Lewis McManus is captaining/keeping/opening for Northants, it's becoming the latest 'thing'!

Sadly it looks like we won't have any cricket to watch tomorrow.

Highveld wrote:

Sadly it looks like we won't have any cricket to watch tomorrow.

Yes we've given up in this innings very much like we did in the first!

Sinking fast and even though we are playing the Champions, there has been no excuse for collapses we have had in this game. I haven't enjoyed this season with us failing to qualify for T20 finals day again, failing to qualify out of our group in the One Day Cup, not taking advantage of getting into good positions in the CC and England not winning a series they really should have v India.

I think we have some good young players. We don't though have strong leadership from either captain or coach.

Ian Westwood was appointed way too late to make any major changes before the season, so should not be judged just on this season, he should be allowed the winter to sign the players he wants, make changes to the style of play and the leadership group and get the team playing the way he wants.

It is essential that a change of captain is made, the current post holder is a poor leader, has too much influence of the composition of the team and his individual performances set an abysmal example to the rest of the team.

Well the team won't be getting worn out fielding for long to end the season. Then they can put their feet up for 6 months.

Yes, maybe a few players have holidays booked and they were thinking about getting on that plane at 10.30 this morning rather than the job they are paid to do.

Westwood’s an obvious step up on Robinson, we've atleast shown a bit of fight in a lot more games and taken some games a lot deeper. He's also a bit more open to giving younger players some game time. Deserves a full pre season. Like Highveld has said, he wasn't til 7 or 8 weeks before the first game.

Big picture we haven't had the bowling attack to compete game in game out. Next season with Thompson, more Gilchrist, some Keith Barker and maybe a bit of Woakes hopefully that improves.

We are what we are, a mid-table team (at best) and we have not been good enough in any competition, indeed I am just happy we will be playing Div. One next season. Some encouraging signs from a few youngsters and some of our overseas players, Barnard has had a very good season, we have missed not having 40/50 wickets from OHD and never replaced them ............ but overall a disappointing season in which we have been simply not good enough. I look forward to next season, once a Bear always a Bear.

Looking at the bottom of the table, it’s getting interesting at Southampton.

Unfortunately bit of a 'meh' season sprinkled in with the odd quality.

Weirdly enough, despite the batting collapses this season, I actually think that if we’d had a bowling attack capable of taking 20 wickets consistently that we’d have been competing right up near the top. We got ourselves into good positions in quite a few games (most of them, really) but it was generally our inability to bowl sides out that really cost us I think. Convert even only a couple of those 9 drawn games to wins and the table starts to look a lot different.

Exiled Bear wrote:

Weirdly enough, despite the batting collapses this season, I actually think that if we’d had a bowling attack capable of taking 20 wickets consistently that we’d have been competing right up near the top. We got ourselves into good positions in quite a few games (most of them, really) but it was generally our inability to bowl sides out that really cost us I think. Convert even only a couple of those 9 drawn games to wins and the table starts to look a lot different.

Agreed. Least bonus bowling points too in the division I believe.

GerryShedd wrote:

Looking at the bottom of the table, it’s getting interesting at Southampton.

Are Hampshire going to survive due to bad light with 9 wickets down?

LeicesterExile wrote:

GerryShedd wrote:

Looking at the bottom of the table, it’s getting interesting at Southampton.

Are Hampshire going to survive due to bad light with 9 wickets down?

I thought the same but there’s another day to go yet!

It would possibly be the worst fortnight in Hampshire's history if they went down after losing 2 finals on the previous 2 Saturday's. I make no apologies for not liking them and they did escape the drop due to Durham's financial state in 2016 and if Durham themselves escape v Yorkshire, that would be a strange irony.

Exiled Bear wrote:

Weirdly enough, despite the batting collapses this season, I actually think that if we’d had a bowling attack capable of taking 20 wickets consistently that we’d have been competing right up near the top. We got ourselves into good positions in quite a few games (most of them, really) but it was generally our inability to bowl sides out that really cost us I think. Convert even only a couple of those 9 drawn games to wins and the table starts to look a lot different.

Agreed, we've batted alright, about 4 batters have averaged over 50. And the likes of Zen Malik and Mousley have shown theu can contribute. We've been powder puff with the ball though.

We don't tend to add many runs from the tail either, we're a bit 6 or 7 out, all out still. Thompson should improve this. And Barker actually.

Choose a captain, even sign a captain, if necessary, but that is an essential ingredient going forward. Half the time the present captain doesn’t even converse with his team mates, and neither them with him, let alone guide or inspire them. We have to learn how to play sessions of hard cricket, whatever our game position. We need players looking for on field guidance, and understanding that the man in charge has expectations and is demanding that every individual is stepping up to the plate. That is not the case at the moment. That leader has to be prepared, and have the ability to lead by example. That is also not the case at the moment. I hope to be proven wrong, but I also have similar question marks re the coach.