Somerset
Interesting Times
By Grockle et al
February 22 2022
The Chinese supposedly created the term 'may you live in interesting times' as a kind of curse and I don't think they were that far wrong. About one month out from the preamble of friendly matches heralding the start of the 2022 domestic season, we are certainly in 'interesting times' with comfort zones and expectations of the status quo remaining beiing altered on a daily basis. Is anyone really sure where we are going with all this?
At this time in the year the usual position of a domestic cricket supporter is that we know who our international player is, we have a fixture list and we are pretty sure which matches we are going to get to and which we will miss. The captain has been announced and we are starting to look towards the friendly warm up matches counting days to them instead of months.
Some of that exists this year but other stuff is seeping into our awareness of the coming season. The fate of Yorkshire as a participant has been open for discussion after the Azeem Rafiq investigations and the club's unwillingness to produce or act on the findings of their in-house deliberations. First there were suspensions and removals and then wholesale sackings followed by ECB actions and compaints that they were pushing the Test county to be point of financial collapse and then.... nothing?
Well not a lot really. Gale and Moxon went, there are requirements to alter the procedures that allow the Grave's Trust a little too much influence in operations than feels healthy but Gary Ballance is returning to training and it looks like the threats to stop Headingley from holding international fixtures until there were obvious changes are now being downplayed. So what is the penalty from ignoring institutional racisim in a county cricket club? Essex are now dealing with accusations of historic racism and one has to wonder what will come out next.
George Dobell has suggested that the ECB needs to return to the decision to financially emasculate Durham some five years ago and show how their response then to a 'surplus to requirements' Test venue county relates to their present response to Yorkshire's irregularities. Some are suggesting a two tier system of penalties based on importance of a county to the governing body's future plans.
The poor performance of the international sides in Australia over the winter have brought the structure of the domestic season into sharp relief and the overall plan for the game of the ECB under Mr Harrison has been questioned in terms of its priorities and medium to long term aims. Franchise cricket is seen as the saviour or bane of the game in the UK and the debate is hotting up as we go into the second season with a franchise element in August with Championship fixtures still exiled to the polar ends of the season to all extent and purposes while 50 over cricket will be marginalised once again. Harrison sees this as an 'opportunity' for a 'reset' but few know what that corporate 'speak' actually means or entails. The ECB panicked and moved a couple of 4 day games into the 'summer' but the effect of that will probably be minimal at best. Will it save Harrison... here's hoping(!)
Somerset had a bad to appalling end to the 2021 season if you look at the period going into September. With the franchise players returning and the club looking to be in the top level fight for the Championship and a T20 Finals day we managed to be awful in all our last four Championship games losing 3 by an innings with batting collapse after batting collapse. Our short form was little better, we made the Final of the Blast but more because our semi final opponents imploded when we were beat. Kent didn't in the Final and we were roundly beaten for the trophy. Rabid demands for batting changes, management changes etc came rolling in and it took the club a long time to deliberate on international choices.
Matt Renshaw is returning for the season (at least until August) and although Marchant de Lange is still with us we have also signed Peter Siddle for most of the season - a choice of three of which we can play two. Will there be more Blast signings? No announcements as of yet.
Our younger players have had an eventful winter. George Thomas and James Rew have been working hard as members of the U19 World Cup squad and despute Rew's heroics in the final they came up short but both enhanced their reputations. Will Smeed has been wowing fans in Pakistan with explosive hitting for Quetta in the Pakistani franchise league and will come back to a franchise place here as one of the Somerset players who have remained with their franchise from last season. Tom Banton returned to the white ball international scene against the West indies but has not been retained in Cardiff so he may be availablke for more red ball experience and some 50 over work with his county. Both Smeed and Ned Leonard have extended their contracts with Somerset. Sonny Baker has had back surgery during the off season and will be hoping it has had no effect on his move to become on of the next in line for first team bowling.
The problems with Lewis Gregory at the end of last season and his role as 'batsman only' for Somerset has not had any effect on the view of franchise cricket as to his effectiveness. He will remain with his franchise, as will Tom Abell who unfortunately had to call short his winter experience in Brisbane as he required treatment for an injury. Somerset have decided to give him responsibility for the Blast squad as well as the CC team this season though we are expecting Ben Green to continue as the Royal London skipper should he not be called to a domestic franchise via the draft. Tom Lammonby will also be 'franchised' once more.
