Funny how these players say their health requires them to play less cricket but seem to find the energy to run off to The Hundread or IPL or whatever is played in Oz or SA.

I suspect the modern day cricketeris like turkeys voting for Christmas

Looking at the start of the final session on the final day of the test match at Lord's and you have to ask why the ECB and County chairmen do not think it worthwhile to promote and support the county championship. But then they wasted a brilliant opportunity 20 years ago.

I have said under the Future thread - too many games in a short period makes T20 expensive. Playing the CC mainly in spring and autumn makes it too cold for most and especially casual supporters. If both formats were spread throughout the season I feel attendances at both would rise.

Incidentally I am noticing on Facebook adverts promoting The Hundread. I have never seen such an advert for CC or T20.

Is anyone going to stay with our "opening" batsman - Hain

Davies does it again. Latham needs to earn his wages today.

38 boundaries scored - if my maths is correct

Normally Briggs comes in in the power play. Why have we continued to keep with the quicks despite going at 12+ an over!

Interesting comments regarding par score. Viewing through a laptop (an expert's view!) and the way we were scoring it really did look as if we should have got 20/30 more runs and the reason we didn't was through losing wickets. One big example was Hain getting out at the start of what is usually the last 5 overs onslaught - had that not happened I wonder what score we might have got.

Bowling was really tight tonight - just a shame their batsmen failed to get an edge given the number of times they played and missed! I too thougt the run outs would have been interesting in slow-mo although in fairness not one batsman looked surprised at being given out. After all the stick Garton has taken on this site I thought he had a pretty good game with both bat and ball.

Unfortunately Hain was out at the start of the 16th Over just when we usually put on a spurt. Problem was we had not got an established batsman to move it on. Thank goodness Garton got a decent score but I suspect we are well short. I just hope i am wrong - wickets needed.

I know Andy I meant to use my previous post re Latham. Anyway why don't we open with Mousley and Hain because they are effectively openers in the Blast.

LeicesterExile wrote:

Andy wrote:

I wouldn't say Latham has done nothing but he's a bit of a passenger in the field and his last 4 t20 innings have gone 6, 2, 23, 8.

It's a close call.

Looking at those scores I would say he hardly justifies his place in the side. I still maintain Yates would do better - I can't see him being worse.

I won't say I told you so but I'm missing Yates!!

Andy wrote:

I wouldn't say Latham has done nothing but he's a bit of a passenger in the field and his last 4 t20 innings have gone 6, 2, 23, 8.

It's a close call.

Looking at those scores I would say he hardly justifies his place in the side. I still maintain Yates would do better - I can't see him being worse.

Latham may be a high quality international player but he has done nothing in a Bears' shirt. Personally I would play Yates as opener with Davies and have Bethell in for Latham.

I've got a theory regarding falling attendance in both C/C and T20.
With regards C/C the much commented view too many games are played in the spring and autumn when the weather very often is quite chilly. In addition as teams do not play each other home and away the league positions are not true reflections of a teams ability.
With regards the T20 is playing all the games in a relatively small window it becomes an expensive time. Like this week with two games in 5 days with a game at Worcester inbetween. The home games £20 each bought in advance and even more paid on the day.

If both formats were played throughout the season much the same way as it was in the 90s C/C would have more games played in pleasant weather and the cost of attending T20 would become more affordable for the non-member (and their family).

The Hundread messes things up by having that in a block in August. Having the Finals day at the end of September is crazy with the final likely being played in really cold, if not wet, weather.

A good win just a bit of a blip the consecutive overs by Briggs and Mousley but otherwise superb. That catch was certainly very special.

Great start for Garton - except for a wide a 2 wkt maiden.

Tayls79 wrote:

Highest T20 strike rate of any of our top order with the exception of Bethell (who has a smaller sample size). It way well be true to say he isn't performing right now, however. Overall point still holds though, if Mo ain't there we still need a fast scoring batsman.

LeicesterExile wrote:

Post #25 - not sure I understand describing Moeen as an explosive batsman. Since he returned he has done very little to even justify his place and, to me, gives the impression of just turning up for a final pay cheque.
Latham, to me, has been a big disappointment and hardly justifies being selected ahead of Yates.

Looking at the stats for this season - Moeen has played 8 innings scored 123 runs at a strike rate of 135 whereas Barnard has played 10 innings scored 233 at a strike rate of 163. Some difference.

Post #25 - not sure I understand describing Moeen as an explosive batsman. Since he returned he has done very little to even justify his place and, to me, gives the impression of just turning up for a final pay cheque.
Latham, to me, has been a big disappointment and hardly justifies being selected ahead of Yates.

On the subject of Old Bears watching Wimbledon today in the Royal Box we were introduced to B C Lara.