The Cricket Thread

Quite a big difference between Holland's batting average this season and the rest:

Gubbins 66.8
Brown 56.2
Vince 49.7
Weatherley 46.5
Dawson 36.7
Organ 33.1
Holland 18.2

There's only one more Championship match before the t20s begin, so regardless of whether or not Weatherley is back I would expect Holland to still feature in that game. But if he records another set of low scores in that game (vs Somerset), his place will come under question. That said, the t20 break might do him some good, by taking him out of the firing line.

He also isn't helped by Fuller being in the team. As a 4th seamer, Holland offers us more than just his batting. But as a 5th seamer, his bowling becomes much less relevant.

 

You make a good point, St Brendy, it's interesting as I thought Holland bowled especially well in the first couple of games but he hasn't been used a great deal recently. If he's dropped and Weatherley's not fit in time then I guess we'd be looking at Prest to open instead, with Organ. Hopefully he gets a decent score in the next game as it would be best to avoid too much chopping and changing if possible. I know he did drop one today, but he's also a pretty reliable fielder/catcher.

A shame we let Gloucs get 40 too many, Vince should have brought Dawson on for Fuller at least 2 overs earlier from that end but they got carried away with the bang it in short with a leg slip and short leg plan which didn't work in the end.

Fingers crossed we can get up to 150 (at least) in our 2nd innings and set them a little over 300. If we can get the lead to 350 that would be great, but I'd settle for 300 as long as we then make some inroads with the new ball.

 

It might have been a good idea, as well, to have had a seamer slip a few yorkers in there at the tail. It's a ball that's hardly bowled with the red ball it seems but I'd have thought it would be a good tactic, take the batter by surprise a bit. The number 11 is far less likely to be able to keep it out than a top order bat.

Can anyone remind me what Abbas' availability is like, is he with us for the whole Championship season or will we need a replacement once the games start again after it breaks a bit for the T20?

 

It's initially for this first block of CC matches. But, like last season, there is scope to extend it later in the season too.

My assumption is that he'll miss the standalone matches vs Yorkshire and Essex (during the t20 season), but will hopefully return for the second and third blocks of the CC (potentially to include the 50 over matches in between). It might be that Nathan Ellis agrees to play in those matches vs Yorkshire and Essex, similar to CDG last season.

 

Thanks, that makes sense

 

Really difficult to suggest what we might get here, and also what a winning lead looks like.

The use of the two night watchmen means that our batting depth is unreal. But equally we've lost all of our top four, and the ball - whilst not new - isn't yet old.

 

I get that he's hitting these 4s when batting at no.9, and for the last wicket. But this is what I mean about the danger which Donald can pose to the opposition if he can make himself a permanent fixture at no.7 for us.

 

Could not be any more pleased for Donald

 

Brilliant from Donald! So dangerous in this situation.

 

And fair play to Fuller. Rather than playing his usual no.9 free reign role, he's playing like a number 11 (but one with a rock solid defence) in order to ensure that Donald is kept company.

 

Shame for him not to get his 100, but he has surely ensured that we'll win this (assuming no rain).

 

So wickets seem hard to get at the moment and its sunny with a light wind tomorrow so may be good for batting
Don't know how the pitch is lookingf

Can anyone that's been watching comment on if there's a risk we could lose this?

 

A reasonable amount of turn and bounce for Dawson, largely thanks to the foot holes. If we had Crane, I'd be confident that they'd only be one result (especially with the second new ball still being available for the big three).

But without Crane, a Gloucs win can't be wholly discounted. Very little for the seamers once the ball gets old. I'd still make us heavy favourites though.

 

Crane could well be oñe of the architects in a Sussex win today. I expect Sussex to continue smashing the Middlesex bowling around for another hour and then setting around 350. Then watch Robinson dismantle their top order and Crane clean up the tail ....

 

That's a terrible shot but who cares!

 

How did that miss the stumps?

 

Probably the first time in the match that Gloucs have won the first session of the day. Fair play.

We could still go and rip out three wickets with the new ball after lunch. At 210-6, the target of 368 would be looking a very long way off. But right now, Gloucs are right bang in this chase.

 

Would have liked another wicket before lunch but we're still favourites. The new ball comes soon after lunch so obviously that will be key.

 

Massive