tom Lammonby has 43 and the newly arrived James Rew has 2. Rushworth takes the second from the Pavilion with excellent figures of 1 for 5 from his previous 4 overs. It is soon 62 for 5 as Lammonby pulls a waist high ball to Hannon-Dalby and falls for 44 - daft shot I'm afraid in a daft innings. Out comes Kasey Aldridge on a hiding to nothing with his side only halfway to the follow on target, 5 wickets down and all but 21 of the runs made so far coming from the bat of the man he is replacing!! Warwickshire are in the driving seat and looking to heaad for home early at this rate. Rushworth finishes a wicket maiden as the second over after
As we move through 'reset scenario number 3' with Rew and Aldridge, the score develops and moves into the 90s despite the best efforts of Barnard and Rushworth. Kasey is taking the supporting role (3 from 16 balls) and James is doing the lions share of the work with 25 from his 26 ball time at the wicket. Their first plan is to pass 100 and then the follow on target of 187 (to put us back as contenders in this game). Warwickshire look to stop this progress by re-introducing Rae from the Pavilion end for the 27th over but solid defence from the Somerset allrounder stalls that and moves the visitor's score on to 98. That becomes 100 as Aldridge pushes a double to just inside the cover boundary. Plan 1 is complete!!
Trying to thwart "Plan 2" Hannon-Dalby returns at the Wyatt end. Somerset are on 109 with Aldridge on 13 from 32 and Rew on 33 from 38. The follow one target is 78 runs away and the complexion of the game changes from there presently. It is slow going but the batting side is moving forward albeit at a snail's pace.
Aldridge is nearly dismissed by the first ball of the next from Hannon-Dalby but the ball evades the first slip fielder. High risk in Birmingham this afternoon as we go into the next phase of the game. How many can Somerset get in their first innings? Presently they have 132 for 5 with Rew moving into the 40s.
With 37 overs done and 54 to go in the day. It has now turned into another attritional day of punch and counterpunch with the odd bit of wicket taking and run scoring in between, James has a fifty in his sights but his run a ball scoring rate has dwindled to almost a run an over! Kasey is still trying to punch himself out of the 20s after 60 odd balls and it is all very slow and methodical as we move towards the Tea interval (and for some blessed relief :-). Warwickshire are still trying to keep the bats on their toes with bowling changes and the return of Rushworth from the Pavilion before the break is such a move. A glanced four that Kasey knew pretty much nothing about takes him into the 30s and Somerset to 149 at the end of the 40th. Yates is the slower variation option at the other endfor the next 6 balls. He provides the opportunity for Rew to move his side to 151 and himself to 49. He doesn't make 50 as he falls to an outside edge caught by Burgess standing up to Rushworth at 152. His 49 came from 75 balls and was an innings we needed when the chips were down. Shame it didn't go on but still a valuable knock. Out comes Craig Overton with a skipper's innings required to get this game back in some kind of balance. We are still 185 runs adrift of parity and after this partnership things look a little sparse with only Josh, Jack and Jake to come
Courtesy of a straight six into the Wyatt off the bowling of Yates, Kasey moves himself to the edge of a half century in the 46th at 181 for 6. He has 49 from 82 and completes the feat with a three off the next ball from Rushworth. He goes to 52 with 5 fours and 1 six in the 83 ball 50. Another important fighting innings in a position of direst need for his county. It also comes at the exact halfway stage of overs supposedly to be completed in the day; 45 and a half completed, 45 and a half to go. It isn't likely that we will get that far but who knows. The ball we have has had its day it seems as the umpires look for a replacement and on we go with Barnard from the Wyatt. At the other end the skipper has 11 from 12 after scoring 8 from his first 3. We reach Tea with 186 for 6. Aldridge has 52 and Overton has 12. A semi decent session with Somerset getting themselves back into the game to some extent but still playing 'catch up' because of a terrible front end performance. The are still 151 runs behind, 64 runs from a batting bonus point and nowhere near a lead going into the second half of this game tomorrow. Still quite a lot of work to do with not a huge amount of batting prowess to come though 3 of the three 'J's still to bat might argue with that assessment.
Bethell opens the third session of the second day from the Pavilion end bowling to Craig Overton who is patient for two balls and puts the third into the seats over the bowler's head and saves the follow on. The bats take 10 off the over and move towards 200 as Ollie Hannon-Dalby opens from the Wyatt end. It's not as easy to get runs off him. Craig gets us over 200 before he gets a slight inside edge on a good ball and is bowled for 24 at 201. Josh is the next man in and is nearly the next man out one ball later but he survives. He gets off the mark sweeping Bethell in the next over to the Wyatt end boundary to move the score to 205 at the end of the 58th.
