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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:14:11:52:21 by Grockle.

Anyone know what happens if this a washout? Indian summer isn't happening just yet



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:11:16:18:16 by Grockle.

Having not been here for this bit of September for some 6 years, it is a bit grimmer than I was expecting. No blue skies and crisp mornings here.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:11:16:14:47 by Grockle.

For those who are unable to get to the ground for the Lances match, Ben the IT guy for the club is hoping to be able to do a live stream of the match.

I assume it will be the static camera affair. Will try and bring some of the game to you but can't guarantee I'll be there for anything more than half of it and it depends on weather and transport etc.

I'll use Farmer's reports as the frontpage if he does one and we'll see how it goes. Today does not bode well if the weather in Bicknoller is anything like that expected in Taunton centre n the next four days.

Might be lucky tomorrow.Showers seem to be less frequent,with the heaviest rain starting late pm and clearing through Tuesday night.
From a team perspective I expect them to name the same side,but I would prefer Bartlett to be replaced by Van Meekeren or Rolelof and all the batsmen shuffle up one



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:11:16:40:42 by nelliec.

ECB are releasing 5 players - no Jimmy but Stoneman and Toblerone are allowed to play in their games

Lancashire have named all-rounder Toby Lester in their 13-man squad, in place of Jos Buttler who will be with the England ODI squad this week ahead of the series with the Windies.

The pitch is over towards the flats, it look like it may be a pitch used several times before.

What is Groundsman day anyway - do folks get to meet Simon Lee and team and ask questions about the pitches or something?

AG, I didn't like to ask!

Lancashire come to Taunton with tenuous hopes of winning the County Championship, the only County with realistic hopes of catching Essex. In what little play there was in last week’s encounter between the two sides at Old Trafford Lancashire had the better of the contest. With a 36 point advantage and only three more games to play the draw was hugely to Essex’s advantage. If Lancashire are to have any chance of overhauling Essex, an unlikely Essex implosion apart, they almost certainly have to win at Taunton this week.

Somerset, with a stunning demolition of Warwickshire in Warwickshire’s own backyard, have brought their own destiny just about within range of their own hands. As a minimum Somerset need at least a win more than either Yorkshire or Middlesex over the next three games. Tantalisingly their last match is against Middlesex at a time of year when the sun will sink early behind the flats while Autumn descends from the Quantocks. There is still a chance that the setting sun and the Autumn leaves will have a belated golden hue.

But Lancashire come first and Somerset and Lancashire have form where recent Championships are concerned.

2010. The year of Moses. We saw, almost touched, the Promised Land but we didn’t quite get there. Chester le Street felt a barren place that day in spite of the warmest welcome at the wintriest cricket ground from the Durham members. None of us who were there will ever forget their hospitality and selflessness in letting us virtually take over their very limited seating in their members facilities.

One part of that hospitality was to let us swamp their Members’ Lounge to watch the badly rain affected Lancashire v Nottinghamshire match on the television once it was clear Somerset did not have the penetration to beat Durham on the September Chester le Street pitch at the end of their tremendous late season run. In 2010 Somerset had no depth at the sharp end of their bowling attack, their three main pace bowlers that season, Willoughby, Thomas and Trego missed only one Championship match between them and so bowled without respite the whole season through.

On the last day, to win the Championship, Nottinghamshire needed to score another 311 first innings runs and take 3 Lancashire first innings wickets in the 80 overs which were left after a delayed start to garner enough autumn bonus points, for it was autumn in Chester le Street, to pip Somerset for the title. They succeeded and won the Championship by dint of having won one more match than Somerset.

Many thought Lancashire’s attempt to defend those three wickets desultory. I did not. Sidebottom and Adams bowled with irresistible intensity as only men inspired can. Their eyes mesmeric. I doubt anyone would have stood against that attack with half a hand already on the Championship for the 17 overs which remained that day. They were not to be denied. Those final crushing 4.4 overs might more appropriately have been played at midnight under scudding clouds surrounding a full moon with owls hooting for all they were worth given the impact they had on Lancashire and on Somerset’s Championship hopes.

Until the last hour of the Nottinghamshire innings, when Simon Kerrigan took 5 wickets in the space of 65 runs, the Lancashire bowling was made to look insipid and uninspired in comparison as Nottinghamshire made perfectly timed and apparently inexorable progress towards 400 in time to leave those 17 overs although when it came to it they needed less than 5. The 153 run 5th wicket partnership of determined perfect placement batting in 28 overs between Voges and Patel the key to the match and to Sidebottom and Adams denying Somerset at the last. Nottinghamshire were inspired that day, Lancashire could not stand against them and Somerset still await their first Championship.

2011. The year of Joshua. At least for Lancashire for they reached the Promised Land. Lancashire arrived at Taunton needing to beat Somerset, if Warwickshire failed to beat Hampshire at the Rose Bowl, to win their first outright Championship since the other side of the Second World War. Warwickshire fell foul of a Rose Bowl pudding and could only draw. Somerset lost out in the first innings by 380 (Hildreth 186) to 480. Somerset started the final day 5 runs ahead with 5 wickets already gone and within no time were 7 down and only 30 ahead.

Peter Trego then took a hand. He batted nearly four hours against the Lancashire spin attack and a forest of close fielders. He scored 120 from a very un-Trego like 217 balls. A different type of innings and an immense piece of concentration but on a par with his century in the 479 for 6 to beat Yorkshire two years before. Murali Kartik stuck with and beyond him for 65*. It was a tremendous battle after Somerset’s collapse the previous evening.

The last five wickets battled nearly to tea. Lancashire needed 211 to win in just over a session. So many overs bowled by the spinners in the day the minimum allocation remaining so few even the 1980s West Indies team would have exceeded it. The over rate was as slow as Somerset could fashion it and the field set well back to prevent the boundaries. To my mind the tactic immediately handed the initiative to Lancashire. It failed to prevent 20 fours and 2 sixes. The remaining 120 runs were all run and Lancashire romped home by 8 wickets with time to spare.

In the end Somerset could not quite hold Lancashire, memories of Lancashire’s inability to hold Nottinghamshire the previous year floating in the air as the travelling Lancashire members gathered in front of the Caddick Pavilion to watch their team celebrate their Championship. Of the Somerset team that played that day, just seven years ago, only Hildreth and perhaps Peter Trego will play today. For Lancashire none from 2011 will play. Hildreth’s, possibly sole, survival from that match an indicator perhaps of the transience of the professional cricketer’s career; although Glen Chapple Lancashire's inspirational Captain from 2011 will look on, as Coach, from the dressing room.

