Bald_Reynard
Member
Just looked at DB's CC Bowling averages thos season - 166.4 overs, 7 for 607, averaging 86.71! Awful?! How can Management justify constantly picking him. Of course, he remains a key white ball bowler, but First Class?
They've given just one game to Jake Lintott (who tops the bowling averages at 6.00 - 3 for 18, off 6.5). I know he's not a long term answer, but surely he should be given a chance - and certainly in these last 2 games?
KingofSpain wrote:
It is hard to be positive coming to the end of another dismal season. The collapse from 76/1 to 128 all out is a case in point.
Yep, as KoS says, there are no positives at the moment. We are a complete shambles. The only consolation from this (inevitable) defeat by our main rivals, is that it MIGHT hasten our resolve to get rid of Robinson et al. But I am not holding my breath!
Andy wrote:
Obviously playing in a struggling side and will be encountering some flat pitches but he's making a decent go of things down at Kent at seems.
Add him to the (long) list of players we let go too early!
Once again, its the batsmen who let everyone else down - them (technically and mentally) and their selectors.
Frost and Robinson need to be held to account!
No Barnard, can't believe that!
OHD, once more, is our hero - currently, all 6 wickets, for 38 off 17 overs! What a guy!
Incredible, I thought everything was over with 10 overs to go and stopped following the game. Imagine, the surprise when I switched on to see the result.
Kai Smith is such a genuine prospect, reminds me of a young Sam Hain. He could go (very) far.
Although we might get a win today, it looks odds on that Glamorgan will beat the Yorkies. So a QF match it is then.
Inside-edge wrote:
Bears win the toss and bat.
Barnard in for Yates, Miles in for Woakes.Davies
Benjamin
Mousley
Hain
Barnard
Bethell
Garton
Miles
Gleeson
Lintott
Briggs
As expected, I guess. Yates' illness is a lucky break for Benjamin.
I just hope, Barnard comes in for Benjamin.
A quack for Benjamin. Surely he can't last any longer?!
BristolBear wrote:
Wonder what pictures Benjamin has of Robinson.
Very good!
I guess it'll be an unchanged starting XI in Manchester, perhaps we might see a change for Durham on Saturday, if (certain) players fail again?
Perhaps Liam N will get another run (hop!) out in the Seconds T20 game on Tuesday. You never know, they might risk him in a 20 over Blast game, if he comes through two Seconds matches.
The_Lickey_Banker wrote:
ajones1328 wrote:
The awful second innings performance has cost us this game. I think it's time to give Benjamin a go in the side over Mouseley. Worth him trying to find some from in the Blast.
I (partly) agree over Benjamin - another one who Management feel can only play Limited Over cricket. I've seen him play well (sometimes' brilliantly) in Seconds Championship games - varying his attack & defence, far better than he used to and now judging pace & width pretty well. Its just that occasional 'rush of blood to the head' which can be his downfall. However, he does deserve far more red ball opportunities than he's been given.
The same point applies even more to Lintott. As I've said above, he has been shabbily treated by Management. 2 CC games in 3 years. He Captains the Seconds Championship team so well, he has developed a formidable armoury in his 'bowling locker' and can bat well. Just because he's regarded as a T20 specialist, he gets so overlooked in other forms of the game. He deserves so much more. That case is even stronger, given the decline of Briggs in red ball cricket - and the fact that he is the only alternative (experienced) front line spinner we have.
So, yes, Benjamin and Lintott should be given more opportunities (plural!) - possibly at the expense of Mousley & Bethell - their days will surely come again.
I completely with you LB, about Lintott. Benjamin has had opportunities - and not taken them - but Lintott has had a terrible crack of the whip. Given Briggs' red ball problems over the last 2 seasons, the Club should either have signed another experienced spinner, or given Lintott a fair go in Championship cricket. I think he'd do well, if given a run of games - and as you say, he's a decent bat.
Andy wrote:
Difficult to predict the XI tomorrow. Really depend on conditions I suppose. Allinson and Beard being amongst Essex squad would suggest pitch will favour seam. Essex spinners would be playing regardless of the conditions due to their quality and batting ability (Critchley). Chance Rae and Simmons play? Rae and Briggs more likely?
My bet is Simmons and Briggs to be left out - they'll give Lintott a bash, see if he can better Briggs' contribution this season.
Andy wrote:
Underperforming academy too re. bowlers.
Truth is we've relied so heavily on recruitment for seam bowlers for such a long time now because we've had such a lack of seam bowling talent coming through our own pathway. And recruiting from other counties and overseas is so tricky, sometimes we've got it right, sometimes we've got it wrong.
