Can't disagree.

We've fought hard there against some very decent bowling and unusually good fielding. Our day, hopefully we back it up tomorrow.

Somerset showing great commitment in the field here.

Pitch does look two paced.

Take that at lunch after losing the toss.

Lost the toss, bowling, the XI is as anticipated.

Looking at the Somerset squad, even without Rew, Gregory and Abell they still look strong.

Mad to think we're going into a game without one of OHD, Woakes, Barker or Booth. Not really anyone's fault, mind.

Wish Booth wasn't overseas still...

Wonder what type of Taunton we'll get? Ciderabad? The green one? The road?

Yep Ethan Bamber will open the bowling without Woakes, Barker or OHD for the first time this season?

We've had some heartache on this ground in recent times, hopefully we can pull a rabbit out of the hat this weekend.

Three years deal! Hopefully we can get a few more of our out of contract guys signed up.

Think theres still a player in there if he can stay fit enough for long enough, whenever hes had a run of games he's done OK whether if was with us or Middlesex. He's had so many injuries now though.

Banton ruled himself out of these two June games originally as to "keep himself focused on t20 cricket" but its thought he might now play in this upcoming game.

Apparently TKC is close.

Its a huge bonus if Gregory doesn't play.

Who they got injured?

Kai has only opened for the 2's in t20. His form in red ball 2nds batting at 3 or 4 has been up and down with only one score over 50.

All im saying is for any batter out of the side at the moment (Hamza, Jani etc), yer way in is probably as opener right now.

Tayls79 wrote:

Interesting to see the averages, see Mousley only just above his career average, didn't expect Hain and Yates would be so far above theirs. WRT Davies and Malik, have the feeling the latter is more vulnerable. Can't see Davies being dropped though seeing as we need his keeping. I would think the most extreme thing that would happen for the next game is that Malik is dropped for Kai and then Davies drops down the order. But I'm not sure Kai as an opener is a great move either. That's the thing about the "drop Davies" campaign. There's no real alternative. I do recall many years ago when England were struggling with openers that Jonathan Agnew suggested Woakes as an opener (a la Shane Watson). Be worth a debate...

Hain, Yates and Barnard (recently after a slow start) have all been pretty good for us. Think Yates gets harshly lumped in with Davies sometimes, he's actually shown a lot more consistency this season thus far. Mousley have shown flashes, he's still very loose outside his off stick though.

Fringe players like Danny Lamb, Charlie Tear George Thomas, Harrison Ward etc have been told they'll be released.

No way Kai can open surely? Like I said earlier in the thread the likes of Hamza should knocking on the door asking for a go. Do we accept Davies keeping and batting 6/7? Or have Kai Smith's below average keeping? We're a bit stuck here.

We've done alright in the end there, we'd have lost that game a couple of years ago. We'd have folded.

We bank the points and move on.