Team v Bears

[Tennyson]

Now just let me get my head around this, Foster is allegedly going to retire and we let Adam Wheater and Ben Foakes both move on in the last two years or so

If the Foster thing is correct should we not try to get Foakes back as he is hardly playing and when he has been then not behind the stumps? Or have we got yet another gem of a wicketkeeper up our sleeves ?

Oh dear our club has been so mismanaged over the past few years, loosing spinners and wicketkeepers for fun

[Slogger]

I suspect Foakes would be the answer but I doubt we could afford/would want to afford his wages. No doubt Surrey are paying him a lot more than we ever did.

I recollect a similar situation with  Nadeem Shahid who left Essex to be part of the Surrey squad. I was told they were paying him far more to act as cover for their regulars than Essex paid him. A shame really as I always thought he was good and with Knight and Stephenson leaving around that time he could have been a first team regular for a decade.

[ytsejam]

Wouldnt want Foakes back even IF we could afford his wages! He ran away like a mercenary PURELY for money, not cricketing reasons as it was obvious he wasn't going to play much at Surry for a few seasons, at least. No, let him stagnate in their second team and live to regret his money grabbing ways when his career fades away.

[CostaDelEssex]

A mercenary for moving 'jobs' in a short career to earn more money....reality I'm afraid

[ytsejam]

A mercenary for moving 'jobs' in a short career to earn more money....reality I'm afraid

Not saying he didn't do anything that several other players wouldn't do either, just that I wouldn't like to see him back at Essex 'cos he clearly has no loyalty to the club that "made him" or interest in actually playing and improving his game as a cricketer and would clear off again like a flash, if more money came up on offer!

[Perov]

Perhaps at the time, with no chance of Foster moving aside, he thought there were no prospects for him at Essex.
To get a three contract (do Essex ever offer more than two years?) and double his wages - he would have been a fool not to move.
At least he didn't have a hissy fit and buy himself out of a contract a year early like that little upstart Wheater.

[IlfordEagle]

Last night was shambolic in all ways with poor,wayward bowling (Tait & sadly Napes), dreadful fielding (Fossie who had a stinker especially that dropped catch, Tendo's dropped catch),batsmen who yet again got themselves out when going well (Ryder as so often is the case,Westley with a misjudged shot,Tendo admittedly when having to force the pace),Ravi out to a good ball.
The body language said it all & Tendo showed his disappointment only too clearly with his, basically we lacked direction, purpose & will to win, we let Warwicks get too far away in the last 5 overs having kept it within reach until then, we also lacked a big innings from someone, as always a few got starts but didn't go on.
This has to be the end for some in 1 day cricket, we have to have a big clearout, freshen up the staff, actually make some decent signings (that's if anyone worth their salt would want to join us!!).
I would now settle for us having a year or 2 rebuilding properly with Ravi as Captain (assuming Fossie is retiring) & Tom Westley as VC (His contract ends in 2016 & he is the kind of player we must keep along with Topley, Browne & Porter).
All in all last night was a total embarrassment & unless we qualify for RL 1/4 Finals which we should do then it's season over!!

[galboy]

The match wasn't lost when Ravi got a superb ball from an excellent spinner - it was lost in the field with Foster at the top of the bill showing again that he is way past it and has been since the Hants saga.  That said he should have batted ahead of Browne - you can only assume as Tendo was at the crease that decision came down to Larry...  Another moment was Ryder - Nasser called it didn't he...

Anyone else feel this side is going through exactly what the Aussies are at the moment?  A team of superb but now ageing mid 30 year old players who are now past their best - sad to say but I think we also need a clear out at the end of this season with a new captain, some new players and fresh ideas.  Give Ravi the captaincy in all forms because I think this will reinvigorate his game which has to be fair become stagnant this season.  One or two astute signings elsewhere and the youngsters - bye bye Foster, Masters, Napier and possibly even Tendo - fantastic servants but now too injury prone, past their best and fielding has become dreadful - even Tendo dropped a clanger last night.  It's hard to say but for the good of the team...

Nobody said that the match was lost when Ravi Yorked himself, they said that it was over. Do try to get your facts right. Jeetan Patel an excellent spinner?? Do me a favour.

As for Ravi being captain, I'm glad that you woke up that's only been said in here around a thousand times.

[Mog]

I thought this year; was our year and 'we're gonna win it.....'!...?  , or some similar slack jawed drivel.

I've just returned to the UK early this morning, and am suffering somewhat from jet-lag, unable to sleep I've had time to read all the match reports and interesting comments here, and even the lacklustre one of the Clubs' own mouthpiece - who seem unable to console themselves with any positives! However, even to me it is clear that with annual rapidity, No Change Essex have been out-thought, out manoeuvred by a clued-up team who had/have the adaptability and flexibility to change their game plan depending on the situation. Compare and contrast with ECCC, who decide their tactics for the whole tournament before the season has begun!
The Club's obsession with T20 and utter desperation to win the competition, indicates a willingness to risk a player (Napier) for the key all-rounder role when he was clearly unfit. Also, interested to see that RtD, Ryder, Masters all made miraculous recoveries in time for the QF - after being 'unfit' for the weekend CC match.....
One fact you may wish to consider, in the history of T20 - this is the thirteenth season, No Change Essex have won one knockout match away from home in the competition.

Of course the way ahead under the clueless clown duo of Irani, Grayson and the obsolete Essex way will predicate more of the same for season's to come. No real interest in Championship cricket, more import of bits and pieces players to bolster the Clubs' actual priority.

[Andy]

A mercenary for moving 'jobs' in a short career to earn more money....reality I'm afraid

Not saying he didn't do anything that several other players wouldn't do either, just that I wouldn't like to see him back at Essex 'cos he clearly has no loyalty to the club that "made him" or interest in actually playing and improving his game as a cricketer and would clear off again like a flash, if more money came up on offer!

How many of us have turned down moves because of loyalty to our current employer? Not many I'd say.
A decade or so ago I would be very angry at mercenary behaviour. However, we know the shambles the club has been in - a litany of off field disasters, whether Law vs Irani or Kaneria/Westfield.

Whilst I think bigger clubs are clearly spending money on squad players they can't afford or should produce themselves, ECCC have thought they could run the same reward policy they did in the 1970s. Unsurprisingly it no longer works.

Also, what makes you think these guys were keen to leave? If your face doesn't fit at the club you'll be no better off staying than at least making some decent cash for a club that might actually win something.