CrawlingFox

'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.

Yeah probably pushing it but they average 6.5k and it's a small city.

Perhaps, but it's a huge geographical area with abysmal transport links and Bristol on it's front door and Exeter at it's back door, both far better connected than Taunton and with well supported rugby teams as well as football clubs. If Somerset can sell out a T20 then we should be aiming to do the same in the future. Not being shite is the starting point to growing some interest and we seem well on the way to that.

Need to target Blast attendances. Somerset sell out 8.5k seats for every game or near enough and their catchment area is small.

Yeah think our best bet is to get him back the other side of the white ball stuff for the run in.

Ian Holland is the divisions top wicket taker with 27 at 15. Ben Green is third with 21 at 18. Scrivo has 15 at 25 Hull 8 at 27 Van Beek 19 at 27 Mike 10 at 30 Absolutely superb and definitely where our success this season stems from. With the bat Handscomb is averaging 57 and Budinger 40. Mike, Hill and Cox between 35 and 40. Patel 22, Ahmed 25 and Holland 25. Mahmood coming in to shore up the top 3 might actually be ideal as the Summer goes on but really hope we can get Green back for more Championship games. Green and van Beek have also provided over 200 runs each with the bat so won't just be missed for their bowling.

Top order looks a bit ropey with both of Budinger and Ahmed in the top 3 at the same time. Probably the main weakness in the side.

Holland just loves ripping out a top order.

Guess it's just a bit extra income from food and beers etc.

Bowling is fine with Scrivo, Hull, Mike and vdB for pace and Ahmed and Trevaskis for spin. Trevaskis is a good bat and Mike was threatening to be a very good t20 batter at one stage so I think batting depth is ok. My concern would be Budinger and Kimber who are both clearly capable of big hitting innings but are also both very inconsistent and Kimber hasn't looked in good knick in the red ball games he's played so far. Budinger should be tailor made for this format but has an awful t20 record averaging 13 from 26 games. Hopefully this year he turns that around.

It's definitely a model we need to have a good look at. They've also been able to invest in their facilities during that time including the ground. However I'd guess their playing budget is the lowest of any county. I think they've invested in their academies and pathways too though and so far have Harry Moore to show for it but further time required to judge that.

Just seen Budinger was out for 39 off 24! Was he playing t20?

Sounds like England material no?

Agree with this. Swindells is 26 so not like he's a young prospect anymore. I think his current role in the squad as Cox's backup suits him well and gives us good solid cover but can't see him displacing the older man anytime soon. Suspect Handcomb might take the gloves were Cox to get injured to be honest. Is Swindells a strong enough bat to make the side? I think he's OK but I'm not sure he's pushing any of the players we've seen in the top 6 or 7 so far.

He's class. He, Hill, Holland and Handscomb give the side a real spine with great experience and as you say, grit. You can almost guarantee at least a couple will perform very well in any given innings.

Given that Trevaskis seems unfavoured we could do a lot worse than Ahmed and Parky as a spin pairing for the Blast if Parky would otherwise be sat doing nothing. Would prefer we just play Trevaskis though as he's a good player.

Bracey is a very good bat, his England call up seemed to somewhat derail his career but towards the end of last season and so far this season he's turned it back around and he's been superb so no issue with not not being able to shift him. He can do that. Frustrating to see the tail hanging about so long though. Hull's figures are again poor, we could do with him finding his England form as think that's the best he's bowled outside of white ball cricket. Credit to Green who stepped up today with the 5fer.

I think it's great that we've made a positive start especially given we've either missed or mostly missed: Out best batter - Patel Our best bowler - Wright Our best (or at least most hyped) bowling prospect - Hull You've got to give credit to the likes of Ahmed stepping in to open to good effect, Holland who has bowled superbly, Scriven with a 5fer that given better weather might have been match defining and Ben Mike has 10 wickets at 30 so far. Great to see so many players stepping up and when everyone is fit Thomas will have some genuinly tricky selection decisions to make. Given the squad hasn't been transformed you've got to give the coaching staff credit for the progress made over the Winter.

Proving to be a really solid acquisition with both bat and ball for us. Does whatever job we need as well, whether it's opening the bowling or the batting he steps in and does a steady job.

Need to break the partnership of he and Madsen. The longer they're together the more I don't like it!

I suspect given the win last week they're looking to make sure we follow up with a draw at worst so perhaps a bit of a safety first approach. Would have taken a win and a draw from the first 2 games before the season started but does feel like we could have been a bit more ambitious today. Needed to score faster yesterday afternoon really, feels an opportunity missed now.