So very awful, yeah. He had an alright Blast campaign - the first/only high point of his career - and its seemingly sucked Yorks into thinking that he's decent.
Presumably Surrey haven't produced a road (a 550 vs 500 type match is of less use to them than a win would be). In which case, they're seemingly on course for a decent score.
I remember when we played Leics during the weird Covid season and we just hit him all over the park like Surrey are currently doing.
Weatherley's form since coming back into the team has been horrific. Throwing Prest straight into a potential title-deciding match next week would be a huge call. But if Weatherley fails again second innings, we might have little choice (unless we think Mason will be needed for Edgbaston, which is possible).
What an utterly shambolic batting performance. We've literally handed the title to Surrey on a plate.
I'm far more annoyed at how green the pitch is, rather than our batting. There was just no need to prepare such a pitch. I appreciate the forecast for Friday looks bad, and hence this might only be a three day game. But when you have a seam attack as strong as ours, and up against a relatively weak batting line-up, why would you choose to give up that advantage by producing something which any seamer who run riot on? Even more so when you consider that batting points are important too, not just the win points.
Maybe Hampshire have decided to 'donate' maximum bowling points to Kent, to help them in their battle against relegation, with the proviso that Kent then collapse in their second innings, allowing Hampshire to win inside two days, thus giving the players an extra day's rest. Or we're rubbish, suddenly
That pitch is not a 57 all out pitch. We've prepared plenty of green pitches this season. That was just shocking batting.
I'm not saying it wasn't bad batting. Of course it was. But we've gone way too far with that pitch. Off the top of my head, it's the first time we've chosen to bowl first at the Bowl this season - which says a lot. Other than Northants the other day (when there was rain around), has anyone chosen to bowl first at the Bowl this season? We shot ourselves in the foot before a ball was bowled. By taking batting points out of the equation - and indeed the draw out of the equation - we're limiting ourselves to a maximum of 19 points. Basically it's either three points or 19 points (and it's surely going to be three points from here). Even if we were to duly get those 19 points, it makes it difficult to eat into that eight point deficit. And worse, it leaves the door open for Surrey to extend it.
What sort of minefield have Essex produced at Chelmsford? 26 wickets and Day 1 hasn’t finished yet! I seem to recall complaints from Essex about the track at Taunton leading to Somerset being deducted points a few years ago…
Realistically I can't see those three wickets changing the outcome. But they should at least ensure that we come out tomorrow with our tails up.
