Gloucestershire 251-6 (Klinger 93 not, Taylor 58 not, Taylor 3-64)
At 159-6 this afternoon, Billy Godleman's decision to bowl was thoroughly vindicated, but late resistance from the admirable Michael Klinger and from Jack Taylor left honours pretty much even at the end of a truncated first day.
Klinger is a fine player and has been for many years, despite remaining on the periphery of the Australian national side. He rode his luck early on and perhaps should have gone when he skied a hook that Tony Palladino lost in the sun, but sometimes things go the other way and Klinger did a fine job for his side.
Congratulations are due tonight to Tony Palladino on his 300th first-class wicket and to Mark Footitt who took his 200th. Both were second to Tom Taylor in terms of wickets today, but we could do with the three of them wrapping things up quickly tomorrow.
The weather is set to take more time out of this game and time will tell if there will be enough for a positive result to be forced.
In closing tonight, just a word about events at Taunton. How do you score an unbeaten 151 in a twenty-over match, as Chris Gayle did today, and STILL finish on the losing side? Yet he only faced fifty per cent of the bowling, suggesting that his team mates didn't use a massive amount of gumption at the other end.
Astonishing. Quite astonishing.
I'm glad I don't do a blog on Somerset...
I think it a little premature to proclaim the choice of bowling first a success part way through an innings,Peakfan. It was heading that way but it might be looking quite the opposite should Gloucestershire add another hundred runs or so today. We shall have to wait until we have completed our own innings before jumping to any conclusions but if the weather allows us to bat a second time, I would hope not to be chasing more than around two hundred. That scenario would of course mean we will need to bat well during our first innings and ideally close it with a lead. Could be an interesting day today.
ReplyDeleteI think you should read it again Marc..at 159-6 it was a good decision, but that changed as the score mounted. May still turn out a good one, but only if we polish them off today.
ReplyDeleteThere wasn't anything wrong with the decision to bowl, just how we implemented it. There was plenty of help but none of the bowlers were anywhere near their best apart from one spell from Taylor. Otherwise, 200 might have been the best that Gloucestershire could have hoped for. As it was, without the help of their recklessness, we might only have taken three or four wickets, and it was disappointing that we weren't able to take advantage of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm puzzled by the use of Critchley. He got one over before tea which went for 13 although it wasn't that bad, but when Godleman went back to spin at the end, he ignored Critchley in favour of some very ordinary stuff from Dilshan. Much the same happened at Southport when Critchley was left to graze for long periods whilst Elstone wheeled away to little effect. Unless he's being played for his batting (in which case he should be batting higher than the 9 and 10 position he occupied against Lancashire, behind Wainwright) I don't see the point of him playing if he's not going to be trusted to bowl, even when nothing else is working.
peakfan - I went today and enjoyed it to be fair - wa hammering it down when I arrived for members forum (was about 20 members present - more on that below) - I actually thought we bowled well ish but to have two wickets denied by the slip catches ruled out by no balls was criminal - Taylor did bowl one good spell and i thought footit did ok but not that threatening - taylor and klinger did look a bit good tbh. Members forum was good -lots of time for questions which chris grant, simon storey and others answered well plus free tea and biccies was a nice touch. update on media block plans - the new grandstand will be split into two and media centre will be two stories above a black and white changing sightscreen - it costs a fortune to put up temporary sky facility and its a condition that all grounds must have sky facilities in next 2 years - one part of main stand staying where is next to media centre block but no room between media block and marquee for other half so looking at options where current media block is next to east midlands demolition stand - trying to make more of a closed in stadium - main entrance has replica kit to try on for sizes - club shop was running at a loss so gone to on-line but accept need to have sample kit & sizes for people to try on - chessie festival deal just about sown up for 3 more years after this which is good news - chris talked a bit about plans for new format of cricket - no done deals yet but chris and simon insist t20 must stay even if city franchise option in addition - confirmed would update us all when anything to say - advised footit was close to England call up for headingley so much so welch was told by ecb he could have a standby for southport game if call up came mid game v lancs - all looking forward to day when dccc has an England player - a lot of effort being looked at to get batsmen coming through from academy - pleased with bowling throughput - finally all well pleased with t20 win v lancs and the overseas players coming in is paying off - simon read out a text he got from amla saying how much he enjoyed dccc - all bodes well for overseas dressing room talk promoting dccc and another call from players agent already who represents top range (test team) aussies - maybe options for next year too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update Creweblade...interesting and appreciated!
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