Penultimate Seconds Championship game at Southampton today. 12 man team:-

Ed Pollock, Hamza Shaikh, Kishan Velani, Tim Bresnan (Capt), Ethan Brookes, Adam Hose, Michael Booth, Max Tryfonos, Bradley Currie, Manraj Johal, Tommy Rex and George Maddy (Keeper).

We won the toss and chose to bowl.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/57843984

In a BBC Interview, Mark Robinson talks about giving some University players a chance to earn a Bears contract, by playing in the Royal London Cup. I guess this would include the likes of Kiel van Vollenhoven and possibly Matt Montgomery, who did so well in helping the 2nd's win their T20 Final (though he was with Notts). I know a few on here have not been happy with giving opportunities to young South Africans, but I would welcome the chance to improve our back up squad. It would be interesting to see what other University players might be playing.

I guess we'll be seeing Jake Lintott make his Championship debut on Sunday. As Danny B is with England, Jake is the only specialist spinner in the squad. He has also has been drafted in for the 2nd's in their (current) 4 day game against Lancs at Portland Road, presumably to get some red ball bowling action in Lancs 2nd innings today.

As I've posted on a couple of SET20 Forum pages, Chris Benjamin is beginning to look a great prospect as a potential new (backup) Wicket Keeper / Batsman. He has already scored some big scores in the 2nd's (including a 95 NO), took 3 stumpings in two T20 matches and has taken 3 catches behind today. Kelley is a decent Keeper, but a poor bat (often going in at 9 or 10), Benjamin seems to know how to do both roles. It is early days (about 4 games in), but if he carries on as he has, I'm sure a contract might be in the offing. The only snag, could be the fact that he is South African born (Jo'burg, 1999), but I don't know if he has UK Passport status.

He played for a couple of years for Essex 2nd's, but never really got near their 1st's (though they did have a few Keepers on the books) and was at Durham MCCU, but again, never pulled up many daisies there (but being at Durham Uni of course, might indicate or help his residential status). Perhaps he's matured a bit now though and/or got some decent Coaching (with gloves and bat) - and Frosty / Trotty might have helped recently ? We desperately need a promising back up to Burgess - Benjamin could be that. And I'm sure it might help, that our Director of Cricket was a Keeper as well - and could spot the skills needed !

Team for ECG today:-
Lamb, Burgess, Malan, Bethell, Ethan B, Benjamin (Wk), Norwell, Woakes (Cap), Sidebottom, Garrett and OHD.

Now Queens, Taunton, are on half term holiday, Jake is available for us. He's contracted to play until the end of the season - in CC and RLC as well as T20. He makes his season debut for the 2nd's in their two T20 Friendlies against Glamorgan at Newport today (and would have been playing in the scheduled 4 day Championship game there, if it hadn't been called off). I'm really looking forward to seeing how he does in all formats - his Left Arm Wrist Spin (we can't say 'China...' any more !) is fairly unique in the modern game.

11.00 start at Derby tomorrow for the 4 day 2nd's Championship game.

Lots of questionmarks after a humiliating defeat by Notts last week:-
Will they persevere with (Captain) Pollock opening - though he did get 62 in our 2nd innings (his first double figures this season !) ?
Will Mousley continue to open ?
Will Lincoln and Wells be given more chances - Wells did look a decent batsman in our 2nd innings (with an unbeaten 47) ?
Who will keep wicket ? Play Cricket did list the keeper as Lincoln, but as far as I can see, he has never kept wicket in his career before (though as a goalkeeper he has some useful skills in that department). Kelley is a decent keeper, but a poor bat. Wells was a regular keeper for Somerset Seconds (and I did think the Lincoln listing was a typo - and it actually was Wells, but the scorer got the newbies mixed up !)
What an earth are they going to do with a demoralised (from last week) bowling lineup ? NOBODY came out with any glory - and some were blown away. Garrett and Sidebottom are struggling to justify contract extensions. Henry Brookes is a shadow of the promising (red ball) opening bowler he once seemed to be - and nowhere near justifying 1st team selection. His brother now seems to be a batsman who bowls a bit, not the all rounder he once was. Johal and Ali are still only early on in their development. And Dan Mousley, who seemed to be a promising off spinner, was tanked by the Notts batsman at 7 an over off 18 overs.

All very interesting. Rain will probably stop much play tomorrow - though at least we might get a start and find out the team.

Interesting that George has been called up for the 'First team' (Edgbaston) squad for Notts Friendlies starting tomorrow. I think that might imply him getting a chance ahead of other young seamers - George Garrett and Ethan Brookes especially. That could well be down to the fact that he is the only left arm seamer at the club now. I saw him play for Moseley in 2019 and he looked a real prospect - quickish, but with a nice left arm 'whippy' action, which moved the ball in the air and off the seam. From what I've seen, he could well jump ahead of those other guys waiting in the wings. The first 'leftie' since the (disastrous) loss of Keith Barker (for which Ash Giles needs to do serious penance!) and another 'Aussie' - lets hope a bowling equivalent of Sam H!

Has anyone else picked up on Farb's comment in the pre-season Supporters Forum, about a batsman (and currently part-time - very p/t - seamer!), who has been rapidly progressing some skills as leg spin bowler this winter? He didn't give a name away, but I see on AH's Twitter page, he talks about looking forward to an, "Eric Hollies return to Edgbaston" this season. Putting 2 and 2 together (perhaps making 5!), all I can think is that Hose himself is the mystery leggie. IF it is him, it is a big move from his old RMF, but I guess a spin bowling addition to his batting, only helps his ambitions in red ball, as well as white ball cricket.