Despite being picked for both international Test squads over the off season, Craig Overton took no part in any of the Ashes games in Australia and is not certain to play in any of the three Test in the Windies either. Jack was underused and undermanaged during the first series Down Under with a lack of faith in the batting prowess of the squad making any spin option pretty much pointless as there was no real first innings pressure brought to bear. To be honest Joe Root had no real idea how to use slow bowling as an offensive weapon and Leach was effectively relegated to 'stopper' and change bowler. Cove will be franchised again this year but it is hoped that Jack will be allowed some time to play for his county rather than working the drinks tray at Test venues around the country.
Meanwhile the management of the county has been remarkable quiet during the winter. There have been few if any regional meetings of supporters like the old regional AGMs. Membership drives have been online mostly and there has been little from Mr Hollins about much at all really. The full AGM will take place and we've had a couple of Q&A's but there seems to be a move to change the way the club is operated. Trade Nation are sponsors again and we seem to have gone a little bit more orange than we were. The streaming aspect of the club gained major awards and should be ready to go again with the excellent Ben Warren at the helm by the end of March. Jim Troughton came and went as a coach... his role more transitory than some expected. Steve Kirby will be bowling coach for the season once more. Batting coach? Your guess is as good as mine. We have friendlies against Gloucs, Glamorgan and Warwickshire before the season and a week of 'acclimatisation' in Abu Dhabi before that playing multi format games against Essex. The season starts in Southampton on Thursday April 7.
What the season holds it is hard to assess. We all have to hope for massive improvement early on in our Championship batting form - the makeup of that side will be very interesting and I may do something on that pre season based on comments in the section below this one. Matt Renshaw will hopefully put some fibre in the front end but it is a big season for any of our young players who see a Championship career ahead of them. George Bartlett and Lewis Goldsworthy have shown they have the chops... a number of others have something to prove. What role will James Hildreth and Steve Davies have in this season?
Our overall bowling must be improved by the Siddle signing and at full strength that could be a real benefit with Aldridge, Baker and Leonard looking for places as well. Josh Davey will welcome the support I am sure Short form batting will be a real fight if everyone comes to the party in form and I for one am looking forward to the Royal London where some who may be seen as 'too young' yet can be given their heads and the opportunity to scare the living dayllights out of some of our more established stars.
So... interesting times indeed. Where this all leads is in the lap of the gods I suppose. Who will be there at the end who was there at the start? Your guess is as good as mine. The one thing for certain is that for now the support will continue to turn up and I'll see you all down at Taunton for the start of Grockle's season 28
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:03:11:14:31:16 by Grockle.
That's what nagged me while reading through your excellent preview. It's not just an unanswered question - it's a question that hasn't even been asked. The same faces are there, both on the pitch and off it. A couple of likeable additions to the playing staff, but that doesn't address what was going on with all the rest of them. Hildreth, for instance. I love the guy, one of the greats, and at the age now where you have to expect something of a fade. But not to fade away to the extent it looked like it didn't matter any more.
Tom Abell - we all love him too, but just how effective is he really as a captain, if something like September can happen under his watch? No one doubts his enthusiasm, except, it seems, the other players. Sometimes during that month he was running around like a one-year-old spaniel whose family couldn't be arsed to throw a stick for him.
As for off the pitch ... Hollins, you mention. Does he want to be here, or is he just frustrated that he hasn't been adopted by a franchise, where his management-speak would be appreciated? Even Andy Hurry - I don't know whether he writes the quotes we read on the club's website, or whether they're dictated for him by Hollins, but it's just further cliche-ed blather.
Yes, I will be there again in April, but, you know, I'm not 100% sure I want to be, and I'm not 100% sure every one of the men in the pavilion want to be either. Because a lot of them certainly didn't want to be there in September, and I don't see anything in the last five months which has been done to address that disaster.
I'm not sure 3 captains in 3 formats works and I also believe Lewis G senior needs a season to concentrate on his game.
How much of the lapse was 'franchise created'? Well it didn't affect other counties the same way but did they have 12 returnees?
Will we use the young guns if the old guns don't fire? Will ex franchise players take the bull by the horns if they are not drafted and give their lives for the club in the RL?
All things to speculate about and watch. Welcome back from hibernation people...
As I posted. It will be interesting how Tom Banton reacts if he is not drafted. I'll be very suprised but also very happy if he isn't and I am certain he will cope with either scenario.
The Committee have confirmed they have received his letter.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
There are a hell of a lot of prospects with things to say in 2022
I too have deep reservations about the Corporate claptrap cliche's spouted by GH & AH in particular. I don't doubt AH's commitment, but GH's 'leadership' qualities remain very well hidden. Perhaps it's an unfair view, but I just wish the guy would say something to indicate he actually wants to be at Somerset.
On a day like today though, the prospect of watching cricket on a sunny day at Taunton seems a wonderful diversion from the madness of current events.
Grizzers
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