England aren't releasing either Bethell or Archer now. But as comms yesterday put it, there was a named player they had to come in for, in our case it was Malik.

Anyone watching - have Sussex looked in any danger, were they giving any chances?

Mikkyk wrote:

Highveld wrote:

Rushworth needs to be added to the list taking a paid holiday at the clubs expense.

Unchanged test team announced, but non selected players are not being released.
Makes the decision to omit Mousely even more of a mistake.

Agreed, I'd already stated on a different thread that I would expect him to leave at the end of the season - I am now 100% convinced he won't be playing next year. Sadly it seems his body gave up on him over a year ago.

Edit - have we already nominated who Bethell will come in for and if so, can that change for Rushworth?

Yup,

I was thinking that yesterday. For left arm spin purposes as well. Malik did hit one beautiful off drive but I'm not sure he's really got the temperament for this level. It was him I mainly had in mind when I made the comment about lack of confidence.

(Revisiting this confidence point, I think it totally doesn't apply to Barnard and Hain, who looked very at-ease when batting together).

Highveld wrote:

Commentators have just stated that Malik will be withdrawn if Bethell is released from the test squad.

That will significantly improve the team.

The commentators were talking up Garton and attempting to get him on comms. Didn't speculate, as far as I could hear, about whether he would play in cc though.

Andy wrote:

Didn't notice that. Garton was about though.

Not sure how to reconcile the fact both openers were caught in the deep with the fact they collectively seem very short on confidence.

I give Yates more of an allowance than Davies. Davies clearly had no time to think there but says something about his mindset he instinctively went for that shot. Malik never looked set, neither did Latham but credit to Sussex they have been relentless and have kept adapting. Something I hear we didn't in the last game.

meashambear wrote:

We have gone from 174-1 to 190-4

RR was up at 4.5 ish now plummeting to 3.5 ish

Once again we have allowed the opposition to dictate the pace and tempo of the game

Barnard 6, Kai 7, Bamber 8 isn't it?

Having the rare pleasure of watching this on the stream. Good start in terms of numbers. I haven't watched a lot of these bat this season so far but they do look quite skittish. Do they tend to settle down?

paulbear wrote:

Bamber at 7 and it looks very weak on that front. I would put Roccchi at 7, he didn't look too bad last game. At least, it seems we have made a move that reflects us trying to bowl Sussex out but hope the long tail won't be something we regret.

Good luck starting this off guys. Alas I haven't been a member since early 2000s but would have supported this SGM push.

Agree with all the points above. Mousley and Bethell would make sense to switch, but I can't help feeling Sussex get the better of the deal with a wound-up Archer to come in for half a game, off the leash.

I wonder if the Derby would be outside of pool play?? Something similar in Major League Baseball...

LeicesterExile wrote:

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.

Hi Terry, nice coverage. The CC one I find quite interesting, and this "all-in" play-off model I think is a good one to create increasing jeopardy while also ensuring all teams are playing. I make that 13 games for the season - with the potential, I guess, for a 14th game final or relegation / promotion decider which I think might well be the best compromise given the alternative was 12 or even fewer CC games.

OD have explicitly said now is in a holding pattern, I hope this is some step into going further and mandating the involvement of academy players or paradoxically full internationals of county capped players, etc.

What I want to happen and what I think will happen are two separate things, only going to comment on want I think will happen... I don't think Bethell will be available given the timing of the England game so I think Mouse comes in for him. Also think there will be a change in bowling though what it will be have no idea. I presume Rushworth comes into the frame and perhaps Taz as well though can't assess for whom. Also don't think Yates or Davies will be replaced or the latter replaced as captain.

Highveld wrote:

If a change of captancy was made, I'd suggest that Ed Barnard is the right person. He has the ability to run the side, has a good character, and he is not prone to, regularly, being dismissed by playing shots that are totally inappropriate to the game situation. Also, alongside Sam Hain, he is one of the first names on the team sheet for all games.

I feel his calmer, more mature attitude would provide better leadership and give a better example of how to succeed in the pro game than the current choice.

