Devon_Bear
Member
Overall i think things are going well, i'm especially looking forward to the Blast & one day cricket this season as i reckon with all the all-rounders in the squad we should give a good account of ourselves in those tournaments. As for the Championship, i do believe we could have a big say this season if we can get the balance of our bowling attack right. Davies' batting is obviously a worry of course but it looks as though things are going in the right direction. Hopefully it will be our best season since 2021.
Thank goodness we don't play until 8th May, don't know how many of our bowlers would have made it this Friday! I do think Westwood needs to change from filling the side full of medium paced all-rounders, we definitely need more variety in our bowling attack. Barker, Gilchrist & Taz Ali in the side for me against Yorkshire.
Our attack has looked a little like the first couple of games this season, with a lack of variety. Barker gave us that in the last match so hopefully he will play in the next one. I also think it would be worth considering giving Taz Ali a start as well.
Strange that Webster has only just bowled his 9th over out of 111 in this innings, not really sure why he's been held back while Thompson has had 19 overs?
We gambled by putting them back in and it hasn't paid off, but we're still in a good position. Hopefully our bowlers won't be too tired after bowling 169 overs on the trot over the last couple of days.
Well done to the bowling unit today, they put everything in and had a real desire to win the game - it was good to see. Pleased for Barnard too to get the first win on the board this season.
Critchley's a huge wicket, Benkenstein next hopefully!
Fantastic bowling by Barker. They have a good middle order though, so still a lot of work to be done.
Yes, two down already! Come on you Bears!
Let's hope the rain is in for the day now, so we can reset tomorrow morning. With Hain still in, we have a chance of a half-decent score providing Barker, Bamber & Gilchrist can hang around for a while.
Let's hope Davies keeps wicket better than he bats!
I do think Westwood & Barnard need to decide on who they want as their 5 main bowlers in the side. I think the 4 seamers should be Bamber, Booth, Gilchrist & Barnard, then who should be 5th choice? Thompson or Woakes? Do we go down the spin route with Lintott or Taz Ali? Maybe even consider Garton with his left-arm seamers? I reckon Gilchrist will be back in the side this Friday, but i'm not sure who'll be left out?
I thought we were well in the game until the last session yesterday, when we had them at 184-5 we looked to be favourites to win. After that our bowlers seemed to run out of ideas, and the final hour yesterday and this morning we were very disappointing. Two games in and we're already struggling to take 20 wickets in a game, same issue as we've had over the last couple of seasons. In our last two and a bit seasons we have only won 4 out of 30 matches - something needs to change. I would like to see Gilchrist and Taz Ali in the team on Friday for Thompson and Woakes.
Team for Friday:
Yates
Davies
Mousley
Hain
Webster
Barnard
Smith
Booth
Bamber
Gilchrist
Taz Ali
Wickets have fallen in clusters so far in this game, so if we get one soon i think another couple will follow.....hopefully!
What a brilliant innings from Booth, it's taken the game away from them. I think we have enough runs already but another 40 or 50 wouldn't go amiss!
I thought Barnard made the right changes at the right time this morning, and he led by example with his bowling. Now let's snap up those last three wickets, get a lead of 100+ and pile on the runs this afternoon!
A splendid knock from Smith & Woakes, it's put us back in the game. Still plenty to do though to get a decent score, although Thompson, Bamber & Booth are all useful with the bat.
40 overs in and the ball is still zipping about, makes you wonder why with all our seamers we decided to bat first?
Latest Score:
Barker has replaced Booth in the 2nd innings.
I do wonder if they might decide to rotate Woakes now and again, in view of his age and injuries he's had over the last few years - like England have done with Mark Wood in recent times?