Glamorgan 518 (Davis 7-146)
Derbyshire 177 (Hosein 27 not) and 78-1 (Rutherford 32 not)
Derbyshire trail by 263 runs
Following events as they unfolded at Colwyn Bay today, this was, I think, the lowest point of the season for me. There's one every year - Surrey at home last year was 'it' for 2015 - but this was worse than Leicestershire in the T20, or Nottinghamshire in the same competition.
I can just about handle our getting smacked around at five an over, especially on a small ground with a largely inexperienced attack. What is harder to take is seeing a batting line up that really should have matched that, against an attack no better than ordinary, being dismantled in less than two sessions.
There was more fight in the evening session but by then the damage was done. To have an entire side bowled out for much less than a teenage lad managed for them was a very poor effort indeed.
There are no excuses for such batting, as the line up has the requisite experience. There was at least one dodgy decision, but, with the exception of Harvey Hosein, no one lasted for more than 40 balls. In the absence of Billy Godleman through illness, he went out to open having got his eye in and did a steady job in the second innings, before being caught behind down the leg side.
At this stage, only three men come out of the game with any credit. Hosein does, both for his batting and for only allowing five byes in a total of over 500. It was a good effort by the keeper, who did his long-term credentials no harm.
Tony Palladino bowled steadily, while Will Davis, if a little expensively, showed that we may have discovered a strike bowler with seven wickets in the innings in only his fourth first-class match. Better control will come, but he is quick and gets wickets, a handy combination.
As for the rest? Very disappointing.
I was going to name the three you mention as being excused criticism. Frankly the rest of them have contributed to a shambolic performance. Carted to all parts of North Wales, catches dropped all over the park and then when given the opportunity to gain some credibility they've folded in an absolute heap.
ReplyDeleteI noticed we scored 31 boundaries in our innings (124 out of 165 scored off the bat). Pure statistics, and of course I wasn't there, but it doesn't paint a picture of intelligent batting does it?
On another note sorry to hear about Poynton's retirement but not overly surprised. He can be proud of himself for coming back after such a life changing incident.
You are the master of the understatement Steve. Our bowling is average but there is talent and experience in the batting but yet again a collective brain fade. Get rid of the batting coaches and employ a top notch psychiatrist.
ReplyDeleteTP has retired, not sure if you've seen
ReplyDeleteMartin said
ReplyDelete,
Time to drop Broom from the 4 dayers just not scoring enough runs and does not seem to be getting any better. Get Slater in!
Agreed, Peakfan. A very poor effort, apart from the three players you mention. For me, the heart of the problem is the bowling. You highlighted the excellent averages of the batsmen the other day, but they must feel demoralised by the fact that our attack is, by some distance, the weakest in the country. We have young players of genuine promise, but they aren't enough, not by a long way. During the Welch era, we lost Footit, Groenewald, Clare and Wainwright, all experienced bowlers who when fit and firing - could take plenty of wickets. Their replacements have been Carter and Milnes, who are apparently not good enough to get into the present side. The recruitment strategy has been hopelessly inept. The sad news about Tom Poynton reinforces your point that we need to recruit a good wicket keeper who can score runs and we also need two quality wicket taking bowlers, one of them a spinner. Without the injection of experience and quality, talented younger players like Critchley and Davis will not be able to flourish.
ReplyDeleteRutherford owes us a 150+ today.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant today, a good old fashioned backs to the wall, none shall pass performance.
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