And so today we have a virtually clean sheet and Somerset need to write on it a different story from 2011 and from the first half of this season. There will be no 2010 this year. But Somerset can strive, in this match, for a performance to keep them ‘in the mix’, to use the modern parlance, to stay in the First Division and to reverse the result of 2011. And from there to continue the rebuilding of a new team good enough one day to go one better than that 2010 team.

Lancashire are one of the two form teams of 2017. Somerset at the opposite end of the table. One of the joys of Somerset’s long cricket history has been our ability to surprise. Time for another surprise; and time for a change in the recent history of key Championship matches between these two sides.

May 2017 be the Year of Lazarus.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:12:07:28:50 by Farmer White.

Forecast set fair for today.
A quick game is a good game this week.
I'm after a 200 a side ish match not needing 3 days total playing time.
Ideally we need to bat first as its sure to be a 2 spinner wicket.
But whatever we do we have to win day 1.
Either bat first and 220 then 70/4.
Or Lancs all out 150 and we match it 4 or 5 down.
The mood in the camp must be great after our comprehensive display at Brum.
Just have to take that into ball 1 and win the first session and first day to set us up.
We won several home games last year with 1st innings totals well short of 200 so maybe a little balance in posting until both teams have batted this match.....

As I understand it, the tracks over towards the flats tend to be the ones that turn the most?

I assume they will pick Parkinson, the wrist spinner. He is, generally, more accurate than most young wrist spinners and so we may not have the usual advantage that would normally obtain in a low-scoring game of the oppo having picked a leg-spinner (on a turning track everybody turns it but the wrist-spinner tends to go for more runs than the finger-spinner).

Is there any further news viz a possible live feed? Nothing on the official site but not sure whether that is because they've already given up on the idea or whether they've said nada because they're unsure if the technology will work and don't want to promise something that they cannot deliver?

Groundsman's day is exactly that - groundsmen for club cricket grounds around the region are invited for the day, watch Simon and his team work, inspect the pitch, tour the facilities and get to ask questions.
A nice idea I think.

Track looks pretty green in the middle, I guess I can see why Lancs bowled.

The live feed is up and running. I found it via the main site and then Match centre.

[www.youtube.com]

Start delayed for Middx...

A little early swing for Bailey.

So far I've liked every aspect - that I have seen, of Eddie Byrom's game apart from his running between the wickets - and we nearly had an issue there.

He looks well organised, relatively unflappable - decent technique - for example knows how to play with soft hands and has some shots.

A little early life, certainly, but not sure that there's been enough in it, yet, to really justify Lancashire's decision?

But now Jarvis, their best bowler will have a go..

Middlesex v Hampshire has been abandoned for the day due to the wet outfield.

Wow

Surrey vs Yorkshire will be a draw.

Uxbridge usually flat and dull so even if they get three full days, the odds must now favour a draw there too.

Taunton?..............

One can see that Bartlett has a high risk technique.

Looks to go right across and work everything toward the on-side by the looks of it. And I think his bat seems to come down from first slip.

You need to have an awful lot of natural ability (eye) to be able to execute that type of technique well .. so let's hope he has it in buckets!

And there you have it, I'm afraid.

With the bat routinely coming down from first slip, one is no position to defend a straight ball.

I'm very surprised that the coaches haven't worked to eliminate that (unless, perhaps, it is something that has only crept in at first team level?)

And there seems to be a fashion now for taking off stump guard. Bartlett appeared to be doing so and paid the price, missing a straight ball.

Indeed.

I do not consider this to be any kind of minefield, on the evidence thus far presented, therefore I think it important that we get through to lunch without further loss.

Appreciably less turn that on day one at Edgbaston, to this juncture.

Be interesting to see what the wrist-spinner can get.

Does anyone know (Bagpuss?) whether Parry is usually somebody who can get appreciable turn?

A very good 21st over of the match bowled by Kevin Jarvis who shares a name with the foolish bowler who, infamously, bowled successive bouncers at Viv, having been told, after the first bouncer, by his Captain, Asif Iqbal, "Never do that again," but failed to hear the word "never."

Young Byrom seems to have a good temperament. Doesn't appear to be too fussed if he is beaten by a good ball. It's what you need in an opening bat.

It is indeed.

Big lbw shout by Jarvis vs Hildreth.

It didn't look like one the umpire would give to me.

Equally, however, it's one that, had it been given and then reviewed in a test match, enough of the ball may have hit leg stump for it to have stood.

Perhaps our moderator could move all entries on this thread to the existing match thread to avoid confusing anti-diluvians such as the undersigned.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

At the time of typing, it looks as though there might be a prospect that Yorks may not get their full bowling points from their trip to the Oval. They seem to be getting hammered.

Well, 103/3 at lunch.

More wickets than I should have liked to have lost, given that I don't think the track has really done all that much. Loss of Hildreth to an inside edge to a fairly airy drive less than ideal.

On the other hand, I think I'd back our attack to be a bit more disciplined and economical than Lancs have been.

Parksinson hasn't really settled. I didn't think Parry posed all that much threat.

If I was Lancs I think I'd open up with Jarvis and Bailey after lunch.

I think Eddie Byrom can be very happy with his morning's work. I fervently hope he ends his 40s hoodoo (which has been driving him nuts). And we need him to, I think, because we need a good stand and a pretty big total, I'd think because unless weather or track change markedly tomorrow, then I don't see us simply ripping through Lancs on this deck.

My end of score prediction from here?

310-7 at close.

Add 100 for 2 in the second session.

Add about 65 or so in 16 overs vs old ball after tea.

Then about 40-2 vs the second new ball.

From what I've seen of how the pitch has played we *ought* to be able to achieve that, IMO.

Will do LoL.

Is anyone using the live feed? Comments on it if you have any.

I could have sworn that WSM had already started a thread about this this morning, and that I had posted on it, but now I cannot see it anywhere.

Anyhow, there was no toss and we will bat........ so maybe it's not going to be a turner after all? Or Lancs have heard that it sometimes turns most early on?

Live feed is here:

[www.youtube.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:12:10:19:37 by AGod.

More likely McLaren and Jarvis are their bowling strengths, so use them first when pitch likely to be most helpful to seam bowlers v batting line up that could still harbour demons

We appear to be unchanged, as per cricinfo.

