April is usually a time when wickets tumble and depth of batting is important. We saw that yesterday, Derbyshire collapsing against a keen but still modest attack. Batters across the country will have spent the last few months playing in nets or on hard pitches overseas and April comes as a rude awakening.
So there are talking points. Mickey, Arthur is likely to go with Harry Came and Luis Reece up top and it appears that David Lloyd is going to bat at three. Wayne Madsen will be at four and Brooke Guest - another candidate for three, will likely come in at five. Lloyd could open, as he has done many times for Glamorgan, but I would be surprised if the partnership that flourished so well last year was broken up.
Both Matt Lamb and Nye Donald have batted well so far, both playing good innings. But can a first choice eleven accommodate both? Maybe, at this stage of the summer it can, especially with the all rounders in the side, all bona fide options with the ball. Lamb also offers useful leg spin, Donald a back up keeping option, .
I would assume Anuj Dal is a certainty for the balance he offers, as well as being the bowler for the 'hard' overs when things aren't going to plan. Blair Tickner should be here so will play, as almost certainly will Zak Chappell and Sam Conners, both seeming to be bowling with good rhythm.
So the decision appears to be whether you play Alex Thomson as a spin option OR both Lamb and Donald, with Dal at eight. Omission would be tough on Thomson, who has worked hard down the order with good runs in the two games so far. I am also a fan of a balanced attack, but we saw yesterday the value of having a quality bat lower down, who can capitalise when the ball gets older and the bowlers tire. The turnaround from 117-7 to our final score was enabled by putting more overs in legs and more 'damage' to the ball, allowing Zak Chappell to come in and hit powerfully, which is his best game.
Is it likely to turn much in April? I would be surprised, but sometimes the change of pace can be effective. Then again, if we lost the toss against Glamorgan and had to bat on a green wicket, isn't the extra batter greater value?
If you think that is a tough decision, wait until our second overseas arrives and also needs to be fitted into the side...
For what it is worth, at this stage, with no knowledge of the pitch, my side for the Glamorgan game would be:
Came
Reece
Lloyd
Madsen
Guest
Lamb
Donald
Dal
Chappell
Tickner
Conners
There will be plenty of times this summer when Thomson will be a certainty to play and I have no doubt he will offer good value. Yet after due consideration I just feel that the extra batter at this stage offers greater security. It might be, of course, that Wayne Madsen is a bowling option this year, after not doing so in 2023, but I don't know about that.
So that is my preference, although I accept others would go a different way.
What are your thoughts?
Watching day one I was thinking along similiar lines. Top 7 looks inked in with Donald part of the slips it suggests he is almost certain to start.
ReplyDeleteChappell and Conners are 99.9% certain to start leaving two spots.
Assuming Tickner arrives OK and is ready to go he will be one.
Leaving one spot between Dal / Brown / Thomson or Morley.
As the current game is 11 from 13 I believe I noticed that Brown was fielding instead of Thomson yesterday evening suggesting an all seam attack with either Dal or Brown. Albeit with Reece and Lloyd will we need that many seamers.
I am still in the school that a spinner may be of use especially on a last day of a game and also with over rate in mind.
At least we have the nice problem of who we are going to leave out rather than who can we find to play.
I would always want a spinner in my first choice XI. However, given how wet it's been and the forecast suggesting that we might not get that much play over the 4 days I would go with your line up.
ReplyDeleteI don't see us achieving much more than a mid table finish in CC2. It's clear with the recruitment that we're hoping to progress in the T20, but that's been hampered by the Amir situation.
Overall, I have less expectation this season than last, which is perhaps a little odd as one could argue we are a stronger squad. Perhaps it's down to last season's disappointing campaign....
Reece
ReplyDeleteCame
Lloyd
Madsen
Guest
Donald
Dal
Thomson
Chappell
Tickler
Conners
Would be my side. Lamb unlucky but I think you need a spinner to make sure of the over rate and give you the option especially on day 4.
Dal cannot play lower than 7. That would be disrespectful for a player of his batting talent and frankly would make the sales pitch for rival counties far too easy. "Come to us and play top 6 Anuj".
I guess the key question is - is that four-person pace attack enough to take 20 wickets. Probably depends on how much Connors has progressed, how quickly Tickner settles, whether the County Ground is still a road. Glad I don't have to make that decision!
ReplyDeleteI see the Guardian fwiw has us finishing bottom of the pile this season. I say great, absolutely zero expectations then might leave us pleasantly surprised
ReplyDeleteI can see us being bottom but one at best. The strength in depth is nowhere near there.
ReplyDeleteI know it's only a pre season friendly we're playing at present but these first two days don't give me much optimism. Struggling to take wickets and batting poorly not a great sign
ReplyDeleteWell a quite ridiculous approach today from B&L what on earth was their purpose today.? No positive intent all day.In a non first class fixture something should have been falsely manufactured for a positive days play.A mickey mouse game of cricket would have been acceptable given
ReplyDeleteit's lack of first class status. Having played three different sports myself to a more than respectful level, I know this for sure.YOU ARE WHAT YOU PRACTICE.
You don't ever waste an opportunity to do something POSITIVE in your chosen sport