So Cook’s retiring. Probably the right time. He hasn’t been getting runs regularly for a while now and hanging on too long could tarnish what’s been a great career.
The poor lad has had a terrible couple of seasons though. Think he's averaging less than 10 this season.
This is all so depressingly familiar for Hants, there is no backbone to our batting. I wish that we could turn the clock back 13 years and Slug and Jimmy were just starting here. We need the bowlers to bail us out again.
That's great effort from our seam attack and everyone chipped in, we need to grind it out now and bat them out of the match there is plenty of time left to not get out to silly shots.
The pitch is offering plenty for the bowlers. Glad we're not batting last on it. We should look to be attacking. No point being defensive. Eventually you'll get a ball with your name on it so better to play your shots rather than blocking.
But getting out leaving a ball is crazy and i'm not saying block every ball, just don't give your wicket away. Bat sensibly is basically what i'm saying.
Give the lad a break. It's his 3rd professional match in really difficult batting conditions. Yes getting out leaving is not good but more experienced players have got out like that. Hopefully he'll learn from it.
I'm just frustrated with our openers, they have consistantly failed to do their job all season ie see off the new ball and that is why we have failed to get a decent innings total throughout the campaign. it has to be better next season.