So that would support the notion that the track will turn as we surely, otherwise, would be disinclined to gamble on Peter Trego as first-change bowler?

It gives us the theoretically long batting line up with Trego at seven.

That T E Bailey must be a good age now. 64 years since his famous match-saving partnership with Willie Watson in the ultimately successful Ashes series.

Quote:

Grockle
Will do LoL.
Is anyone using the live feed? Comments on it if you have any.

It's excellent - thanks to all involved.

A couple of hundred are watching it.

Good battle of wits between the Lancs seamers, who plainly see Tom as a big lbw candidate, and our skipper who, I think, sees their line of attack as feeding his primary strength.

The live feed is great. They say they're synching the bbc commentary next season, which will be great. I always have difficulty finding the commentary on my phone.

This is a decent batting deck so SD MUST make them pay for that fairly poor drop.

I agree that the live fee is excellent. I have delayed it slightly, so that the commentary is ahead (which means that I can gauge which balls to watch from the radio commentary).

Very good ball from Parkinson to Tom.

I have serious doubts as to whether we will reach a truly commanding score from here.

I think this seems a 350 or so deck and we'll do very well to get a score much over-par from here.

Of course, we don't know how the track will change from here. But unless it changes quite a bit (for the worse from a batting stand-point) then I fear that it may be a draw track.

Andy Caddick, Keith Parsons, Rob Turner and Peter Bowler are inducted into the Walk of Fame at the Tea interval - those not present also inducted were Mark Lathwell, Mike Burns, Jamie Cox, Justin Langer, Ian Blackwell and Brian Rose

Ok, so to answer a point previously raised by Clarence this cannot be the same thing as the pictures around the ground because guys like Brian have had their pics up for donkey's..

Parry starting to get more purchase now - a better sign for Jack and Dom.

Trego looked all at sea, throughout, I'm afraid.

As I've said before, Parkinson looks a much better prospect than Mason Crane, to me.

Lancs might leave the new ball here

We wanted him to stay in and just support. We need to do what we don't do well which is just grind the runs out. In the words of Tony "accumulation, accumulation, accumulation"

Collapse in full swing now. It is turning a lot more than before tea, though, so if this is going to be the direction of travel of the surface then we may be in business.

This could be an issue if Somerset don't get over 300. Parkinson has been mentioned in relation to Crane a couple of places around the ground today.

Interesting definition of 'full swing' but another 70 would be very very nice.

Dom Bess out some way. The commentators thought he was bowled around his legs but the announcement was stumped. On the replay we have you can see a bail off and then the keeper takes out a stump but the bat seems to be in when that happens.

You'll have to get that from the umpires when they come in.

Anyway he's out, Jack is in and we need 10 for another point and 60 for another two. I suppose the 'collapse' is still in 'full swing' - will Steve Davies reach 100? Will Somerset manage the next 10 overs? Does Tim know which end of the bat you hit the ball with?

I think Steve had better try and hammer a quick ten here...

Steve Davies 100 160 balls 11 fours at 291 - if only this had been all season what would have happened one wonders.

Well played Sir - second in two matches here.

I was going to ask about the Bess dismissal. I saw it once and couldn't tell you what happened.

No one sure here yet I am afraid Monkey.

OR just leave it to King Jack - great shot, Sir!!

Well batted SD. Really good to see him getting to the form for which we signed him, after such a rough start to the season.

Grizzzly

Rain and off at 296 for 8 with 10 overs to go.

Rats.

A pretty compelling final session.

I actually feel better about our prospects at 296/8 now that it's turning more than I did at 230/4 or whatever it was when the track seemed fairly dead.

Forecasts a mixed bag again with the BBC again being the most pessimistic.

Fingers crossed the weather doesn't mess this up for us over the next few days.

Grizzzly

Umpires have confirmed Bess was stumped by the keeper who took the stump out. From side on it seems he was 'miles out'.

Covers coming off, by the looks.

Back on after 10 minutes. Nothing lost. 4 or 54 or both would be good.

Jack takes us to 300

What a thoroughly sensible cricketer Jack is.

Why do we have Mrs May as Prime Minister when we could have Mr Leach?

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Leachy has dealt so well with the spinners, that they have resorted to the new ball.

Well his attempted sweep didn't work but his up the wicket six did to Parkinson.

Lancs have taken the new ball so maybe that is why Leachy was smacking the living daylights out of the floppy rag that was the old one. 312 for 8 with 5 overs remaining so two bites of it if they need them.

And Jack doubles his career tally of first-class sixes!

New ball, as so often, possibly an error..

Steve Davies has just become the first Somerset batsman to pass 600 runs this season.

And been told off by NGB Cook for running down the track.

And played on.

He made them pay for the dropped catch. Good job.

Davies inside edge on to leg for 111. Excellent innings 322 for 8. Tim in with 28 needed and 3 overs to go tonight.

Davies innings was 174 balls with 12 fours.

Well done SD. He must be feeling hugely relieved after his recent efforts.

Just time for Timmy G. to smack a quick 50 !

Grizzzly

WHAt a great on-driven four by Jack vs McLaren.

No shrinking violets in the Somerset tail

What a good day's cricket it has been

Gripping day's play and very important that many of our players are on their best form of the season. I have remained optimistic throughout and so happy for Steve Davies. We need to see this one through. Yorkshire are doomed, that's what Sky want

330 for 9.

330-9 at close.

Given the amount of turn available after tea then my guess is that our boys will be pretty pleased with that. It will be SD whose comments will appear on the website and I expect him to be pleased with the total.

Pretty good day for the batters and swipers; congratulations to SD for an excellent century, and to various others for solid support roles.

So, what constitutes a collapse? Losing two wickets for 12? 3 for 36? 4 for 64? How many times in the last few years would we have accepted a "collapse" like that? Good grief...

We lost 4 pretty quickly, SP, but - thankfully, Jack put a stop to it.

Lancs must be sick of his batting.

And he'll get them with the ball later.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:12:18:07:12 by AGod.

Great great day.
In the context of our season possibly our best yet.
Great fight from the batters.
Eddie deserves a special mention. Him surviving that session meant Tom & SD could cash in after lunch. Useful efforts from Dom & Jack to edge us well above par.
Need to back it up tomorrow & be lucky to miss any showers.
If we could squeeze in 60/70 overs and spin them out for 100/125 lead we'll be well set.
Yorkies getting smashed.
Middlesex rainec off on a lovely sunny London day.
We have had worst days this season!

AS expected, SD suggests we're reasonably pleased with our position.

