An Interesting Pitch

[John Hall]

At Edgbaston, 15 wickets had fallen by tea on the first day of the
Warwickshire v Essex match. After that, it seems to have settled down,
with only another four wickets falling.

The pitch at Old Trafford seems to have been pretty spicy too:
Lancashire 140 and 10-1, Somerset 146, shortly before close of play.

[miked]

Post by John Hall
At Edgbaston, 15 wickets had fallen by tea on the first day of the
Warwickshire v Essex match. After that, it seems to have settled down,
with only another four wickets falling.
Lancashire 140 and 10-1, Somerset 146, shortly before close of play.

Buster Jennings he of the monumental long innings was out twice on the
first day!
The OT square in the test match looked awful like theyd been a drought
and i suspect
that there are by this stage in the season a lot of worn pitches prob
responsible for
the low scores in several matches. Surreys dramatic defeat at Taunton
has certainly
opened up the CC contest, well it looks like either surrey or somerset.

mike

[John Hall]

Post by miked

Post by John Hall
At Edgbaston, 15 wickets had fallen by tea on the first day of the
Warwickshire v Essex match. After that, it seems to have settled down,
with only another four wickets falling.
Lancashire 140 and 10-1, Somerset 146, shortly before close of play.

Buster Jennings he of the monumental long innings was out twice on the
first day!
The OT square in the test match looked awful like theyd been a drought
and i suspect
that there are by this stage in the season a lot of worn pitches prob
responsible for
the low scores in several matches.

I read that the pitch at OT for this match is a so-called "hybrid"
pitch, and those seem to be very helpful to bowlers. With the T20 that
was scheduled for Sunday, and the rain they have had, preparing a decent
pitch may have been problematic.

Post by miked
Surreys dramatic defeat at Taunton
has certainly
opened up the CC contest, well it looks like either surrey or somerset.
mike

Yep. As a Surrey supporter it was an annoying defeat, as we still had
two wickets in hand with a maximum of 9 or 10 balls left. Then Clark's
long block was ended and Worrall fell second ball. If he could have seen
out the over, Roach's blocking skills would probably have enabled him to
survive the final one.

The ideal scenario for me now would be a Somerset loss to Lancashire,
when even a draw with plenty of batting points would leave Surrey some
20 points ahead going into the last match, and so fairly safe.

[Andy Walker]

Post by John Hall
The ideal scenario for me now would be a Somerset loss to
Lancashire, when even a draw with plenty of batting points would
leave Surrey some 20 points ahead going into the last match, and so
fairly safe.

Hmm. Some of us would prefer to see Lancashire lose, not out of
any ill-will towards Surrey but because other counties need a cushion to
avoid potential relegation.

OT, but thinking of Notts vis-a-vis Lancs: The Forest win vs L'pool was
widely touted as their first since February 1969. I saw that match! I was
in a temporary job in L'pool, so went to Anfield, my one and only visit.
It had been snowing heavily, and the match should probably have been called
off, but the ref decided it was playable as it was snow on the pitch rather
than ice. Excellent and surprisingly skilful match.

[miked]

Post by John Hall

Post by miked

Post by John Hall
At Edgbaston, 15 wickets had fallen by tea on the first day of the
Warwickshire v Essex match. After that, it seems to have settled down,
with only another four wickets falling.
Lancashire 140 and 10-1, Somerset 146, shortly before close of play.

Buster Jennings he of the monumental long innings was out twice on the
first day!
The OT square in the test match looked awful like theyd been a drought
and i suspect
that there are by this stage in the season a lot of worn pitches prob
responsible for
the low scores in several matches.

I read that the pitch at OT for this match is a so-called "hybrid"
pitch, and those seem to be very helpful to bowlers. With the T20 that
was scheduled for Sunday, and the rain they have had, preparing a decent
pitch may have been problematic.

Post by miked
Surreys dramatic defeat at Taunton
has certainly
opened up the CC contest, well it looks like either surrey or somerset.
mike

Yep. As a Surrey supporter it was an annoying defeat, as we still had
two wickets in hand with a maximum of 9 or 10 balls left. Then Clark's
long block was ended and Worrall fell second ball. If he could have seen
out the over, Roach's blocking skills would probably have enabled him to
survive the final one.

I can understand why they decided to try and block for a draw as that
would have almost? assured them of the title, but it seems an odd thing
for a team where Alec S is head of cricket [his final season i believe]
although until Sibley got out after 61 overs it looked as if it was a
certain draw. Dont think Stokes would have played it like that, he'd
gone for the target even if the pitch was a turner.

