Great, Barker is hobbling around. As if things weren't bad enough. Even a medium-term injury would mean it's his season over.
It is frustrating that we decided to break up the Organ-Holland opening partnership. Don't get me wrong, I always felt it was a short term partnership of convenience. But they still should have been allowed to start this season together, at least until they proved me right. Whereas we've had two years of seeing that Weatherley is nowhere near up to standard (at least at the top of the order). His injury last season was a blessing, not a curse. What made the situation worse is that we tried to play Holland as a proper allrounder (ie at no.6). Whereas in reality, he's a no.8. Someone who can chip in with a 20 or 30 down the order, but not someone who can go out and make regular, meaningful contributions - which is what a no.6 should be able to do. I could have understood batting Holland at no.8 (ie the Berg or Abbott role) rather than as opener, but not at no.6. (I know that sounds very contradictory, when I'm advocating for the guy to continue, at least for now, as an opener. But that's more a case of us having no decent openers so we might as well go with two guys who can also bowl, as well as having a modicum of success there with the bat. A poor opener who can bowl is a whole lot more useful than a poor opener who can't bowl.) Organ, Holland, Vince, Northeast, Alsop, Dawson, Weatherley, McManus, Fuller, Barker (if fit), Crane That is still a very weak side. But it's much better than the one we put out this week (both in terms of personnel, and batting order), which was essentially a case of three down equals all out. If we're not comfortable enough to go with three seamers, then leave out Weatherley (or McManus) and play Dale (or Stevenson, if fit). But three seamers and three spinners should be enough, especially in August.
Glam 126-5 at stumps, a good fight back by Chris Cook who finished on 67 no, but only a matter of time tomorrow. Jamie gets Douthwaite last ball.
Yep, i'd go with that with maybe Dale in for Weatherley although I see that he only bowled the 4 overs in the second innings.
Somerset beat Glamorgan by 289 runs, Jamie Overton 5-48 in 2nd innings to complement his twin’s five-fer in the 1st. 21 points puts us top of the Central Group for the time being at least.
Poor old Daws, left out of the team against Ireland again, surely they could've let him have a match in a dead tie.
I think we may have said that once or twice before! It is strange how he can't perform for England as he does for his county he is a like Ramprakash or Hick used to be.
No real surprise that a spell in lockdown hasn't magically improved Moeen's batting. It's been dreadful for about a year or so now...and still is. He got recalled because of his name, not because he's done anything to deserve to be.
A couple of great wins for the "little guy". Leicester and Derby both with late, successful run chases - against two of the richer counties around. I'm sure they would both win more 4 day matches if only the ECB would permanently move to a three division structure (which I've wanted for over a decade). [I know this isn't a proper three division structure.]