Just an observation, when the new ball was due at 80 overs I believe they would have gone off through bad light if the new ball had been taken, the light had improved when the new ball was taken later on.

Did Lancs keep the slow bowlers on so as to keep on playing? good for them if they did.

"Taking the positives from the day's play", as Maynard might say, first Byrom. Begining to look like an opening batsman. Knows that his job is to anchor one end. I know he's only getting 30's and 40's but he's starting to get them regularly. Abell, I didn't see his dismissal (went to make a cup of tea) but he looked confident and settled and if he got a good 'un well done the bowler. Davies, I know he gave at least one chance but you don't find many chanceless centuries.
I probably won't make the start tomorrow but I'm sure that Leach and Groenwald will get us another bonus point and then we can get among them. I feel an innings victory coming on!!

The usual correlation between the success or not of a days play and the number of posts strikes again.....

1 or 2 regular contributors seem to have gone a little quiet!? Long may it continue if we have another 2 or 3 days as good as today.....

Roll on 10.30, avoid the showers and 100% back our bowlers to gain us a chunky 1st innings lead, AGAIN

Cometh the hour, wsm, cometh the man!

Forecast not good for tomorrow - the weather one that is.

A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.

Agree on the Byron comment, if he can get his average up a little & mostly regular 30/40's, I'll take that. It's still quite astonishing that only today has one of our players hit 600 for the season, but what a great day's play when you take into account proceedings elsewhere.

Welcome back Tom!
Any praise for Eddie? Tom? Davies? Maynard!?
A full balcony all clapped the SD hundred too.....
As did 99% of the crowd from what i could see, he and Hildy are real class, so much time when they get going

A lot of weather is forcast for the next few days, hard work for the ground staff.

Only 12 & 1 possible if BBC to be believed.
Very much showers if anything so lets be positive and hope we get close to a full day in.
Anything over 2 session should be plenty to get into the 3rd innings.....

A very good batting display - especially since (from the live feed) there seemed to be a bit in it for the bowlers, with some balls turning quite sharply. Fingers crossed that the weather doesn't spoil today's play.

The live feed is an excellent innovation for those of us not able to get to Taunton - though very much second best, compared with a day at the cricket.

Very grey in Bicknoller but presently dry and the BBC weather map shows the blue storm stuff above the West. Wind in Avonmouth 70 mph. But off to Anglia now.

Blustery and showers/sunshine today and tomorrow.

DAY 1

I know they start Championship matches at 10.30 in September. They have for years. Unfortunately, that was not at the forefront of my mind when at the beginning of July I arranged an important appointment for 9.00 a.m. for the first day of this match. And so it was, with another delay on the way to the ground, I arrived at the ground three quarters of an hour after the start. I was not as desperately anxious as I might have been because I caught a glance at the scoreboard as I came over Priory Bridge Road and into town for a car park. I could see on the scoreboard the ‘0’ in the wickets column and the name ‘Trescothick’ as one of the batsmen. It is amazing what relief a name and a digit can bring to the overanxious mind.

Into the ground via the Brian Rose Gates. Not as informative a way to enter the ground as it used to be because the temporary scoreboard next to the Colin Atkinson Pavilion is not visible from the entrance like the old scoreboard was. Not that the old scoreboard was the most reliable source of information given its propensity to deliver ‘fake’, or at least out of date, news. Where wickets are concerned out of date is as good as fake.

The news was updated as I bought my scorecard. First a huge appeal. Then a pregnant silence. Then a cheer from the fielders at the birth of a wicket followed by gentle applause from the crowd as Trescothick walked off. Out in the 20s again but he and Byrom had got Somerset a start. 39 for 1. Then off to find a perch in the top of the Somerset Pavilion, passing as I went a curious group of individuals on Gimblett’s Hill looking pointedly at their watches and gently shaking their heads at me.

Given there was an excellent crowd I was surprised to find a perch quite so easily at the far end of the elevated section just in time to see Bartlett pinned uncomfortably, neither forward nor back it looked, lbw. 44 for 2. It looked very much like his lbw at Edgbaston had looked on the small screen of a live feed. Something to be worked on perhaps. He is only 19 but he is having something of a baptism of fire. Sport has no hiding places especially in the First Division of the County Championship.

A cover drive of perfection from Hildreth to the Somerset Stand started to settle me in my seat. Byrom then unsettled me with a missed sweep off Parry and then recompensed with a pugilistic back foot drive for four before he airily paddled a full toss for a single. I am never sure about the sweep in the Championship before a batsman is very well set and sometimes not even then. I have seen too many good spin bowlers go straight through it to the stumps.

Somerset started to make headway, a sumptuous Hildreth cut back of square to the Ondatjee to the fore. The Lancashire boundary fielding was not what I had expected from a Championship contender, even a somewhat distant one. Davies, their keeper, was kept busy gathering in throws like conkers falling randomly from a Horse Chestnut on a windy day. Byrom led a bit of a charmed life, chopping one onto his boot, or so it looked, in the process. Hildreth meanwhile was playing as if he could charm boundaries from the trees. One off Parry defied orthodox description. It was swatted off his pads like a conker on a string into the Somerset Stand boards. Another, a late cut off Jarvis to the Trescothick brought cries of “Ohhhh!” from the crowd.

It didn’t last. McClaren was moving the ball from the Somerset Stand End. Hildreth defended forward, the ball moved in, took the inside edge and, just, the leg bail. 90 for 3. Abell walked out to the warmest of receptions on a chill Autumn day at least in the sunless Somerset Pavilion, my white Somerset hat superfluous except I do not feel properly attired, as they say in the Lord’s Pavilion, without it. Lunch at 103 for 3 was a faintly reassuring performance given Lancashire’s position in the table and the fact that the ball was moving for the seamers and showing signs of turn for the spinners.

The presenter doing a brief report for TV from the Somerset Pavilion Terrace told his camera Lancashire’s decision to insert Somerset had paid off with three wickets. I know this because he did the piece five times before he got it right. I am being descriptive not critical here given the number of rewrites this piece will have had before you see it. I was not convinced by his certainty. Neither the pitch nor the conditions looked easy. Somerset might just have established the base for a competitive score. The Quantocks thought so for the maroon parts of the patchwork which festoons them stood proud.

The scales edged towards Lancashire immediately after lunch as Byrom was bowled by McClaren for 38. 105 for 4. Byrom not quite reaching the 40s this time but another crucial anchoring role as the main runs came from the other end. Davies promptly played a backfoot drive of precision and power off Bailey to the Somerset Stand Boundary. At 122 for 4 and Abell and Davies striving to establish some ascendancy for Somerset another appointment awaited me outside the ground.

