CrawlingFox

What's interesting is the age spread: Hill 34 Handscomb 34 Cox 33 Swindells 26 Swindells hasn't broken through and I suspect they'll back the next generation like Maddy, or bring someone younger in rather than keep Swindells about another couple years waiting for the others to retire. Cox was brought in for a reason and that reason isn't that they rate Swindells.

Wasn't Ahmed carrying some sort of niggle that meant he can't bowl in this match? He's our main spinner so can't see any other reason he'd not be bowling.

This lad can't do anything right. We needed a bog standard ton not a rapid one with box office hitting and boundaries all over the place. Bring back Evans or Azad. A big knock for us, but hopefully an even bigger one for Budinger. It's clearly a road but his confidence will be soaring and he should be aiming for more tons this season.

I think a draw is a good result from here, so plan should be to bat long and avoid getting rolled out early. A good test of whether some of our batters have that in their locker, would love to see Budinger get his first ton off 200 balls today.

They've brought in Todd Murphy and have van Buuren as a second spinner so fingers crossed. Derbyshire going reasonably well so far though.

I think you have to be realistic, the ECB have ripped the arse out of it and very much devalued it through the scheduling of the Hundred at the same time. They openly talked about it being relegated to "development competition" status so it's not comparable with certain sides in football deciding they're now too big time for the cup competitions. I don't like what they've done, in fact I think it's a disgrace, and for me a genuine potential pro of dropping some 4 day games would be finding a dedicated window for the one day cup (even better if we could go back to 40 over games too) but as it stands it's a shadow of what it was. Still an accomplishment to win it, but winning Div 2 this season would be far, far more significant.

I suspect you're probably right but it's an entirely meaningless competition now, one step up from second XI stuff so for me better to look at the bigger picture and see if we can develop the wider squad.

Looks about right, we'll really miss Holland. I'd swap Masood and Ahmed, think that would lend much solidity to the top 3. Patel needs a knock, he's managed a ton this season but only averaging 20 and no sign of any form in the Blast. Budinger averaging 37 but only a pair of 50s. Need more decisive knocks from the openers. Handscomb, Hill and Ahmed all been going well as the engine and the lower order consistently contribute so think we'll be hard to beat if either opener gets a good score and two draws as a minimum from these two games put us in a good position, a win from one of them and we'll be in serious business.

Good shout, if we had a group of half a dozen fringe/young players the core squad can rotate in and out. - - Gumbs - Swindells (c) Maddy (wk) - Wood Walker - Green Everyone else rotates in and out to stay fresh. Should still be competitive but doesn’t risk anyone key being tired for the run in. Think Maddy and Swindells should both play, Swindells needing to do so well that he's worth games in the run in and a contract next season. Maddy to see if he can basically take Swindells contract as the backup keeper as he's 7 years younger.

A strength of the side has been that we bat deep with Mike, Scrivo, van de Beek and Green all genuine all rounders plus Holland and Ahmed frontline bowlers who also bat in the top order maximising our options. Some interesting calls to make.

Anyone have any ideas on who we may use to bolster the One Day squad? We'll not have Hull and Ahmed and wouldn't surprise me if Kimber gets a wildcard, especially if he can find one bit knock at his box office pace. So probably ok for numbers if everyone is fit but may be a chance to give some fringe or young players game time? Alex Green seems likely. Maybe Maddy or Gumbs who've been on trial in the seconds? Not sure any of our own academy players have been banging the door down in the seconds but may be wrong.

A Google search suggests De Leede qualifies as pre settled and non overseas because he played for the MCC for a bit. Klein must either also qualify somehow or have been trialling with a view to an overseas slot.

I think it's related to Brexit and the "pre-settled" stuff, Dutch players already at clubs before that happened like van der Gugten at Glamorgan are alright and dont count as overseas but anyone coming over now without a British passport needs a visa and therefore does count as overseas.

Scrivo has become a really good bowler in this format.

Yeah they're depth options who will give you a good performance every half dozen games and be poor to average the rest of the time. Disappointing we're having to play both in every game, swap in Hull and Mike and you've got two much more dangerous options. Though Mike is due his bad t20 season. Economy rate by year: 24: 9.3 23: 11.6 22: 8.97 21: 12.5 20: 6.9 19: 12.3

The range in quality in the streams is wild. Somerset and Lancashire to name a couple put out a properly polished product. Couple others look like someone's got their phone out to do it.

Budinger has batted in 29 T20 games and averages 13.7 with 2 fifties at a strike rate of 138. (Significantly worse than the much maligned Arron Lilley who averaged 23.6 with 5 fifties at 146 for us). Also in comparison Harry Swindells has batted in 31 games and averages 19.2 with 3 fifties at (a woeful) 113. I'm not suggesting the latter is the answer to our top order issues but it's increasingly clear that Budinger isn't up to it either and given Patel's poor form and Kimber also being a feast or famine batter it's a real problem. Budinger's had one decent knock so far to be fair so really hope he finds a couple more soon as don't think we have anyone else on the books to come in.

Must admit I'd almost forgotten about Salisbury but his last over was top drawer. Fair play to him, if he's bowling well and confident then good bowling depth.

Tame dismissals for both Patel and Kimber really after getting some runs on the board, they've give us a great start though. Kimber could have been on for a big score there.

Good few overs from Kimber and Patel. Slog city.

'kin ell.

I think the good news is that Masood should really strengthen our batting up top. Only really Patel hasn't been reliable so far, averaging just 20 but you'd back him to come good I think. Budinger is averaging 37 though only has 2 50s and that match defining ton feels just out of reach. Ahmed averages less, 35, but does have 2 tons to his name. The potential in this 3 is huge but equally it doesn't feel the most reliable! Handscomb and Hill have been our engine and Cox, Holland, Van Beek and Green consistently chipping in with Scrivo and Mike contributing as well. So really the boom or bust top 3 feels like it's an acceptable risk and it's worked so far. For T20 I can see the below: Masood Patel Ahmed Kimber (C) Budinger Cox (wk) Trevaskis Mike Van Beek Scriven Hull My understanding is that Holland will be in the US (not sure how much he will miss), Handcomb will rest and given Hill didn't play last year not sure he will this season (was he injured?). 4 pace + 2 spin and bats deep. Ahmed played some franchise stuff in the winter at 3 so can see the same here. I like the idea Budinger a bit further down, he has power and it will be useful down there and he's not done well opening in t20 whereas Patel very much has and Masood should be steady with all the hitters around him. Even Mike at 8 has rope clearing power. If we're missing Ahmed and Hull as well though then things don't look as strong, you've got Hill or Swindells in to the batting and the second spin option falling to Kimber probably. And either Walker (who to be fair doesn't seem a mug in this format) or one of the other young lads in for Hull but depth could be tested. A canny loan signing could be useful, Goldsworthy would be nice but not sure on his availability.

How many games have we won in 3 days now? Feels like we're not just winning but winning by putting in dominant displays, with so many players contributing as well.

Great to see Hill with a ton. Always reliable for us.

Agree 100%. Should be doing stuff like offering rugby or football season ticket holders t20 tickets for a fiver or something. Most people who like one sport generally like others and the Blast could be ideal as the football season finishes to watch some sport with a beer in the sun.