Craig Miles, don't mean to pick on him, he's bowled ever so well on day 2 at the Oval but goodness me he's had some poor games for us and he's definitely had plenty of chances. Into his 6th season with us now, doubt a locally developed academy lad would have been given such an amount of opportunity.
Bowling coach situation hasn't helped either. That was such a huge blow when Pop Welch left, just look at what he did with OHD. Imagine what he might have done with Brookes, Garrett or Johal?
I maintain it was weird that we let Brookes, Garrett and Johal all walk during the same off season with the majority of our other seamers being over (well over) 30 years old. Not saying any of those 3 would have made a difference here but were looking rather short pretty quickly at the moment...
Re. squad make up. Olly Stone should still be here, even if he only plays 4 or 5 red ball games a season our chances of winning 2 or 3 of those games increase immeasurably because of him. We're crying out for somebody with a bit of pace (is Che Simmons worth a look here?). We let him walk because we only offered him a white ball only deal.
Talking of recruitment and white ball only Moeen Ali, Garton and Gleeson will all be on serious money. Money that i don't think would be sanctioned on the 4day side somehow. Since start of 2022 the messaging from the club has been clear: Blast is priority.
Comes back to the naked truth though that we don't have any seamers coming through the academy to bolster the squad. Most other counties have homegrown seamer(s) in there XI, were always scratching around and trying to poach from other counties. Would imagine we'll be bringing in somebody on loan this week...
You're spot on with the Moeen, Garton and Gleeson comment, Andy. Time after time, the Club are (financially) prioritising T20, at the expense of CC and 50 over. And as for bowler development, that has gone down the pan for so long (even when Pop was here - though I don't blame him for final selection - that is down to Robinson), that there has been no successful first team seam recruit from the Development squad since CW. And the only (English qualified) successes brought in, have been 'cast offs' from Yorkshire, Lancashire (a certain left armer, who was let go), Essex (another one let go, with something still to offer) & Durham - oh, not forgetting that 'beautiful burnt out star' from Gloucestershire!
BristolBear wrote:
But 1 piece of bad luck results in an understrength bowling attack?
Yeah, fair enough it’s bad luck Hassan got called up.
But it’s not bad luck that they didn’t already have a second overseas signed for the start of the season. It’s not bad luck they once again signed an overseas on short notice who’s underperforming.
It’s not bad luck that they signed 2 bowlers this off season but they both only play T20.
It’s not bad luck that they’re reliant upon a hugely injury prone player. It’s not bad luck they released a homegrown bowler who now starts for Kent.1 piece of bad luck shouldn’t result in essentially having 3 fit first team seamers, 2 now Miles is injured.
It’s a series of decisions that the club makes. Why is it other clubs seem to see this, but we don’t?
WELL SAID, Bristol!
white-lightning wrote:
So, bowler situation:
Woakes, unavailable at the IPL and not being selected.
Hasan Ali: unavailable and not being selected by Pakistan.
Norwell: Injured pectoral muscle and out for several weeks.
Rushworth: Injured calf and out for several weeks.
Michael Booth: (remember him?) Injured and out for several weeks
Craig Miles: Injured, not sure at length of absence?
Have I missed anyone??
No, don't think so !
It is a terrible state of affairs. I know people get injured and I'm sure the Physio's are doing their best to get everyone back and I know WE don't appear to be able to recall anyone contracted elsewhere (though other Counties seem to manage it !), but for goodness sake, surely the Club can be a lot more honest in their reporting of length of absence.
IF Norwell has bigger injury problems than his pecs, or Rushworth more than a calf strain - tell us straight - its sad, but we can take it. Tell us what's happening with Booth (injury / contract issues). Tell us when Woakesy will be back and able to play. Tell us (not immediately, obviously) how bad Miles' injury is and when Physio's EXPECT a return.
It's all to do with transparency and honesty to supporters.
Bald_Reynard wrote:
Andy wrote:
Might come in for Briggs...
I'd go with that (as would many on here), but I doubt management would - they love him in red ball, as much as white !
I think Yates, Mousley and Bethell are more than adequate spin options.
Believe it or not, but Briggs is left out. Team:-
Yates
Davies
Rhodes
Hain
Barnard
Bethell
Mousley
Burgess
Aamir Jamal
Miles
OHD
Batting long - but a few 'non-frontliners' in the bowling department ?
Surrey won the toss and chose to bowl.
Andy wrote:
Might come in for Briggs...
I'd go with that (as would many on here), but I doubt management would - they love him in red ball, as much as white !
I think Yates, Mousley and Bethell are more than adequate spin options.