Somerset batting for 14 overs this morning (essentially one hour) would be pretty perfect. Because when combined with the loss of two overs for the changeover, that would deny them a new ball at the end of the day. (Assuming there even is an end of the day. The forecast looks at its worst from about 5 o'clock or so.)
It's only just occurred to me that Billings' unexpected test call up last week means that we shouldn't have to face him in our t20 opener on Wednesday. He and Crawley are two huge players for Kent. I'm guessing that for us, Short, Fuller, Wood and Crane will come in for Steel, Barker, Wheal and Organ. Four overs each from Abbott, Wood, Crane and Dawson, with the other four coming from Holland, Fuller and/or Short. Ideally I'd rather we had one more top order batter (eg Donald if he was fit), in place of either Fuller, Holland or McManus - none of whom can be trusted to contribute regularly - but alas we are where we are.
I'll be disappointed if we can't bat out 75 overs - especially given that it could be less than that, and they don't have Leach, and we bat deep for once. We batted 131 overs against them last month when trying to save the game, and I reckon this is a better pitch.
I do feel for Steel here. For the team, we need him to hang in there. But for his career, he could do with showing that he can score runs - whether to attract us, or another county. This will be his last innings for us unless we extend his loan. The likes of Weatherley and Organ have shown before that they can stick in, it's the run scoring which they struggle with. Hence whilst Steel doing something similar here will greatly aid us today, it'll hardly present a pressing case for us signing him permanently.
So if the top two finishes as Somerset and Hants, I make it that Somerset would take though 18.5 points and we would take through 8.5 points. A 10 point deficit isn't ideal, but it's hardly the disaster. Roughly speaking, the difference between a win and a draw, or a draw and a loss.
Two wins will get us that top two finish. But even a draw vs Surrey gives us a great chance. Depending on what Gloucs do vs Middlesex, and what bonus points are won in our match vs Surrey, I make it that: The best case outcome going that the final round would be: Hants 124, Gloucs 109, Surrey 109 The worst case outcome going that the final round would be: Gloucs 133, Surrey 117, Hants 116 So anything between a 15 lead and a 17 point deficit (although both extremes are highly unrealistic). And even that worst case scenario of a 17 point deficit is still well within the capabilities of being overturned by us beating Gloucs. It's incredibly difficult for Surrey to overtake us (before the final round) without beating us. So given that they finish against Somerset, they almost certainly need to beat us. That could really play into our hands, if it means Surrey needing to take a risk.
He's apologised . Move on imho . But no , SFTW you are right . The pc brigade want their pound of flesh .
No one here can honestly say they’ve never said anything that is borderline offensive, especially in their teens.
As Brian Moore said this morning on Twitter “i’m really glad we didn’t have social media when I was a teenager” ……
Hardly a surprise that Fuller got taken for 42 off his 4 overs for the 2nds this afternoon. Of more concern was Crane going for 43. Stevenson and Dale had decent figures. And Weatherley made 40 off 27. But ultimately Essex easily won by 38. Albeit their bowling attack wasn't far off their first team bowling attack (minus Harmer).
Have reading the four tweets, i could not really understand the two "sexist" comments and they probably only make sense if you are a teenaged gamer. The post about Muslims , however, was sufficient for him to deserve the ban in my opinion. He has been set up but he was stupid enough to make the remarks in the first place. Got to say that I agree with Michael Carbarry's comments. It is not a matter of "the PC brigade getting their way" but I think simply a matter of not being an idiot and have respect for your colleagues and the community in general. You wonder what his colleague like Archer or Ali might feel. The ban should stick. Why is it that it is always white people always get caught out making offensive and racist tweets?
