County Championship
Round 6
Gloucestershire v Somerset
Preview:
Still top and with a game in hand, Gloucestershire
put their lead in Group 2 on the line as we head in to the run-in of the Group
Phase of the County Championship. With qualification now a tightly contested
battle between the top three, a defeat could drop Gloucestershire to third.
Hampshire, who have started their game a day earlier against bottom team,
Leicestershire, have the chance to leapfrog both Gloucestershire and Somerset. Both
Somerset and Hampshire will have just three games left after this round so,
little time will remain to recover any ground lost in this round of matches.
And, in the background, the news that James Bracey
has an excellent chance of obtaining a first Test cap against New Zealand. Of
course, being in the squad and being in the XI picked on the morning are two
different things. Back in the 1970s, Somerset had a run machine called Roy
Virgin: the only Somerset batsman to score 2000 runs in a season (in fact, with
his one-day runs, he totalled almost 3000 in 1970). Finally, he received a
call-up for the Test XII, but was left out on the morning of the match and
never again got close to playing for England. James Bracey is a different case,
a young player, still on the rise and likely to win many caps over the next ten
years, but Roy Virgin’s experience, like the possibly even more disconcerting
experience of Glamorgan stalwart, Alan Jones, is a warning to all aspiring
England players not to count your caps. James Bracey could be available for the
game against Surrey at The Oval, but will definitely miss the Leicestershire
game at Grace Road. After that, the last two Group matches in July should see
him available again as the IPL regulars return to the England side.
Both sides know that a high-scoring draw on a
lifeless Bristol strip, with a full set of bonus points would suit their
ambitions perfectly. It will be interesting to see if Ian Harvey and Chris Dent
modify the attacking tactics that have paid-off so well so far this season,
including inserting every time that the captain has won the Toss. However, a
doubtful weather forecast for the first two days, with the possibility of
interruptions to play and high winds may influence both captains to want to field
first in the hope of favourable bowling conditions. Both sides start with the
knowledge that the first day of Hampshire’s must-win match against
Leicestershire was almost a washout, with just 26 overs possible and that more
interruptions are expected on Thursday and Friday, which could make it hard for
Hampshire to force a result.
The only change in the Gloucestershire squad is
Miles Hammond for George Hankins. Hankins has struggled this season with just
120 runs at 20.0 and a top score of 37. While Hammond’s First Class record is
modest, in part because he has been asked to open, he has shown some good form
for the 2nd XI this season, with 87 v Worcs 2nds and 53* last time
out against Somerset 2nds. One suspects that Hammond will bat at #7, well away
from the New Ball and given a chance to make his case for a run in the side, with
a balanced attack picked again, Tom Smith, Matt Taylor, David Payne and Dan Worrall
supplementing all-rounder, Ryan Higgins.
Day 1:
So, Chris Dent has won the Toss and inserted, again, on a day when
interruptions look certain and the middle of the pitch had a tinge of green. A
band of rain is just approaching Bristol on the radar and much heavier rain
lies behind it. This promised to be an on and off day that was ideal for the
bowlers. And the XI is as predicted above, with a balanced attack and Miles
Hammond at #7.
David Payne took the new ball, with both openers getting off the
mark in the first over. However, the under pressure Lammonby’s stay was of just
5 balls. He pushed Ryan Higgins to Short Square Leg and, nervously, set off on
a single that was simply not there. Ian Cockbain collected and beat Lammonsby’s
dive with his underarm throw to execute an excellent runout with a direct hit.
Somerset 4-1 and a real energy in the field in front of a modest crowd.
Although Somerset were tied-down, there was a feeling that the bowlers were consistently
a fraction too short to exploit the conditions to best advantage. After 10
overs, David Payne gave way to Matt Taylor, with the score at 14-1. Not long
after, though, the umpires started to get increasingly nervous and, after 13.4
overs, the players came off with the score 23-1. 53 minutes of play had been
possible. Just ten minutes were lost and play resumed. To the credit of the
umpires, they stayed out through a mild shower around 20 minutes after the
re-start as the attritional play continued. Dan Worrall in particular was having
big problems with his footholds and already producing footmarks outside off
that Leach and Tom Smith will view with interest. It was a brief respite. The
rain started again and, with it continuing, the players went off again after
20.2 overs, with the score at 45-1 and Somerset probably the happier of the two
sides.