The end of this innings is 'stoic' rather than inspiring. Josh sticks to his task without scoring much and is finally bowled by Barnard for 3 at 214 for 8. Jack comes out and makes 1 before being caught by Yates off the bowling of Barnard giving the bowler his fourth. Then out comes Jake to look to support Kasey as long as he can though there is little progress being made at that end to be honest as he has moved on to 66 from 117 but it is slow going and it seems to be only a matter of time before the innings falters and fails somewhere shy of runs behind.
Rae is back from the Wyatt to look to break this last pairing with 30 overs of the day to go. But there is still fight in Kasey as he dances around the crease and guides the delivery to the boundary only to be bounced, to which his response is to loft the ball again to the boundary moving himslef on to 74 and the total to 226. Barnard is trying the same from the Pavilion but not getting much more success though Ball is not as confident in his strokeplay, nevertheless he is not giving chances and seems happy to hold his end up and not doing anything silly. Warwickshire are tyring everything and Shaikh finds out what it means to be debutant when he is given the helmet and the shin pads and sent into the close fielding position for Jake. That doesn't last long and Kasey responds by sending Barnard's next ball to the rope. It's not high class strokeplay but it is fascinating. It also seems to have done for Aldridge's bat as he has to call for a replacement.
I all finally comews to an end when Kasey looks to pierce the inner field once to often and a lofted punch is plucked out of the air by Bethell off tyhe bowling of Barnard. The innings ends at 239 all out with Kasey finally falling for a battling 84 from 139 balls - the innings that keeps us in this game for now some 98 runs behind the hoime side's initial score but still there at the halfway post.
With 20 odd overs to go the sides return to the field just before 6 with the Warwickshire front two facing a tough little session. Yates and Davies start well but Overton is fired up asnd he gets one to mmove away from Yates and into the gloves of Rew in his first over. The bat is out for 4 and Warwickshire are 5 for 1 in the Friday afternoon sun. Rhodes comes out to hoepfully help his captain to the end of the day's play but there are still 20 overs of the day to go so it could be a hard session. That is if the light holds though the cloud cover is nothing like it was yesterday so we will have to see.
Josh is once again partnering COve from the Pavilion end and after 5 overs the score has moved on to create a 3 figure lead at 17 for 1. There's a lot of 'ooos' and 'ahhhs' whenever the ball passes the bat but other than that we are just moving to the end of a long day and looking to prepare for tomorrow. Every boundary is being clapped by the home crowd and there is lots of team encouragement out there from the fielding side. It's all quite boisterous for the end of a Day 2!
The floodlights are on with 16 overs to go at 6:15 which siuggests we are not too long from the end of play today. Warwickshire have a 120 run lead at the present moment but the Somerset skipper is still putting inthe effort with a maiden. The umpires are starting to 'chat' between overs and it all indicates the chances of 15 more overs tonight are pretty slim. Maybe Jack and Andy can partner up for 5 each?
The umpire checks the light meter on top of the stumps at 6:25 at the start of the 10th. They check it again at the end of the 10th and that is our lot for the day it seems. With a score of 27 for 1 and a lead of 125 we go into Day 3
The umpires stayed out on the pitch for about 15 more minutes before they called it a day with 13 overs to go.
Day 3
Rain and drizzle from early morning has put paid to any play at the start of Day 3. One would assume an early lunch and the hope for some play this afternoon. It will be a very good result is it happens before 3pm but it may be doubtful for the day. Not a bad situation for Somerset who have probably put the 'win the game' objective back in the box with 'make sure we 'don't lose' taking precedence.
The 2024 Championship bid probably ended yesterday if not realistically before. We had to win before meeting Surrey at Taunton and then hope the leaders would mess up somewhere to keep our belief alive. However, as with many bids in the past, we have not taken this campaign serio The club says one thing in public and operates another plan in paractice. We would like to win the Championship. We hope to win the Championship but we will not sacrifice any white ball chances to make it happen. Our sqaud is predominently white ball 'heavy' - nothing wrong with that, a modern professional county needs strengths in both areas. Unfortunately we will set preferences for those white ball aspects should there be a conflict between what we need for Blast success and what we need for CC1 honours. That happened on Thursday as it has happened many times in the past. It will probably happen again against Durham and so Surrey will win the 2024 CC and we will continue to come up short because of our obesssion with stroke playing number '4's' over a solid and dependable number 1 or 2 opening red ball batsman.
