On the positive side, good to see Sam and Jacob get good runs, contributing 55% of the total.

Perhaps it is now time to make changes to improve all aspects of the game, including playing our best wicketkeeper.

This is a wake up call for Robinson that we cannot afford to carry passengers. How many more chances do we give Benjamin and Mousley waiting for them to get a score? Changes need to be made.

I think we’ll see changes for the next game. Mousley at least offers a bowling option (though it didn’t go well tonight) but Benjamin is offering nothing right now.

The wicket keeper isn’t an issue at the moment. I’d play Burgess purely as a batsman.

Problem is Mousley’s spin option is going round the park.
Judged on his batting alone it’s not good enough. Yates and Bethell offer spin options too if needed after Briggs and Lintott. So his bowling shouldn’t come into it.
Plus Barnard offers bowling.
I’d swap out Mousley and Benjamin for Barnard and Burgess.
If it’s only one of them, I’d pick Burgess as he’s got runs in the 2’s plus outperformed many of our batters last year on loan at Sussex.
And I do think Burgess should have the gloves for the simple reason, it’s easier to captain and put plans across and talk with bowlers from mid off or the covers than behind the stumps. Plus why not have your best keeper keeping?

It does seem illogical to deliberately make the side weaker, and reduce the chances of winning, by not using the best available player in a specialist position.

A dropped chance or missed stumping could cost the game, and have financial implications for the club.

however it does seem that under Robinson, mediocrity is preferred and rewarded.

Burgess should be in the side, i don't understand why he isn't picked. He won't be in todays team unfortunately. I think Barnard will be in for either Benjamin or Mousley, and Miles will come in for either Ali or Garton.

Has there been any moments this Blast campaign, or the last, where Alex Davies inferior keeping has cost us?

And I ask this as a massive Michael Burgess fan.

Andy wrote:

Has there been any moments this Blast campaign, or the last, where Alex Davies inferior keeping has cost us?

And I ask this as a massive Michael Burgess fan.

Not at all, it's just a certain posters current obsession. Do think Burgess should be strongly considered as a batsman though.

Jamal in for Gleeson - the only change.

Durham won the toss and chose to bat first.

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Jamal in for Gleeson - the only change.

Durham won the toss and chose to bat first.

Benjamin and Mousley extremely lucky! Got to be the very last chance saloon.

Bedingham is playing a very high quality innings, which could be a match winning one.

25 from Jamal’s first over, gulp!

ExiledBrummie wrote:

Andy wrote:

Has there been any moments this Blast campaign, or the last, where Alex Davies inferior keeping has cost us?

And I ask this as a massive Michael Burgess fan.

Not at all, it's just a certain posters current obsession. Do think Burgess should be strongly considered as a batsman though.

It’s got nothing to do with Davies keeping though.
If you’re picking Burgess as batsman, why not have him keep? He’s a better keeper and it means it’s easier for Davies to captain the side. If it’s a pride thing for Davies then let him keep.

By far the bigger issue is the endless chances certain players get.
I bet Benjamin and Mousley get runs today and it’ll be used to justify their selection. But 1 or 2 knocks out of 19 matches isn’t good enough.

We really lack a powerful batsman to clear the ropes in these middle overs. We just invite pressure on ourselves without the ability to pressurise the opposition.

Streetly_Bear wrote:

We really lack a powerful batsman to clear the ropes in these middle overs. We just invite pressure on ourselves without the ability to pressurise the opposition.

And it was obvious that's what we needed!

Jamal as our second overseas is just lazy recruitment..

Streetly_Bear wrote:

We really lack a powerful batsman to clear the ropes in these middle overs. We just invite pressure on ourselves without the ability to pressurise the opposition.

And it was obvious that's what we needed!

Jamal as our second overseas is just lazy recruitment..

Streetly_Bear wrote:

We really lack a powerful batsman to clear the ropes in these middle overs. We just invite pressure on ourselves without the ability to pressurise the opposition.

This was mentioned earlier in the competition, particularly an issue when the bowling misfires for the second game running.

Why was Jamal selected today? Yesterday on the website Miles was in the 13 man squad for the game against Lancs (no Jamal) so why didn't he get the nod today? It must give a player so much confidence to know someone who wasn't in the squad the day before gets picked ahead of you the following day. And then bowls only one over for 25 runs!

Hopefully Burgess will be selected to bat at 6 in the next match.

I do sound fixated now but I watched burgess against Worcester with Lamb a couple of years ago smoke it. And against Surrey and Gloucestershire last year for Sussex. Then Barnard in the 50 over smashed it. Give them a chance.
Use the squad.

60 runs off five overs from our overseas players, plus zero runs from two balls faced. Combined with the top three failing to go on from a reasonable start, left a situation where Sam Hain and Jacob Bethell both needed to play a large innings to secure victory. while Jacob did his part, Sam was out early, leaving an impossible run chase, as there was no support for Jacob.

Also, good to see Sue Redfern umpiring the game today, she really is an excellent umpire.