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Day 2
The good news from the day is that Duckett faced 42 balls...
Liam Patterson-White took some tap but ultimately took his revenge with a five wicket haul as Notts eventually bowled the Bears out for 291 in 84.5 overs.
The seconds game is being played at the Edgbaston Foundation Ground on Portland Road in Smethwick three miles away from Edgbaston. This ground was previously known as the Mitchells and Butlers’ Ground and hosted 13 first-class matches between 1931 and 1961.
Let’s hope yesterday’s abject display is indeed a blip, it’s now 1,012 days since Notts last won a first-class game. MAG
Day 1 comprised of two games being staged at Edgbaston and on the adjacent ground in Smethwick.
More squandered starts and coming second, best as Trent Bridge Dot Co Dot UK, fails to spin.
In the adjacent game, similarly Notts are second best to the Bears there too.
Meaningful time in the middle batting and bowling is what it's all about to get that necessary rhythm...
So who needs time or who has so far squandered their limited opportunities so far?
Is there really competition for places when the batsmen are concerned?
Do the likes of Duckett and Clarke get more chances than there are games in a season?
With Samit Patel sitting out four day cricket for now on, who does this open the door for?
With Jake Ball currently in or on the way back into quarantine after his England experience holding towels and carrying bottles in India who will open the bowling for the Green and Golds in April?
Irrespective of who plays in the warm up matches, you can bet your bottom dollar, that the two names that you mention,(Duckett and Clarke), will be in the top 5 when the championship starts in just over a week.
ReplyDeleteMaking Hameed vice captain is either a bold or naive move, considering he hasn't done enough yet to nail down an opening spot, at the top of the order.
Patterson White should replace Samit at number 6.Evison should bat at 7, young Tom at 8,although I suspect his old man will bat him higher up, for some unknown reason, Hutton plus 2 others, making up the number's.
Looking at the match details at 5 pm it seems clear that Notts are not where they want to be.
ReplyDeleteAfter 3 centuries against the students you might have been lured into thinking that maybe we were on the right path for the new season... 131 all out tends to suggest that when faced with quality bowling we still struggle.
Okay it true that one swallow does not make a summer and its quite possible that come the start of the BWT we might look a different side, We can only hope that's the case, Otherwise the wait for a four day win may go on for a while yet.
Mark's comments about Clarke and Duckett are spot on, We just have to hope that they both justify the managements faith in them.
They are potentially big run scorers.
ReplyDeleteThe attack would appear much more penetrative than last year.
If so, we can win matches with reasonable scores, say 250ish, but we have to up our game from 131 !
Broken record I know but not one batsman averages 40 and an attack (selected from a dozen seamers) that can't bowl out Oxford University from 80 odd for 5 doesn't bode well I'm afraid. Hoping to be wrong of course.
ReplyDeleteYou have to hope that Notts aren't at 100% effort in these friendlies, holding back somewhat for the real stuff. If they are 100% trying, then preparation is sadly lacking, that or else we're doomed to be disappointed with results for another year.
DeleteHow many games do you give Duckett and Clarke to prove their worth in FCC before dropping them - I suggest PM has 15 games in mind.
As for the ineffectual bowlers, I'm sure the permutations of line-ups can see us through a short season, as we have these days, without having to repeat the same 4 seamers in a game - all in the name of managing "heavy workloads" of course. Fingers-crossed one or two find their feet and have a cutting edge and killer instinct to finish sides off. If there's too much dross, with no sign of a win (or at least a winning position) folk will just switch-off long before Boris' May easing and we can get into Trent Bridge and voice our vaccinated displeasure.
I think Duckett has probably got a slight hangover from his recent white ball excursions. In fairness he looked good towards the back end of last season in the Bob Willis trophy.
ReplyDeleteAs for Clarke, he has been talked about as a future England test player, mostly by reporter's I would suggest, who carry a white stick with them.
For me, his technique is flaky against the moving ball.
I suggest that Lyndon James, should be given an overdue opportunity at the top of the order, to ascertain if he can cut it at this level as he has been a consistent performer for the seconds.
