When I first became a member we had Tim Ambrose, Rikki Clarke, Jeets, Keith Barker and Chris Wright. All of those could (and did) contribute to runs. We miss that so much.
When I first became a member we had Tim Ambrose, Rikki Clarke, Jeets, Keith Barker and Chris Wright. All of those could (and did) contribute to runs. We miss that so much.
Streetly_Bear wrote:
When I first became a member we had Tim Ambrose, Rikki Clarke, Jeets, Keith Barker and Chris Wright. All of those could (and did) contribute to runs. We miss that so much.
But I think those roles did contribute today. Briggs, Burgess and Bresnan scored almost 90 runs combined, not enormous but when you think the top 5 batsmen combined scored 100. That’s a decent contribution.
I think we’re looking at this wrong. It can’t be acceptable for the top 5 to score 100 runs, but also the bowlers can’t allow a side to escape from 119-6 to 273.
Same as last year, the top 5 need to put big scores on the board and the bowlers need to finish teams off.
Could Burgess and Bresnan have got more, sure, but Bresnan got a good ball and I think Burgess got a poor decision. Either way we’re back in the same place we were last year. Wondering why the keeper and all rounder can’t save us, yet we’re chasing 75 more than we should and the batsmen only get a decent score once every 5 or 6 games, enough to keep their place but not enough to help us win.
Good points Bristol Bear and when you look at it like that you are completely right. Our top order didn’t do enough and the bowlers were not able to keep the score lower.
BristolBear wrote:
Streetly_Bear wrote:
When I first became a member we had Tim Ambrose, Rikki Clarke, Jeets, Keith Barker and Chris Wright. All of those could (and did) contribute to runs. We miss that so much.
But I think those roles did contribute today. Briggs, Burgess and Bresnan scored almost 90 runs combined, not enormous but when you think the top 5 batsmen combined scored 100. That’s a decent contribution.
I think we’re looking at this wrong. It can’t be acceptable for the top 5 to score 100 runs, but also the bowlers can’t allow a side to escape from 119-6 to 273.
Same as last year, the top 5 need to put big scores on the board and the bowlers need to finish teams off.
Could Burgess and Bresnan have got more, sure, but Bresnan got a good ball and I think Burgess got a poor decision. Either way we’re back in the same place we were last year. Wondering why the keeper and all rounder can’t save us, yet we’re chasing 75 more than we should and the batsmen only get a decent score once every 5 or 6 games, enough to keep their place but not enough to help us win.
This is spot on...the batting needs to change/improve but who would you take out? Lamb was decent last game..Hain this one. Yates will open now Sibley is injured.
I actually think in the long run I'd look at Rhodes down at number 6 if he's contributing with the ball. Think we should have really signed another batsman considering we know Sibley is likely to be away with England and they're paying his wages
Our salary across the team must have dropped a fair bit this season with retirements and Stone and Sibley on England contracts
How much have we wasted bringing in a short term import, and based on his comments his wife/partner?
With flights for two people, presumably not in economy, acomodation, work permit and Covid testing to allow him to exit quarenteen after five days we've already invested/wasted about £10,000 before salary.
Hve we got value for that investment?
Highveld wrote:
How much have we wasted bringing in a short term import, and based on his comments his wife/partner?
With flights for two people, presumably not in economy, acomodation, work permit and Covid testing to allow him to exit quarenteen after five days we've already invested/wasted about £10,000 before salary.
Hve we got value for that investment?
How can we answer that after 2 days? Although signing a batsman for 3 games in early April is setting them up to fail !
He can only be judged once his contract is over. With such a short term contact in April, I would have looked at a possible fast bowler to utilise early season conditions.
This is spot on...the batting needs to change/improve but who would you take out? Lamb was decent last game..Hain this one. Yates will open now Sibley is injured.
I think Highveld is right, I think a short term overseas is nearing pointless. If Malan is actually coming they should have picked Mousley or Hose for these games, and created true competition for places which I don’t think there really is batting wise. What changes can you make?
Rhodes - captain, can’t drop him.
Yates - only other opener left, so can’t drop him.
Hain - just scored 70 can’t drop him
Vihari - you can’t drop your overseas you’ve paid huge money for.
Lamb- just scored 50 can’t drop him.
So you’ve got your top 5 of underperforming players who are basically undroppable. Of the English players, they’ll all come under pressure at some point, get a score to buy themselves some time and the cycle will repeat itself.
If you don’t count Sibley who I suspect we won’t see again for a while this season, of all our English batsmen there’s only 3 who average over 30 in first class cricket: Rhodes 36, Hain 35 and Burgess 35. That means you’re hugely reliant on your overseas performing all season, which is unlikely considering he’s only here for 3 matches.
Malan can open. But depends when he's free to play?
Rhodes
Malan
Yates
Vihari
Hain
Mousley
Burgess
Would be my top 7 if Sibley is out injured.
This is why it’s such a big season for Hain as he is actually the longest serving batsman for us despite his relatively young age. He is no longer the young buck in the squad, time to step up.
I liken him to Critchley at Derbyshire, long touted within the club as a player with potential but only showing glimpses, the last two seasons he has stepped up and started to deliver.
Fingers crossed for much better day
Interesting that Rhodes is opening the bowling. It does make me question whether Bresnan is worth his place as the 3rd seamer.
Think the only way he justifies his spot is batting at 7 and the 4th seamer however, we don't have enough quality in the batting attack to allow that luxury
A good afternoon session there I would say. It will be incredibly tough to chase over 300 but the aim should be to bat out the remaining sessions (once we remove the last wicket obviously).
Pleased to see Briggs take some wickets, hopefully bring about some confidence.
My first post guys. I think we'll be bowled out cheaply. Batting couldn't have gone worse with Sibley out.
Sibley situation is such a blow, it's really messed us up. Think Yates is so much more comfortable, psychologically if anything, batting at 3 as opposed to opening.
Poor old Rob Yates looked all at sea against Broad. It was something of a mercy killing when he was finally given out LBW.
Yet another poor dismissal from Vihari,
Can we cancel his contract and get a refund of all the moeny we have spent on him? He seems to be faulty goods and not "fit for purpose"
Hopefully Malan is available next week, he has a visa and can use the same 5 day quarenteen process we used on Vihari.
Rhodes got a shocker at the end there.
An unfortunate end to the day, he had a good stand with Sam Hain and it could have made tomorrow more interesting.if they'd been together for an hour or so in the morning.
Highveld wrote:
Yet another poor dismissal from Vihari,
Can we cancel his contract and get a refund of all the moeny we have spent on him? He seems to be faulty goods and not "fit for purpose"
Hopefully Malan is available next week, he has a visa and can use the same 5 day quarenteen process we used on Vihari.
I'm sorry but this is really odd...every player has a poor game in them. If you don't agree with the signing fair enough but calling him faulty goods seems like you have an agenda
Andy wrote:
Rhodes got a shocker at the end there.
Yes he seemed fair bit outside the line to me
The umpires have been very quick to raise their arm in the game..bit of time to process the ball might help
Changes on and off the pitch, some expensive acquisitions that come with a big reputation but the truth is, it's Groundhog Day