25 year old OHD was absolutely gash. It wasn't til he turned 28 or 29 that he started to resemble anything like a proper bowler. 25 is young, particularly for a batter.

Interestingly Dean Headley was talking about this the other week and lamenting the fact that so many young cricketers are written off too quickly, particularly batters, and regarding bowlers a seamers body might not be fully strong and developed til they turn 26 or 27. But so many coaches, and supporters, make their minds up on cricketers too quickly.

The only batter of ours who I think has had a poor season is Mousley, feel like he's gone backwards in red ball. But he's young and should be given time to improve.

Ultimately players improve at different rates.

Re. Batting coach, the recently appointed Warwickshire women's coach Ali Maidan was batting coach at Yorkshire, wonder if he can help our men's team out? Yorkshire have had some decent homegrown batters recently Wharton, Hill, Bean etc some lad called Brook has made a few runs too.

Kookaburra, Dukes, favouritism, Robbo, AI etc, it's been the second best opening partnership in the division despite Yates falling off dramatically in September. End of.

Besides we've struggled this season because we've bowled absolute dross the majority of the time because we have an ageing, injury prone seam attack nothing coming through the academy to back them up. Huge issue going forwards and won't get sorted quickly, patience (something supporters don't seem to have) will be required.

We've batted decently well with room to improve even more, generally speaking.

Exiled Bear wrote:

Highveld wrote:

Our average opening partnership is one of the lowest in Division one, so improvement is needed.

It must be soul destroying for the middle order knowing they are going to be batting in the first few overs, almost, every innings.

I didn't think I could let this statement pass without a bit of evidence-checking, and the results are quite interesting...

Here are the actual average opening partnerships, in order, for all teams in Division 1:

Surrey: 53.7
Warwickshire: 46.7
Nottinghamshire: 40.3
Durham: 33.0
Essex: 28.7
Kent: 28.3
Worcestershire: 22.9
Lancashire: 19.2
Somerset: 19.0
Hampshire: 15.9

So, it turns out that we actually have the second best opening partnership in Division 1!

2nd best opening partnership in Div 1 as far as I can going off these stats.

The stats seem to indicate that we have one of the better opening partnerships, no?

We've signed Tom Helm?

The commitment (desperation) by you to try and manufacture your narrative is incredible. Fair play.

Highveld wrote:

Will Rhodes completes his 1,000 championship runs for the season. Significantly, his total is not artificially inflated by easy runs in games with a Kookaburra ball.

What about his runs v Durham at home? Was it the Dukes when Rhodes was at the crease and the Kookaburra for everyone else?

Oof play that

ExiledBrummie wrote:

I agree, will feel a lot happier if Lancs bat badly. Congrats to OHD by the way on his 50th! Unfortunately my initial impressions of Booth are that he's like Miles and no better than Brookes or Garrett who we let go. Need some serious bowling upgrades next season.

Said it all season, he looks very hittable with the odd magic ball thrown in, exactly like Miles.

I'm stunned to read he was being offered a 2 year contract by us. Kai Smith does what he does and already does it better. Benjamin's continued presence would have been blocking him.

BristolBear wrote:

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Team:-
Yates
Davies
Rhodes
Hain
Mousley
Barnard
Burgess
Briggs
Miles
Booth
OHD

As KoS said, Robinson has done his usual 'cunning plan' in packing the batting ranks. So, a lot on the shoulders of the 3 seamers (and some aspiring 'CC spinner' called Briggs !). I think Barnard & Rhodes will be called upon a fair bit.

I can’t understand why Robinson has this approach. When we won the championship, Burgess spent most of the season at 6. Bresnan at 7. Then Briggs, Miles, Norwell, OHD.
So now when our bowling is weakest, he keeps strengthening the batting. Part of it is a comment on our consistency with the bat, partly to do with low bowling reserves. But it seems counter intuitive. And I suspect a lot to do with Robinson’s preference not to drop his favourites, as typically they’ve been the ones most vulnerable.

Well OHD didn't play after July that season so we changed it up a bit. Benjamin came in and Lamb went 6 sometimes, Bresnan sat out v Lancs and Hampshire at home. Then Benjamin sat and Brez came back. Rhodes bowled a lot more. Chemar Holder was signed. Completely different set of circumstances. We won some close games, nobody averaged above 40 but we had about 7 lads average in the 30's.

Who playing in this XI shouldn't be playing? Considering the injuries and unavailability of other players.

5 batters, 1 keeper, 1 genuine all-rounder, 4 bowlers. I know this forum loves a pile on but we cant criticise that can we?

There is no issue with the balance of the side here. I mean at times this season we've had Burgess at 8 with Bethell at 7.

Tell us you've got an agenda without actually telling us you've got an agenda.

Highveld wrote:

To, attempt to, bring this thread back onto the topic.

Possible side for Thursday, including changes I think are needed.

Rhodes, Mousley, Kai Smith, Barnard (C), Hain, Burgess(wk), Benjamin, Briggs, Booth, OHD, A.N. Other(Woakes if available)

The club needs to get 5 points to ensure Division 1 survival. The best chance of achieving that is to allow a new captain a clean slate without the negative influence that having a disposed formaer captain could create.

What on earth?

Early forecast, very early admittedly, would suggest a drawn game here. I mean we won't lose in 4 sessions again will we?!

Razor injured? Or released? Shame either way, thought he was pretty decent and he had a bit of pace.

Yes very sad this. Decent player and a really nice lad who always made time to stop and chat.

Re. His time with us. In comparison to other batters who played for us during his time at the club he had a pretty good record, was often walking to the crease with us 30 for 3 etc, he'd rarely give his wicket away and would bat well in partnerships even if he wasn't the dominant partner. He used to bat well with Sam Hain, many a time they'd steer us out of strife. Averaged 48 with 2 tons in his last season with us, decent One Day player, then released. Poor really.

Yes they're a very decent team who clearly have a strong team spirit. Mark Alleyne is a great bloke too. It's a team who have been together a long time and have been on a few ups and downs. Read an article in the Cricketer on Friday which highlighted the tournament figures of David Payne and Matt Taylor, elite numbers, you have to give them credit. Role definition is massively important in white ball cricket and everybody in the Glos team knows exactly what their role is. Really well drilled, it all comes through a good team chemistry, something we don't have with all the ringers and mercenaries.

I was pleased for them, as frustrating as it was for us losing to them I thought some of the comments on here about them were a bit disrespectful and bordered on arrogance, 'how can WE lose to THEM' kind of thing etc.

Ton for Rhodes, outstanding knock under the circumstances.