The Kent preview:
https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/news/match-preview-warwickshire-vs-kent/
The Kent preview:
https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/news/match-preview-warwickshire-vs-kent/
The clubs preview and team news.
It seems that Matt Lamb is the scapegoat for the last result.
Scores of 22, 4, 6, 8, 3, 37, 0, 1 and 18 since the start of June will have that effect especially if there is no second string to his bow (1/57 on a flat one in Northampton excepted). He can't have too many complaints. I'd have got shot of a couple of others
thats the point though, some players get to perform badly and nothing is done.
eg Yates 7 games as a specialist batsman with an average of under 13, take away his best score and his average is about 8. Or Davies who has been poor all season.
If you allow players who are performing badly to stay in the side, it has a negative effect on the rest of the squad.
From the sounds of it there was a huge negative effect from the start of the season.
By all accounts there has been a big split in the squad, with some players as you correctly pointed out, being favourites, getting priority in terms of training for different formats and are allowed to underperform with no threat of reprisal.
Difference is Yates is a top order/opening bat very specialist position with limited options available for his replacement. Lamb bats in a position where there are 5 or 6 other vying for his spot and also his overall record over 5 seasons now is modest at best. A bit like Sibley would've had to have had a monumental start to the season scoring hundred after hundred to force his way back into the test reckoning, Lamb needed several big scores this season to put the doubters to bed
Just win the toss that's all I ask!
I think Matt Lamb's record over the the past 3 or 4 seasons stacks up quite well against other 5 or 6 batters at other counties actually.
This dropping of him is harsh, he's averaging almost 50 with 2 tons and a very good 71 from 11 innings. Also a good 45 at Headingley, when he walked out with us in strife. There's gonna be batters in the the XI who haven't contributed anywhere near that this season but he clearly isn't one of Farbys Favourites so...
I seem to recall that Lamb got what many thought was a rough deal when Jim Troughton was Coach - Jim joked at a Members' Event that people thought he must be a vegetarian because he obviously didn't like Lamb.
Every player will be saying to every captain, "You had better win the toss or else, if you think I am going to enjoy chasing leather all day, think again...". If we do have to bowl first, I dare any of our batsmen to say, "You bowlers, the sooner you get them out, the sooner we can sit in the pavilion eating Fab lollies".
Interesting that Ricardo Vasconcelos has stepped down as the Northants skipper in order to “concentrate on his own performances”.
Despite Northants being 8 points above us having played a game less.
Win the toss and choose to field? Surely some mistake.
That decision, at this stage, seems baffling. Kind of sums up the season so far: muddled decision making and a lack of confidence.
Hoping to be proven wrong though.
I'm not there so can't see what Rhodes can but this decision seems scarcely believable.
Has anyone seen/heard why McAndrew is not playing? It seems odd to drop our 3rd highest wicket taker and 5th highest average batsmen for a must win match like this.
Ah, that's the plan. Roll them before lunch and sit in the pavilion for the hottest sessions of the day.
I never doubted the decision for a single minute....ahem
Yeah I'm keeping quiet too....
There seems to be a lot of egg making a mess around this morning (he he)
Apparently Middlesex chose to field at Lords and have only taken one wicket in the first hour. And their members have to keep their ties on !!!!