Evison also needs to be pushed into the team, as it is ridiculous, to now consider Trego as an option for 4 day cricket.
The seconds game is being played at the Edgbaston Foundation Ground which is three miles from Edgbaston as is located in Smethwick. This ground was previous known as the Mitchell and Butlers' Ground and 13 first-class matches were played there between 1931 and 1961.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope that yesterday's abject display was just a blip, it's now 1,012 days since Notts last won a first-class game at Chelmsford on 23 June 2018
Potentially with Hutton Ball, Paterson and Fletch plus one of LPW or Matt as a spin option, we can win matches.
ReplyDeleteIf this turns out not to be the case, I am going ex directory !
Don't forget chappell
DeleteI wonder if Broad will grace us with his presence early season Sky duties permitting?
ReplyDeleteI would play Fletcher as a batsman only this season. Since, relocating I've seen him score runs for Papplewick and he is a very capable batter who can come in number 4 but he just never gets any real opportunities Batting no 9 or 10. I would bat him at 6 and then Trego at 7 and then the keeper whose name escapes me at 8. I think that will be much better balanced when the proper stuff starts on 08 April
ReplyDeleteHe can certainly hold a bat. I always thought Hutton has got a century or two in him if he batted higher up .
DeleteBetter second day, Bowlers eventually took wickets, LPW the stand out with a fifer, That was followed up by a much improved batting display with Hameed getting a fifty.
ReplyDeleteWhilst it's true matches such as these have no real significance its certainly a way of showing just who is in some sort of touch, if you based it on this match you would have to say not many are.
Hopefully this match against a quality side will show Notts that you need to bowl tightly and value your wicket. Anything less and another season of championship disappointment will follow.
I heard broad say he was hoping to play for notts ,early season, on commentary the other day. I think he said he not make the first game .
ReplyDeleteI have a gut feeling that our management team are intent on playing 5 out and out batsman which would probably include Compton, and using Mullaney as a fourth seamer, batting at number 6.
ReplyDeleteI think this would be a mistake. Better to have Patterson White at number 6, Evison at 7, and Tom Moores at 8 which gives you a better balanced attack. Lets face it, Tom Moores may be an able slogger in one day cricket, and his wicket keeping has improved considerably, but is not currently talented enough to bat any higher than 8 in the longer format.
Fitness and form will determine who your 3 senior seam bowlers are, come 8th April.
Patterson-White averages 15 with the bat in FC cricket, 6 is too high surely
ReplyDeleteIf my memory serves me correctly, he scored a half century batting at 6 for Notts at Scarborough at the back end of 2019, when Notts were in trouble.
DeleteHe has only played a handful of first class fixtures, so averages dont come into the equation.
He has scored some big numbers for the seconds, is strong both sides of the wicket, and has a solid technique, from what I have seen.
In my opinion,with his ability, it would be folly batting him at 8, as it was for Samit, last season.
Great points
DeleteFrom what I've seen Notts are a very inexperienced side? From looking at the latest friendly games Peter Trego surely has to be an ever present this season. He has seen it all, done it all and bought the T-shirt. He did very well last season and it can be demoralising if a lot of young and/or inexperienced players. all play together in the side at the same time if results don't go so well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your opinion, but I do differ from it.
DeleteWith the skipper, Hameed, Duckett, Paterson, Ball, Fletcher and Moores, there is a lot of experience.
True Slater and Clarke are young still, but highly talented.
To play these plus Hutton and at least one youngster, that seems a good 4 day side. I think it adds up to 11 ! Maybe my maths excludes me as a selector ?
Peter may well come into the reckoning, but experience I reckon is not an issue
Whilst as a person Ben Slater is indeed still a young man at 29 but surely not as a cricketer anymore. Please sit down now for the real shock; young Jake Ball is now THIRTY!!!
DeleteHow did that happen?
But as Mark says, they may well go with 5 specialist batsmen and 3 seamers + Steve as all rounder and LPW as spinner who can bat. Glad I do not have to decide !
ReplyDelete