Unchanged 13 man squad:-

Pollock, Hose, Malan, Rhodes, Hain, Lamb, Bethell, Burgess, Brathwaite, Bresnan, Briggs, Miles & Norwell

BristolBear wrote:

Apparently Brookes was having a long, full speed bowl in the middle before the Derbyshire match.
Hopefully that was a fitness test of some sort and he’ll be available for Saturday.
Would love him back in the side, he was excellent in T20 last year, and without him or Stone in the side, we lack a true fast bowler, and the threat they pose.

With Lintott and Mousley out still, I’d definitely risk playing Bethell to get that second spin option. Briggs is excellent but without another spinner, teams don’t need to take risks against him, and they just play him out at 5/6 an over and then attack the more expensive seamers.

That is great news. I know Henry hasn't been having a great season with the Seconds, but I think that was in the Championship. I don't think he has played much in their T20 team, because of the injury. He still could be a force in the white ball game - and if fit, should be back.

On the spinner selection, I agree Jacob B is the obvious addition. He didn't get much chance bowling in the Chester-le-Street game (2 overs for 17 runs), but has shown in the Seconds T20 this year, he is a very good left arm spinner - and of course, a very promising early order bat (though went in at number 9 at the Riverside - 3 NO). And (a fit) Henry B and George Garrett should be added to the Derby squad.

Exiled Bear wrote:

Bald_Reynard wrote:

It will be interesting to see what the squad will be. There were (quite) a few disappointments last night - but particularly, Hose (who hasn't really done it this season - yet) and Norwell. I can't see them dropping Hose, but I would - and bring in Malan, who looked good in his second T20 (and he does give an extra bowling option - untried yet). I would defo drop Norwell - he just doesn't look the part in T20 - this season or last. The back up bowling options are not good though. OHD & Sidebottom have never bowled well in T20 (and their batting doesn't help !). Given what George Garrett did for the Seconds in their T20 Final yesterday (5 for 19 in 3.2 overs), I'd certainly bring him into the squad - and seriously consider him to start. He also has done well batting in the Seconds T20 this season - and played OK for the First's in his two T20 games last year.

I think it's harsh to say that OHD has never bowled well in T20 - he was a key part of the team that won it in 2014!

When I posted about OHD, I added the word "recently" to the sentence, but must have omitted it, when I edited the post, to talk about George Garrett. I completely agree, Ollie was wonderful in 2014 - and pretty much kept that up in all T20's until 2017 - but it went awry then. Certainly, from 2019 on, T20 has never been his forte - and I can't see him coming back in that format. He hasn't even done much in the Seconds T20 team this season. Such a shame - he was such a reliable at-the-death bowler.

It will be interesting to see what the squad will be. There were (quite) a few disappointments last night - but particularly, Hose (who hasn't really done it this season - yet) and Norwell. I can't see them dropping Hose, but I would - and bring in Malan, who looked good in his second T20 (and he does give an extra bowling option - untried yet). I would defo drop Norwell - he just doesn't look the part in T20 - this season or last. The back up bowling options are not good though. OHD & Sidebottom have never bowled well in T20 (and their batting doesn't help !). Given what George Garrett did for the Seconds in their T20 Final yesterday (5 for 19 in 3.2 overs), I'd certainly bring him into the squad - and seriously consider him to start. He also has done well batting in the Seconds T20 this season - and played OK for the First's in his two T20 games last year.

Hose back in (for Malan) and Bethell (making his 1st team debut) for Lintott.

Durham won the toss and chose to bat first.

Andy wrote:

Can we keep the run going?

Woakes in?
Stone in?

Lancashire top 5 looks tasty, Finn Allen, Davies, Livingstone, Buttler, Vilas.

Wickets up top important tomorrow I'd say.

Woakesy is back, but Stone is out (with a slight back strain). I guess CW will be in for Bresnan, as the only change from Leicester.

Tim B in for Woakes, only change. No surprise.
Foxes won the toss and put us in.

GerryShedd wrote:

A possible signing:
ps://www.espncricinfo.com/story/warwickshire-close-to-signing-che-simmons-17-year-old-dubbed-new-jofra-archer-1266631?ex_cid=OTC-RSS

If so, Simmons would be the third Barbadian we've signed this year. Mind you we've always had close links with Barbados, I remember the regular pre-season trips we had there - a wonderful country, great cricketers and friendly people.

We won the toss and chose to bat first.

Team:-

Rhodes, Pollock, Malan, Hain, Mousley, Burgess, Brathwaite, Woakes, Miles, Briggs and Lintott

Bald_Reynard wrote:

Highveld wrote:

14 man squad, Hose drops out through injury, Malan and Woakes added to the squad for the first two games.

