Essex v Somerset

[Yorkshire Blue]

Is anyone offering odds on Kaneria getting all ten?

He's got six so far, in what has been a generally abject display to date.

Essex were bundled out for just 144, of which 18yo Tom Westley (who they've been refusing to play all season) scored exactly half. Next top score was Foster with 15. Bichel with 12 was the only other player to reach double figures.

Somerset passed that score without loss inside about 15 overs, before Kaneria pegged them back with 6 wickets.

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

I think the bookies will've stopped accepting bets, especially with Bichel getting carted around the ground at nearly 6 an over.

Essex continue to dumbfound me:
a) Unless Tony Palladino has picked up a knock, why on each has he been dropped on the back of one dodgy spell in a Pro40 match on Monday, a one-day match?
b) After bowling an excellent spell in said Pro40 match, and having taken a wicket, albeit expensively, at Derby last week, surely Ryan ten Doeschate should have had an over or two by now?
c) Grant Flower, still Zimbabwe's most-capped player (I think), been playing the game for nigh on 20 years, or Tim Phillips, a slow left-arm bowler who, as I undertand it, can't bowl at the moment due to a shoulder injury, in a side desperately short of recognised batsman? Phillips has had 3 or 4 goes at playing as a specialist batsman, and much as I like the bloke, he's failed just about every time. Plus playing Flower means he can bat at 3 and Tom Westley, who has hit a fantastic innings today, still, even with the likes of Trescothick and Langer having had a knock on it, the highest of the day, can come in at 4. You could even open with Flower and move Pettini down to 4 or 5 where the pressure would be off of him slightly.

Answers on a postcard please...

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I think the bookies will've stopped accepting bets, especially with Bichel getting carted around the ground at nearly 6 an over.

Essex continue to dumbfound me:
a) Unless Tony Palladino has picked up a knock, why on each has he been dropped on the back of one dodgy spell in a Pro40 match on Monday, a one-day match?
b) After bowling an excellent spell in said Pro40 match, and having taken a wicket, albeit expensively, at Derby last week, surely Ryan ten Doeschate should have had an over or two by now?
c) Grant Flower, still Zimbabwe's most-capped player (I think), been playing the game for nigh on 20 years, or Tim Phillips, a slow left-arm bowler who, as I undertand it, can't bowl at the moment due to a shoulder injury, in a side desperately short of recognised batsman? Phillips has had 3 or 4 goes at playing as a specialist batsman, and much as I like the bloke, he's failed just about every time. Plus playing Flower means he can bat at 3 and Tom Westley, who has hit a fantastic innings today, still, even with the likes of Trescothick and Langer having had a knock on it, the highest of the day, can come in at 4. You could even open with Flower and move Pettini down to 4 or 5 where the pressure would be off of him slightly.

Answers on a postcard please...

Don't think Palladino is fit, apparently he only just passed a fitness test on Monday - although if he passed a fitness test Monday you'd have thought he'd be fit Wednesday.

Can't explain the batting order. Pettini and Chopra are struggling so much its unreal. Against Somerset isn't the game to do it (Somerset are playing for the title) but if we get a meaningless game I'd reverse the batting order. Get Kaneria and Ahmed opening, lets see if they can do worse than the Essex openers.

These are Essex's opening partnerships for the season:

10, 15, 4, 190, 43, 4, 3, 1, 0, 6, 11, 9, 42, 4, 59, 2, 7, 3, 21, 4, 151, 25, 9, 0.

The first five were before Cook reported for England duty, since then we've had 13 single digit opening partnerships out of 19. Its also worth noting that the stand of 151 was against declaration bowling in 14 overs.

I honestly believe that I wouldn't do much worse - I'm sure I could get some pad on something and pick up 4 leg-byes now and then.

 

[SUFCEssex]

I just can't believe what is going on at the club at the moment and things desperately need to change during the winter months so that 2008 isn't a repeat of 2007. At least we might win the 20/20 mickey mouse cup against Derby and a team of old men.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

4, 3, 1, 0, 6, 11, 9, 42, 4, 59, 2, 7, 3, 21, 4, 25, 9, 0.

The first five were before Cook reported for England duty, since then we've had 13 single digit opening partnerships out of 18.

Taking the 151 out - as you say, it was declaration bowling - that is an absolutely horrific set of stats. Only one half-century opening stand all bloody season.

Why exactly did we get rid of Will Jefferson...?

:(

Sadly, I'm even being persuaded by Rob's arguments in favour of Grant Flower... and that can't be right...

:cry:

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

Somerset all out 312, Danish finishing with seven.

Both openers already in the hutch, Essex 13-2. We've got an opening batsman as coach...

 

[SUFCEssex]

,Both openers already in the hutch, Essex 13-2. We've got an opening batsman as coach...

Ridiculous!

 

[C C Csiders]

23-3 now. Somerset are staying in the hotel next to where I work - Justin Langer in the Spar shop opposite on Tuesday, buying Jaffa Cakes. Think they'll be checking out today.

 

[SUFCEssex]

23-3 now. Somerset are staying in the hotel next to where I work - Justin Langer in the Spar shop opposite on Tuesday, buying Jaffa Cakes. Think they'll be checking out today.

I was hoping to get to Chelmsford tomorrow will cancel my day off now.

 

[SUFCEssex]

161-4 Phillips just out.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Charl Willoughy has passed the 600 wicket mark in first class cricket during this match. He's got roughly the same number of first class runs to his name!

 

[Grayson]

I feel sorry for our middle-order, always coming in 3 down for 20-30 runs. It's a shambles, but won't change until next season.

 

[MrB]

I feel sorry for our middle-order, always coming in 3 down for 20-30 runs. It's a shambles, but won't change until next season.

They know how my middle order feel.... :D

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Essex 335-9. Bichel brings up his 50.

Our last wicket partnership is once more better than our opening partnership.

Pettini and Chopra average 10.71 for the first wicket. In the same period our last wicket partnership averaged 14.9 (not including the current stand, which is already worth 22).

Reverse the batting order.

ooh another 4 for Bichel.

 

[The General]

Essex

144 all out (46.1 overs)
349 all out (83.3 overs)

Somerset

312 all out (60.4 overs)
42 for 1 (7.3 overs)

That leaves Somerset needing another 140 odd for the victory!

 

[BoyWonder2]

Has anyone been along to this match at all?

My mate Jahid Ahmed is playing in it, I just wanna know what peoples thoughts of him are. 7 not out in the first innings, 7 in the second innings. 2 catches and bowling figures of 8.0 0 58 0

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Listened to some of the coverage - there's a link on the BBC. For what the commentators' opinion is worth (and they are no Matt Walkers when it comes to commentary), they reckon his batting is better than no.11. Apparently he wasn't afraid to suggest this to no.10, Danish Kaneria either.

As for his bowling, I think his figures tell the story and I see he wasn't even trusted with the ball in the second innings.

 

[SUFCEssex]

and not surprising we lost. Somerset Div 2 Champions.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Hmm. Div 2 in both forms of the game next summer. It has been a bleak season, hasn't it?

:cry:

 

[SUFCEssex]

Hmm. Div 2 in both forms of the game next summer. It has been a bleak season, hasn't it?

:cry:

Very, but we can still win the 20/20 mickey mouse cup against the mighty Derby and a bunch of old guys, so things aren't so bad.