For the Sussex game, I'd keep Kai in the side, and keep the gloves. decide on one of Simmons, Taz Ali or Rushworth dependent on the conditions on the day. Also consider adding Mousley to the team in place of Yates, With Latham opening the batting, something he has effectively done in every game anyway. It also gives us a different style of offspinner, which will nicely compliment & Contrast with the style from Cory.

I hope it gives Bethell something to think about. Pope's century means, barring some Bazball pick like him replacing Bashir as a spinner or injury, Jacob won't play in this test series and gives him a bigger target to get back in. Hope it's an interesting challenge to watch.

BristolBear wrote:

Brainless from Bethell. You hope senior players in the dressing room hold him to account.
Where’s the benefit to the team in playing that shot?
I appreciate there’s no catching the selectors eyes with batting out the draw, and going along at a strike rate around 50.
But surely just time in the middle is a positive?

Not only stupid, but selfish.

It's true his batting needs work as well, but his keeping is significant because that's the only thing stopping Davies with his ridiculous triple role, just about the only thing this forum is united on!

BristolBear wrote:

On Smith, I don’t think his selection is simply a case of “is his keeping good enough”. His batting needs work too.
He’s one of a number of players in CC for us who are undoubtedly talented, but lack consistency.
Davies, Yates, Bethell, Mousley, Smith, Simmons, Booth, Shaikh, all fall into that category. For some of them, it’s due to their age. But it’s hard to consistently win, if you’re not consistent in your performances.
And consistency doesn’t always mean just in stats, but in how they play, not giving their wickets away, if they’re not taking wickets then don’t go for runs.

Did anyone see how young Kai went with the gloves over Somerset's innings? I know Andy said something along the lines of a bit untidy before, has there been any move on that? After so many overs in the field, good to see Davies play a patient and long knock, some validation that he wasn't burnt out keeping.

Yeah whether it's been a success or not is a different matter. I'm not sure the most recent tours to India and Australia have really validated this policy either!

Reabank wrote:

Does look like another nailed on draw. Like the Sussex and Surrey games. I can see you might want to encourage point of difference bowlers but not sure our flat pitches plus the kookaburra helps anybody very much.

I don't think it's conspiracy, I think the ECB have almost explicitly said they want this and for exactly the reasons you state Bristol: encourage real speed bowlers, good spinner etc, hence the Kookaburra rounds as well. They have again said they want a more competitive team for dry and flat pitches in Australia and India, etc. It is the reason I was proposing Garton and Hassan for this game too - point of difference bowlers.

Good knowledge!

Yeah, fully expected him to be released, just hypothesising on the concussion sub. Reckon Joverton an excellent deputy for Olly Pope as a substitute.

Andy wrote:

Englamd are releasing him Saturday evening, him and Sam Cook. Joverton retained.

Just wondering: Concussion substitute? Don't get me wrong I think should and will play for us on Sunday but it is a reason England could keep him with the squad.

Yeah, you kind of get the feeling it's time for action with Davies' triple role now (Though who knows what will happen). Reluctantly I agree he keeps the gloves and drops down the order, but I think Bethell will go three on England instructions and Davies five. Is Hassan Ali contracted for T20 only? ie unavailable for this one? With the Aussie spinner and no Booth or Webster, he could fit in and provide some much needed sharpness in the attack.

I'm not sure where he is with availability right now, but I'd like to see Garton do some red ball. Might do him some good to just bowl without someone going after him every ball and he could definitely do a batting job at that tricky number 8 spot.

Think he has to play. He hasn't played a red ball game in the UK since last season. Unlike Woakes, he doesn't have a chronic injury to manage either so should be fine. My feeling is this isn't a recent decision, although was announced today, Stokes' grumpy backpedalling from a few weeks ago sort of let you know what that thinking was.

I don't think any need to get too down on that. Lost to a more settled side playing away from home. I get the point we have some more established test players but cohesiveness is important and we're still building. I don't agree with bringing Yates in, unless it's for Latham, just costs us firepower if he's in for Smith. Smith bats at 7 or 8 with the gloves it's a balanced side and I'm sure that's the plan. Just don't know when we see it.