Racist too.

What on earth is Mousley doing there?

Honestly, I despair at this team.

This is what i feared yesterday, Leach getting to work on a pitch breaking up with Ogborne roughing it up. This is gonna be hard.

meashambear wrote:

What on earth is Mousley doing there?

Honestly, I despair at this team.

So disappointing to see DM get himself out in such a tame fashion, yet again. He doesn't seem to learn.

meashambear wrote:

ExiledBrummie wrote:

meashambear wrote:

Overton is a right w*****. Embarrassing behaviour.

As a matter of fact Somerset fans & players seem to be tossers.

Oh what happened?

Overton stepping right up to Malik, mouthing and then still chuntering way after the over was finished.

I wonder if he will do it to Beau Webster. That is to say, I wonder if he will do it to _ the 6 foot 8 inch_ Beau Webster

There's rain on the way.

Pretty decent result all considered and a pretty nice consolidation after those two early wickets lost.

Not unhappy, does feel like a little bit of a missed opportunity but still firmly in the mix going into that final block of games.

Table is crying out for someone to go on a bit of a run and I’d argue we’re as capable as any.

2 wickets in the over they have bowled, suggests that the pitch hasn't done as much as we thought. Having said that, a few more overs and a more 'Carrot-dangling' declaration might have meant a better finish and maybe more wickets for Somerset if we 'Went For It'.

In the end pleased we didn’t lose it but seems such a shame from the position we were in. Terrible pitch all game. Started green and seaming and uneven and then finished dead and spinning slowly.

287 runs from Somerset for the last 4 wickets showed how any demons in the pitch were negated. That was the time to win it, 1 good ball to Rew or Bigmouth, would have done it. The thought of it doing too much and getting rattled by Leach and the sight of that lanky smug git would have been too much. All very tight at the top.

Certainly seems like it’s all to play for in the second half of the season with the top six teams separated by just 11 points!

Averages after 8 games.

https://countycrickethub.net/team-averages.html?teamid=16&comp=1&year=2026

Playing two specialist batsmen who both average below 17 is madness, and has a negative effect on the rest of the team.

That needs to be addressed but I have the feeling it won't. In the end it could be the difference between us mounting a serious title challenge or finishing 4-5th.

We've talked about the batting to death, nothing to add now. But take a look at the bowling. Specifically beyond Bamber and OHD. That's a concern too.

Umh, I'm not too worried about the seam bowling. There's Booth, Gilchrist, Barker and Woakes to rotate through, plus Barnard and Thompson are very handy back ups. With trips to Cardiff and Chelmsford spin bowling might be more of an issue but the top order batting is where the real problems are. I wonder if there's the money in the kitty to bring in an overseas player for the last 6 games? Three wins and 3 draws might be enough for the championship.

How long do we have Suthar for. If it's the rest of the season, then playing another specialist spinner will work if Woakes plays as it will strengthen the batting as would having Barker back. We need to have enough batting and bowling options against all sides.

Suthar was a mercanary who was here just for two games. I very much doubt he'll play in English cricket again.

Also, Beau Webster leaves at the end of July.

We would need at least one overseas batsman/all-rounder for the last 6 championship games.

Hopefully the club are looking to see what playyers from SA, Aus and NZ are available.

Agree the spinners are the main concern, but the back end of the seam rotation is a concern as well. Woakes and Barnard are averaging over 40, Thompson over 35 and we don't know how much we're going to get out of Barker and Woakes. Booth I hope gets a run soon, Gilchrist, to be fair, is averaging and striking more than I expected, but regard him very much as a rotation bowler. We might be OK but this game did show a bit of a bare cupboard in the bowling department.

Reabank wrote:

Umh, I'm not too worried about the seam bowling. There's Booth, Gilchrist, Barker and Woakes to rotate through, plus Barnard and Thompson are very handy back ups. With trips to Cardiff and Chelmsford spin bowling might be more of an issue but the top order batting is where the real problems are. I wonder if there's the money in the kitty to bring in an overseas player for the last 6 games? Three wins and 3 draws might be enough for the championship.

This was the first time I'd seen Gilchrist in the flesh. I thought he did ok - especially as he was given the less favored end - but there's something about his action that suggests he could find another yard of pace. He's got a fast arm but I'm not sure he's getting the most out of his body action.
Any thoughts?

He doesn’t look like the finished article, although he’s been around a while with stints at both Somerset and Kent behind him. If anyone is able to get the best out of him you’d think Pop Welch is the man. Hopefully, he will do just that. Would also be nice to give Che Simmonds another go, he’s looked promising in the past and, like Gilchrist, someone who’s potentially got a bit of ‘umph’ about him.