Exiled Bear wrote:

I can understand the frustration with not winning this one, but I don't think the weather forecast was bad enough to warrant a much earlier declaration. If it was going to be a complete washout on the final day then that would be different, but if we'd declared early and given them something chasable, and then the weather turned out to be better than expected and Worcestershire had won, then people would also have been very upset!

We're in a very good spot after 7 games and aren't a million miles away from the top, which I'm not sure many people saw coming before the start of the season, so I'm pretty happy with how things have gone so far overall.

Agree with all of this.

I think that's fair enough, Robinson would have panicked and got any old overseas in, even if just for a couple of games, they'd have likely underperformed and it would have been pointless. The Blast should be an opportunity to blood youngsters, particularly the early stages of the comp.

Would imagine he's being brought in to play alongside Taz, particularly in games away from home, definitely the game at Chelmsford. Was under the impression Webster would be back for some 4day games in late July. Are we gonna have a situation where we have Corey, Webster and Latham on the books?

I don't think this much rain was forecast was it?!

paulbear wrote:

Lots of people on the live YouTube feed were typing that Rushworth and Woakes needed to get back on before lunch. I can never understand why fielders meander to their positions and you can understand how people who watched cricket just after the 2nd WW get frustrated about the lack of movement in teams who appear to not be bothered about trying to just get a few more overs in. Do teams never have discussions in the changing rooms and say things like, "I know we only need to get a certain number of overs in but why not just move it along quicker so as not to get caught out later in the day". I agree with you LE, a bit more of a positive look ahead to try see that the opposition where never likely to chase more than 270.

Yeah I did think we were a little slow in getting round at times today. We got around well Saturday and to be fair Davies behind the stumps was key to us doing that, sprinted from one end to the other ensure we got an extra over from Rushworth before lunch for example. We were passive today though.

Yeah Paul is right here anybody who thinks the approach Saturday evening was wrong hasn't watched enough of this game to understand the nature of the pitch or the ebb and flow of this match. The likes of Hain, Woakes and Barnard don't get to do what they did Sunday afternoon if Yates and Latham don't do what they did Saturday evening. Worcestershire, with a deficit of 46 after the first innings, threw everything at us and barely bowled a bad delivery in murky light with the ball seaming and swinging. Could easily have been 50-4 with the game on the line Sunday morning. Instead we snuffed Worcestershire out and gained control. Anybody who has tried to force the pace on this pitch has nicked off.

Re. Declaration, yeah perhaps, I get why Davies wanted 300 so he could set attacking fields for longer and keep slips in. I was a little surprised we kept going after we got that 300 lead however. Imagine if we pulled out 250 lead and lost though, the same people would have been crying.

Really difficult one.

Yes come on Woakesy

Shantry have given some very dubious decisions against us this game...

So Smith has the gloves again?!

paulbear wrote:

Batted too long I think if tomorrow's forecast is right. I don't agree with the criticism of last night as the ball was doing all sorts and preserving your wicket was equally as important as runs, we could have been 50-4 easily if we had thrown the bat.

Agreed, Hain, Barnard, Woakes etc can't do what they did today without the graft Yates and Latham did last night.

Anytime anyone tried to play an attacking stroke they played and missed or got in trouble. Tough pitch this, and getting tougher.

6-4-3-3 Rushworth this morning I think

Yes good session for us, as someone (me! Haha) pointed out yesterday wickets will fall in clusters on this pitch. Its not a minefield but it is 2 paced so anybody who can consistently hold a length and line, like the the Chris's, should benefit from the natural variation on offer. Worcestershire's attack does possess a similar collective skillset though. Definitely a difficult pitch to get set on. Gotta keep the pressure. Feel like there's a bit more swing about today than yesterday.

Can we please stop dropping catches!

Yates hurt his hand on the first morning v Hampshire taking a catch, needed immediate treatment and wore heavy bandaging rest of the game. 3 single figure scores since and not fielding the slips this afternoon, wonder if its affecting him...I'm not overly concerned with the form of our 2nd top run scorer at the moment though.

3 or 4 wickets minimum required in the 1st session tomorrow.

Woakes and Barnard have been unlucky.

BosworthBear wrote:

Anyone would think that tail came from “the dark ages”.

Yep, definitely a throwback.

That all ended very quickly...

Davies got a shocker too. This pitch looks a bit two paced, hard to start on but once yer in you'd fancy the batter to get a score. Expect wickets to fall in clusters.

It's a decent delivery but you can't be forcing off the back foot against the new ball like that.