Highveld
Member
Sometimes family comes first. We forget that most players have a partner who may have their own career which has opportunities in other parts of the country.
As far as I can remember no.
There was no second team cricket while the RL cup was on, and Matt wasn't included in the side for the games after that competition.
Yates did play in the one game before the last series of championship games, and scored 4 in his only innings!
It looks like the club stopped him from playing for his club in the Birmingham league too, as he didn't appear in the last few games, unlike Ed Pollock of Worcs, who played on the Saturday before a championship game starting on the Monday.
On his performances, for all but 2 days, this season Yates did not perform at an acceptable level, indeed his performances made Adrian Shankar (the con man who fooled Worcestershire into signing him on a 3 year deal) look a world beater.
Lamb was doing a good job, averaging c48, was good in the field and was a localy born and produced player with lots of ability.
The waay he was dropped from the side and just forgotten about shows a failure of logical thought, and man management, that even Liz Truss couldn't manage!
Decent article from Cricinfo on Liam Norwell
The judgement of Robinson/Farbrace has to doubted.
They appointedade Mason & rSheik as bowling coaches, a very significant downgrade on the previous bowling coach, who looked after all of the clubs bowlers.
Long term contracts were given to Yates, Johal, Davies & Lintott none of whom did anything to justify the value or length of contract this season.
Their policy on overseas signings is a failure, with some of the worst overseas players to come to the club ever. Over the past two years only McAndrew and Malan actually made a useful contribution. The policy shows a lack of research into who is available and just taking a quick option, that turns out not to even honor the contract. That is madness both in cricketing terms and financially with the costs involved in signing non UK players.
A local player, who developed at a local club and always gave the club 100%
It's worse than madness, it's deliberate and gross incompetence by whoever made the decision, but continuing to pick a specialist batsman who was averaging under 12 all season, shows their inability to make logical decisions. Thats not mentioning their short term overseas player signings, or the appointment of very poor bowling coaches for the first and second team bowling coach positions.
Has it been confirmed Lamb is leaving?
It needs one of us to win the lottery, I'm sure if we offered to club a £20M low interest loan they'd make us feel very welcome.
Must admit a private box for life and a large credit towards catering and bar purchases would be a fair return on investment. :-)
Davies's record looks better than it truly was due to having two decent innings towards the end of the season, overall he was consitantly bad, and Yates was even worse. Rhodes may not have had any big scores but contributed consistantly.
Full averages for the championship are here
Whatever the outcome, the cricket this afternoon has more tension and is more interesting than any T20 or "unwanted competition" game.
We are not relagated due to this match, but due to the poor performances all season, especially the abysmal batting from Davies and Yates, and the weird selection policy that leaves out two of our leading run scorers, combined with the pathetic policy of signing short term overseas players, who had no intention of honouring the contracts.
Higher quality bowling coaches, at both first and second team level, are needed, together with much better man management from the head coach and DOR.
Looks like he is really struggling to move.
An opportunity for Davies and Yates to apologise for their performances being responsible for the club being relegated, is surely more accurate.
I can sound a lot more miserable, don't worry!!!!
Yates fails again!
Finishes the season with an average of 18.62, which is totally unacceptable for a specialist batsman. Two good innings from 17 is never acceptable.
It says a lot that Henry Brookes was sent out ahead of Davies with the side needing quick runs.
It was good to see Rob Ytes show a lot of chracter and finish his season with a good innings, while it doesn't erase the many failures he's had this season, it does show he has the character, and ability to succeed.
Hopefully he has a good winter and comes back to start next season as one of our leading players.
We should be very greatful for the contribution Sam Hain has made this season, and indeed for the stupidity of the England selectors for not picking him for England.
He is lucky to have had so may chances this season, when his performances have not justified a place in the side.
Yes he did well today, but one good innings does not erase the repeated failures from his record.
The repeated failures by Yates and Davies have put additional pressure on the middle order and have been a key factor in the poor performances this year.
Hampshire elected to bowl.
Yates in to fail again, there is no logical reason to include him in the side.
Live scores link
https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m85dce643-a457-4595-bb2b-9199fac84b0a