The threat of Steel, and even the control from Moriarty, you can see why Robinson kept the spinners in the side.
The balls that got Mousley and Burgess from Steel were excellent. One to Mousley turned big; then a cracking googly to Burgess.
When you see a wrist spinner bowl like that; it’s easy to understand why every side wants and is willing to give a chance to one.

Bulpitt and Johal both drop out for Miles and Bresnan. Seems harsh on Bulpitt who was just starting to hit his stride.

I don’t think you can take Bulpitt out after how he’s improved and how he was on Friday. But I think Johal and Carver might drop out.
Then you’ve got Miles, Bulpitt, Bresnan, Brookes and Rhodes as seam options. And Bethell, Mousley, Lamb and Yates for spin.
So you’ve got plenty of options for each depending on the pitch. But if it does look like one that’s going to really turn it might be tight between Brookes and Carver.

This is also the issue you can get with players that are essentially inspired by being a professional for anyone, or making as much money as possibly rather than a loyalty of coming through an academy, or the desire to win.
It’s definitely something that you can see in a lot do the T20 mercenaries around the world, results rarely matter, it’s the pay cheque that talks.

Thought Burgess and Rhodes batted the situation perfectly.
They settled it down, built a foundation at a decent pace; and set it up well for Mousley and Lamb to be confident enough to throw their hands at it in the last 10 overs or so.

Wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if that’s what he chooses. I think more young players will choose to do that.
You see a number of players now having it built into contracts that they can go to the IPL, CPL etc.

Things could all change. But today has shown the problem of having a very inexperienced, young bowling line up.
Chasing 280, which is roughly what it should have been, is very different to chasing 320. That immediately puts pressure on the batsmen anyway. And unlike this sides young bowlers, Yorkshire have the experience to really put the brakes on which we’ve seen in this match taking it’s toll on the form of wickets.
These players will all learn from this, better death bowling, better economy in the middle overs, and do better putting together a chase of this size next time.

I’d really like to see Burgess and Rhodes given a rest. They’re the only ones who have played every match this season. It’s counterintuitive but, in my mind, the club can’t win this competition with this weakened a squad.
But in T20 it’s just 3 matches.
And in the county championship they’re top of the table with 4 matches to play.
Winning is achievable in those. You don’t want players getting burnt out in this and jeopardising other competitions.

Good from Pollock. And I hope he learns from it. Too often I feel he takes attack from ball 1 overly literally.
He’s given himself a few balls or few overs in the last couple of games and seems better for it. He’s also batting the situation better.

The catch was definitely over the rope. Poor from the fielder to even try and claim it, but that’s Notts for you.
Unfortunately I’m not surprised the umpire who was relatively close didn't spot it, because the standard of domestic umpires has been abysmal for some time.

The issue is, we’ve not only lost to the injury and the hundred. We’ve lost players like Hose to the hundred, but they’ve gotten injured and we’ve then lost another player to replace him. I believe Hain was an injury replacement too.
We just seem to have been disproportionately effected.

That definitely wasn’t the greatest pitch in the world. Everyone seemed to struggle to score. Think perhaps our effort was more competitive than we at first thought.
Nice to see Brookes and Bethell contribute really well with the ball.

Really good from Burgess and Benjamin too. Though it did annoy me that Benjamin seemed more interested in 100 practice than building a score. If he’d have gone on, instead of going for glory, and played the bigger picture like Burgess and got an extra 20 runs or so, we probably win that match.

The ECB had to ask the counties for the players. And only players who agreed to play and who’s clubs agreed were released.
A number of notable players said no, in order to rest or prioritise the 50 over competition.

I think this is something Reece Topley had done and has come back much stronger.
In fact he blames Hampshire’s refusal to let him have it done, as the reason he left.
Better to do it now and try get fit ASAP.

Update to the previous. Davies is joining because Lancashire are signing Phil Salt from Sussex.

Davies thinks he’s now behind Salt, Allen, and Jennings regarding batting at the top of the order. And can’t force out Vilas or Salt as a keeper because of his fingers.

Yes by all accounts Davies fingers are ruined.
Rumours are this is about him wanting to put himself back in the limelight again, remind a few people especially at the ECB that he still exists.
I don’t think anyone is trying to get into that England side as a keeper currently. Too many like Bairstow, Foakes, Banton, Bracey, already ahead in the queue.

Brathwaite isn’t currently in the hundred. But the list of players who are and aren’t change daily now.
He does also live permanently in Oxford for the last couple of years, so it’s more a question of will he be playing in the CPL? Or will he stay here, I’m guessing like most things currently it’s Covid dependant.

I suspect some players will be rested for the first few or rotated round. Just because of the amount of cricket they’ve played without a rest since April/May. The likes of Burgess, Lamb, Rhodes, Yates and Miles (when the latter 3 return).
OHD was in a protective boot on Friday night, so don’t expect him, doubt they’d play Bresnan until they need him in shape for the T20 and first class in September.
It sounds from what Robinson said we’re going to see the real youngsters, unknowns or players who haven’t played much, Mousley, Brookes, Bethell, Garrett, Benjamin, Kelley, Khan, Sidebottom, Johal, Van Vollonhoven. Be interesting how they go about it, as just throwing the youngsters in the deep end is no good. But equally, you don’t want senior first team players taking up too much of the work. Guessing a good mix and rotation of the first team players.

Interesting Pollock was in the squad. And the club usually say if they’re left out due to an injury. Wonder what’s gone on.
If we do qualify. I wouldn’t bother with Mayers again.
I’d have Benjamin a place or 2 higher. Then Bresnan at 8.
That way you’ve got 8 recognised batsmen/all rounders. Extra bowler in Bresnan and still have the potential of overs from Yates.
Ideally balanced.

GerryShedd wrote:

Just out of interest, what do we think of Yorkshire's sporting gesture when Lancashire's Steven Croft collapsed in agony in mid-pitch with what turned out to be cramp and the Yorkshire fielders declined to run him out? Croft recovered and went on to win the match for Lancashire.
The fact that this might be the difference between the Bears qualifying and being eliminated will not, of course, influence our views in any way.

I’d just say 2 things. Run him out, then you can take back the appeal if he is really hurt. (Cramp isn’t seriously hurt, Croft was sprinting again the next ball)
Also, I guarantee Yorkshire run him out if they need to win to qualify.

No matter what, I’d like the club to just acknowledge that next year they need at least 1 preferably 2 top level T20 opening batsmen.
Go get someone like Chris Lynn, Aaron Finch or Conway. The absolute key moment of the game. Because thats why we’re now relying on other results, because in the most important part of the game, we’re not as good.
I’d drop Pollock and have Hose down at 3.
They’ve got good spinners, got a good middle order, a good keeper/bat, we’d have Bresnan, Brookes and Stone at the death but obviously injury has stopped that. They just need to give those players the support in the most crucial part of the game, which I’d put decent money on us being possibly the worst average power play score out of all the counties.