We might have to just write this one off. Every edge has gone to hand too. Just the way it goes. That's cricket, we're still a good team.

The fact that Dan Mousley was carrying drinks in April and May last season whilst Malan and Vihari stunk the place out was so frustrating.

This is a bollocking.

All over em. Great effort today. From both sides. Let's close it out tomorrow.

BristolBear wrote:

McGrath said at the end of today that Lawrence will only bat if absolutely necessary. Which you’d guess is a situation where they feel a realistic chance of saving the game.

After today, I wonder if Burgess has appeared on the England radar. Wouldn’t it be typical to find Ambrose’s long term replacement, only to go and lose him to England.

I wondered this too. Good job we have a few lads on the books who keep, Davies, Benjamin...

Playing v Glamorgan right now...

Outstanding innings from Lamb considering he walked out there at 41/4.

Yeah he's still working his way back. He'll bowl worse than that and walk of with 3 in the future.

Strange old day, we bowled poor up front, no doubt. Incredibly difficult bowling/fielding conditions though with distressingly fierce winds. So cold. Brookes bowled well without luck. Pitch looks flat.

Sibley
Yates
Rhodes
Hain
Lamb
Mousley
Burgess
Briggs
Miles
Brookes
OHD

?

He's way off with some of that.

1st game of the season starting Thursday.

Any ideas on the XI?

Do we have any injuries?

Weather?

Surrey might be strong, Pope, Foakes, Burns, all have a point to prove. Roach is a terrific signing.

What injury has Davies got?

Jeets had already played about 10 Tests, 30 ODI's, and some T20i's when we first signed him. He was an experienced player already.

This guy has played 11 First Class matches.

If he ends up half as good as Jeets he'll have done really well and we'll all be happy but right now it just looks bizarre. The County Champions should be able to bring in genuine proven quality.

Can only assume there's injury concerns over our seamers.

I wish the lad well, I really do, but I'm so underwhelmed by this.

Overseas.

11 FC matches across his career. He's 28.

No, I don't know either...

5th/6th in the Championship.

Blast, finals day. RLC, no idea, we'll be competitive.

Sibley player of the season.

Breakthrough player, Mousley.

Team:

Yates
Sibley
Rhodes
Hain
Lamb
Mousley
Burgess
Briggs
Miles
Norwell
OHD

Can see them wanting an extra bowler though so H Brookes may play instead of Mousley. Would just mean that Rhodes gets underbowled however.

The better performances seem to come when we play 6 specialist batters.

I think our squad is ridiculously stacked and we can cope with injuries. I've got us mid table in the championship simply because defending it is so hard. Remember Essex won it in 2017 and dropped off a bit in 2018 before roaring back in 2019. I expect us to be similar.

I disappointed that game hasn't taken place.

I think that's entirely fair too. Start the season with the guys who are already here, the champions.

And if we're struggling we can maybe look at things.

Only get quality in though. No average punts like Malan or Holder. I suspect Vihari is ok but just not in early season conditions. He's not quality though.

Love it