Nick Browne

[Essex Way]

Nick Browne is a quality opening batsman. He has played a significant role in providing a good start in both our 50 over matches. He should be given this opportunity in T20 too. Neither Ravi Bopara or Daniel Lawrence have achieved in the role.

[Andy]

Nick Browne is a quality opening batsman. He has played a significant role in providing a good start in both our 50 over matches. He should be given this opportunity in T20 too. Neither Ravi Bopara or Daniel Lawrence have achieved in the role.

Agreed. Need to be flexible, at the moment it appears the team tactics are written in detail in advance - hence Zaidi gets one over.

[JasonP]

Nick Browne is a quality opening batsman. He has played a significant role in providing a good start in both our 50 over matches. He should be given this opportunity in T20 too. Neither Ravi Bopara or Daniel Lawrence have achieved in the role.

Agreed. Need to be flexible, at the moment it appears the team tactics are written in detail in advance - hence Zaidi gets one over.

I think Browne could be given a go.  I'm not sure it's really his game but nothing else is working with the early order batting.  I thought we were pretty flexible in the field though.  Zaidi only got one over because the Middlesex batting last night was dominated by left handers and the theory is that it's harder to hit the ball turning away from the bat hence Lawrence and Westley over Zaidi.  We're just not batting well.

[Andy]

Agreed. Need to be flexible, at the moment it appears the team tactics are written in detail in advance - hence Zaidi gets one over.

I think Browne could be given a go.  I'm not sure it's really his game but nothing else is working with the early order batting.  I thought we were pretty flexible in the field though.  Zaidi only got one over because the Middlesex batting last night was dominated by left handers and the theory is that it's harder to hit the ball turning away from the bat hence Lawrence and Westley over Zaidi.  We're just not batting well.

So it's better to bowl seamers who are just plain awful?

It's more about taking pace off the ball with spinners as much as turn, because quite often there isn't much! The runs leaked by the seamers could be compensated for if we had a strong, in form, batting order.

[JasonP]

Agreed. Need to be flexible, at the moment it appears the team tactics are written in detail in advance - hence Zaidi gets one over.

I think Browne could be given a go.  I'm not sure it's really his game but nothing else is working with the early order batting.  I thought we were pretty flexible in the field though.  Zaidi only got one over because the Middlesex batting last night was dominated by left handers and the theory is that it's harder to hit the ball turning away from the bat hence Lawrence and Westley over Zaidi.  We're just not batting well.

So it's better to bowl seamers who are just plain awful?

It's more about taking pace off the ball with spinners as much as turn, because quite often there isn't much! The runs leaked by the seamers could be compensated for if we had a strong, in form, batting order.

I'm not sure the seam bowling was awful.  Apart from the last over of the innings, from Napier, which wasn't the best.  The other big overs came in the powerplay with only two fielders out.  That could just have easily happened to the spinners as the seamers.

[Andy]

JasonP. Agree to disagree, but hiring seamers who are no better than the local lads that we released isn't good.

[JasonP]

JasonP. Agree to disagree, but hiring seamers who are no better than the local lads that we released isn't good.

In the last couple of years the only local lad we've released is Salisbury and Quinn and Dixon are much better than him.  Quinn has looked pretty good.  Dixon has struggled but you can see the potential there.  He has pace and at times he's bowled ok.  Hopefully now that he's been in England for a couple of months we'll start to see an improvement.

[Andy]

JasonP. Agree to disagree, but hiring seamers who are no better than the local lads that we released isn't good.

In the last couple of years the only local lad we've released is Salisbury and Quinn and Dixon are much better than him.  Quinn has looked pretty good.  Dixon has struggled but you can see the potential there.  He has pace and at times he's bowled ok.  Hopefully now that he's been in England for a couple of months we'll start to see an improvement.

Well, I said at the start of the season I think the club hired two bowlers in similar positions - early 20s a small amount of 1st class/list A/T20 experience - hoping both would come off but probably realistically one would make it.

This wouldn't be so much of a problem if we had DM and Napes a little younger or Riaz earning his corn.

[neil]

JasonP. Agree to disagree, but hiring seamers who are no better than the local lads that we released isn't good.

In the last couple of years the only local lad we've released is Salisbury and Quinn and Dixon are much better than him.  Quinn has looked pretty good.  Dixon has struggled but you can see the potential there.  He has pace and at times he's bowled ok.  Hopefully now that he's been in England for a couple of months we'll start to see an improvement.

Well, I said at the start of the season I think the club hired two bowlers in similar positions - early 20s a small amount of 1st class/list A/T20 experience - hoping both would come off but probably realistically one would make it.

This wouldn't be so much of a problem if we had DM and Napes a little younger or Riaz earning his corn.

Well indeed. I am not sure that the club had too much choice. To my mind they did pretty well to identify the two "Matts".

Be interesting to know who else forum members think we should have bought in. And, you know, saying you don't know who was available is a bit of a cop out - to say the least

[Andy]

Neil.  We have a guy works at our place, used to trundle in for a Liverpool league club. Has played against a number of the Zimbabwe players (seemingly a long term deal between Zim and another Scouseland club). Facially looks like Ned Flanders, physically like Homer Simpson. He'll be available for away matches up here after term finishes...