County Cricket

[Neil]

Starts again today, we're 113/5 from 60 overs.

Less than 2 runs an over, christ, thats some painful viewing!

[Shandy]

Done a bit better I see but the worrying thing is the number of new unknown names and the fact they have all struggled today. Early days, and I can see why the club are in this position, but I think we are going to be struggling not to pick up extra kitchenware this season.

[Noah]

Gosh, they do look new to me. The publicity people at the club send out many more messages nowadays than ever before, but somehow it has not prepared me for this line-up

[Neil]

Liam Norwell (19), David Payne (20), Ian Cockbain (24), Chris Dent (20), Richard Coughtrie (22), Ian Saxelby (21).

We're going for youth this year then!

[Noah]

Had not realised that Saxelby was so young.

[Neil]

Even the NZ'er that we've got is only 20!

Who was the bowler from NZ?

[Neil]

No idea who Liam Norwell is but he got six wickets in his first innings!

[Noah]

I very nearly went today and now wish that I had. Though we are widely tipped to come bottom, we are far from being the only club with financial worries.

[Noah]

I see that Liam is barely 19. His hair is the same colour as Steve Kirby's, so some older fans may not notice the difference.

[Neil]

We won :)

[Noah]

Well done Cockbain, I say. Oh, and a good knock from the skipper.

I was there on Sunday. It was a lovely day, weather-wise. It took me a while to get used to the pace of cricket again, but I got the paper out and read it between overs and all seemed well with the world. A very small crowd, I'm afraid. The New Zealander (when's he coming ?) is called Kane Williamson.

[Neil]

There always seems to be small crowds for Championship games, thats why Twenty20 is so popular, it's a real good earner.

Who is the untried NZ bowler?

[Shandy]

Batsman. And Noah, you must have seen the Derbyshire player (Smith?) take the Glos attack to the sword. How did the youngsters bare up when under the cosh. Quite possimistic with the opening win, in that I think we'll still struggle (Derbys are not highly rated) but there's a chance I might be wrong.

[Neil]

No Shandy we have an untried bowler too.

[Noah]

Batsman. And Noah, you must have seen the Derbyshire player (Smith?) take the Glos attack to the sword. How did the youngsters bare up when under the cosh. Quite possimistic with the opening win, in that I think we'll still struggle (Derbys are not highly rated) but there's a chance I might be wrong.

Sorry, but you have sussed me out - I don't really know my Kane from my Wilkinson.

That period when Smith was in charge was a bit grim from the Shire's point of view, for sure. I am in agreement that Derbyshire are not going to be among the best. The Glos. players did rush about back-slapping whenever a wicket fell, or even when there was a bit of good fielding to celebrate. They are obviously being encouraged to do this to keep their morale up. They rather forgot to do it when Smith was at the crease, when it might have proven most helpful.

Still a win's a win, and it's encouraging. It's one more than some sceptics might have expected. Last season we were supposed to have the best attack in the division. In this game, though, it should be noted that each of two opening bowlers took a fifer. In fact one achieved a fifer plus one. Neither was named Lewis.

[Neil]

We had Glamorgan 54/6 earlier. They've recovered since but fair play....

[Dagmar]

Glamorgan all out for 202. Gloucestershire 42/3 at tea on day 1.

Can't see this one being a draw :)

[Neil]

76/5.

At least we won't follow on ;)

[Noah]

Unfortunate injury to Chris Dent, who is what is known as a batter. (Back in the day, he'd have been a batsman). Another fifer in Glamorgan first innings, this time from Saxelby. He's another red-haired bowler, and so from the boundary we appear to have Steve Kirby at both ends - though neither of these two appear to shout so much as he did.

[Dagmar]

Can Gloucestershire hold out for a draw? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/static/cricket/statistics/scorecards/2011/04/86265/html/scorecard.stm)

[Neil]

In short, I think "no".

Are we trying to win or trying not to lose?

[Neil]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2011/engine/current/match/492179.html

The County are well up against it there but it's not looking too clever for Kane Williamson, he got another duck!

[Noah]

Where we are achieving is in bringing the average age down. Our sixteen year old debutant rivals the young Yorkshire wicket-keeper. I suppose the boy will be on the minimum wage, but is he allowed to work for a whole day ?

[Shandy]

Young Miles is having a decentish debut, but take a look at his second XI record for last season and there is little to suggest that he should be in the first team. Maybe JB wants to try and fast track him, but that doesn't really help when we have a high number of inexperienced players in the team anyway.

As for the others, Cockbain has showed early promise but needs consistency, as does Liam Norwell, and I'm not sure Richard Coughtrie is good enough but at least deserves a chance with a run of games. As for Jon Batty, I really cannot see why JB is persisting with him - is Kevin O'Brien a keeper as well, if so throw him the gloves and get Nora out the side.

[Dagmar]

I wonder if we have the ability to bat for 5 sessions to see out a game.. :)

[TigerMark]

Not good - 24/2 :D

[Dagmar]

Bugger.

[Neil]

Fair play, the other Gidman got another century.

I might go and watch us at Glamorgan on Sunday if the weathers nice.

[Dagmar]

113-6. Oh dear..

[Shandy]

And a pair for Jonathan Batty!

[Neil]

And a pair for Jonathan Batty!

Wasn't he shit last year too?

[Noah]

I know we're odds on to lose by an innings, but the score for neither of our knocks looks too bad. Batty used to score heavily for my fantasy team when he was with Surrey, but I fear that we have let better keepers go.

[Dagmar]

21 more runs to avoid an innings defeat...

[Shandy]

If Batty could have weighed in with 60-70 for his two innings, a reasonable average, and a couple of half centuries from the top order then we could have set 200+ and had an interesting final day. All you can hope is that we get them into bat again and that its a steep learning curve for a young side. Hugely impressed so far this season with Will Gidman, he was not rated, but with some careful tail end resistance he could reach a pair of centuries for the match, in addition to a couple of nineties in other games. Not bad for a number 7, and an economical wicket taker as well.