Come on Ed, a nice crisp 4.

Well, a 3 then a 4. well done.

Let's hope that Ed doesn't let OH-D down by getting out in the morning.

What a fantastic show of character from the middle and lower order. They really keep on coming through for us with the bat. That top order is going to need strengthening over the summer, particularly a number 3 unless Latham opts to return.

Once again Mousley scored well, but he seems to have a mental block in trying to reach his first century. Perhaps a bit of sports psychology might help?

Well done to OH-D for seeing Ed Barnard to his 100 before getting out.

What a great recruitment Barnard was. He is so consistent and really does have a good cricket brain and a cool head. Would captaincy ruin his form if the chance happened to come his way?

another 9 quick wickets before tea and we could win this game !!!!

white-lightning wrote:

Once again Mousley scored well, but he seems to have a mental block in trying to reach his first century. Perhaps a bit of sports psychology might help?

Definitely. Mental block, brain fade, whatever you wanna call it, something is happening.

It was really noticeable against Worcester the two balls before he got out he was berating himself and then still played a silly shot the next ball!

You get the feeling it he gets one they could start coming a lot more regularly, the talent is obvious for all to see.

Remember watching Sam Hain reach his maiden ton at Wantage road. He was 90* overnight and took almost the whole first session to bring up his 100. Mousely and Bethell need something like that but the shape of the season is a disgrace with this big gash in the season now devoid of any proper cricket.

Yep no more 4day cricket til September and like I said in the Worcestershire thread we'll have had no cricket at Edgbaston from July 25th til August 26th. That's just a disgrace.

This game. I've felt all season we've had different batters putting there hands up and contributing in different games at different times. Starting to show a bit of bench strength too with the the likes of Mousley and Jani coming in. Feels like we've got a decent bit of batting depth for the first time in a while.

Bizarre tactics from Essex on day 3 I thought, got us 7 down and then just let the game drift with the likes of Thain and Westley bowling. I was impressed with Jani's composure but goodness me there was a 30-45min period when he and Barnard were able to pick up some soft/easy runs and get us into safer waters. Was like Essex didn't truly believe they could win even if they got us following on.

Mousley, when you think back to when he did number 3 last season v Hampshire he did OK and now these last 2 games you'd say he's doing well and has responded well to the challenge. He should have atleast 1 ton to his name from the past 2 games though. When he hit Porter for them 2 straight drives when in the 60's you thought the ton was definitely on, i was aghast when he got out. But he has done well. If he continues to bat 3, he will get more opportunities naturally. What a shame he now goes to the Hundred as he always comes back looking totally out of sorts for the last month of the season.

Barnard an extremely solid, thoughtful and reliable cricketer who just doesn't make mistakes. Temptation to give him the captaincy next season must be huge. With the bat you just never feel like he's ever gonna be out of form for any kind of spell of more than 1 or 2 matches. Webster strikes as being the same.

Fair play to Bamber, struck me as a bit of a lower order hitter, i didn't think he had that sort of innings in him. That was a proper knock. Is batting coach Matt Walker starting to have a positive effect? Hmm maybe too early to tell.

The area to strengthen is very clearly the bowling. It's absolute cannon fodder. Said during the Sussex game that OHD is quietly having a pretty poor season, he's lost that bit of nip off the pitch that he used to get. Seems in his PCA role he's lobbying for less games, wouldn't mind seeing him lobby himself to get a few more wickets...

ODC time.