Here we go again! Already 3 down, against the bottom team in the Group, who have only won 1 game! Once again, Yates fails to capitalise. And once again, Davies fails as an opener. When will Management learn the lessons of this campaign?!

Andy wrote:

Stirling, Bethell OUT

Yates, Mousley IN

Interesting that Yates is given a white ball chance.

Cut to 8 overs. Obviously winning the toss was everything. Mind you, we're making a stab at it - 61 for 3 off 5. Benjamin bashing away still (30 NO). And Brathwaite has learned his lesson - going in at 5 today.

Olly S in for Brookes, is the only change.

Notts won the toss and put us in.

Olly is back from injury (for now !). Played 2 matches for the Seconds in their T20 Championship. Gloucestershire on Wednesday (4 overs, 1 for 23) and Somerset today. They're obviously taking care of him at the moment - he didn't play in the Glamorgan game yesterday !

Andy wrote:

No Hain, Yates in. Not the replacement I'd have expected, interesting.

And Yates fails, once again, this season.
He really does need a stint in the 2nd's, to sort his confidence out, if not his technique.

white-lightning wrote:

With the form Burgess is in, I struggle to see how he's left out. Who would you rather see, Davies or Burgess?

Burgess will be playing the final day of the First Class Counties game against NZ, so he won't be available for the Durham match. I'm sure he will be back in for Leicestershire on Thursday.

paulbear wrote:

It did dawn on me whilst watching last night that Burgess is in such great form, you would have to wonder why he was ever not included in the team.

I think the First Class Counties squad was announced before the T20 squad and Farbs & Co probably thought Burgess turning out for what is an England B team, would be a good move for him and a chance to stake a place in a full England team.

Team as expected:-

Stirling, Bethell, Davies, Hain, Hose, Benjamin, Brathwaite, Henry Brookes, Briggs, Lintott and Miles.

We won the toss and chose to bat.

BristolBear wrote:

I can’t see them changing the batting. So suspect Lamb stays out, and then Norwell in for Miles.

Lamb will be in for Benjamin, surely.

Full squad:-
Davies, Sibley, Yates, Hain, Rhodes, Lamb, Benjamin, Burgess, McAndrew, Briggs, Miles, Norwell and OHD

Lamb and Norwell added to the squad that drew with Lancs.

GerryShedd wrote:

Somerset put into bat.
Cricinfo is currently showing Warwickshire as playing with ten men; but I am assuming that they have missed McAndrew off the list.

Yep, McAndrew is playing. Play-Cricket Live Scores have him down at No. 7, but I can't believe he'll actually be batting above Burgess. He opened the bowling with OHD, but went for 18 runs in his first 4 overs (OHD - 10 runs off 7 overs !). Rhodes and Miles now on.

12 man (batting & bowling) team:-
Shaikh
Amir Khan
Ethan Brookes
Hose
Bethell (Captain)
Benjamin (Keeper)
Roshan Balaji
Lintott
Johal
Tommy Rex
Garnett
Jordan Bulpitt

Tommy Rex and Jake Lintott (ably assisted by Ethan B and Jacob Bethell) could have won the game for us, if both sides had forfeited. Great bowling. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said for Manraj's and Furrer's efforts. Its early days but I wonder if MJ could be following Henry B as a one season wonder - 1 (expensive) wicket in 4 innings so far this season.

I agree with FB, Henry B has really flattered to deceive since his first breakthrough. He just seems to be going downhill each season. I know he's had significant injury problems - but so have all our seamers - and they (mostly!) come bouncing back, as good, if not better. He really has to up his game, if he is to ever challenge for a regular first team place. Perhaps Matt Mason might have a 'recipe for renewal'!

Looks like Ryan is bu**ered. He was taken off after 7 balls (being hit for 10 in that!), on the first morning and hasn't bowled since.

The point Andy made, about injury concerns for our seamers, has already probably come true. Miles is not in the squad for the Taunton Friendly starting tomorrow. As he is the only absentee from the likely team starting our Championship defence, I assume he's injured. Simmons or Sidebottom will probably come in tomorrow. We need McAndrew now!

13 man Squad for 2 day Friendly at Notts, starting tomorrow:-

Rhodes, Zaman Akhter (trialist right arm seamer from Oxford MCCU), Bethell, Henry Brookes, Burgess, Garrett, Hain, Lamb, Miles, Mousley, Sibley, Sidebottom & Yates.

Norwell rested due to a back spasm, but expected back next week.

As said in my post of 24 Feb, I'd heard rumours that we were considering an All Rounder as CC (& RLC) Overseas player, to replace Bresnan. I speculated that, with the Mason appointment, it might be a Western Australia guy. The fact that the County website highlighted his work with Cameron Green, only added to that feeling.
I agree there might be difficulties bringing Green in for a full season, but there are other good All Rounder options in the WA squad - my pick as an alternative to Green, would be Hilton Cartwright. He had a (part) season with Middlesex in 2018 (bowling well, but did little with the bat) and is a very decent medium pace bowler, with a good First Class batting record. And I don't think he's got any International commitments or ties with IPL or other Summer white ball competitions.