Post by John Hall
The ideal scenario for me now would be a Somerset loss to Lancashire,
when even a draw with plenty of batting points would leave Surrey some
20 points ahead going into the last match, and so fairly safe.

I'd kinda prefer someone new like Somerset to at last win, but ATM they
are trailing with Lancs lower order stretching a serious lead. Wonder
why Vaughan Jnr, who got 11 wkts in the last macth, has hardly bowled.

mike

[John Hall]

<snip>

Post by miked

Post by John Hall

Post by miked
Surreys dramatic defeat at Taunton
has certainly
opened up the CC contest, well it looks like either surrey or somerset.
mike

Yep. As a Surrey supporter it was an annoying defeat, as we still had
two wickets in hand with a maximum of 9 or 10 balls left. Then Clark's
long block was ended and Worrall fell second ball. If he could have seen
out the over, Roach's blocking skills would probably have enabled him to
survive the final one.

I can understand why they decided to try and block for a draw as that
would have almost? assured them of the title, but it seems an odd thing
for a team where Alec S is head of cricket [his final season i believe]
although until Sibley got out after 61 overs it looked as if it was a
certain draw. Dont think Stokes would have played it like that, he'd
gone for the target even if the pitch was a turner.

It certainly seemed out of character. Someone at Surrey (Burns?) said
before the start of the season that it would be a mistake to "defend
their title" and instead they were going to attack. And that's what they
have done pretty much throughout the season until it came to the second
innings at Taunton. One can't help thinking that a more attacking
approach might have served them better.

Post by miked

Post by John Hall
The ideal scenario for me now would be a Somerset loss to Lancashire,
when even a draw with plenty of batting points would leave Surrey some
20 points ahead going into the last match, and so fairly safe.

I'd kinda prefer someone new like Somerset to at last win,

If they were in contention with any other county than Surrey, I'd want
them to win too. IIRC, they are one of only three counties - along with
Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire - never to have won the title.
(Gloucs were several times top county when the Graces were at their
peak, but that was before the Championship was officially set up in
1890.)

Post by miked
but ATM they
are trailing with Lancs lower order stretching a serious lead. Wonder
why Vaughan Jnr, who got 11 wkts in the last macth, has hardly bowled.
mike

A very different pitch from Taunton, I imagine. It occurred to me that,
if Vaughan had taken his 11 wickets before the England squad for
Pakistan was picked rather than just after, he might well have been
selected for the tour, given England's willingness to pick very
inexperienced players. He's clearly a hugely promising all-rounder.

I wonder if Shoaib Bashir might need to find a new county, given that
Somerset have Leach and now Vaughan. Of course the number of county
matches he would miss while playing for England would make him a less
attractive proposition for another county than he would otherwise be.

[miked]

Post by John Hall
<snip>

Post by miked

Post by John Hall

Post by miked
Surreys dramatic defeat at Taunton
has certainly
opened up the CC contest, well it looks like either surrey or somerset.
mike

Yep. As a Surrey supporter it was an annoying defeat, as we still had
two wickets in hand with a maximum of 9 or 10 balls left. Then Clark's
long block was ended and Worrall fell second ball. If he could have seen
out the over, Roach's blocking skills would probably have enabled him to
survive the final one.

I can understand why they decided to try and block for a draw as that
would have almost? assured them of the title, but it seems an odd thing
for a team where Alec S is head of cricket [his final season i believe]
although until Sibley got out after 61 overs it looked as if it was a
certain draw. Dont think Stokes would have played it like that, he'd
gone for the target even if the pitch was a turner.

It certainly seemed out of character. Someone at Surrey (Burns?) said
before the start of the season that it would be a mistake to "defend
their title" and instead they were going to attack. And that's what they
have done pretty much throughout the season until it came to the second
innings at Taunton. One can't help thinking that a more attacking
approach might have served them better.

It was a very embarrasing collapse on the final day, but today there
victory should have sealed a 3rd consecutive title especially if
Somerset lose tomorrow as seems likely unless rain intervenes. Theyve
done very well despite losing the services of many of their top players
for most or part of the CC, like Pope, ATkinson, Smith and the Currans,
also Roach to injury, and while theyve had Foakes all season, until
recently Burns and Sib have been a bit sub par.

Post by John Hall

Post by miked

Post by John Hall
The ideal scenario for me now would be a Somerset loss to Lancashire,
when even a draw with plenty of batting points would leave Surrey some
20 points ahead going into the last match, and so fairly safe.

I'd kinda prefer someone new like Somerset to at last win,

If they were in contention with any other county than Surrey, I'd want
them to win too. IIRC, they are one of only three counties - along with
Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire - never to have won the title.
(Gloucs were several times top county when the Graces were at their
peak, but that was before the Championship was officially set up in
1890.)

