Essex v Surrey

[Museshrimper]

Big game for us as we look to get promoted. After getting Surrey 144-6, they are now 291-8, meaning that Essex's problem of finishing teams off still lingers.

Will Jefferson has also left Essex today, which I feel is very disappointing news as he is a talented, and different, batsman http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Hong Kong Blue]

Whilst it has been the progress this season of Pettini and Chopra which has blocked Jefferson's return to the first XI this year, I think the real reason to blame is Essex's reliance on bits and pieces cricketers. We get into the all-rounders at no.6, and that is despite having an all-rounder at 3 and another one at 5 (albeit non-bowling these days)! Assuming Cook won't be seen much that leaves our batting reserves as Grant Flower and Ryan Ten Doeschate, two Kolpak players (they may not technically be Kolpak but they certainly aren't English) who have appeared 13 times between them in the County Championship. Admittedly Jefferson was injured at the start of the season, and RTD was probably our best/least poor bowler at the start of the season, but Jefferson should have been IMHO ahead of them in the pecking order.

[Museshrimper]

I agree, we bat a long way down but when you think of some people playing ahead of Jefferson it seems a bit odd. I mean, why do Chambers/Westfield play when they a) hardly bowl in matches, b) get no wickets and c) cant bat?? We have enough people in the team who can bowl to include Jefferson. Last season he was one of the first names on the teamsheet, too.

[Museshrimper]

Finished 330 all out, with Bopara getting 5 wickets. Now we just need to get through to close unscathed.

[Hong Kong Blue]

Quote[/b] (Museshrimper @ Aug. 16 2006,17:39)]I agree, we bat a long way down but when you think of some people playing ahead of Jefferson it seems a bit odd. I mean, why do Chambers/Westfield play when they a) hardly bowl in matches, b) get no wickets and c) cant bat?? We have enough people in the team who can bowl to include Jefferson. Last season he was one of the first names on the teamsheet, too.
I don't mind Essex giving kids like Ahmed and Westfield a game - I thought Westfield looked quite handy down at Garon Park - its more the Andre Adams and Ryan Ten Doeschates of this world. Bits and pieces journeyman cricketers.

Sadly at various stages of the season they have been our best bowlers available. You can probably add Middlebrook to this list as well. Distinctly average with the ball, if they had been a no.11 with the bat they'd have never made it in county cricket.

[Matt the Shrimp]

Very sad news about Big Will - what a disappointment.

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And I thought that, in true bits & pieces style, the Essex coaches were trying to get him to bowl...?

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Completely agree with you about G. Flower and Ten Doeschate, HKB. *OK, maybe the latter is good for spreading the cricketing word around the world (he's Namibian, isn't he - or is he Dutch?), but I still don't see what Grant Flower brings to Essex cricket, at all...

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Matt

[Museshrimper]

RTD is Dutch, and looks a good all-round player imo, especially fielding-wise. Not sure how old he is though, I thought he was young?? Grant Flower brings very little, he's not a very good batsman anymore, nor bowler. Ahmed looks a prospect to me, havent seen Westfield yet though. I think Will was one of our better batsman, especially as an opener. Never mind.

Andre Adams is a complete waste of an overseas player - what young English players at Essex can learn off him I dont know.

[MrB]

To me it's almost as if they're gunning solely for OD cricket. True we are clearly excellent at that form of the game but we just seem to be a bit toothless when it comes to FC bowling and our inability to bowl teams out from decent positions has cost us dear this season, today's game an example, 183 runs from the last four wickets.

We could still go up this season but I don't hold out much hope!

[Museshrimper]

Solid first session of the morning, Pettini 58 not out and Bopara 67 not out as we resume after lunch on 150-2.

[Matt the Shrimp]

Surrey 330, Essex 530, Surrey 53/2 in their second innings - i.e. still 148 runs shy of making Essex bat again, with 2 men down already.

Stats - the brown caps suck, and that's official.

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[Stats]

Every underdog has their day http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Museshrimper]

Make that 57-3, Phillips just got Newman caught by Andy Flower http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (statski77 @ Aug. 18 2006,15:27)]Every underdog has their day http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
When is Surrey's due, then?

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[Bluesmanager]

Do they wear brown trousers per chance? http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Stats]

OOOOH Look at you all raise your heads when you finally get the better of us

Dont think I made such a racquet when we beat you rather emphatically earlier this season!!

Let me point out that we are actually above you by 45pts in the CC2

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[Museshrimper]

Butcher run out, 72-4 http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[canveyshrimper]

We will probably get them to 180/9 and then the last wicket pair will put on about 600 http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[South Benfleet Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Aug. 18 2006,16:03)]We will probably get them to 180/9 and then the last wicket pair will put on about 600 http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
And Tudor will get injured - again ! ! http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (CI-City Blue @ Aug. 18 2006,16:41)]
Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Aug. 18 2006,16:03)]We will probably get them to 180/9 and then the last wicket pair will put on about 600 http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
And Tudor will get injured - again ! ! *http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
Pessimists on the Island. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Museshrimper]

Clinton's gone, 100-5.

[MrB]

138-5, here we go.....

[Hong Kong Blue]

Statski's sorry Surrey lost by an innings and 2 runs.