I was gone an hour. Somehow my anxiety level was lower than it normally is when I am away from the score perhaps Abell and Davies starting to suggest they might develop a stand. Nevertheless it was a pleasant surprise to return to the ground and realise they were both still there at 193 for 4.

I watched a while from the vicinity of the old Stragglers Bar. Davies was still playing in the same vein as he had been when I left. A late cut and a clip off his legs sounding as if both bat and ball were covered in velvet sending the ball unerringly to the boundary. If ghosts from the old Stragglers do inhabit that area they will have been drooling at Davies’ stroke play for at times it is almost ghostly quiet in its execution. Abell barely seemed to get a ball to face although it cannot have been that way throughout the partnership for he was on 42 to Davies 49. Half a dozen or so overs later still starved of the strike he edged Parkinson to Livingstone at slip for 46. 224 for 5. Enter Trego.

Once Trego had found his feet he let people know with three boundaries in succession off McClaren one a late cut to the Trescothick stand as deft and well placed as if Hildreth had played it. When the spinners came on, now turning the ball regularly and in the case of Parkinson effectively, Trego lost his fluency and his wicket to a stumping against the leg spinner shortly after Tea.

The Tea interval brought a smooth blanket of cloud which stayed to the end. For a period, if periodic discussions between Stephen Croft and the umpires are any indication, the spinners stayed on beyond 80 overs because had they not the Umpires would have taken them all off.

Beneath the cloud from above the Quantocks approached head on to the Somerset Pavilion an aircraft with lines as pure as the stroke play of Hildreth and Davies. It looked very familiar even head on in the distance. Then, as it sped towards us as unerringly as one of those Davies boundaries the unmistakeable roar of a Merlin engine broke through the cricketing buzz of the crowd. The elliptical wings of a Spitfire then graced the sky as it turned a perfect quarter circle in the direction of the flats and then another in the other direction to somewhere behind the Somerset Pavilion. It is Battle of Britain Day on the last day of this match.

Overton, replacing Trego drove Parry straight to the Botham Stand for 4 but soon fell to a slip catch off Parkinson. Bess replaced him and swept Parkinson to the Caddick Pavilion for four. Bess does not wait for the fight to come to him. Then Davies swept Parkinson behind square towards the end of the Somerset Stand the ball curving along the grass in a distinct arc, towards the Trescothick Stand, almost as perfect as that described earlier in the opposite direction by the Spitfire. Together they would have made a perfect scimitar cross.

By the time the Davies - Bess partnership had reached 20 Bess had 16 of them. He did not get much further falling for 17 to the persistent Parkinson now sometimes turning the ball sharply. Bess stumped it seems although no-one around me could work out what had happened as the bails were taken off and then subsequently a stump removed with Bess seemingly transfixed. 288 for 8.

The bonus point 12 runs away became an object of obsession with and around me as Davies and Leach picked a way through the spinners web a run at a time an over at a time. 296 for 8. Within a boundary and down came the rain. Ten minutes we waited. The rain came to nothing of consequence after an initial unpleasant burst. The umpires, or to be precise one of them, came out for a peek and then struggled to attract the attention of the players as he tried to beckon them out from the field rather than return to the Pavilion to seek them out. Davies and Leach stuck to their task. One run at a time, one over at a time they inched to 300.

Davies’ vigil ended at 111 with Somerset 321 for 8 but not before Leach had decided to set about Parkinson including a slog sweep which landed about half a dozen rows into the Somerset Stand. The crowd had much shrunk by the time Davies was out many having left at the interruption but most of those who had stayed rose to him and applauded him to within a few yards of the rope and then resumed as he crossed the rope into the Pavilion. Only the Lancashire innings will tell how valuable that innings was but of the Somerset innings he was the backbone in an extended bare-knuckle fight with the Lancashire bowlers on a difficult pitch.

The day had been a battle royal in which most thought Somerset had prevailed although time will have a say in that. 330 for 8 Leach and Groenewald took us to at the close with just an eye perhaps on 350 in the morning. A long shot possibly but it might be a crucial one if it comes off.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:13:08:50:50 by Farmer White.

We have had quite a large crowd for most of the first day of CC matches this season, I am going to stick my neck out and say yesterday was the biggest, even the Somerset stand was well populated mind you it may have something to do with where the pitch was!

Would be fantastic to pick up the extra batting bonus point, it really would.

But, so long as the track doesn't start to flatten out, then I think we are in a fairly strong position - though their batting line-up is potentially troublemsome.

They have two that can be notoriously difficult to prise out - in Hameeed and Shiv - and another, in Liam Livingstone, who has made a spectacular start to his career - averaging above 50 overall and who dominated us totally in the first match-up with these guys.

So, even if the track continues to turn, then I don't expect a big first-innings lead. If anything, I'd guess there may be no more than 30 or so in it on first innings (either way) and that it then all comes down to the second half of the match.... if the track takes gradually increasing turn then we have every chance of prevailing. Conversely, if it goes the way of the Essex pitch, then Lancs would be the probable winners.

That was a very fine day for Somerset cricket and a particularly fine report from the Farmer. One phrase - Davies and Leach picked a way through the spinners web a run at a time an over at a time - is as felicitous as anything Cardus or Arlott might have produced.

But really, Farmer, you're going to have to do something about these intrusive appointments. Surely meeting your undertaker twice in one day is somewhat premature for a man still only in the early autumn of your life.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Do people think we should declare when we reach 400 this morning?

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

There are times when Leachy looks well capable of developing into a genuine all-rounder.

What a superb shot square of the wicket off McLaren in that first over.

Whoops - and then he goes and does that...a genuine number 11 dismissal (I know he was batting ten).

Seven runs off 66 balls. Very impressive.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Terrific spell. And just one bowling point for the yorkies.

Treggggggggggggggggggggggggggoooooooooooooooooooooo

Suckered him - terrible shot from Hammeed!!!!!!!!!!!

And that, Chunky, is where/when Hammeed should, absolutely, be criticized... if he spends ages playing himself in, then throws it away with a compulsive pull shot down a fielder's throat.

Well that was interesting . Baby Boycs to happy hooker in a moment of madness. Treeeeeeegoo.
Even Hameed susceptable to scoreboard pressure.