An early Lunch was taken, but, as the rain got heavier – although seemingly
never very heavy – out came the tarpaulins and, with the wind billowing under
the covers, the ground looked a miserable, sodden scene after Lunch. Play was
knocked on the head finally around 16:20. With more unsettled weather forecast,
this match could turn into a hunt for first innings points.
Day 2:
The horrific appearance of the rain radar at 9am suggested that
today was likely to be a washout, with band after band of heavy rain sweeping
in from South Wales. In fact, so much rain looked likely to fall, added to the
heavy rain that had fallen overnight, that you wondered about an on-time start
even on Day 3. Certainly, it looked more like a day for rubber ducks and rubber
boats on the ground rather than cable-knit sweaters. A 3pm inspection was
scheduled and, as expected, decided that play would be abandoned. The chances
of play on Day 3 depend on the rain stopping in time for the strong wind to dry
the outfield but, with puddles in part of the outfield already and more rain
expected, you wondered how much more the ground could take.
From a local point of view, it will not have escaped the notice of
either captain at breakfast that things looked better on the South Coast and
that, although Hampshire v Leicestershire would be in its third day, with the
first innings of the match still incomplete, quick wickets in the morning
session might just give a chance of setting up a result there on the fourth
day. Certainly, with a total of 8 sessions of play possible at the Ageas Bowl,
the match would have to move on quickly to set up a game on the last day. That
though is what happened, with 8 wickets falling for just 38 runs in the morning.
However, Chris Dent’s amazing powers have a long reach these days and that has
included the handy knack of having a direct line to Jupiter Pluvius to send
rain to other grounds. With Leicestershire tottering at 28-5, still 56 short of
the follow-on, that ability certainly came in handy. With just a day left,
Hampshire must enforce the follow-on to have any chance of winning, even so, taking
15 wickets in a day looks to be a tall order.
Day 3:
While the forecast for today is promising for Bristol, tomorrow
looks bad again, so the game is going to be no more than a hunt for first
innings points. An early look at the rain radar showed that things were genuinely
looking much better at Bristol but, what was just as important to the local
fans is that more rain is heading to the Ageas Bowl. Fans will remember that,
when Gloucestershire narrowly missed out on the title in 1977, the biggest
culprit was the rain, with a critical match in the run-in that could have
sealed the title becoming the second of the season to be abandoned without a
ball bowled. If the rain, this time, seems to be giving Gloucestershire (and
Somerset) a hand, it may be because the rain god has a sense of natural justice
(and, an even bigger sense of humour). Barring something truly extraordinary at
the Ageas Bowl today, Hampshire will take just 12 points from their match. A
draw at Bristol, with both sides reaching 250 in the first innings, would see
the gap extend by one point. Out east, a big win for Surrey might just put them
back in the hunt, but they look unlikely to take more than one batting point
against Middlesex and have a lot of work to do to win.
So, that was the theory at breakfast time. What actually happened
(or did not happen)?
What we saw, was a disturbing reminder of the 2020 Bob Willis
Trophy match at Taunton as Gloucestershire first appeared to have the match
under complete control, before a Somerset fightback with the bat and a Shire
capitulation.
Play finally got under way at 11:45, which reflects great credit
on the Bristol ground staff. And, initially, all looked rosy for the Cidermen as
Byrom and Abell took their partnership to 81 before Byrom edged David Payne to
Kieron Brathwaite at 1st Slip. In came James Hildreth – the best
current batsman never to have played for England? – and bedded-in. As the score
mounted serenely, Somerset must have been thinking of 300+ and a good crop of
batting points in a solid draw. Hardly could they imagine that the solidity of
127-2 would become the precarity of 143-6. If Day 2 was about acts of god, the
afternoon of Day 3 was about acts of Payne and Worrall. First, David Payne
bowled an excellent full delivery that swung in a little. Hildreth drove hard
at it and missed completely, with the ball hitting middle. 127-3 and the start
of an astonishing collapse. Dan Worrall came on for a new spell and, first
ball, homed one in on middle stump that Bartlett played across: 135-4. In came
Goldsworthy to join Tom Abell, who had batted all day. First ball of Dan
Worrall’s new over, Goldsworthy fenced at one outside off and could only edge
it through to James Bracey. 143-5 and Somerset running out of oxygen on the
ascent of Mount 300. In came Davies who, second ball, sent a thick edge very
low to Chris Dent at 3rd Slip. Dent dived and took a superb low
catch. 143-6 and Somerset suddenly in some trouble.
