Exiled Bear wrote:

Wow, that relay catch was stunning.

Yes that was absolutely amazing, Rob Yates what a fielder.

Yep looked nice with the trees, lovely looking buildings, stunning weather, plenty of shade, still feel it's very cramped and not a great viewing ground. Definitely makes you appreciate Edgbaston in that regard. Portaloos, we're a bit knackered as the day went on. More than happy to do it once a year, I'll be giving the rest of the games there a miss this season though. Tip, get their early because if you cannot get a seat at the front you're stuffed I'd say. Wouldn't have fancied driving, didn't appear to be a tremendous amount of parking, I could be wrong. I got the train, wasn't too far a walk, wouldn't say its close though. The weather really did help things, can't stress that enough.

Great game, good contributions all the way down from our batters, no quick wickets falling back to back. Did brilliantly to make 300+. Loved the way we put the squeeze on them in the 2nd half of their innings. Very difficult to set fields it seemed, was a strange shaped playing area. Both sides fielded well.

Great effort from Benjamin this.

Surrey.

I did notice that. They'd miss the last 3 Championship games aswell.

BristolBear wrote:

Dan and Jacob have been superb.
Not sure the best thing for their long term success is to throw them into a set up in turmoil, underperforming, with no coach, against the world champions and biggest rivals.

Get a coach in, let him assess the current squad, retire a few players, start afresh against the West Indies in October.

Just not worth the risk. I’d hate to see such good players, and great lads, have their confidence knocked and get an unfair reputation early if it went wrong because it wasn’t planned out and thought through properly.

That's a fair comment.

Cheers

I don't know how to link it but Matt Roller has done a really good piece on ESPNCricinfo about these 2 lads with a nod to Rob Yates in it as well.

Has Rob Yates pumped yer missus?

Yeah I don't feel like Yates is out of form, he's had illness/injury which has meant he's missed games and disrupted his momentum but he's not out of form.

I'm glad today happened, we needed a scrap and the opportunity to dig deep. I thought we were done for when Booth got out. Nice little innings by Kai Smith, appreciated the positivity and the way he targeted the office. His dismissal was poor though, that ball should have disappeared. Looks a good white ball player. We should be looking to move the likes of Benjamin on to bring lads like Smith and Wylie through, they have more upside.

I always enjoy Hove. It's majestic in the sun.

Chance for Benjamin here...

Work to do here...

An average of 35.85 from 86 FC matches with 10 tons is a really decent record.

For me, Hamza Shaikh comes in to do 4day right away, give him opportunity.

I think from a selection point of view we already have the players at the club to cover this loss. He's been a terrific ambassador for the club though an has given us great service. We've also been very good to him. I wish him well, liked him as captain.

Durham have been eyeing him since the winter.

Is on the verge of joining Durham according to Dobell.

Also, Norwell out for the season.

Benjamin to Kent, maybe.

Some lovely shots too, looks very promising.

Outstanding performance. Incredible effort to roll a side on their own patch who only 2 days ago made 360 odd.

Good to see Hamza get a few.

Benjamin keeping, Burgess not fully fit.