I think we ought to have a bat-pad man in on the off-side when Leachy is bowling to Croft. At the moment Croft attempting to defend by propping forward, playing late, slightly opening the face - better to encourage him to try to dab it into the on-side (against the spin).

You absolute BEAUTIES, Jack and Cove!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lovely flight by Jack to tempt Livingstone down the track and then Craig getting down from his great height to snare the chance that resulted as the ball dipped and spun away from LL.

GET IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And now for the Guyanese crab - get him early and we will be in a GREAT position.

Dare we start to dream of the great escape?

On top, at present, in this match; Yorkshire with just the solitary bowling point and chasing 300plus to avoid the follow on and Middlesex 3 wickets down already in a match shortened to 3 days.

I am watching on the SCCC live stream - and many thanks for that - and it is really gripping.

Does anybody know what has happened to the BBC commentary? I managed to get it yesterday, but there is nothing but silence today.

Does anyone have any idea where the radio commentary is hiding ? It's not coming up as an option on the BBC live page .

Great first over from Jack to Shiv - very impressive!

Hants look to have a very weak and inexperienced batting line-up out vs Middx.

I take back what I said previously - every chance Middx win in three days vs a line up shorn of most of its experienced players.. for example, Hants have chaps by the name of Weatherley and Organ playing in match - never heard of either!

Adams and Ervine the only experienced batsmen playing for Hants.

Joe Weatherley wasn't even a Hants player until a few weeks ago - was doing okay in the Kent second XI. Felix Organ seems to have made few runs even at second XI level for Hants. Calvin Dickison is a saffer who has played three games over there - which actually went well, but still three games only.

On paper, the Hants XI might be the weakest batting order ever picked for a CC1 match - and probably weaker than many that have been picked for CC2 matches.

I assume Vince and Dawson are with England? I think they fell out with Carberry?

I see Middx have their own inexperienced guy playing, in the form of Max Holden - but he has had a very good record in games for Loughborugh, at least.

Middx are without their two most accurate bowlers, Roland-Jones and Murtagh, but they have their speed merchants playing, in Finn and Helm both of whom have pace that has probably been seldom before seen by the Hants novices.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:13:12:44:35 by AGod.

Commentary here: [www.bbc.co.uk]

I've had no trouble receiving it this morning, but this live feed is a damn nuisance when there is so much else to do!

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Nope ,still no good. Thanks anyway LoL . I get the page but no radio button. I seem to remember it has happened before , perhaps because I'm in France . It was perfectly ok yesterday .Ho hum, I am getting the live feed but it's not the same without Anthonys'(?) dulcet tones.

I prefer the live feed sans commentary, to be honest... the only real value of the commentary is to tell you what happens when the ball leaves the area shown in the camera - but I quite like the suspense of, for example, watching the faces of Pete and Craig as they look toward the square leg or long leg boundary (who knows which!?) with bated breath - and then their joy as the catch was obviously taken!

@Streeter. I am also in France and, like you, I had no problems receiving the commentary yesterday.

Perhaps things will change after lunch. If not, I shall have to do some work - inside, though, as it is absolutely awful weather at present.

Raining anyway, chaps, I'm afraid.

Weather looks awful now and I'd guess they'll be off for ages - may very well lose the session.

Sheltering behind the Somerset stand, brrr. Think the rain will stop anytime now so shouldn't lose too much play.

According to the live stream, the sun is now out so we may get some play this session.

Don't be so pessimistic AGod - with or without your cider: by the way, where has that gone?

Rained off at Uxbridge, too. Some poor weather about in London today.

No reception in France? Those who voted for Brexit have to accept responsibility for that.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Aha, it has now just as mysteriously re-appeared (Captain Kirk ).Someone at the bbc must read grockles. Or maybe it was the European parliament after an emergency session.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:13:14:30:41 by Streeter.

Play abandoned at Uxbridge - for the day.

Indeed, Streeter.

Reappeared, but disappeared almost immediately as there is no play.

Hopefully, back again once the rain goes away.

Well AGod. It seems you were right.

An early tea is to be taken, which means the session has been lost.

Worthless road at the Oval - match a waste of time.

Win possibilities - for us - ebbing away now, I fear.

And I'm not sure we can trust that Hants batting line-up to avoid defeat even if they only have to bat for one day.

Well, AGod, we shall see.

We, Somerset, are now back on and striving to win.

The Oval (Surrey) is not going to produce a Yorkshire win and Hampshire will not lose.

It remains in our hands.

On at 3:50 in sunshine but with rain clouds moving in over the Quantocks. Craig from the Pavilion and Jack from the River trying to winkle Chanderpaul out before another rain storm.

Big Jim - are you, per chance, "Dylan Thomas," on the comments alongside the live feed.. some of this chap's comments are redolent of your style..

For example...

"Smart TV? We've only just got used to teletext here in Wales."

King Jack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And out he is winkled. Jack gets him caught short.

How many other sides have their senior professional fielding at silly mid?

Young 40 year old caught the old 40 year old.

82 for 4

Now Craig is in on it as Croft is sent on his way, edged to keeper. 86 for 5

HAVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cove gets Vilas too!!!!!!!!!!!

I take it back, despite the loss of pretty much a whole session BANG on top now.

Vilas is still in that was Croft.

Well, Well.

The dream is still on.

Some stat just floated around somewhere here. That last one was Jack's 100th wicket in the last two seasons... no one has more.

Timbo - 99 for 6 and bye bye Vilas

When Jack took the ball today he walked up like a man who you should be worried about facing. The Lancashire batsmen respected him from ball 1 - a spinner with a name's extra advantage, especially at home.

I saw a T shirt this morning with the perfect motto for Jack Leach at the moment.

It read;

'Underestimate me? This should be fun'

That seems to be his bowling stance at the moment. The Lancs batsmen tried to hit him out of the attack and he simply varied his flight, length and speed and had them all over the place. There wasn't a lot of spin involved. Dom has that and possibly ought to be bowling from the Pavilion end (where Parkinson was getting spin yesterday) when he is re-introduced.

This side are not dead yet.

Lancs 100 up with 25 overs to go this afternoon.

And Jack gets Parry...108 for 7..... the ball just kept coming and he's BOWLED.

Jack's 100th first class wicket at Taunton... those people who were going to suss him out in his second season..... seems to be taking a bit longer than expected.

I haven't read all eight pages on this thread so far, and I'm sure others are saying the same, but why couldn't this Somerset have turned up earlier in the season?! Fingers crossed on the weather... (and I'm not jumping the gun on the result of this match, only that the team is now actually competing).

