Glamorgan 380-3 (Lloyd 203*, Root 77* Bevan 48)
v Derbyshire
I assume the hope was that we might take early wickets, but the decision seemed a strange one, given the home side opted to include two spinners to bowl in the final innings.
The lineup was as I suggested last night, but the decision to give rookie Adam Sylvester the new ball also seemed odd. Perhaps the rationale was to help him shake off the nerves, but his opening partnership with Anuj Dal was unusual, to say the least.
The latter was the pick of Derbyshire's bowlers on a day that they will likely want to forget. He did take an early wicket, but thereafter Lloyd progressed serenely and at times brilliantly to a maiden double century that pretty much batted us out of the game.
Root also batted splendidly later on, as only Reece and Dal offered control. The debutant Bevan played some nice shots before giving it away, while our own debutant bowled some nice balls, but too many loose ones for his debut to be especially memorable. His run up seemed excessive to me, and he might take a lead from Ben Aitchison, cutting back without any detrimental effect on his pace.
A chastening, disappointing day then and we look like chasing 600-plus when our turn comes to bat.
If our bowling this season had looked any bit as potent as our batting, we would be heading for promotion. Unfortunately too often it has looked inadequate and never more so than today. Even allowing for our being one bowler short, this was a fairly dire performance and in stark contrast to what went on at other grounds today.....especially Chelmsford!
ReplyDeleteWas Conners injured or ill as well? Can’t believe he was fully fit and didn’t take the new ball
ReplyDeleteThey said on commentary that he prefers not to take the new ball.
DeleteThats as maybe, David. But he was the leading bowler left standing. And best option
DeleteLast season Connors invariably took early wickets with the new ball and then struggled later in the day when he came back.
DeleteThis year he has bowled poorly up top but come back later and taken wickets. Now he appears not to be trusted with the new ball and we hand it to a young debutant.
Bizarre from MA !
Paul
That attack isn't going to worry any county, what a dreadful day today. Lots and lots of work to do for Mickey this winter as we're still a long way off being a real competitive side
ReplyDeleteI don't like to comment before both sides have batted but........
ReplyDeleteIf you win the toss, bat first and before lunch you have not only your off spinner bowling but also your very part time leg spinner (bowling full tosses) then two things are for certain;
a. Things are not going well.
b. You made the wrong decision.
Yes, I know we lost Aitchison early which clearly didn't help, but we had 4 other seamers.
Very disappointing day which has almost certainly killed off our slim hopes of promotion.
Also, although I am not saying MA is doing anything other than a great job it might be worth pointing out that had his predecessor signed Kerr, Cartwright and opted to play Sylvester in this game he would be receiving absolute pelters from many 'supporters'. Just an observation!
What was wrong with Kerr ?
DeletePaul
Yeah I thought Kerr did well in patches. As well as a short notice signing who had never played abroad could do.
DeleteI think Sylvester could have had a better wicket for his debut and bowling second change would have been less exposed
Kerr was OK, nothing more. Check his stats. Certainly no better than a non overseas might have achieved. As for Cartwright....
ReplyDeleteMy point being, if DH had made these decisions? Criticised? For sure.
Steve makes valid points, but would others have afforded DH such leeway?
Interesting, isn't it?
With regards to Sylvester, he was given the new ball on a pitch where we had chosen to bowl first on!
Point taken, Jasper. The difference of course is that MA has built up considerable credit at this stage.
DeleteI agree that giving a young debutant the new ball was an odd one. And while I probably wouldn't be looking to get Kerr back as overseas, we have had worse in Derbyshire colours over the years. Some of them much higher profile..
For me , the end of the season , small squad who have punched above their weight , no overseas players and we get an injury to bowler after 5 minutes . Time to regroup and plan for 2023 … Micky has more in the credit column than debit … Recruitment and player development the only focus over the coming days
DeleteLooking at Glamorgan's lunchtime score on Wednesday I have to say it's a pity we can't just throw in the towel now!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but this is the Derbyshire I thought we'd seen the back of, a totally abject team that gets dominated way too easily. Yes, I thought we were made of sterner stuff these days, but this will be a hammering defeat. And please can we put Billy out of his misery and release him at the end of the season, he's finished unfortunately
ReplyDeleteEvery team will get a game like this in a season. Especially when you think we’ve lost our star player. I think the fact that it’s been a rarity this season shows the improvement. If they can fight to try and get a draw and then show they’ve learnt next game that will show how the teams developed this season.
DeleteKieran