Post by miked
but ATM they
are trailing with Lancs lower order stretching a serious lead. Wonder
why Vaughan Jnr, who got 11 wkts in the last macth, has hardly bowled.
mike

A very different pitch from Taunton, I imagine. It occurred to me that,
if Vaughan had taken his 11 wickets before the England squad for
Pakistan was picked rather than just after, he might well have been
selected for the tour, given England's willingness to pick very
inexperienced players. He's clearly a hugely promising all-rounder.
I wonder if Shoaib Bashir might need to find a new county, given that
Somerset have Leach and now Vaughan. Of course the number of county
matches he would miss while playing for England would make him a less
attractive proposition for another county than he would otherwise be.

Hartley is another who might wanna move to get regular cricket. But not
long ago we were on this forum, regularly lamenting that there wernt any
spinners coming through the CC to be a successor to Swann for example.
Now there seem to be lots of promising young spinners.

mike

[John Hall]

Post by miked

Post by John Hall
<snip>

Post by miked

Post by John Hall

Post by miked
Surreys dramatic defeat at Taunton
has certainly
opened up the CC contest, well it looks like either surrey or somerset.
mike

Yep. As a Surrey supporter it was an annoying defeat, as we still had
two wickets in hand with a maximum of 9 or 10 balls left. Then Clark's
long block was ended and Worrall fell second ball. If he could have seen
out the over, Roach's blocking skills would probably have enabled him to
survive the final one.

I can understand why they decided to try and block for a draw as that
would have almost? assured them of the title, but it seems an odd thing
for a team where Alec S is head of cricket [his final season i believe]
although until Sibley got out after 61 overs it looked as if it was a
certain draw. Dont think Stokes would have played it like that, he'd
gone for the target even if the pitch was a turner.

It certainly seemed out of character. Someone at Surrey (Burns?) said
before the start of the season that it would be a mistake to "defend
their title" and instead they were going to attack. And that's what they
have done pretty much throughout the season until it came to the second
innings at Taunton. One can't help thinking that a more attacking
approach might have served them better.

It was a very embarrasing collapse on the final day, but today there
victory should have sealed a 3rd consecutive title especially if
Somerset lose tomorrow as seems likely unless rain intervenes. Theyve
done very well despite losing the services of many of their top players
for most or part of the CC, like Pope, ATkinson, Smith and the Currans,
also Roach to injury, and while theyve had Foakes all season, until
recently Burns and Sib have been a bit sub par.

Roach to WI at one point as well, and also Abbott to Australia. Also
they've been without Jacks for most of the season, and Lawrence as well
recently, both of whom they could have done with at Taunton.

Thankfully Worrall and Clark have stayed fit throughout, and they have
been the core of the attack. And having Burns, Sibley and Foakes
throughout has given the batting a little stability.

I think given how Atkinson and Smith have done for England they will be
two of Wisden's five CotY in the next edition. You could make a strong
case for Worrall as well, but I doubt they would want to pick three
players from the same county. (Kamindu Mendis is likely to be another.)

Post by miked

Post by John Hall

Post by miked

Post by John Hall
The ideal scenario for me now would be a Somerset loss to Lancashire,
when even a draw with plenty of batting points would leave Surrey some
20 points ahead going into the last match, and so fairly safe.

I'd kinda prefer someone new like Somerset to at last win,

If they were in contention with any other county than Surrey, I'd want
them to win too. IIRC, they are one of only three counties - along with
Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire - never to have won the title.
(Gloucs were several times top county when the Graces were at their
peak, but that was before the Championship was officially set up in
1890.)

Post by miked
but ATM they
are trailing with Lancs lower order stretching a serious lead. Wonder
why Vaughan Jnr, who got 11 wkts in the last macth, has hardly bowled.
mike

A very different pitch from Taunton, I imagine. It occurred to me that,
if Vaughan had taken his 11 wickets before the England squad for
Pakistan was picked rather than just after, he might well have been
selected for the tour, given England's willingness to pick very
inexperienced players. He's clearly a hugely promising all-rounder.
I wonder if Shoaib Bashir might need to find a new county, given that
Somerset have Leach and now Vaughan. Of course the number of county
matches he would miss while playing for England would make him a less
attractive proposition for another county than he would otherwise be.

Hartley is another who might wanna move to get regular cricket. But not
long ago we were on this forum, regularly lamenting that there wernt any
spinners coming through the CC to be a successor to Swann for example.
Now there seem to be lots of promising young spinners.
mike

Yes, that's highly encouraging.