Streetly_Bear wrote:

The openers did alright for the first two matches though Highveld, it almost feels like you have been waiting for them to fail. I’m certainly not in the pro Davies camp but after a couple of good scores I’m willing to give him a chance to show some kind of positive consistency. Yates had a lot to prove after struggling so much last season but has already shown some good form.

I’ve not been following and have just seen the score though so it is of course disappointing. Let’s see what how we do with the ball in our hands.

It is certainly a tricky pitch in these weather conditions. It wasn't as though Davies played a reverse sweep..and he has started the season well

Agree with you it's very harsh and there's no need for negativity this early in the season after we have started well.

I've also travelled over from Ireland from this game so I'm hoping it lasts a few days 🤣

Only one batsman has made a decent score, which indicates tricky conditions, so to single one batsman out is very unfair IMO. He scored more than Hain by the way.

Highveld wrote:

The shot from Davies was totally unacceptable in the context of the score and the position in the game. He is not worth a place in the side, and the consitant poor dismissals shows he should be be trusted as vice captain.
The current opening partnership is not working, and ids putting pressure on Hains and Rhodes to rescue the side from bad starts every innings, the currents situation is not acceptable.

It is time for Robinson to make changes for the good of the entire team.

This is silly. Davies got a hundred not two games ago.

Toss was crucial, as has been said. I think it was more the overheads causing problems than anything off the pitch. So overcast and really quite gloomy at times.

Had we won the toss and bowled we'd have Surrey in a similar position I'm fairly sure. It really was a bowlers day.

Dan Mousley good again, and even he had a life!

I saw someone say that getting out like that was exactly what 2022 Davies would have done. But to me, it was the shot of someone not up for the fight, who got bored of being patient and decided it was easier to start swinging despite it being obvious what would happen.
It’s the sort of thing you’d hope Robinson gets on top of immediately as, it’s hardly the attitude of a vice captain. Definitely not a droppable offence, but one where he probably needs a reminder of his responsibilities.

Is anyone else starting to worry about Rhodes place in the side? Not for the first time in the last couple of years, I’m getting the impression he’s only in the side because he’s captain, especially as he’s barely bowling now.

Very much worried about Rhodes, Bristol. I can't remember the last time he had a good knock, and his average must be pretty low last couple of years.

If he wasn't captain and Bethell wasn't injured, I have no doubt Bethell would be in the team instead.

Yep Rhodes is likely a good all rounder in a second division side ..hopefully proves otherwise.

We have a seriously lack of competition in the batting order which is likely to get worse with Bethall injured.

I'd go for Rhodes up top and see If he can rekindle the form he had with Sibley back in 2019 I think it was..

We can't carry anyone so I do hope he comes good over the coming months

That's a bit of a shocker from the umpire.

It's hit Pope in front of middle and off and was very low. Not sure on what basis the umpire is not giving that out.

That's a bit of a shocker from the umpire.

It's hit Pope in front of middle and off and was very low. Not sure on what basis the umpire is not giving that out.

And I don't think that is out. Evened itself out pretty quickly

Got involved in a great debate with a couple of friends of mine. In county cricket is there a keeper that affects the game from behind the stumps more than burgess?
Not saying just the number of catches or stumpings. But how a keeper affects batsmen by coming up when others wouldn’t. Makes stops and catches others wouldn’t. As a keeper he seems more involved in the game. Whereas Foakes might be technically better, but does he effect games as consistently as Burgess.

BristolBear wrote:

Not saying just the number of catches or stumpings. But how a keeper affects batsmen by coming up when others wouldn’t. Makes stops and catches others wouldn’t. As a keeper he seems more involved in the game. Whereas Foakes might be technically better, but does he effect games as consistently as Burgess.

It's a good point: shows he's thinking and planning and looking to see what he can do to help the bowlers. I'd rather we had more pace in the attack though. Maybe that's why he's doing it.

This looks a bit ominous

Just about keeping ourselves in it and getting a wicket each time they look like they might get away from us

Good finish to the day, if we can take the last two wickets quickly tomorrow then we’ve got a chance. From what I saw I think Woakes is particularly unlucky to end wicketless

Those last two wickets were necessary, but even then I think this one has got away from us a bit, 70+ run lead when we only got 150 is a lot. It is perhaps a good indicator of where we are, though, and if there is some rain tomorrow and Sunday then a better bat second time around and a draw is a decent outcome. Especially if we can get those final two wickets quickly and come out on even points.

From a crap start first thing this morning I think we've done pretty well to keep ourselves in it.

Yeah true. 23/3 was the biggest gap between the sides. Since then it's been closer. We're not being spanked, however we're still behind. Rain assisted draw would be a good result.

coolerking wrote:

From a crap start first thing this morning I think we've done pretty well to keep ourselves in it.

So unlucky having to bat in overcast and cold conditions all of yesterday. Woakes and Burgess wickets were annoying yesterday, especially as the light was so poor - that short afternoon session will probably cost us the match.

It's been an excellent contest so far between two top drawer sides Surrey perhaps have the edge with their batting lineup but little to choose between them otherwise. Warks perhaps more of an emerging side especially the batting.

Beefing up the attack in the winter was just the job for games like this. You could probably see Miles or Henry Brookes or Garrett getting wickets yesterday when the odds were stacked in bowlers favour but the extra control this attack has means we can go toe to toe with the top counties. Anything less than 280 I'd have snapped your hand off just need to bat out of our skins when the time arrives tomorrow and/or Sunday