BristolBear
Member
I’d hate to think the money they’re paying him per match.
Interesting they made Burgess play. Was he a sub in for someone?
Superb by Burgess to get to 100. Imagine the pressure on that knock. If he gets out cheaply, you’d argue Davies comes straight in for him.
Now, Mousley probably misses out. Norwell and McAndrew for Miles and Brookes for me.
But Rhodes is arguably a player who whilst can’t be dropped as captain, if you asked who was most vulnerable irrelevant of captaincy, his name would probably be top of the list. Didn’t bowl well, didn’t bat well.
Love the depth of this side.
It’s going to be interesting how Robinson goes about this considering he knows he gets Davies and McAndrew for the second match. That match will give us a better idea of how he wants to go about things this season.
His preferred set up last year was 6 batsmen, Bresnan as an all rounder at 7, then 4 bowlers. But does that suit the different personnel now?
There won’t be as much patience for lack of form this year either I don’t think. Especially with most likely Lamb and Mousley waiting in the wings.
I can see more rotation of the bowlers this year too. Especially with the injury records Stone, Norwell, and Brookes have. Even OHD and Miles have had issues.
He’s got a 2 match ban (1 suspended) for historic tweets.
So he misses the Surrey game, but you’d assume he comes straight in for the second match.
Pre-season is over. Obviously there’s only so much you can take from it, but I wonder what we’ve learned.
In my opinion, I think we’re going to see a lot more batsman friendly pitches as a result of comments made in the press. Secondly, I think Mousley has definitely jumped above Lamb in the batting pecking order, but once Davies is fit, I wonder if either makes the side.
The Woakes dilemma is interesting. This is probably a big summer in terms for red ball future.
If there’s a fit Archer, Wood, Robinson, Stokes, Anderson, Broad, you have to wonder if he is a first choice. (Granted it’s a huge if).
So when he gets a chance he has to take it. Though he’s now competing with the likes of Mahmood, Curran, Overton, Chappell, Carse, and even now Fisher.
I think we may see a decent amount of him.
Part of me wonders if this is a “we’ve got to sign someone” signing. But also learning the lesson of last year, where he’s not such a big name that he can’t be left out, unlike Malan.
Also as good as they are, history says our bowling lineup is very injury prone.
Based on their careers I can’t see Norwell and Miles both going through the season uninjured again. OHD obviously had his issues last year too. Brookes and Stone both coming off injuries.
So probably a wise move to increase the depth.
2nd in the championship.
T20 Semi-finals.
Royal London 4th in the group
Player of the year: Batsman- Hain. Bowler- Miles.
Breakthrough: Johal
Team for first match:
Yates, Sibley, Hain, Rhodes, Mousley, Lamb, Burgess, Briggs, Miles, Norwell, OHD. (Davies in for Lamb in the second match)
I think now we’re starting to get an idea of what the team will look like for the first match.
Sibley
Yates
Rhodes
Hain
Lamb
Mousley
Burgess
Briggs
Miles
Norwell (if fit)
OHD
Then Davies in to open or 3, probably in place of Lamb or Mousley for the second match.
It was only a matter of time. You can’t have as much success as he has with Sussex, then with the England women, and finally with the bears, and it not put his name in the frame for big jobs.
Though I still suspect they will go with a big name like Kirsten, or someone like Langer who has experience rebuilding a team after a big downturn.
Rumour has it Farbs is keen for an all-rounder to replace Bresnan, and get maximum value out of 1 overseas player.
Jason Holder was first choice but his IPL deal complicates things similarly to Pujara last year. Cam Green is another option following Australias tour of Pakistan, as he isn’t involved in white ball cricket internationally, but has been playing non-stop since the start of the ashes.
By all accounts the situation is fluid, and the club are still trying to get a player in. But will only take someone who will definitely improve the squad, and be there for a reasonable period; a bonus if they can also act as a second T20 overseas.
Not sure what others have heard. But as winter nets and the inevitable pre-season chat starts to build up this time of year, I’m hearing growing rumours that the club are considering no overseas for red ball.
Nothing set in stone, but from what I’ve heard, they want to avoid similar issues to last year. The club are willing to spend the money, but only on someone who is worth it.
Interesting squad. Someone will have to let me know what Crawley has done since being dropped to earn being in it.
Sibley averaged more this year in domestic and test cricket.
Then even if you don’t take either, Yates has been superb, or you’ve got Haines, Libby and Robson all with 1000 run seasons.
Feel it’s another case of if the ECB likes you, you’re sorted.
Interesting the club appear to have learnt the lessons of last season, get an overseas here all year or not at all. 3 or 4 games here or there are pointless.
I thought I’d go with different categories with this:
Championship player of the year
Young player of the year
T20 player of the year
Overall player of the year
Followed by:
Batsman of the year
Bowler of the year
Fielder of the year
Moment of the year
Clanger of the year
“Turning point” of the year
Let’s see if there’s any consensus
I’m hoping, what we’ll start to see is those fringe players who would usually be considered to step up if there’s an injury, Sidebottom, Hose, or Pollock, will be replaced by local young talent in first team squads. It’s all ready starting with the likes of Bethell replacing Thomson and Johal replacing Furrer or Wainman.
Then they can be integrated properly into a winning supportive environment, and helped to develop, rather than just being dropped into it and thrashed every week, like you see at clubs like Sussex currently.
GerryShedd wrote:
Highveld wrote:
As the article said, before they signed Davies!
I'm not sure what your point is. The article doesn't say that they signed Davies instead of Salt.
I think that’s what it insinuates though. They wanted a top order red ball player, and white ball opener. Salt was the first choice. The story goes that Davies is leaving because Lancashire signed Salt.
I’d have rather had Salt if I’m honest. Before this match I always thought of him as a better white ball player, who will probably score as well as Davies in red ball. But having seen him this September, Davies has looked abject. We have to hope Robinson can work his magic, get his confidence up. Because on form alone, he wouldn’t get in this side currently.
Varun Chopra today announced his retirement from professional cricket.