Abel and Overton started to re-build and, gradually the Somerset
ambitions were growing again. 200? No, 250! Until now, Ryan Higgins had had little
impact on the match. Ball outside off to Overton that lifted and moved away a
fraction. Overton followed it and edged. James Bracey moved well to take the
catch, running in front of Kraigg Brathwaite: 177-7. So, Somerset went to Tea
at 180-7, with 40 overs left in the day. At 127-2, Gloucestershire would
certainly have taken that.
Things though started to go seriously wrong for the Shire after
Tea. You know how it is with Somerset: you work your way through the tail and
then the serious batting starts at around #9. Gregory went after Matt Taylor
and brought up the 200 in the 77th over with a second six in the
over. The new ball was taken by Dan Worrall and, rather than end the fun, after
a few, quiet overs, the leather started to fly seriously. Abell moved into the
90s with a nice clip off his legs that was pulled-in just inside the Square Leg
boundary. Back came David Payne after the initial new all thrust was
unsuccessful and Gregory took him for consecutive fours. 250 up and the second batting
point in the 91st over with Abell on 96* and the stand starting to
get seriously annoying. Up came a superb hundred for Abell with a deflection
through Point off David Payne. With brilliant sunshine and the ball coming nicely
onto the bat, conditions were as in favour as the batsmen as they had been at
any point. A Cover Drive off David Payne and Gregory brought up his own 50.
Half way through the afternoon session, 200 had looked a long way off: now 300
was looking distinctly possible and even 350. 288-7 after 100 overs and, with
only ten overs left to obtain it, that third bowling point for the Shire
looking very uncertain. When, finally, a wicket fell, it was a strange one.
Matt Taylor, who had taken some punishment, beat the inside edge. The ball
skimmed the thighpad and onto the Off Bail. The batsman waited and the umpire
gave the decision… not too often will you see a batsman waiting to be given
after being bowled. 292-8, Gregory bowled Taylor, 57 (6x4, 2x6); Abell, 124*.
Abell was still playing sublimely and took the score up to 300
with boundaries off the first and third ball of Dan Worrall’s next over – a pull
and a cut – at which point Somerset’s batsmen ran off, denying Gloucestershire
the third bowling point and giving the batsmen nine overs in bright sunshine to
survive. The strategy was clear: try to fire out a couple of wickets and go for
bowling points on the last day.
What happened, was not good viewing. Overton opened to Kraigg
Brathwaite, who saw off the first two balls before taking a blow amidships and
crumpling at the crease like a house of cards. After a considerable delay, the
next ball was cut elegantly for four. An Off-Drive for a single brought the
captain onto strike, who then edged the sixth ball of the opening over to
Goldsworthy to fall for a golden duck. In came James Bracey, with Brathwaite
still evidently in great discomfort, despite which he looked in decent form. Another
cut off Overton brought him his third boundary of the innings, 14-1. This happy
state of affairs did not last. First ball of the next over, Davey gave James
Bracey a lovely ball, right in the channel outside off and the batsman could
only feather an edge to the ‘keeper. 14-2, Bracey 1 and Tom Smith as
nightwatchman.
Although Brathwaite and Smith made it through to the Close, this
was not the situation that you wanted. Somerset would run in in the morning
with nothing to lose and memories of the collapse at Taunton in 2020 still
fresh. Surely, Somerset could not win, but there were those fans on the YouTube
Channel who proclaimed loudly that they would bowl out the Shire cheaply twice
to win.
16-2 from 9 overs at the Close: Kraigg Brathwaite, 13*; Tom Smith,
0*. And rain forecast for Day 4.