The sides get on the pitch at 1:50 having lost 34 overs in the day . With the 8 they were trying to get in from Day 2 it means there are 70 to bowl. They get through 2 and add 8 before the rain returns and they lose another hour.
At 3pm the sun comes out and the wetness ends for the day. They've lost another 7 but thre is a hope for no more ;roblems in the day. The 50 arrives in the 18yh with Rhodes and Davies hoping to score quickly. Rhodes scores no more as he is bowled by Josh There might be a suggestion that he played on but it was an excellent ball 50 for 2 as Shaikh joins his captain who has 24 to his name. It may have only been another 10 when in the 22nd as Jack is introducd, Davies goes up the wicket and although Rew does well to take the ball he then misses the stumps with the Warwickshire skipper absolutely stranded on 34. But it was not to be.
Davies makes Somerset pay as he goes to an 84 ball 50 with 7 fours at 81 for 2. Kasey comes on for the 30th as the 100 arrives and the lead passess 200 in the 35th Just before Tea arrives at 103 for 2. The expectation is that the home side will be 300 ahead by the end of play today.
After the break the bats contnue to accumulate against tight bowling which makes Shaikh look for a run that was not there calling from the non striker's end. TKCires it in and the young man is run out for 21 at 133 for 3. In comes Bethell to pshj the score over 150 in the 48th with Davies into the 90s and then over 100. Anexpensive missed stumping. It isn't helped by Ball pulling up in the 54th with a possible groin strain. The over is completed by Andy Umeed taking the score to 171 for 3. However, Beythell tries to pull the very consistent Davey he misses the ball but it doesn't miss the wicket and it is 171 for 4. It gets even better as they stay with the occasional left arm spin of Umeed and he gets his maiden first class wicket for Somerset having new man Bernard caught behind for 0 171 for 5 which brings Mousley in to finish the day with his centurion captain.
Warwickshire end on 179 for 5 after some overs from Tom Lammonby. A lead of 277 and an interesting last day in the offing
22/08/2024 18:54
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:28:19:11:26 by Grockle.
Assuming that Shoaib Bashir will be away with England until mid-September, I estimate there are at least 16 players in competition for 11 places:
Dickson/Umeed or Lammonby for the two opening spots; Kohler-Cadmore or Goldsworthy at no.3; Abell at 4, Banton at 5, Rew at 6; Gregory at 7; Overton at 8; Davey/Green or Aldridge at 9; Leach at 10; and Ball or Meredith (assuming he is available for four-day cricket) at 11.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:19:12:50:03 by Grockle.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
So, in theory, if he is scheduled to return to the Somerset ranks for the remainder of the season, he shouldn`t have been over-worked.
Luckily we have strength in depth, as has just been shown.
Lewis Gregory (c), Andy Umeed, Tom Banton, Tom Lammonby, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Abell, James Rew, Lewis Goldsworthy, Craig Overton, Kasey Aldridge, Josh Davey, Jack Leach and Jake Ball.
Lots of places up for discussion.
Leachy will play
Gregory will play
Abell will play
Rew will play
Overton will play
After that it will all be interesting in terms of who else & where.
No Meredith... wasn't really 'on it' in the Metro semi
No Pretorius though there were conversations on Sunday suggesting he isn't yet finished this summer
Goldsworthy/Umeed
TKC
Lammers
Abell
Banton
Rew
Gregory
Aldridge
Overton
Davey
Leach
COve then walks straight from the toss to marking out his run up so we won the toss and are bowling first
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:22:11:08:56 by Grockle.
Umeed, TKC, Lammonby, Abell, Goldsworthy, Banton, Rew, Aldridge, Overton, Leach, Ball
Though the Edgbaston PA gave Josh in the side so it might need to clarification. No Lewis Gregory is the only definite.
The website confirms no Davey
Good to see Lewis Jnr. given a chance, but only three seamers could be a potential challenge.
Grizzers
Now updated on the SCCC website. Josh in for Lewis Jr
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:22:11:32:42 by hantssabre.
The main cover is back on so the plan to start at 11:30 will be reset for later I expect.
Alfie Ogborne looks in for a rather longer rest - selected also at no.10 on loan at Kent, his side are currently 57-0 at Worcester.
Meanwhile, Somerset`s third player currently out on loan - Ben Green - is sitting out the rain at Bristol, where he is named to bat one higher than his fellow loanees, at no.9 for Leicestershire.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:22:12:07:49 by cricketjerry-mouse.
