BristolBear wrote:

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.

If there was any doubt to the approach we were going to take, I think it's clear now.

It does also suggest some other counties will not be taking the same approach as us and will use as many first teamers as possible.

Kelley is still only 18 so still has chance to establish himself, but clearly there are no short-medium term plans to use him.

If Davies and Burgess are to play in the same XI, I really wouldn't know who would be the one to miss out with the gloves.

Do any other counties use different keepers for white ball and red ball?

Yeah, he's due to play in the CPL. Can't see any reason why he wouldn't?

And I guess most teams will be in a similar position with their overseas T20 players in that they won't be available for quarter finals.

I thought it was strange how rugby dealt with it, it's almost as if they were saying it's the team's fault for having a Covid outbreak.

The BBC live text is suggesting that Essex are categorically not going to finish in the top two.

Exiled Bear wrote:

Whatever happened to Lamb's legspin?

It got a one over trial in the blast against Derbyshire, which went for 9 runs.

Strange to not use it otherwise, albeit for this game it's not exactly a worn pitch so no problem from me with going for seamers only so far.

Struggling for wickets here, which is understandable when (as the commentator pointed out) we are missing Woakes, Stone, OHD, Bresnan, H Brookes and Briggs.

However it is a worry we can't even get their nightwatchman out on a wicket that only one of our batsman scored on (which again suggests our batting was indeed below par again).

A win from here would seem very unlikely with the current score and weather forecast, so we need to try and come out of this with as many bonus points, as much confidence and as few injuries as possible.

@Andy, I think we were unlucky against Derby with various different contributing factors. I don't think we were so unlucky against Durham.

I think it was a close game but we had crucial moments go against us due to our own action, 20 off their last over and run out spring to mind as the two big game changers, neither of which I would say were unlucky.

Either way we need a very soon.

As other posters have said, if Hain fails, we fail. We can't be such a one man batting team if were serious about success in this competition.

I would also move Hose down the order rather than drop him and have someone more steady next to Pollock - possibly Malan with Hose batting where Lamb does.

I agree re the weather. We really struggled with the bat in those early overs.

It's very rare to see Hain out like that (albeit he seemed convinced he didn't edge it).

Overall I think we were unlucky with the toss/conditions, injuries, umpiring decisions possibly and all our aerial shots went to hand whereas they had a few that missed our fielders.

That being said we still should've had enough to win. We were 10-20 short with the bat then instantly shot ourselves in the foot by opening with Norwell - would be very surprised if we see him pull on the yellow jersey any time soon.

Not in the Hollies but there's no checking of your ticket when you enter the stand so people can go and sit wherever regardless of where your ticket states.

Thought I'd created a thread for the other games in the blast not involving us.

Nottinghamshire have just chased down Worcester's total of 86 in 6.2 overs. Is that the shortest ever chase?

Yeah it is possible to do online but for your ticket only I think.

You have to login to your account and then click on tickets at the top from there - doesn't seem to work if you go straight to tickets. Then it should look something like this:

Edit - As I bought another ticket with my membership ticket, I had to phone up anyway.

Nice write up.

Couple of other points from me, Rhodes' highest T20 score before today was 45 - I know a few have questioned whether he's ever been a T20 batsman and that would suggest otherwise but he was clearly the best batsman out there today so hopefully this is the dawn of a new beginning for him in T20. I do think the short straight boundary and their spin heavy attack helped him though.

Also, we've posted a couple of decent totals last couple of evenings and we've started slowly on both occasions, and stumbled at the end on both occasions. If we can get the powerplay and death overs right we could get some serious totals.

He was on 'No Balls' podcast, and I think it's worth a listen, a little insight into his last year - No Balls

GerryShedd wrote:

Annoying when the sound wasn't working but even more annoying now that it is.

The most annoying bit was when they claimed a direct hit and it should've been out, when the ball actually missed the wickets completely, Bairstow dropped it, and broke the stumps with his ball-less gloves

6/2. Seems like we can't keep our opening wickets in any format...

BristolBear wrote:

I understand Malan. They’ve clearly decided only 1 overseas per format. They want as much exposure for the younger players. It would be huge if they won something this year, but after this it’s time to expect things, and by seeing what the players are made of this year when they’re competing at the sharp end, they know exactly where the holes are for overseas or recruitment next year.

But no Woakes! What is going on?!?!? Yorkshire have Malan and Bairstow who are also England contracted and in the IPL. Not to mention Rashid and David Willey.

I was literally thinking earlier at least we're not the only team with an England player not playing at all as Yorkshire have Bairstow.

But like you say he's playing now, something going on with Woakes we don't know about like an injury?

I called for Miles to be the one to miss out if Woakes was available but he's proving me wrong so far.

Interesting that Rhodes brings himself on before Bresnan now.

Bring Michael Clark (crucially Clark without an E) out of retirement

You would think Woakes would have to play, but then we all thought that last time out.

Presumably Miles would be the one to drop out, unless they go Bresnan as Woakes matches his batting.

Win again and we would be favourites to go through surely.