My county have been p*** poor this year, yet a 1st choice Somerset XI would rate as a decent team - this would probably be their 1st XI:
Trescothick
Bowler
Bryant
Cox
Burns
Blackwell
Turner
Johnson
Francis
Caddick
McLean
if not for injuries and international callups, but instead, when I saw them get smacked around the park by Lancashire a couple of weeks ago, the line up read:
Cox
Gazzard
Dutch
Burns
Blackwell
Parsons
Hildreth
Laraman
Johnson
Jones
McLean
and they were only saved from an absolute hammering by some good lower-order batting. With batting all the way down the order like that, and like they have had all season, you would expect them to be a better side than they are. The top order has completely failed consistently, with Jamie Cox being nowhere near his best. If you ask me, good job they are chasing Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting for next year. It's not the bowling department that needs reinforcing. I would also suggest that Neil Edwards gets a regular place next year - he has made some impressive scores in his few games this year. Of course, if Blackie leaves, then the whole thing will be academic, because the heart and soul of the team will have gone, so they MUST keep him. Anyone know any players who will be available for next year who might join us? Pietersen and Ward are the only definitely available players I've heard of, and they wouldn't touch us with a bargepole!
Trescothick
Bowler
Bryant
Cox
Burns
Blackwell
Turner
Johnson
Francis
Caddick
McLean
if not for injuries and international callups, but instead, when I saw them get smacked around the park by Lancashire a couple of weeks ago, the line up read:
Cox
Gazzard
Dutch
Burns
Blackwell
Parsons
Hildreth
Laraman
Johnson
Jones
McLean
and they were only saved from an absolute hammering by some good lower-order batting. With batting all the way down the order like that, and like they have had all season, you would expect them to be a better side than they are. The top order has completely failed consistently, with Jamie Cox being nowhere near his best. If you ask me, good job they are chasing Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting for next year. It's not the bowling department that needs reinforcing. I would also suggest that Neil Edwards gets a regular place next year - he has made some impressive scores in his few games this year. Of course, if Blackie leaves, then the whole thing will be academic, because the heart and soul of the team will have gone, so they MUST keep him. Anyone know any players who will be available for next year who might join us? Pietersen and Ward are the only definitely available players I've heard of, and they wouldn't touch us with a bargepole!