Kai should come in. Thompson should be dropped as we had more than enough bowlers and an extra batsman later in the innings (if we get that far) would be useful. All it needs is a bit of intelligence being applied by the batsmen and especially the captain. If you only need 6 or 7 an over then if you lose a couple of early wickets stop trying to entertain the crowd and just play careful shots along the ground!

I thought Thompson was supposed to be a strong T20 bowler?

whitelightning wrote:

I thought Thompson was supposed to be a strong T20 bowler?

I remember him being taken apart in a T20 game against us either last year or the year before so never had high hopes for him as a T20 bowler

The report on the Club site gives the batters a free pass by suggesting that the Gloucestershire bowlers exploited helpful conditions. Sitting as I was behind the bowler's arm, I didn't see a lot in the pitch, other than it had some pace and bounce. The Cricinfo report, whilst giving credit to the bowlers, talks about "injudicious shot selection". That's a bit nearer the truth, though still rather kind. If I go for a walk today, I must take care not to step in a pile of injudiciousness.

Apparently was the same pitch on which Gloucs hosted Northants in the most recent 4 day match, was a low scorer. Maybe relevant. Possibly not.

I felt like Gloucs were able to exploit the fairly helpful conditions by having the quicker, taller, more bang in style bowlers. Ones which we didnt have last night.

Keen not to overreact though.

Have we decided Jordan Thompson's the bad guy this year? Does Alex Davies have competition?

Not wishing to get obsessed with this one defeat but, having watched the highlights, my thoughts on the main dismissals are:
Davis - poor shot execution
Hain - good ball
Webster - dreadful shot
Barnard - soft shot
Yates - leg side strangle but he'd played some wild shots earlier
Thompson - rash shot
Woakes - run out mix-up
Jani - missed a straight ball
After that, I gave up!
As for Thompson, he had a dreadful game with bat and ball so he was certainly one of the bad guys on the night. But tomorrow is another day.

Mikkyk wrote:

whitelightning wrote:

I thought Thompson was supposed to be a strong T20 bowler?

I remember him being taken apart in a T20 game against us either last year or the year before so never had high hopes for him as a T20 bowler

Never played against us in the Blast last year, think he'd signed for us by then and they'd started to phase him out a bit

He obviously had a shocker last night with bat and ball no doubt, he has a reputation as a good death bowler and being good in those clutch situations, the 1/4 final v Surrey a few years back when he defended 3 or 4 being a notable example. Hes been bought in for that id say as we've had no decent death bowler for years.

For clarity, Jordan Thompson figures v us in the Blast, most recent first:

4-0-41-2
4-0-31-4
3-0-38-2
4-0-41-1
4-0-47-0
4-0-23-3
4-0-41-1

Mixed bag.

You could argue his performance last night was against us too!

For clarity, Jordan Thompson figures v us in the Blast, most recent first:

4-0-41-2
4-0-31-4
3-0-38-2
4-0-41-1
4-0-47-0
4-0-23-3
4-0-41-1

Mixed bag.

that neatly encapsulates Thompson's career figures

it means a strike rate of 12.4 which is outstanding (career SR is about 15, IIRC, significantly better than Danny Briggs and right up there with any seamer in the domestic game)

economy of 9.7, poor.

whether the 12.4 SR is 'worth' the expensive economy figures tends to depend on circumstances. if he gets hit for 30 his first 2 overs but then comes back and gets 2-12 his last 2 and cuts off the chase at the death, he's virtually won the match despite the expensive first 2.

he isn't just reputed to be a good death bowler, I don't think, he's done well in that role for quite some time.

the 1/4 final v Surrey a few years back when he defended 3 or 4 being a notable example.
i think it was 5 he defended but whatever, also IIRC he scored 50 off about 19 balls in a semi final that year.

notwithstanding his terrible performance against us last year (when he didn't even play), all in all he is a proven performer, more so than garton ever was.