We may not fully deserve to be top tonight Peakfan but its a much better feeling than being bottom. Hoping Lloyd is rested for the next one. His mind is all over the place at present and he is doing himself no favours.
Three games in, 48 points on the board. Third in the table, 13 points clear of the team in 4th. We would all have taken that on April Fools Day wouldn't we.
And yet, and yet...
There are issues both with batting and bowling.
Batting, only Madsen and Jewell have been really impressive. Lloyd has been miles off. Came, good in one game. Guest also mixed. Reece and Dal, haven't excelled with the bat. Andersson one good innings and the rest not.
With the ball, it looks like we may still struggle with taking 20 wickets. Only Reece and Tickner are taking wickets at a rate of more than 1 per 10 overs, which must be the minimum requirement.
If the squad really is deep enough to give real pressure for places, I think some changes are now needed. Its time to give Wagstaff at least a couple of games as opener/2nd spinner.
Much as I don't like saying it, I think we probably need to play Potts instead of Dal, see if he can add more fire to the attack.
Great start to the season, we just need to push on again now.
If you had to pick a day to miss this was a good one.
Ironically last year I would have very grateful for the rain as we'd have been 8 down, 50 off parity and sweating. This year we seem to have found a backbone and I'm slightly disappointed Wayne couldn't go on to get century no.2 he keeps just missing but his play thoroughly deserves
A obvious reminder of why the championship should not be reduced in games. With English weather being as it is if the championship is reduced to 10 or 12 matches you will probably have at least 3 or 4 badly rain affected . It’s then debatable whether red ball cricket will be worthwhile which I suppose is what the ecb;s aim might be. Also isn’t the resting of fast bowlers getting to the ridiculous stage now( cook and baker) being told to miss this round of games with the test still a month away
Agree pretty much with what's been said. We would all have taken this start on April 1st. The tester is coming next. Leus and his Middlesex boys, with Toby Roland-Jones. (Always felt he was jettisoned too soon by England). Beat them and we've got to be in with a serious chance. Just an opinion of course, but I don't think Lloyd is in Godelman territory yet, but the clock is certainly a-ticking. In old money, a B+ so far from me..
All team games involve some team members playing well and others doing less well. Form varies over time and we are grateful that Madsen, Jewell and Guest are in excellent batting form and that Luis Reece is performing with the ball. Tickner has also made a good start. Jewell will get that big score soon, Came made 83 against Gloucestershire. As others say, David Lloyd perhaps needs a change or a rest to find form.
For me the area of most concern is the lack of penetration of the bowling: the opposition have scored 357 (declared), 484 and 500 (declared) in the last 3 innings. We are also conceding runs at a higher rate than we are scoring them - by my calculation 4,5 runs/over conceded compared with 3,85 scored. Overall we have performed above expectations perhaps and with great determination. We may well have got out of this game with a draw without the rain but tightening the bowling to reduce those loose balls and create pressure could give us the edge in games to come.
I agree with all that, apart from Tickner. I'm not so sure he's made a 'good' start. I would say just OK.
For me, he strays on to the pads far too often. As an overseas bowler, we need more from him. Can't fault his effort, and by all accounts a good guy and excellent in and around the dressing room. I'm hoping he can give us a bit more.
Yeah am inclined to agree Jasper. 100% and a constant smile and words of advice. BUT he needs to take wickets south of 30 as an overseas, in my opinion. Hopefully he will.
Would also like to see him, as a new ball bowler, taking the new ball.
Yes, good point about the new ball. We seem to prefer Luis, presumably because of the left arm variety, and his ability to get any swing on offer? Bit of a puzzle though.
I just think if you bring over an international new ball bowler and he's only bowling first change, the new ball bowlers have to be really special. If they are taking wickets with the new ball, fine - if they aren't, maybe time for a rethink and give the quickest man the hardest ball?
I just think if you bring over an international new ball bowler and he's only bowling first change, the new ball bowlers have to be really special. If they are taking wickets with the new ball, fine - if they aren't, maybe time for a rethink and give the quickest man the hardest ball?
A decent start to the season, but we need to tighten our bowling.
Also, I recall Dave Fletcher saying that over 100 runs were scored at third man (where we didn't have a third man) in the game against Leicestershire.
Our batting line up looks strong and deep. Some players will record low scores. When they do, hopefully others will compensate. Lloyd's form as an opener is a concern, though.
It amazes me that a player who scored a 1st class triple century a few seasons ago (against us!) is now struggling so much. Surely he can recapture that sort of form but how long do we have to wait?
We may not fully deserve to be top tonight Peakfan but its a much better feeling than being bottom. Hoping Lloyd is rested for the next one. His mind is all over the place at present and he is doing himself no favours.
ReplyDeleteThree games in, 48 points on the board. Third in the table, 13 points clear of the team in 4th. We would all have taken that on April Fools Day wouldn't we.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, and yet...
There are issues both with batting and bowling.
