Just a few thoughts

An early finish from a meeting this afternoon has given me a chance to get home early and blog while the night is still young.

I see that team building plans carry on apace around the country, with Jimmy Anyon moving from Warwickshire to Sussex. He's a decent bowler but it was telling that no one was suggesting we make a move for him at Derby. I think we'll be fine now we've added Mark Footitt to the squad and just need that spinner's berth sorted...

There's still a little rumbling around IMWT re Wes Durston and the benefits of signing him, but I don't see it. As Master Villain points out, he's more likely to play Minor Counties and perhaps take up a school coaching post. His age, when one takes into account new regulations is against him and I don't see any merit in signing him to play in our Second XI. If we assume that Rogers, Madsen, Park, Smith, Redfern and Borrington will be our top six, John Morris can drop down to a five, or bring in John Sadler or Chesney Hughes with penalties, both of which will be more financially viable than bringing in another player. Durston has a decent record in the county game, but as I've said before, any batsman plying his trade at Taunton really should have.

I've been watching some of the South African cricket over the last week or so. Despite the flurry of strokes that came from Messrs Smith and Bosman, I still can't take to Twenty/20. It's here to stay but I agree with Ian Botham that we're playing too much of it and are saturating the market and doing the players few favours. There'll be more injuries and niggles from the diving around and sides of lesser quality will then take the field. You only need to look at all England's injuries to see that.

Bosman may well have played himself into the mix for an overseas berth somewhere in the competition, but I'm now more in favour than ever of helping out the poor bowlers. We already have good batting tracks expected as the norm and boundary ropes are brought in to encourage more six hitting. We have heavier bats with bigger middles and mishits are carrying for six. So why not do away with fielding restrictions - or at least change the amount allowed in the outfield? If you're going to go for the big shots that's fine, but risk mishitting one and its goodnight Vienna. We may as well just have a bowling machine at either end plus the fielders, as bowlers have so little margin for error. You can bowl a good four over spell and still go for 40 and I think it is time that something was done for the poor saps who have to run in and bowl.

I'd also propose a little more leeway in pitch preparation. Was there any point to the first Test between India and Sri Lanka? Apart from a short spell on the first morning, the bat was in the ascendancy throughout and we're seeing some very average players boosting their statistics on wickets that make Taunton look like a minefield. Again, it makes for much greater
entertainment when there's an even battle between bat and ball, yet groundsmen live in fear of pitches being condemned and go too far the other way.

I hope that we get our wickets sorted at Derby this year. The best home track last season was probably the one at Chesterfield where the bowlers and batsmen both had a chance if they kept their wits about them. To challenge in the Championship next season we need results and the ability to take twenty wickets if there if bowlers get a little help.

Finally I see that Yorkshire ae looking for a "high impact batsman" for their second berth in the Twenty/20. Isn't everyone? We're looking for a player who can bowl tight like Langeveldt and then hit 70 in half-a-dozen overs... I just hope he's out there somewhere!

See you soon