On the live feed. Has anyone noticed Bailey's strange way of facing. He seems to be setting up for a ball from the covers?

Doesn't matter coz Dom has just got him stumped!!

111 for 8

an 18 over examination of facing spin bowling for the Lancashire tail

75 needed to save the follow on.... just saying.





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:13:16:49:43 by Grockle.

Jack does for Jarvis 112 for 8

And now for the debate. If the last 2 don't avoid the follow on do we enforce it? I means that if there is a 4th innings we are not bowling but a 200 lead and a timw tonight to make inroads might help us get ahead of the weather

One wicket to go. And to enforce the follow-on would surely be the correct option here? With the weather so unpredictable we have to go for the quickest potential win and trust our bowlers to deliver? Don't we?

Definitely enforce. Best chance of a win with weather around, and little chance of losing. If we bat again there will be the usual debate around how long to bat until we are safe.
It's not the modern way though is it?

Of course we must enforce the follow on.

As I said in the last match against Warwickshire....

McLaren making a fight of it after watching the mayhem from the other end for quite a while. May take the decision away.

Quote:

Grockle
McLaren making a fight of it after watching the mayhem from the other end for quite a while. May take the decision away.

With more than 50 runs required from the last wicket?

And as I press 'post' their last wicket falls.

So, to enforce the follow on or not.

Please, if only due to the poor weather forecast, enforce the follow on!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:13:17:12:33 by Phrench Phil.

Jack fivefer 133 all out. And the decision is with 9 overs to go...........

5 for 47

McLaren had no option really but to hit out. Parkinson is a number 11.

Cove warming up so we are assuming the follow on

133/10! Come on Somerset!

Follow on confirmed.

I know it's quite common to not enforce the follow-on but to bat again would have been utter madness. This is just sooooo important now.

The right decision, in my view, to enforce the follow-on.

Great stuff today. I cam in home Lancashire were around 67-3 and it looked as if the remainder of the day could be attritional. I reckoned without JL et al.

There is a really interesting photo for people at this time in the season. For the incoming batsman of an opposing side at Taunton in September.

The picture of THREE Somerset helmets sat waiting by the boundary rope for the innings. Tells you what you might be in for at least. Though maybe not tonight. Cove coming in like an Exocet at the moment with Tim G at the other end.

Leach and Bess have taken 85 wickets in the 8 and a half CC1 matches they have played together.

Possible Steve Davies drop off Jack?

Playing on until 6 it seems.

Still think Jack and Dom are bowling from the wrong ends. Jack should be from the River and Dom from the Pavilion would be better for me.

Quote:

AGod
Win possibilities - for us - ebbing away now, I fear.
And I'm not sure we can trust that Hants batting line-up to avoid defeat even if they only have to bat for one day.

I did think that you were being just a tad negative to say that win possibilities were drifting away when still only part way through the 2nd day at the time.

Marcus and Hildy both fielding in short..... we make our old codgers work for it!!

A good Day 2 with a 174 lead and Lancashire batsmen really, really happy to get off the pitch.

We've given them a good going over today.

"Leach and Bess have taken 85 wickets in the 8 and a half CC1 matches they have played together."

Bloody hell.

Yes, right decision to make them enforce the follow-on. Yes, we could pay the price, I suppose, if they make lots but, if we batted again, we'd run the risk of batting on too long, declaring with not enough time left to force a result.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:13:18:34:08 by AGod.

I had to leave before the close of play, but it was certainly a good day for the Cidermen.

All our bowlers bowled well and with discipline; another five fer at Taunton for Jack Leach and 4 victims for Steve Davies.

I had a pleasant conversation with a Lancashire committee man and amongst other things we discussed Jos Buttler. He, like many apparently at Old Trafford, considered Alex Davies to be a better keeper than Buttler, whom he said was more useful in White Ball rather than Red Ball cricket. That is exactly what I said of Buttler when he was with us. This committee man went on to say that it was commonly discussed that Buttler was going to return to Somerset. I haven’t heard that said myself down here, but you never know.

A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.

MM mentioned it in an interview quite recently. That view of Jos was prevelant from the very beginnig of his time up North. Lots of Lancs fans on his first visit back were making the same point on Gimblett's.

If he came back ot couldn't be as first keeper so he'd be back on the deal he rejected when he first left. Could solve our number 5/6 problem though. Which should have always been the plan anyway. Craig K and him at 5 and 6.

Not hopeful myself but it may be on someone's Christmas list.

Thanks for renewing that speculation, Tom.

The club has moved on since Buttler's defection to Lancashire and should continue to do so. We now have Steve Davies in pole position and young Banton apparently earning plaudits from those in the know.

Reflecting upon his departure from us and subsequent events, I have said previously on here that I personally would not relish seeing Buttler's return. A learned scribe on here said that my attitude was "a bit harsh".

So be it. I don't expect or indeed want to be in the majority on this point, and of course nothing may come of it anyway.

It was a good day for Somerset today and let us hope that our fortunes continue.

But Maynard went out of his way to say that he's 'absolutely love to bring Jos back,' so I wonder if that wasn't just a thrown away comment on the wind, but something said because he actually intends to do so/it's been discussed etc.

I see SD and Banton as red herrings in that debate.

But, to be honest, unless Jos is giving up the IPL (and why would he?) then there'd be little point in bringing him back, as he'd almost never play for us anyway, IMO.

Tom Seymour is absolutely on the button about the discipline shown by our attack.

To my mind, that has become our hallmark - disciplined bowling.

No, we don't have a 90mph world class quick, or a world-class wrist spinner (these days, no county side does) but we have good, accurate, clever bowlers who give no quarter whatsoever and they have been a credit to the club this season and, indeed, last season too, IMO.

I think this started to happen from early in the Rogers tenure as skipper last season. Whether it was because of him or a product of the natural maturation of some younger players, I'm not 100% sure. However, I think he had a hand in it, because Tim G was always somebody who wouldn't sustain pressure (prior to last season he'd spoil 4 or 5 good balls with 1 or 2 inaccurate ones) and yet he has become very accurate too (and no spring chicken, him - so doubt it was just natural maturation in his case).

I wonder if Tom's decision to make Lancs bat again shows a measure of self-awareness along the lines of 'If we were to bat again, I might be too conservative and it might cost us,' or whether it is more reflective of the fact that we think the track may get better rather than worse?

