Very good all round performance - after the excellent start by Davies we coasted it with Hain and Mousley batting sensibly.

Do we really want Moeen in the side? He is leaving and is just keeping a player for the future out.

In fairness we have lost two quick wickets and have two new batsmen at the crease. I would expect the run rate to drop considerably while they,hopefully, get settled in to build a big partnership.

GerryShedd wrote:

Thanks, Reabank. I've sent you a message.
Regarding the players, I can't think of any group of employees who wouldn't vote for less work for the same pay if they had the chance. So I don't blame them, even though they have half the year in which to recover from their efforts.

Gerry, I do think a sportsman or woman is in a different position than people in "normal" jobs. Firstly they are being paid doing what they enjoy doing as a leisure activity. Their career is very short and will not be paid to play until they draw the state pension! Secondly, I have said many times they need to realise they are in the entertainment business and should be playing when spectators can attend - like today for example. Back in the 50s and 60s they played 6 days a week 120 overs a day. Nowadays they can hardly manage 96 overs and have a drinks break every hour!

I am in exactly the same position as Tayls and like him wish you all success.

In the Blast a pool of 6 teams would result 10 games not 12.

To make the County Championship meaningful with a better chance of resulting in improved Test side the matches should be played in every month of the season.

Highveld - you saying you can be mischevious ( even spelt correctly) - no never!!!!!!!!!!!

I do believe views expressed on this forum are genuinely felt and certainly not malicious - so different to the old original forum which had one or two unpleasant characters seemingly causing upsets. My motto is to never fall out with anyone just because they are wrong!!

Newver been a fan of his since the way he left to join Worcs at the start of his career. Evident then he plays for Moeen IMO. Agreed he has made a good contribution to English cricket but I would not say it has been a great contribution.

Highveld wrote:

To be honest, if batting at 8, and only facing a total of 30 deliveries, how much can truly be expected of Kai Smith

I agree to a point. However, one game he came in with still 7, I think, overs left and failed. The rest he has no chance of settling in and can only swing the bat.

Well I know FOUR worthy candidates to fill the role head of media !!!

I agree Paul. I only mentioned the Friday T20 - Sunday 1st day of CC because players have avoided starting at 11am after an evening game the night before! Pluse players complaining of too much cricket. Yet they have the energy to chase the dollar around the world. But yes cricket should be played on Saturday and Sunday on alternate weeks.
Funny how players were never burned out when there was no limited overs cricket and they played 6 days a week bowling 120 overs a day! At a time when the fitness levels were much lower and dietry needs were met in pint glasses!

I agree Paul. I only mentioned the Friday T20 - Sunday 1st day of CC because players have avoided starting at 11am after an evening game the night before! Pluse players complaining of too much cricket. Yet they have the energy to chase the dollar around the world. But yes cricket should be played on Saturday and Sunday on alternate weeks.
Funny how players were never burned out when there was no limited overs cricket and they played 6 days a week bowling 120 overs a day! At a time when the fitness levels were much lower and dietry needs were met in pint glasses!

The ECB want a successful test side yet places restrictions on playing that format of the game.
In a short season of really 5 months (April to August) we have 4 different formats of the game - c/c, 50 over, 20 over and 16.4 over.
Football with its 8 month season has one format and just 3 competitions - league, FA cup and League cup (whatwever it's called these days).
Therein lies crickets problem.
Cricket would get a much better following if it had county cricket played throughout the season alongside T20 - in the same way cc played alongside the 40 over game back in the 90s. There would be room for a knockout competition similar to the old B&H or Gillette cup. The public needs to know when games are on so needs to be set days = eg Friday night T20 followed by county cricket starting on Sundays.

Well we really did our best to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. In those last 5 overs we only needed to knock the ball around for singles and 4s - definitely no need for 6s. In that context I thought Garton was perhaps playing the supporting role to Hain who was scoring steadily and sensibly.
Looked a good crowd.

On the subject of timing your "peak" it will be interesting to see how Northants progress - have they peaked too soon or have they the talent to just keep on performing.

I can understand Garton not being brought on to bowl the final over. He has been hammered in earlier games coming on near the death. If that had happened again last night his confidence would really have been demolished. No, he should have been used in the early overs - 6 off the first was not a bad return - and in doing so would have left a couple of other bowlers with a spare over available. That would have given the captain a choice depending on what was needed. Another alternative it would have given and that would be not to have used Hassan for 4 overs when he was clearly not on form. Is that the problem with Davies, totally inflexible when it comes to a game plan?

It all came down to a partnership we couldn't break until it was too late and then it took a run out. We had a couple of attempts for a six falling just short of the ropes. Can't criticise a defeat off the last ball.

It all came down to a partnership we couldn't break until it was too late and then it took a run out. We had a couple of attempts for a six falling just short of the ropes. Can't criticise a defeat off the last ball.

Well after that slow start that was some partnership that really up the run rate. Then 67 in the final 5 overs with Moeen getting a good knock. But why did he refuse a single in the final over as if his partner was a tail ender.

With some decent bowling we should win this.

37/1 off first 6 - slow start.