Looking at the forecast last night and this morning. It looks very dull and very rainy for tomorrow - Could it be that this game might actually be a rain affected draw if the forecast is correct, would we have thought this after the first day, a lot to be decided before then though.
Hopefully we use the conditions early and try force the result. But with our bowling, that’s very optimistic.
We’re a 3 man team, Hain, Burgess and OHD.
Anyone else that has a score has done it on the flattest of decks, Hain and Burgess have done it consistently in tough situations. But that first innings shows how fragile that is, Hain did well, but Burgess got a top ball early, they happen. So if 1 fails, you can’t post a good score. Same thing the other way round, we’ve seen Hain not get a score and Burgess has got a score but batting with the tail, and you’re left to wonder what would have happened if he’d been able to have a partnership with a batsman not just OHD, McAndrew and Briggs.
OHD has bowled superbly with no support, and it’s ridiculous that a club of this size, basically has 1 fit top quality bowler. He can’t take 6 wickets every innings, and that almost what’s needed currently.
I think the season before last, all of our top line bowlers were injured! We had to borrow bowlers if I recall and avoided relegation. It seems an ongoing issue with so many of our first choice attack either injured or called up for their respective Countries.
BristolBear, you have it right as most of us have witnessed. Cannot think of what our score might have been without Hain in this game. OHD was getting baked on the first day but bowled like he has done all season, with no complaints or histrionics. Looks like no one will be able to use these conditions. It is a million miles away from Tuesday when I baked in the shade and it would be strange that a low scoring game might end up being drawn as tomorrow looks bleak as well.
Miles 2nd over of the morning was awful.
A single off the first ball that should have gone to the boundary, then 3 wide short balls that Denly for whatever reason decided not to take advantage of and the last ball full and angling down leg side hit me for 4 ball that Denly took advantage of.
It is rubbish, he should not be playing in such an important game when his bowling is so far off the radar.
I was hoping for a longer delay today or a wash out as I can only see a defeat coming for us from this point.
Do we think Robinson is aware of the bowling weakness and is just happy excusing it as injuries, and living off last seasons success?
Or is he blissfully unaware of the inadequacy?
Because surely if he knew, he’d adapt the line up? Leave out Benjamin or Davies. Move Burgess up to 6 like most of last season. And have an extra bowler or someone like Ethan Brookes at 7, who can offer a batting and bowling option.
Because currently in what should be very helpful conditions. Our seam attack looks incredibly placid. With limited options because Rhodes really isn’t a 4th seamer, and all the batsmen that can bowl, bowl spin. Rather unhelpful on a greenish pitch, on a damp, overcast day.
All too predictable I'm afraid. I think our performances have been hugely disappointing, favourable positions are thrown away game after game. Our batting lacks focus and momentum, everyone we play outscores us and at times appear to be on a different wicket to ourselves. When I arrived at the Ageas bowl last week we were 50 odd for none in a few overs with Sibley in remarkable mood. Within no time Davies tries a pull/ramp to fine leg off his middle stump and was gone lbw, Benjamin and Lamb both go shouldering arms Sibley reverts to type, and Rhodes freezes himself out. Normal service resumed by mid afternoon. Apart from OHD (what a revelation he has been? I can recall the first time we renewed his contract thinking why on earth have we bothered. He has worked so hard on his development and deserves massive respect) bowlers struggle to make an impression, I know we have suffered injuries but all counties do, even Briggs seems lack lustre and bowls far too many bad balls, releasing pressure rather than building it. Comprehensively out bowled by Dawson last week. And the captaincy, don't get me started. One hundred and tenth over against Hampshire, they were nine down with Briggs bowling, not a close catcher in sight until the very last ball of the over. It was as though he suddenly thought "Oh! I could get an extra bowling point here" a slip and a short leg. Last ball of the over, you could not make it up. It is as though we are sleep walking through this county season, with the experience that we have behind the scenes I don't understand it. Very frustrating!
Wholeheartedly agree with all the points and frustrations aired today. I have had to switch the live stream off, far too depressing! With the notable exception of OHD, the bowling is awful - far too many loose balls, no control, no menace. With the fragility of our batting line up I fear only the weather can help us tomorrow. Relegation certainly can't be ruled out and frankly, many would argue that we don't deserve to survive! To think that we were County Champions less than a year ago....
Just saw the belief drain from them as the session wore on. So flat in the field too.
You’ve got to wonder what on earth has gone on behind the scenes.
Arguably the best bowling coach in the country left because he has issues with the head coach.
A team that was praised for its spirit this year, has struggled for it this year.
Players have gone backwards apart from the notable 3.
Players seem to be alienated by new signings and preferential treatment given to some.
New signings and overseas don’t produce.
Big name players are leaving or seem to be about to leave.
There have to be questions about Farbrace and Robinson and the captaincy.
Even taking this game in isolation, consider where we were at lunch on day one, to the position we now find ourselves in at tea on day three, and that includes losing an entire session. It takes some doing!
Miles good since tea here...
I’d normally be thrilled, but after tea it’s worrying to see that the pitch is starting to show some inconsistent bounce. A fair few keeping low, it’ll make chasing anything over 250 very tough.
As 2 of our last games are Surrey and Hants we really need to avoid defeat here and hope we play a lot better against Somerset and Gloucestershire, otherwise we are going down I'm afraid.
That is where the current format lets itself down.
The bears are unlucky that they play the 2 title contenders twice, and only play the 2 weakest teams, Glos and Kent, once.
It’s a distinct disadvantage.
The weather looks bad tomorrow (Am I clinging on here) so if I was Billings, I would have declared with a lead of about 290. Perhaps he is happy with a draw. The bowling will have to be looked at for next season as OHD cannot be burdened with being the only strike bowler if our injuries do not improve. If Dawson is outbowling Briggs then that is an issue as Dawson outbowling anyone is cause for concern for any spinner. I didn't realise that Davies played another horrendous shot v Hampshire after playing one of the worst I have ever seen v THE SAME OPPONENTS in the T20 Q-F. Do players not learn from previous mistakes. I am not even thinking of going tomorrow and maybe the weather forecast is a blessing.
Davies could go out and kick his own stumps over first ball and not be dropped it seems.
What incentive is there for him to learn, improve and take responsibility?
I hope he learns and applies himself here, and scores some decent runs, but there’s limited reason for him or any player to change if their place is never under threat.
Dreadful shot. Was anyone really surprised Davies failed again?
How demoralising is it for the rest of the team and squad when such poor permance is allowed to continue. Excluding his century, Davies has an average below 20 for the season.
That is not acceptable for a specialist batsman.
Remember we left out Mat Lamb who has an average of 48.7 and has scored almost 20% more runs in 30% less innings.
It's beyond a joke at this point.
I said when we signed him, 'does he really walk into our 4 day side', and people thought I was mad.
Gets so square on and has such hard hands, he'll always nick off.
Well there you go.....Davies opening, not working, Benjamin at 3, not working - we deserve to lose this tomorrow.