I actually believe that we have some fine players and when mindset and application is right we bat genuinely deep but mindset and application is most definitely not right. What a very fine prospect Yeats looked last year and yet he is quickly set aside whilst Davies seems bulletproof, despite suicidal dismissal after suicidal dismissal. Sibley is Sibley and at very least should be the glue to many of our innings, Hain is a very fine batsman and yet seems to bat strangely at times? In the nineties yesterday and refusing singles, what was that all about. Lamb, Mousley, Benjamin, Burgess even Henry Brooks all should be offering valuable contributions as should Rhodes, why are we not using Hose? It's our apparent lack of purpose, urgency, application and desire that concerns me. The Bears have just scored over 200 in 20 overs 6/7 times this season and yet we struggle to get past two an over in the four day game. Something is a long way from right in our dressing room and in our coaching and management set up.

Couldn't agree more, ridiculous decion but it serves them right they've no chance of getting into Division 2 now! They'll be forced to play another season in Division 1, whereas The Bears ...............

Even taking this game in isolation, consider where we were at lunch on day one, to the position we now find ourselves in at tea on day three, and that includes losing an entire session. It takes some doing!

All too predictable I'm afraid. I think our performances have been hugely disappointing, favourable positions are thrown away game after game. Our batting lacks focus and momentum, everyone we play outscores us and at times appear to be on a different wicket to ourselves. When I arrived at the Ageas bowl last week we were 50 odd for none in a few overs with Sibley in remarkable mood. Within no time Davies tries a pull/ramp to fine leg off his middle stump and was gone lbw, Benjamin and Lamb both go shouldering arms Sibley reverts to type, and Rhodes freezes himself out. Normal service resumed by mid afternoon. Apart from OHD (what a revelation he has been? I can recall the first time we renewed his contract thinking why on earth have we bothered. He has worked so hard on his development and deserves massive respect) bowlers struggle to make an impression, I know we have suffered injuries but all counties do, even Briggs seems lack lustre and bowls far too many bad balls, releasing pressure rather than building it. Comprehensively out bowled by Dawson last week. And the captaincy, don't get me started. One hundred and tenth over against Hampshire, they were nine down with Briggs bowling, not a close catcher in sight until the very last ball of the over. It was as though he suddenly thought "Oh! I could get an extra bowling point here" a slip and a short leg. Last ball of the over, you could not make it up. It is as though we are sleep walking through this county season, with the experience that we have behind the scenes I don't understand it. Very frustrating!