Team unchanged:-
Davies
Latham
Mousley
Hain
Bethell
Barnard
Garton
Briggs
Hasan Ali
Miles
Gleeson

Northants won the toss and chose to bat.

So Bethell is in for Yates. Only change.

Isaac Mohammed opening for them. What are the odds on him getting a few?! Him, Hose & Brookes!

Worcester won the toss and put us in.

Devon_Bear wrote:

I think Bethell will come in for Miles or Gleeson (if he needs a rest again) - possible team:

Davies
Latham
Mousley
Hain
Bethell
Barnard
Yates
Garton
H Ali
Briggs
Gleeson/Miles

I think he'll come in for Miles. Gleeson, Yates & Latham will stay. 4 seamers, Yates, Mousley & Bethell, spin back up for Briggs.

Inside-edge wrote:

Devon_Bear wrote:

Our next 3 games are against teams directly above us in the table - Leicestershire, Durham & Lancs. I reckon we need to win at least two of these matches to stay in touch with the top 4., a couple of defeats and we could be out of it. As for the team, i think we'll stick with the 11 who beat Worcs a couple of weeks ago.

I think we’ll add Gleeson and maybe Moeen?

Gleeson, yes, Moeen has departed 'our shores'.

Highveld wrote:

Rushworth needs to be added to the list taking a paid holiday at the clubs expense.

Unchanged test team announced, but non selected players are not being released.
Makes the decision to omit Mousely even more of a mistake.

So true about Mousley. Given the effects of the Kookaburra, its crazy that we haven't got a 2nd/3rd spinner playing (Yates being the other - though he's hardly been given a go). Rocky can't do it on his own!

I think I'd leave out Che and bring Rushworth back - I don't think the (pace) experiment has worked significantly enough. Rushworth had a decent performance in the 1st innings of the Seconds game against Glamorgan.
Ideally, I'd also leave out Kai, give the Captaincy to Latham and let Davies just think about opening and keeping wicket, but I can't see that happening. If they did it though, I'd love to see a second spinner (not just rely on Yates) - and bring in Mousley (now an all rounder, these days).

Highveld wrote:

I feel some of the comments above are mean and classless. Moeen has made a great contribution to English cricket, not just on the field, but as a hero to a large part of the local population.

While his return was not the success we'd all have liked, we should be respectful to him as a person and for his contribution to our sport.

There are several players who have done less, and made less effort for the club over the last 3 seasons.

I partly agree with what Highveld says about the rather 'sharp' criticism of Moeen's attitude to playing for us, but the awful manner of his leaving can not be dismissed. The fact that the official announcement of him going took place after the occasion, is probably the fault of club, given the terrible situation with the website at the moment, but there should have been some news of it before the game, if only as a matter of respect to supporters.

Devon_Bear wrote:

paulbear wrote:

Looks like another strip for batsmen but the bowling didn't look inspiring when one of the openers is a tailender who they are persevering with who averages 20. Our bowling looked samey apart form Simmons' pace and the idea of Bethell bowling first change is laughable. Is this a directive form the ECB, if it is, then it is none of their ******* business as they cannot dictate who we bowl and when, it's bad enough that they can take players out of selection but I cannot think of any other reason for such a strange bowling change unless Davies is a fan of 'Funky Stokes' captaincy plans which sometimes leave me cold and confused.

Didn't Davies recently use Yates as our first change bowler? Seriously, it's getting past a joke that he is still our captain in county cricket when we have a test match skipper out there on the pitch.

I agree about Davies, I think we have now DEFINITELY come to the point when he is past his sell by date as Captain. And the reality is, for the first time in many years, we actually have a ready made replacement. It IS time for Tom Latham!

Very true. Amazingly, the club didn't even post a preview of the Somerset game today. No squad news, no publicity, nothing! Ah, just remembered, it was a County Championship game - I think they consider that something like a Second team Friendly!

Team:-

Davies (Captain)
Yates
Latham
Hain
Bethell
Barnard
Smith (Keeper - great, mainly in the sense that's its one less thing that Davies has to think about, rather than doubts about Kai's keeping skills!)
Bamber
Rocchiccioli
Simmons
OHD

Somerset won the toss and chose to bat.

Unchanged side from the last few games. Issac Mohammed playing for the Pears - bound to get a good score!

We won the toss and chose to bowl.

GerryShedd wrote:

I think Hasan Ali is available in all formats.

So that's potentially, 3 Overseas players competing for the 2 spots?!

Unchanged team (again):-

Davies
Latham
Mousley
Moeen Ali
Hain
Barnard
Smith
Garton
Hasan Ali
Briggs
Lintott

We won the toss and chose to bat.

We lost by just 3 runs.

Theo Wylie and Taz A are back. Both made a good contribution - Theo with bat, Taz with ball (3 wickets).

Unchanged team:-
Davies (Captain & Keeper)
Latham
Moeen Ali
Hain
Mousley
Barnard
Smith
Garton
Hasan Ali
Briggs
Lintott

Derby won the toss and chose to bowl

Team:-
Davies (Captain & Keeper)
Latham
Moeen Ali
Hain
Mousley
Barnard
Smith
Garton
Briggs
Hasan Ali
Lintott

We won the toss and chose to bowl.

Yes, a great article. I remember seeing a (very) young Bethell turn out in a Bunbury Festival about 7 years ago. He was playing with guys a year older than him and yet, still got named as the 'Player of the Festival'. All there, thought he was destined for greater things, but that has been said about others, who eventually fell short. It seems he hasn't yet - and I can't see him disappointing anyone!

Team:-

Davies (Keeper)
Latham
Moeen Ali
Hain
Smith
Barnard
Garton
Briggs
Miles
Lintott
Sylvester

Durham won the toss and chose to bowl.

LeicesterExile wrote:

Restarting at 5.45 with 10.4 overs remaining. Another 4 day knife edge. Let's hope the rain stays away.

No, it didnt!
Well, we blew it, didn't we?! No declaration yesterday, when the forecast was so much rain today, was crazy. And I'm not just saying that in hindsight, I would posted that view, if I could have got online yesterday (no signal).
Another bad mark against Davies?!

ExiledBrummie wrote:

Devon_Bear wrote:

I think the team selection tomorrow will be:

Yates
Davies
Latham
Hain
Webster
Barnard
Malik
Woakes
Bamber
Rushworth
OHD

After last week's defeat I think Westwood will pick a more experienced team and leave the younger players out. Taz Ali & Simmons were hardly used so it's seems more than likely they will both be replaced tomorrow. I guess there's a possibility Kai Smith could take the gloves, if so then he would come in at 7 for Malik.

As above but Smith for OHD, is the latter injured? Surely Kai will be the keeper otherwise he's going to bat at 8 which seems odd. Very strong batting line up, so good we've won the toss.

Live Scores are still showing Davies as Keeper. I can't believe, that when were actually in the field, Smith won't be behind the stumps - it's just too ridiculous, to have him in simply as a batsman, going in so far down, when an extra bowler would be much more valuable (especially a spinner).