I guess Malan will be in for Hose and Woakes for Miles today.

Malan did come in for Hose, but CW came in for Bresnan - Miles stays.

We lost the toss and Derby elected to bat. Mousley & Woakes opening the bowling - not very successfully, Derby hit 17 off the first 2 overs.

Highveld wrote:

14 man squad, Hose drops out through injury, Malan and Woakes added to the squad for the first two games.

I guess Malan will be in for Hose and Woakes for Miles today.

farmerbob wrote:

Squad: Will Rhodes (C), Carlos Brathwaite, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Ethan Brookes, Michael Burgess, Sam Hain, Olly Hannon-Dalby, Adam Hose, Jake Lintott, Craig Miles, Dan Mousley, Ed Pollock

So no Woakes, Malan or Norwell.

I imagine it will be Ethan Brookes and Dan Mousley who won't make the cut.

Streetly_Bear wrote:

It must be tough being Chris Woakes, travelling around the world to carry the drinks and not play much cricket. I’m not going to say his talent has been wasted by any stretch, his trophy cabinet and career stats testify against that, but it’s hard not to wonder what might have been had he been around in a different era.

Completely agree. It's nothing short of a travesty the way Woakesy is being treated. It's bad that many Centrally Contracted players don't get runouts for their Counties very often, but he seems to be singled out for the worst treatment - not even getting chance to play for his Country.

Bald_Reynard wrote:

13 man squad:-

Rhodes, Bresnan, Briggs, Henry B, Burgess, OHD, Hain, Lamb, Malan, Miles, Mousley, Norwell & Yates

I'm guessing, if Miles is fully fit again, Brookes will be the bowler left out and Lamb will be back in place of Sibley, rather than Mousley ?

13 man squad:-

Rhodes, Bresnan, Briggs, Henry B, Burgess, OHD, Hain, Lamb, Malan, Miles, Mousley, Norwell & Yates

GerryShedd wrote:

Bald_Reynard wrote:

Very interesting, we're opening the Second Innings with Briggs and Rhodes ! I wonder if there's a reason, like injury to Sibley, Yates or Malan, or it's an experiment with someone who might fill that bill. Briggs is a decent bat (though as far as I know, never been that high up the order !) - and perhaps management might feel he could do the job long term (and possibly thinking that he can't justify being in the side simply as a spinner at the moment, given how little wickets help him at this time of the season !) ?

I assumed that he was a nightwatchman, sent out to face the one over last night - but I could be wrong.

Of course, how silly of me, I forgot there we had to face 1 over last night ! I was getting all excited before then, that PERHAPS we might have found a possible solution to our opening batting problems ! Anyway, you never know (!?) - Briggs is doing OK this morning - 23 NO after 13 overs (better than the Captain - obviously !).

Very interesting, we're opening the Second Innings with Briggs and Rhodes ! I wonder if there's a reason, like injury to Sibley, Yates or Malan, or it's an experiment with someone who might fill that bill. Briggs is a decent bat (though as far as I know, never been that high up the order !) - and perhaps management might feel he could do the job long term (and possibly thinking that he can't justify being in the side simply as a spinner at the moment, given how little wickets help him at this time of the season !) ?

BristolBear wrote:

It’s bowling like this that makes me feel Rhodes should move down the order. Yates will have to open anyway when Sibley goes to England. If they bring Mousley in to open, have Malan at 3, Hain 4 and Rhodes 5. I think he’d be more likely to bowl himself, and also be more likely to score runs.

I'm not sure opening with Mousley is the answer. He's having a poor season with the Seconds. They've tried him at 4 & 3 and now opening in a couple of matches - and I think he's struggled to get much into double figures (and some ducks!). IMO, Malan will have to be tried as an opener (he hasn't been yet) and give Lamb a go at 3.
I have long argued that Rhodes should move to 5 - so agree with you on that BB.

Streetly_Bear wrote:

Rhodes out early again, at the moment he has a touch of the Ian Bell when he is at the crease. He looks comfortable and then gets out.

When is Management going to make that necessary decision - the Captain is NOT an opening batsman ! Indeed I'd go so far to say now, that he is not a specialist batsman any more - he's a genuine all rounder. He should move down the order, possibly well down the order - to at least 5. I'd agree with Andy, we should go with 6 batsman / all rounders, with Burgess at 7. Rhodes would be the fourth seamer, with Bresnan as backup (he is not good enough with the ball to justify being in as a bowler) - but his batting (and experience) does merit him coming in at 5 / 6. Yates and Malan open (when Sibley disappears) and Hain / Lamb at 3 / 4 (I think Lamb's technique and concentration makes him a better 3 than Hain)