Definitely seems to be a couple of harsh decisions to Yates and Sibley.
Rhodes and Davies were very poor dismissals, and not the first time like that for either of them this year.
Overtons ball to Burgess was just a beauty, you get them sometimes.

What I would say, is that they seem to extracting a lot more movement in the air and off the pitch than our attack did. Which to me suggests whilst we’re definitely underperforming with the bat, they definitely over performed primarily due to some poor bowling. Not for the first time either this year, I wonder if we’re seeing the effects of no Pop Welch.

On McAndrew I believe he arrived at Edgbaston on the second day of the Essex match. So in the country just under a week.

I thought he was supposed to be a bit quicker, bowl a heavy ball, get some bounce, a bit like Norwell. But we’ll see how he pans out.

What doesn’t change is that in terms of available players, no way do I believe that he was the best possible bowler the club could acquire for the overseas position. I listed the calibre of players in an earlier comment, so I’d love to know want Farbrace was doing when all those other bowlers were signing deals elsewhere.

I’m sure it doesn’t help he’s just got off a plane, new conditions etc.
But how is it that there’s Abbas, Abbot, Afridi, Amir, Ali, Rauf, Paterson, Pattinson, Siddle, Henry and others all signed as overseas seam bowlers, we’ve ended uk with Nathan McAndrew? He very well prove me wrong, but it’s not a great start.

Farbrace seems to have a serious issue in terms of getting in consistent top quality overseas signings in red ball. 2 years in a row now he’s missed, despite a number of big international stars being willing to come play.

Exiled Bear wrote:

McAndrew in for Brookes the only change for the next match if Norwell is fit?

I don’t think he will be fit. Believe Robinson said the concussion protocol means he’ll definitely miss Somerset, but should be back afterwards as long as he meets the recovery criteria.

McAndrew for Norwell, and then potentially Miles for Brookes, as he definitely bowled better than Brookes in that second innings.

Andy wrote:

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...

Worse now that apparently Foakes is not just concussed but may have damaged his shoulder.

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.

They’re still saying Visa. But I have heard that he’s arriving this weekend. So hopefully ready for the next match.

On another note, anyone starting to worry about Rhodes? Apart from the Cook wicket, he’s been expensive with the ball both matches. And low scores too. After a pretty average season with the bat last year.

I think it’s more a reflection on how the attack was put together in that first match. OHD and Miles are similar in that both are swing bowlers, relying on line and length, but OHD is just able to do more, I expect due to his height. And Brookes whilst he can be wayward, he does have the pace, and that makes him a different option. And so Miles, who didn’t bowl well in that first match, lost out to Norwell who bowled well yesterday.

I suspect Brookes will lose out to McAndrew when he arrives. The interesting thing will be how long they can fight off the inevitable injuries, and what happens when Stone is fit.

I suppose it’s a reflection on the fact that this is probably the strongest squad I can remember the club having in some time. If you consider no second overseas, and for various reasons no Woakes, Stone, Mousley, Miles, Bethell, Lintott, Hose, Benjamin, Johal, E Brookes, Garret, and Sidebottom.

I’d hate to think the money they’re paying him per match.

Interesting they made Burgess play. Was he a sub in for someone?

Superb by Burgess to get to 100. Imagine the pressure on that knock. If he gets out cheaply, you’d argue Davies comes straight in for him.

Now, Mousley probably misses out. Norwell and McAndrew for Miles and Brookes for me.

But Rhodes is arguably a player who whilst can’t be dropped as captain, if you asked who was most vulnerable irrelevant of captaincy, his name would probably be top of the list. Didn’t bowl well, didn’t bat well.
Love the depth of this side.

It’s going to be interesting how Robinson goes about this considering he knows he gets Davies and McAndrew for the second match. That match will give us a better idea of how he wants to go about things this season.
His preferred set up last year was 6 batsmen, Bresnan as an all rounder at 7, then 4 bowlers. But does that suit the different personnel now?

There won’t be as much patience for lack of form this year either I don’t think. Especially with most likely Lamb and Mousley waiting in the wings.

I can see more rotation of the bowlers this year too. Especially with the injury records Stone, Norwell, and Brookes have. Even OHD and Miles have had issues.

He’s got a 2 match ban (1 suspended) for historic tweets.
So he misses the Surrey game, but you’d assume he comes straight in for the second match.

Pre-season is over. Obviously there’s only so much you can take from it, but I wonder what we’ve learned.

In my opinion, I think we’re going to see a lot more batsman friendly pitches as a result of comments made in the press. Secondly, I think Mousley has definitely jumped above Lamb in the batting pecking order, but once Davies is fit, I wonder if either makes the side.

The Woakes dilemma is interesting. This is probably a big summer in terms for red ball future.
If there’s a fit Archer, Wood, Robinson, Stokes, Anderson, Broad, you have to wonder if he is a first choice. (Granted it’s a huge if).
So when he gets a chance he has to take it. Though he’s now competing with the likes of Mahmood, Curran, Overton, Chappell, Carse, and even now Fisher.
I think we may see a decent amount of him.

Part of me wonders if this is a “we’ve got to sign someone” signing. But also learning the lesson of last year, where he’s not such a big name that he can’t be left out, unlike Malan.

Also as good as they are, history says our bowling lineup is very injury prone.
Based on their careers I can’t see Norwell and Miles both going through the season uninjured again. OHD obviously had his issues last year too. Brookes and Stone both coming off injuries.
So probably a wise move to increase the depth.

2nd in the championship.
T20 Semi-finals.
Royal London 4th in the group

Player of the year: Batsman- Hain. Bowler- Miles.
Breakthrough: Johal

Team for first match:
Yates, Sibley, Hain, Rhodes, Mousley, Lamb, Burgess, Briggs, Miles, Norwell, OHD. (Davies in for Lamb in the second match)

I think now we’re starting to get an idea of what the team will look like for the first match.

Sibley
Yates
Rhodes
Hain
Lamb
Mousley
Burgess
Briggs
Miles
Norwell (if fit)
OHD

Then Davies in to open or 3, probably in place of Lamb or Mousley for the second match.

It was only a matter of time. You can’t have as much success as he has with Sussex, then with the England women, and finally with the bears, and it not put his name in the frame for big jobs.
Though I still suspect they will go with a big name like Kirsten, or someone like Langer who has experience rebuilding a team after a big downturn.

Rumour has it Farbs is keen for an all-rounder to replace Bresnan, and get maximum value out of 1 overseas player.
Jason Holder was first choice but his IPL deal complicates things similarly to Pujara last year. Cam Green is another option following Australias tour of Pakistan, as he isn’t involved in white ball cricket internationally, but has been playing non-stop since the start of the ashes.
By all accounts the situation is fluid, and the club are still trying to get a player in. But will only take someone who will definitely improve the squad, and be there for a reasonable period; a bonus if they can also act as a second T20 overseas.