Logically, Nye Donald will open with Caleb Jewell, and my guess would be, after he did so well opening for Middlesex last year, that Martin Andersson will bat three. Madsen, Patel and Whiteley make up the middle order, with Guest at seven.
Chappell, Ghazanfar and Brown will be nine to eleven, which just leaves eight, where I suspect we will choose a horse for the course.
David Lloyd? Scores quickly and offers a bowling option. I guess it depends on whether Andersson and Whiteley are deemed viable bowling options for this format. If he was fit, there is a strong case for Harry Moore, who lengthens the batting and will get steepling bounce from his height. But would they throw him back into the physically demanding T20 immediately? You could also argue a case for Ben Aitchison, although he has played little T20 and the same rationale applies.
Alex Thomson is another option, as would be Mitch Wagstaff and the extra player will depend on the pitch in question. You could go with three spinners, or get through the other four overs (after Brown, Chappell, Ghazanfar and Patel) with two or three options. But the opposition will undoubtedly target those four overs and they would be seen as our potential weakness.
Perhaps best of all might be Luis Reece, if fit. Lengthens the batting and has been back to his best with the ball this season. I don't see him as a top order 'biffer' in this format, but the variety he offers with the ball and experience with the bat would be useful.
One thing is for sure. While Jewell and Ghazanfar will be first pick overseas, Blair Tickner will need to play at least one game to qualify for the rest of the competition, should we make it to the knockouts. That will be selected carefully, but it is fair to say few opponents will prepare spinning tracks to play us on their own patch. It would make sense at Derby, however, which of course brings Lloyd and Thomson into contention as a third option, as well as Mitch Wagstaff.
Some may consider Nye Donald as wicket keeper, but he doesn't do it often enough to keep to a 'mystery' spinner and it could prove horribly expensive. I know Peter Bowler took on the role when we won the Sunday League, but it was a seam attack and he was able to stand back, a relatively easier gig. Equally, I wouldn't want Nye diving around and potentially doing damage to his shoulder again, so soon after injury.
After considerable thought, assuming everyone is fit, my side would read as follows, with number eight depending on the pitch:
1 Jewell
2 Donald
3 Andersson
4 Madsen
5 Patel
6 Whiteley
7 Guest
8 Reece/Lloyd/Moore/Aitchison/Thomson/
Wagstaff
9 Chappell
10 Ghazanfar
11 Brown
What about you?
All I can say is that if that side plays at peak potential, we *should* chalk up some wins.
If they don't..well, that's another story.
Particularly if we lose early wickets Samit is too high in the order at 5. Reece if fit would be the obvious 5 with Samit not batting higher than 6
ReplyDeleteI agree to a point, Simon. But if Samit gets going, he scores quickly. If he doesn't, you can rebuild with Guest and Reece. But Luis isn't the dasher he once was and I think you need the men up top to maximise the Power play and get you a flier. It should be fluid too, with Whiteley especially moving up and down as required
ReplyDelete2 big questions for me. Can you get a decent 4 overs out of Anderson/Whiteley/Lloyd? Can Donald do a decent job as keeper? If the answer is no to both then we need to pick a 5th bowler., that should be Moore with Aitchison & Thomson as options
ReplyDeleteMarkB
The “game changers “ batting wise that we are fortunate to possess in Whiteley, Donald, Jewell and Patel need to be pro-actively managed this time around. Too often in the past , Arthur has stuck too rigidly to a fixed batting order where eg Whiteley has entered the fray with far too much to do to win a game. Andy
ReplyDeleteIn my view Whiteley will need to improve on last seasons performances to be a guaranteed starter. If fit, I would play Reece or Lloyd in his place if this doesn’t happen sharpish. Grant from Telford
ReplyDeleteRoss won us two games last year, Notts at home, Worcs away. If he, Nye and Samit each win us a couple and Ghazanfar does the same we will be thereabouts
DeleteA good line up, but I'd bat Whiteley higher than Patel. With Chappell at nine, we bat deep.
ReplyDeleteI might too. But Samit might not...
DeleteBatting was woeful last season with only Donald scoring particularly well and a couple decent knocks from Patel and Madsen.
ReplyDeleteWhiteley was poor averaging 15 with a high score of 46 so no place in the side for me. I'd go:
Donald
Jewell
Anderssen
Madsen
Lloyd
Reece
Patel
Guest
Chappell
Ghazanfar
Brown
If Ross doesn't play this format there's no point him being on the staff, so I can't see him excluded. Both he and Samit will know that without big years this time their chance of a new deal is slightly better than mine..
DeleteI mean I'd look at that the other way, if there's no point him being on the staff then there is no point in him playing.
DeleteHate to be harsh but think it was a poor signing and he's not good enough. We have better options.
He needs to deserve his place based on his performances. There is lots of competition for places this season. Let’s hope he does well. Grant from Telford
DeleteWith Tickner and Brown both having hamstring injuries, we may have to enter the market. I don't know how severe they are. Maybe Nick Potts can play on Friday, but wth Moore injured too, our T20 options look limited. Kris
ReplyDeleteLuckily we start a week on Friday (30th) so they have a bit longer to massage those hamstrings. Brown is needed in particular in this format.
DeleteI’d have Lloyd in the team as the last one, possibly Moore if he's fit.
ReplyDeleteWithout having any stats to hand to back it up, I feel like Reece has struggled with both bat and ball in the T20 in recent years. Let him rest the hamstring until then next round of championship matches.
Not sure on Whiteley ,form last year was patchy .Otherwise I agree that’s our core line up .
ReplyDeleteI think key for this team to progress it has to be well balance. I didn’t think last year the batting was balance any point. I am hope with addition of Jewel and Anderson this maybe better balanced as a unit.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest concern Patel captaincy ability. I didn’t like how he promoted himself up the order most of time with little effect. I also thought how he used his bowlers in particular uncomfortable watching how he bowled Dupavillon. He fantastic player and bowled well most time last year and had important innings against Leicestershire. Great player not always great captains. I think for us to progress we better to have Madsen.
I would prefer us to have 5 front line bowling options, so injury permitting, I would like to see Moore playing and slotting in at 8 in your lineup.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Whiteley needs to hit the ground running. I agree with Hameez, he didn't do enough last year, but I would start the season with him, and Lloyd first option should Ross fails to deliver.