Glamorgan win!

[miked]

the 1 day metro cup [the only 50 over comp left] for the 2nd time at TB
but the final as an occasion was ruined by heavy rain that washed out
Sat, and only allowed a t20 match on the reserve sunday, in front of
very few people unsurprsingly given the weather forcast. Amazin they
actually managed a game at all. 187 looked way too much for somerset but
late slogging by dickson and Vaughan jnr brought them close. So somerset
2nd in the CC finish runners up again.

As the SFs happened on 18th august, they really could have had this
weeks ago when interest was more current, rather than shunted to the end
of the season and not even at Lords [not that i have anything against
TB], but it does seeem treated by the ECB as the poor relation. Kudos to
both teams who stuck with the players who had appeared in the comp.

mike

[John Hall]

Post by miked
the 1 day metro cup [the only 50 over comp left] for the 2nd time at TB
but the final as an occasion was ruined by heavy rain that washed out
Sat, and only allowed a t20 match on the reserve sunday, in front of
very few people unsurprsingly given the weather forcast. Amazin they
actually managed a game at all. 187 looked way too much for somerset but
late slogging by dickson and Vaughan jnr brought them close. So somerset
2nd in the CC finish runners up again.

I managed to watch quite a lot of the game, which was an entertaining
one. It was strange that, after picking Leach (and as they hadn't tossed
yesterday they could have changed their side if they thought the
conditions had changed), Somerset then didn't bowl him. He would almost
certainly have been a lot more economical than Aldridge. Glamorgan
bowled their own, less famous, spinner.

Post by miked
As the SFs happened on 18th august, they really could have had this
weeks ago when interest was more current, rather than shunted to the end
of the season and not even at Lords [not that i have anything against
TB], but it does seeem treated by the ECB as the poor relation. Kudos to
both teams who stuck with the players who had appeared in the comp.
mike

Yes, it must have been a big wrench for Somerset to leave out Gregory
and Craig Overton in particular.

[David North]

Post by miked
the 1 day metro cup [the only 50 over comp left] for the 2nd time at TB
but the final as an occasion was ruined by heavy rain that washed out
Sat, and only allowed a t20 match on the reserve sunday, in front of
very few people unsurprsingly given the weather forcast. Amazin they
actually managed a game at all. 187 looked way too much for somerset but
late slogging by dickson and Vaughan jnr brought them close. So somerset
2nd in the CC finish runners up again.

Although Somerset were the last team apart from Surrey who could have
won the CC, they are now 3rd. Their final match at home to Hampshire
will be a play-off for 2nd place, but if they lose, they could finish as
low as 4th, behind Essex.

Still, it's very reminiscent of 2010, when they were runners-up in all 3
competitions.

Meanwhile at TB, Notts and Warks just need to play out a draw which, as
long as Notts get 2 bonus points, will ensure that they both stay up and
Lancs go down.

Post by miked
As the SFs happened on 18th august, they really could have had this
weeks ago when interest was more current, rather than shunted to the end
of the season and not even at Lords [not that i have anything against
TB], but it does seeem treated by the ECB as the poor relation.

Last weekend was T20 Finals Day, and the previous 3 weekends would have
clashed with the SL Tests.

[John Hall]

Post by David North

Post by miked
the 1 day metro cup [the only 50 over comp left] for the 2nd time at TB
but the final as an occasion was ruined by heavy rain that washed out
Sat, and only allowed a t20 match on the reserve sunday, in front of
very few people unsurprsingly given the weather forcast. Amazin they
actually managed a game at all. 187 looked way too much for somerset but
late slogging by dickson and Vaughan jnr brought them close. So somerset
2nd in the CC finish runners up again.

Although Somerset were the last team apart from Surrey who could have
won the CC, they are now 3rd. Their final match at home to Hampshire
will be a play-off for 2nd place, but if they lose, they could finish
as low as 4th, behind Essex.

It will be interesting to see if Somerset prepare a very spin-friendly
pitch, given that Liam Dawson will be among the opposition (unless he
happens to be injured).

Post by David North
Still, it's very reminiscent of 2010, when they were runners-up in all
3 competitions.

It was probably harder for them in the CC because of the added pressure
of never having won it.

Post by David North
Meanwhile at TB, Notts and Warks just need to play out a draw which, as
long as Notts get 2 bonus points, will ensure that they both stay up
and Lancs go down.

Yes, I imagine that Notts will prepare a very flat pitch to try to
ensure they don't lose.

Post by David North

Post by miked
As the SFs happened on 18th august, they really could have had this
weeks ago when interest was more current, rather than shunted to the end
of the season and not even at Lords [not that i have anything against
TB], but it does seeem treated by the ECB as the poor relation.

Last weekend was T20 Finals Day, and the previous 3 weekends would have
clashed with the SL Tests.

Would that have been any worse than clashing with the ODIs? I suppose
the Tests monopolise the cricketing media much more than the ODIs do.
And I suppose Sky wouldn't have liked it, as unless the Test finished
early they would have to cope with showing both matches on the same day
(though they have enough channels to cope, especially if they made use
of the red button).

[Andy Walker]

Post by David North
Meanwhile at TB, Notts and Warks just need to play out a draw
which, as long as Notts get 2 bonus points, will ensure that they
both stay up and Lancs go down.

Yes, I imagine that Notts will prepare a very flat pitch to try to> ensure they don't lose.

The TB ground staff are above that sort of thing. It's always a
top-class wicket. Weather currently looking decent, but forecast mixed.

[David North]

Post by John Hall

Post by David North

Post by miked
As the SFs happened on 18th august, they really could have had this
weeks ago when interest was more current, rather than shunted to the end
of the season and not even at Lords [not that i have anything against
TB], but it does seeem treated by the ECB as the poor relation.

Last weekend was T20 Finals Day, and the previous 3 weekends would
have clashed with the SL Tests.

Would that have been any worse than clashing with the ODIs? I suppose
the Tests monopolise the cricketing media much more than the ODIs do.
And I suppose Sky wouldn't have liked it, as unless the Test finished
early they would have to cope with showing both matches on the same day
(though they have enough channels to cope, especially if they made use
of the red button).

You've pretty much answered your own question, in that the schedulers
could ensure that the final was between ODIs, rather than clashing with
any particular one, which is presumably why it was scheduled for a
Sunday, rather than a Saturday as last year.

Of course it meant that players in the ODI squads would not be
available, but that's a minor matter compared to the audience factor (at
the ground and on TV and radio).

[miked]

Post by David North

Post by John Hall

Post by David North

Post by miked
As the SFs happened on 18th august, they really could have had this
weeks ago when interest was more current, rather than shunted to the end
of the season and not even at Lords [not that i have anything against
TB], but it does seeem treated by the ECB as the poor relation.

Last weekend was T20 Finals Day, and the previous 3 weekends would
have clashed with the SL Tests.

Would that have been any worse than clashing with the ODIs? I suppose
the Tests monopolise the cricketing media much more than the ODIs do.
And I suppose Sky wouldn't have liked it, as unless the Test finished
early they would have to cope with showing both matches on the same day
(though they have enough channels to cope, especially if they made use
of the red button).

You've pretty much answered your own question, in that the schedulers
could ensure that the final was between ODIs, rather than clashing with
any particular one, which is presumably why it was scheduled for a
Sunday, rather than a Saturday as last year.
Of course it meant that players in the ODI squads would not be
available, but that's a minor matter compared to the audience factor (at
the ground and on TV and radio).

the real answer to this is the 100; the test and odi series wouldnt be
so late, and the final could take place a lot earlier if the 100 didnt
disrupt the schedule.

mike