Good that Dan Mousley is in the squad. It looked serious when he appeared to sustain a finger injury against Durham last Sunday. I suppose at least Ali and Woaksey aren't drinks carriers!

So it's Essex at home on Thursday evening. Is Hassan Ali available? Apparently he signed a 4 month contract until the end of July? Hopefully that is the case. He's been a great signing, pity it's not for the whole season.

Fair play to Henry Brookes. He bowled superbly only conceding 15 runs off 3.5 overs and took 3 wickets. He looked rapid today. Great knock of 28 runs as well. Hopefully that should give him a major confidence boost.

GerryShedd wrote:

BristolBear wrote:

Feel desperately for Olly.
But you start to wonder how mental it is. You start looking for things that other bowlers might ignore. Struggle to bowl through minor issues because you’re scared of the huge injury.
I know there’s those that suspect that might be Norwells problem last year.

To say that Stone and Norwell are just snowflakes who should bowl through the pain is an interesting point of view. But when ignoring an injury could end your career, it's maybe best to listen to your body and to what the physios and the medical experts say.

Pace bowlers are probably never quite 100% fit through a season. It's how you manage it and cope with the strains on your body.

A remarkable victory in view of the first over being 7 for 4! I see Olly Stone only managed to bowl 3 balls before he had to leave the field. I think it was the correct decision to let him go as he's so injury prone. It won't help England's Ashes series either!

Good signing. Is Hassan Ali coming back for any County Championship matches? If not that's a huge blow. Particularly as Norwell looks to be out for the season.

Moronic Just Stop Oil protestors have delayed the game for a few minutes. A great example of how to get the public on your side.....

I'm surprised that Anderson has retained his place - Mark Wood should've got the nod with his extra pace. Woakes gets poor treatment, he should be released for the Bears. You can end up resting players too long that they can end up rusty and at risk of injury from lack of match fitness.

Pretty rubbish 1st innings batting display. Missing Sam Hain to steady things!

A hard day in the sun by the look of it! Is OHD injured? I have serious doubts that we will see Norwell his season........the club aren't giving out any details on his back condition.

Is it a given that Woakes won't be available? I assume it depends on England's selectors - they have a great habit of messing him around.

I keep thinking Brookes will surely come good? But, I'm beginning to doubt him. 51 runs off 4 overs is pathetic. What happened to Hasan Ali?

I see 37 year old Chris Wright has taken 27 wickets so far this season for Leicestershire. Now he's been signed up for Sussex for 2024! What year were he and Keith Barker let go?

They need to cut back on the reverse sweeps. You miss playing across the line and invariably you're out lbw. England paid the price against the Aussies.

Annoying in the end, such a flat wicket. A Woakes or a Norwell playing would've helped. Still no real information on Norwell's injury apart from he's still unavailable with a sore back - you have to question whether it's more serious than that as he hasn't bowled a single ball this season.

What's happened to Norwell? Is it still a sore back problem or something more serious? He's missed 2 months of the season now.

Brookes first over goes for 14! Poor show after his display last Friday against the same opposition. Why didn't they go with Lintott's pace off the ball instead?

A brilliant knock from Sam Hain scoring 79 not out. Total looks much better at 203/7......how much longer can England ignore Sam?

140/6 after 16.2, not great against one of the weakest teams in the competition. Some poor shot selections and three top batsmen all bowled against a spinner with only one wicket in the T20 campaign so far! Up to Sam Hain to yet again dig us out of a hole.

If Briggs had bowled the penultimate over we'd probably have won. Poor decision to give it to Brookes. 27 off that over cost us the game.