Play is due to start at 12H30.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:22:12:25:42 by Phrench Phil.
Quote:
Request Header Or Cookie Too Large
nginx
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
When I rule the world, no side will be allowed to use more than three seam bowlers. Watching four of them bowling all day does not make for great entertainment.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
First hour tomorrow may make up for the last hour tonight
Thanks to Richard Brice for the cab ride in and out today... very generous of himππΌ We have some good officials at our place π Have to work out the walk in tomorrow So it's better be dry!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:22:22:27:42 by Grockle.
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Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
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Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
They left Goldsworthy out so we could watch TKC try and hit each ball he faced to slips? Stunning strategy
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Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
And we still have 6 wickets left!!
A dumb choice, on paper, by management and an appalling one on grass.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:23:13:14:46 by AGod.
Quote:
One of the Warwickshire commentators has twice referred to a "set" - that should be a capital offence.
Is the miscreants surname Harrison, per chance?
Was hoping to be working at being ahead in this game at the halfway stage - we'll be damn lucky to be on par with the home side going into Day 3 and it could be a damn sight worse than that if we don't batten down this afternoon
On a completely different note, Warwickshire may play at a splendid Test ground, but their live stream is put to shame by Somersetβs.
But it won't happen and until it does we can all dream of a Championship pennant but we'll have to be satisfied with white ball silver at best.
It's be serious or be second I'm afraid
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:23:16:48:41 by Rod1883.
If i was Lewis G jr, i'd be off up the road after the one day final.
His white ball game presently, please correct me if I'm wrong, is absolutely nothing to write home about.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:23:20:32:24 by Grockle.
I suspect we are paying TKC a hefty sum of money and so management wants to get its money worth / doesnβt want to field pointed questions, from Buzz, about an expensive player not in the line-up.
He went off to India. Others did well in the places he likes to bat β¦ and so now they are trying to crowbar him in elsewhere.
Our opening numbers this season have plumbed new depths. Donβt get me wrong: itβs not been a strength for years, but this year has taken the biscuit. Poor old Umeed is averaging 7 - π
Quote:
Can someone please identify for me what form of any kind TKC has had since the Blast final that says to anyone. "Get this guy opening" in the Championship as soon as he's back from another franchise visit. It makes no sense to me when a player has already said he will play his white ball game irrespective.
His white ball.game presently, please corrext me if I'm wrong, is absolutely nothing to write home about.
Glad someone has said it Grockle. I agree completely. Poor in form Lewis Goldsworthy discarded because of him. In my opinion a player who disappears off to franchise cricket in IPL where he mainly will be bench warming should not walk straight back into our County Championship team.
His white ball game off the top of my head this year hasnβt been anything to write home about. Lots of starts but not many match winning knocks.
No injury or illness so far as is known.
Think it was the conditions on Thursday morning though the last ones to know seemed to be the website who were announcing a side with Goldsworthy in it while Josh was warming up out onbthe pitch!!
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
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Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
George Thomas hit 182 from 107 balls today opening for Taunton St Andrews. Incredibly tight at the top of Somerset Prem One going into the last week of the season.
I'm not saying GT he should be opening in the CC, but we sure have some talent coming through.
But perhaps that's too much to hope for.
Meantime, Scrumper's observations re GT are spot on. Yes, it's 'only' club cricket, but his temperament in the ODC looked admirable. He musty be knocking on the door very hard.
Grizzers
Craig may have other ideas but with Jake Ball a doubt for today they are possibly 1 seamer down, not sure what Tom Lammonby was bowling yesterday but I doubt it will worry anyone.
Early wickets or 20 to 5 handshake it seems
We need 369 to do Warwickshire again!! Bets on how many balls TKC will face in this second innings?
At least Hampshire are doing their best to resist an Essex advance up the table.
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Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Is cricket not the daftest game in the world sometimes?
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Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Five consecutive fours in one over, two sixes and a four a couple of overs later - Rew must be eating those carrots like they're going out of fashion!
With Surrey winning at a canter (thank you, Lancashire), Somerset had to/have to go for the win no matter how unlikely it is, and Rew certainly has his eye in...
Incidentally, when is the last time umpires have called `bad light` after the batting side have hit the last eight balls for 31 runs? Perhaps the umpires felt the Warwickshire fielders couldn`t see the ball as it kept disappearing for four and six!
Public inquiry needed??????
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:25:17:44:19 by cricketjerry-mouse.
And how many times am I invited to look at the ten most beautiful women in the world - presumably a different batch each time? How many of them are there?
