Good to see Jordan back, we've missed him. Topley for Mills I guess is an indication of how important Bairstow is for Fire, and hence the need to get him early.
Agreed (although he was excellent in the opening game vs Manchester). But you don't bring Topley in to bowl in the middle or the death (Thompson could do that, whilst also adding fielding and batting). To pick Topley as Mills' replacement, I wouldn't be surprised if we're looking at the first 40 balls of just Overton, Archer and Topley (unless any of them get hit around).
I think I'd be tempted to hold Archer back. Give Overton and Topley most of the PP, maybe 5 from Archer. I guess a lot will depend on how many runs we score first. We badly need a score of 150+.
This is one of those games - a bit like the Rockets match - where not losing wickets in the PP is more important than scoring runs. The drop off in qualify of their seamers, after Henry and Payne, is huge. But if we do that, we do then need to take advantage of having those wickets in hand. That's where we messed up against Rockets.
I see that the rumours of Barker returning to Warwickshire (to finish his career and move into coaching) are true.
Fair enough. Shame his Hants career finished the way it did but he's been a great bowler (and lower order batter) for us and good luck to him when he goes into coaching.
It's brilliant bowling from both of them, albeit against three batters who aren't in great form. But now we need to cash in.
Should be going at around a run a ball even if the aim is just to see off the two bowlers. 8 just massively increases the presssure to score quickly.