Batting, only Madsen and Jewell have been really impressive. Lloyd has been miles off. Came, good in one game. Guest also mixed. Reece and Dal, haven't excelled with the bat. Andersson one good innings and the rest not.
With the ball, it looks like we may still struggle with taking 20 wickets. Only Reece and Tickner are taking wickets at a rate of more than 1 per 10 overs, which must be the minimum requirement.
If the squad really is deep enough to give real pressure for places, I think some changes are now needed. Its time to give Wagstaff at least a couple of games as opener/2nd spinner.
Much as I don't like saying it, I think we probably need to play Potts instead of Dal, see if he can add more fire to the attack.
Great start to the season, we just need to push on again now.
If you had to pick a day to miss this was a good one.
ReplyDeleteIronically last year I would have very grateful for the rain as we'd have been 8 down, 50 off parity and sweating. This year we seem to have found a backbone and I'm slightly disappointed Wayne couldn't go on to get century no.2 he keeps just missing but his play thoroughly deserves
A obvious reminder of why the championship should not be reduced in games. With English weather being as it is if the championship is reduced to 10 or 12 matches you will probably have at least 3 or 4 badly rain affected . It’s then debatable whether red ball cricket will be worthwhile which I suppose is what the ecb;s aim might be. Also isn’t the resting of fast bowlers getting to the ridiculous stage now( cook and baker) being told to miss this round of games with the test still a month away
ReplyDeleteSorry Ian from Suffolk ( above comment)
ReplyDeleteWell, we're third in the table. So that's something to feel positive about!
ReplyDeleteAgree pretty much with what's been said. We would all have taken this start on April 1st.
ReplyDeleteThe tester is coming next. Leus and his Middlesex boys, with Toby Roland-Jones. (Always felt he was jettisoned too soon by England). Beat them and we've got to be in with a serious chance.
Just an opinion of course, but I don't think Lloyd is in Godelman territory yet, but the clock is certainly a-ticking.
In old money, a B+ so far from me..
ReplyDeleteAll team games involve some team members playing well and others doing less well. Form varies over time and we are grateful that Madsen, Jewell and Guest are in excellent batting form and that Luis Reece is performing with the ball. Tickner has also made a good start. Jewell will get that big score soon, Came made 83 against Gloucestershire. As others say, David Lloyd perhaps needs a change or a rest to find form.
For me the area of most concern is the lack of penetration of the bowling: the opposition have scored 357 (declared), 484 and 500 (declared) in the last 3 innings. We are also conceding runs at a higher rate than we are scoring them - by my calculation 4,5 runs/over conceded compared with 3,85 scored. Overall we have performed above expectations perhaps and with great determination. We may well have got out of this game with a draw without the rain but tightening the bowling to reduce those loose balls and create pressure could give us the edge in games to come.
Wagstaff for Lloyd in the next game.
Allez Derbyshire!
jasper
DeleteI agree with all that, apart from Tickner. I'm not so sure he's made a 'good' start. I would say just OK.
DeleteFor me, he strays on to the pads far too often. As an overseas bowler, we need more from him. Can't fault his effort, and by all accounts a good guy and excellent in and around the dressing room. I'm hoping he can give us a bit more.
Yeah am inclined to agree Jasper. 100% and a constant smile and words of advice. BUT he needs to take wickets south of 30 as an overseas, in my opinion. Hopefully he will.
DeleteWould also like to see him, as a new ball bowler, taking the new ball.
Yes, good point about the new ball. We seem to prefer Luis, presumably because of the left arm variety, and his ability to get any swing on offer? Bit of a puzzle though.
DeleteI just think if you bring over an international new ball bowler and he's only bowling first change, the new ball bowlers have to be really special. If they are taking wickets with the new ball, fine - if they aren't, maybe time for a rethink and give the quickest man the hardest ball?
DeleteI just think if you bring over an international new ball bowler and he's only bowling first change, the new ball bowlers have to be really special. If they are taking wickets with the new ball, fine - if they aren't, maybe time for a rethink and give the quickest man the hardest ball?
DeleteA decent start to the season, but we need to tighten our bowling.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I recall Dave Fletcher saying that over 100 runs were scored at third man (where we didn't have a third man) in the game against Leicestershire.
Our batting line up looks strong and deep. Some players will record low scores. When they do, hopefully others will compensate. Lloyd's form as an opener is a concern, though.
How far is Ben Aitchison a way do you think Steve ? Will hopefully make a huge difference to our seam attack. Cheers Gary
ReplyDeleteHe will need more second team cricket to ensure his back is standing up to things, but I would hope he might be in contention sometime this month Gary
DeleteI'm not sure that Lloyd has any form to return to. He averaged 23.47 in 13 games last season and 6 failures this year. Time for a change.
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me that a player who scored a 1st class triple century a few seasons ago (against us!) is now struggling so much. Surely he can recapture that sort of form but how long do we have to wait?
ReplyDeleteUntil he faces out bowling again :) (only joking btw!)
Delete