I don't think it can just be a questionable forecast because that seemed to be all but ignored when it came to the calculations about when to declare at Edgbaston (unless, perhaps Tom had access to a special forecast that was highly trusted and not publicly available which said that the final day would be largely fine).

Forecast is for a full day's play at Uxbridge tomorrow but, if the Met Office are right for once, then Middx might lose the final few hours on Friday...

As someone who succumbed to appointments today, thank you to all the posters particularly from 3.28pm onwards who captured the excitement so well. Something to read again on a long winter's evening. Hopefully Farmer managed to close his appointments yesterday as I am really looking forward to read more about this final session in his highlights package. Jack Leach - first choice

Quote:

Loyal of Lhasa
a man still only in the early autumn of your life.

LoL

Firstly thank you for your kind comments on my Day 1 report. But regarding the above I would point out I am only 23, my grey hair and drawn features entirely due to following Somerset all my life.

Farmer

... and I'm the King of Antigua![u][/u]

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Jack has confirmed that the follow-on was NOT enforced, primarily due to the fear that the track will improve as the match progresses.

Obviously, the implication, there, is that if we do have to chase some runs on the final day we may not be that worried because it might be a pancake as on the final day vs Essex.

Most of our top six have also found some form recently, which might have factored into it.

I assume that the Brown Caps are intent on producing another worthless pitch for our game there next week....so pray, pray, pray, that the weather stays away and we can polish Lancs off as the chance of a result at the Oval may be somewhat akin to the chances of Mrs May winning personality of the year.

Posters who pooh-poohed recent reports on Grockles that there is a league table doing the rounds on the county circuit of umpires who stay in the pavilion, with their feet up, for as long as possible after rain delays, should have been at Taunton this afternoon.

The loud ring of cynical laughter that circled the ground, after the PA announcer, Donald Trump-like, had put out the fake news that the umpires (veteran Nick Cook and newcomer Billy Taylor) had done everything humanly possible to get play started again as soon as possible, told its own story. So, too, did the ironic applause that greeted their belated return to duty

If it had been a 20/20 encounter, they would have been out in bright sunshine 45 minutes to an hour earlier.

And mr cook is one of the worst offenders I believe c-j-m

Mr LoL, you are not the king of Antigua. Antigua has joint kings, Anderson Roberts and Vivian Richards.

What a day!
Superb all round bowling display.
Jack is without any doubt the best english spin bowler on the county circuit.
Despite the ecb trying to muck him up he has 103 wickets in 2 seasons with still 5 innings to go.
100% the right decision to follow on this time.
Well done Matt. Well done Tom.
All over tomorrow would do nicely.
Can see no way they get anywhere near the 350 to even cause us a minor concern.
Far more likely for me we win by tea by an innings.
Fantastic 2 days, lets just finish this off for 22pts

Quote:

Bobstan
Mr LoL, you are not the king of Antigua. Antigua has joint kings, Anderson Roberts and Vivian Richards.

We Three Kings of Antigua are - and so am I.

LoL

Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:09:13:21:54:02 by Loyal of Lhasa.

Can't see this track flattering out much, it's very dry as you could see from the clouds of dust brought up by the wind on occasions today. It should continue to help the spinners who will wrap this up tomorrow. This is the same wicket that was used for the U19 international.

The last three words of your post are superfluous Ronnie!

Yes John you are correct

Another day which went better than we could have had hopes for. I was catching up on paperwork while watching Warwick v Essex (with one eye and cricinfo with the other)and Sky had the sense to show the fall of wickets at Taunton nearly as soon as they happened.
Splendid bowling from the 4 main men with a very useful contribution from PT.
Roll on tomorrow.

Agod has commented earlier on this thread about the very weak Hampshire batting line-up for their key match against Middlesex at Uxbridge.

It is true that they agreed to release Australian George Bailey for the International XI visiting Pakistan for the first time since the terror bombings; have Liam Dawson away on England ODI duty; and have loaned Michael Carberry to Leicestershire for the remainder of the season (is this the end of his South Coast career?)

But captain James Vince was a victim, like quite a few before him, of that high risk activity - the pre-game warm-up football match, during which he pulled a hamstring. As a Daily Mail feature writer would say - Why? Oh Why?

I may have to start a second thread for this tomorrow morning because this must be getting a little large for our mobile users. If so I'll shut this one down and ask people to move to the new one if that is OK. At around 150 to 200 posts the mobile version of the site starts to crash for people trying to up load.

Scrolling to the bottom of these threads started is making my index finger very muscular.

Out all day & only just catching up with the events of day 2.

Wow, can't ask for any more than that performance. Simply terrific. Our bowling attack is simply on fire right now. Really hope we can do similar damage today & get close to finishing things off.

I'd like to suggest a simple change for next season...........

......that our fixtures take place only during August & September !

Whatever happens over the next few weeks, we have got to find a way to start our 2018 campaign with the same discipline we have shown over the last couple of games.

Grizzzly

Quote:

Tom Seymour
I had a pleasant conversation with a Lancashire committee man and amongst other things we discussed Jos Buttler. He, like many apparently at Old Trafford, considered Alex Davies to be a better keeper than Buttler, whom he said was more useful in White Ball rather than Red Ball cricket.

I would be delighted if Jos came back. I just hope he would give up his keeping role, and concentrate on becoming a proper top four batter. The England seduction has IMO lead him astray by being tempted up north by Giles, then being spewed out as we were afraid would happen by the England red ball 'experts'. Back with Somerset he could be our missing number three by learning how to bat properly.

Old Boy!

We may have to bat again if wickets are harder to come by in the second innings.

It always bring a smile to my face when some don't understand the rules. As we all know when there has been a break in play because of the weather you can add up to thirty minutes play (8 overs) onto the end of the days play.

Yesterday we had the full thirty minutes added on at the end of play because we lost more than thirty minutes play earlier in the day. Because we had the spinners on we managed to get three extra overs in up to six o/clock. The number of people that got up to leave when the allotted overs were bowled at about 5.45 because the thought that the play was over was surprising, several people called out 'play is not over yet'

Yes, Mike. It may be too much to hope for to slice through Lancs so easily twice.

I think they'll get enough to make us bat again and we'll have a nervous day of dodging showers and trying to knock the runs off tomorrow.

Lets hope not AG, the first hour could give us some indication on thing are going.

The covers are off the square I can't see the pitch! there are blue skies showing among the clouds.

It's up as the front page so I may take it out of the main thread to make more room. Gonnna close this one down as well.