As this was happening, astonishing events were going on at the
Ageas Bowl. A win for Hampshire would have been extremely worrying for both
sides. When Hampshire had Leicestershire 54-9, 30 short of saving the
follow-on, it looked as if they might engineer the most unlikely of victories.
Alex Evans and Ed Barnes may just have earnt the freedom of Bristol and of
Taunton by staying together for 12 overs and saving the follow-on by a single
run. Even though Hampshire forfeited their second innings, setting 150 to win,
too little time remained to initiate a second collapse and both Gloucestershire
and Somerset breathed a sigh of relief. Had that last wicket fallen quickly, it
might have been so different.
Day 4:
Occasional watery sunshine, but rain threatening and a very poor
forecast for the day. Although the rain made defeat unlikely in the extreme, you
wondered if we would see a situation like the Manchester Test in 1953 when,
after rain and with no chance of a result, Australia collapsed to 35-8 on the
last afternoon, changing the momentum of the whole series. It was set up for a
collapse. And boy did we get one.
The first over gave no hint of what was to come. Tom Smith got off
the mark with a confident clip off his legs for two and five runs came off the
over. That was as good as it got. First ball of the second over of the morning
Tom Smith missed a straight one from Overton that kept a bit low and was off,
LBW, for 3: 21-3. It got worse… rapidly. In came Tom Lace. He survived a loud
LBW shout first ball before, to his evident displeasure, being given out,
caught behind down leg from a ball that the umpire ruled had touched glove. In
came Ian Cockbain, who just failed to get a touch outside off first ball. 21-4
and the Shire imploding. Five dots from Davey to Kraigg Brathwaite and the
batsman clipped him straight to Short Mid-Wicket. It was getting darker, but
this collapse was hard to believe. Already the rain was starting to fall. Ian
Cockbain got off the mark, as did Ryan Higgins with a clip for 3 next ball and,
at 25-5, the players ran off.
At that point, with the follow-on mark 151, Somerset might just
have been thinking of bowling the Shire out twice in a day. Play re-started at
midday, with Ryan Higgins 3* and Ian Cockbain, 1*.
Ryan Higgins saw off three balls quietly. The fourth, lifted a
little and jagged in violently, just passing the inside edge. The fifth was
deflected past the slips for two. Back came Overton at the other end, for what
proved to be the last over of the match. And just as well. It took just two
deliveries for Overton to get one to lift a little that Ian Cockbain
inside-edged onto his stumps. 27-6, Cockbain 1. And, as the rain started to
fall again, out came a new leg stump as the old one had been broken in the
dismissal. Miles Hammond did not even have time to reach the crease before the
stumps came out and the players headed back off, this time, permanently. On
came the tarpaulins, billowing in the wind and the scene was increasingly miserable,
fittingly for the scoreboard.
Although the umpires waited until after Tea to knock the match on
its head, the only change in the situation was for more tarpaulins and
hosepipes to come out to protect the Square. We got just 26 balls on the last
day, but they were 26 balls of high drama.
Aftermath:
Will the real Gloucestershire please stand up?
Six matches. Four impressive wins. Two desperate scrambles to save
a draw. Although there was never much danger, given the poor weather forecast,
that the match would be lost, this was a performance that invoked comparison
with the corresponding game in 2020. Was it simply a side that relaxed a bit
too much knowing that there would not be a result, or a sign of a season
starting to unravel?
Too much play though was lost for this to be regarded as
representative. We saw the equivalent of fewer than 4 sessions, or which
Gloucestershire dominated one and were very poor in another. What we are seeing
though, systematically, is that luck is generally on the side of the team this
season and luck is a big factor in success. As Richie Bernaud said, so
memorably:
Captaincy
is 10% and 90% luck, but don’t do it without the 10%.
The same applies to Gloucestershire in 2021. A poor side can fluke a win occasionally but, generally, a side makes its own luck and, in this round, they have had plenty. They are still top of Group 2, unbeaten, with a game in hand and have more points than any other team in any group, having played a lot of very good cricket. However, with Hampshire still only 11 points behind in third, Gloucestershire still have a lot of work to do to secure qualification for Division 1. The good news is that three of the remaining four games are against the bottom three in the group, but two wins from four games may be necessary to seal a place at the top table.
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