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Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Unless they thought Warwickshire would zoom back on and bowl Somerset out, the game was over when they sent the sides in.
But should Rew have been caught?
A slog sweep from Rew, whilst perfectly timed, arced deep towards the Hollies stand. Mr Farmer, sitting three quarters of the way back, and as is so often the case, with most of the Hollies stand to himself, did not seem to pick up the flight early, was late moving, and a potential chance then became a half chance and, subsequently, a missed chance. The ball pin ball bounced around his location and came to rest a few yards away. By the time Mr Farmer had retrieved the ball, the fielder had jumped the boundary boards and was halfway up the Hollies stand himself to meet the esteemed Grockles reporter ready to receive the underarm return.
But will it be included in the match report? It's gotta be surely!
Surely?
The other thing to note was just how positive Somerset were in their approach to the match situation. Warwickshire, on the other hand, despite seemingly holding all the cards, were decidely negative both in the morning session when they clearly did not want to leave Somerset a target with more than 70 overs left and plodded through many overs, then secondly later in the day when a couple of quick wickets puts them in charge they lacked any real urgency or belief that they could make it happen. They could not get off quick enough when the end came.
Our first innings problems likely cost us victory and with Surrey winning by an innings once again, it's going to take a superhuman effort even to get close to them.
Wonder who will (or should) open for us on Thursday ?
Grizzers
I must correct certain statements made in your post of 20.07. The true version is set out below. It will eventually appear, once my media team have worked on it, in my report.
Firstly for those interested in these things, my seat was in the 27th row of the Hollies Stand more or less in line with the centre of the pitch.
I was not late in picking up the flight of the ball involved in Mr Rew's mountainous six. Indeed, I picked it up early, watched it intently, determined that it was headed for the seat immediately across the aisle from me, did a full risk assessment, concluded I was quite safe, and so retained my seat and prepared to make my note after which I intended to retrieve the ball and return it to its rightful owner. At that point the ball landed on the concrete in front of the seat I had identified, and bounced further up the stand.
At that point, I observed a Warwickshire fielder climb the boundary board and start running up the stairs towards me. I therefore deferred making my note, put my bag down and tripped over it. It was of course a perfectly managed trip, for I tripped in the direction of the ball, fell up another three rows of steps and retrieved it. By this time the fielder had run virtually the whole height of the stand looking as if he were on a mercy mission. Not wishing to put him to any further inconvenience, I threw the ball to him for he was still at least five yards from me and beginning to look rather wary. I also asked him if he could ask Mr Rew if he could see his way clear to hitting his next six a yard or so squarer so that it would come straight to me and enable me to avoid the inconvenience of my getting out of my seat.
At this point, the fielder turned and ran.
Farmer
Also my oh so aging eyes did not see the trip!! My bad (another annoyingly modern phrase!).
As always your ability to provide a wonderfully entertaining response is priceless!
"...did a risk assessment..." Brilliant!!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:26:08:04:08 by Des Platt.
There were no such disturbances when, a few years ago, I sat - in much the same place, I think - with Farmer White and JuliaW to watch Banton and others take us towards victory.
My 90+ cousin had a seriously incapacitating fall last year - a fall brought about by some old person falling on to her. I shall probably never go out again, well, not after my visit to Taunton later this week.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
The full risk assessment was duly carried out, (it is astonishing how quickly the mind, even mine, works when a cricket ball is travelling towards you at speed. The assessment initially related only to the risk presented by the ball. That identified that the safest course was to remain in my seat for the duration of the flight of the ball since it was headed six feet from me (most of my risk assessments identify staying in my seat as the best course). The unfortunate occurrence with my bag only reinforces that. However, on this occasion, I concluded that to let a fielder climb 27 rows to collect a ball that was ten feet from me, while I sat motionless, might constitute a greater risk than the bag.
We did indeed have a quieter time on that previous occasion, but James Rew wasn't playing for us then and, playing like he did yesterday, he probably needs a risk assessment of his own.
Farmer
You echo my wife's thoughts about me going out precisely. I am currently on a train back to the West Country from Birmingham. She will be driving to the station to collect me in the hope that I manage to get off at the right stop.
Farmer
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
Farmer
I believe we are still in with a good chance of the Championship. 3 at home and Surrey have 3 away including Essex. Beat Durham and our Surrey game could feel like a repeat of that semi-final, alongside strong local support. Then surely it won't rain when Somerset go to Old Trafford... And bring on Hampshire
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:28:14:41:47 by Somerset LaLaLa.
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