So I was wrong with my assumption that we will not play a specialist spinner for this match. We have named two in the 12 man squad. It'll be one of Batty and Virdi who misses out.
Dissapointed Meaker is once again not backed from the start of the season. For each of the last 4 seasons we've waited until we are in trouble or have run out of options before us in him then he does okay.
His problem I'm sure is a confidence thing. If they backed him in preseason and from the start of the season I'm sure it would do his confidence a world of good.
I get he goes for runs but he bowls wicket taking balls. When we are playing 4 seamers I think we can afford to have him in there. Bowl him short spells and say give it everything get some wickets.
Good spell by Edwards from the Vauxhall end. The ball was skidding on to the batsmen and kept low on both LBW decisions. Elgar and Burns are digging in.
A couple of nice punches down the ground from Elgar. Hampshire are attacking his leg stump, and Elgar has been positive with a couple of hook shots. Hampshire put three fielders out on the long leg boundary to try and entice him into a loose hook shot. But he's too experienced for that.
Two clips for four off his legs by Burns to bring up the fifty partnership, and he dug out an excellent Yorker from Edwards, who is now operating from the pavilion end. A nice punch through extra cover by Elgar off Wheal for four.
Back on after lunch. Good over from the pavilion end from Abbott. Elgar beaten outside the off stump a couple of times. Burns has taken advantage of the short boundary on the Harleyford Road side.
Morne Morkel was on the out-field playing with his nipper during lunch, in amongst the people. Ryan Sidebottom was in the nets in front of the scoreboard coaching a couple of youngsters, with Geoff Arnold. Good to see Horse. The opening bowlers when I first started to come to the Oval were Arnold and Jackman. Two 100 per centers.
Hampshires bowlers have really put the squeeze on after lunch, and are bowling with good pace. 31 runs in 59 mins. Abbott and Edwards are a handful. Wheal and Wood have both run in hard.
Thanks all for the updates. I managed to listen a bit in the middle of a busy day. Had chances to kick on but didn't manage to. Rather annoying.
On a positive note the pitches seemed much better than last year where there was nothing at all in them for the bowlers. Does mean we will jabe to bat better than we did today though.
Comments
Let's hope it's a great season
Dissapointed Meaker is once again not backed from the start of the season. For each of the last 4 seasons we've waited until we are in trouble or have run out of options before us in him then he does okay.
His problem I'm sure is a confidence thing. If they backed him in preseason and from the start of the season I'm sure it would do his confidence a world of good.
I get he goes for runs but he bowls wicket taking balls. When we are playing 4 seamers I think we can afford to have him in there. Bowl him short spells and say give it everything get some wickets.
8-1
Currently 33-2
Two clips for four off his legs by Burns to bring up the fifty partnership, and he dug out an excellent Yorker from Edwards, who is now operating from the pavilion end. A nice punch through extra cover by Elgar off Wheal for four.
Burns 35no
Elgar 28no
They look well set and hopefully at least one of them will bat through the day.
Morne Morkel was on the out-field playing with his nipper during lunch, in amongst the people. Ryan Sidebottom was in the nets in front of the scoreboard coaching a couple of youngsters, with Geoff Arnold. Good to see Horse. The opening bowlers when I first started to come to the Oval were Arnold and Jackman. Two 100 per centers.
93-2
Elgar needs to dig in now and marshal the innings.
Pope in with Foakes. Need another partnership.
Foakes 10no Pope 1no.
Bailing out soon. A few domestics to do and the trains at London Bridge are gonna be murder later on now that the sun has come out.
Keep posting the scores.
Pope lbw b Abbott 34
Currently 193-5
202-6
205-7
Lots of batsmen getting decent starts but not building on them.
210-8
Dunn c Rossouw b Dawson 0
211 all out
Adams c Foaks b Clarke 17
Currently 52-2
52-3 at the close
On a positive note the pitches seemed much better than last year where there was nothing at all in them for the bowlers. Does mean we will jabe to bat better than we did today though.
Currently 63-4