Starting line-up for first game...

[Valentines Park]

This season's T20 competition is shaping up to be an embarrassing one for the club.

Maybe it's no longer the unstated priority of the club?

They know the beer drinkers & hell raisers will turn up regardless.   

[SirChef26]

Our best T20 campaigns that I can remember were when we used a pinch hitter at three, whether it was Gough or Napier. Get Coles in there, he’s wasted down at 8.

[pieinthesky]

Coles and Wagner to open the batting. This season's T20 competition is shaping up to be an embarrassing one for the club.

Opening the batting? Where did you hear that?

He didnt. Just nat being his hilarious self...

I dont think we have a bad side at all. we are a couple of big hitters light though.

For so long everyone moaned when we prioritized this over the CC, now we do the other and still they moan! A club of our resources cannot challenge on all 3 fronts. Any challenge in this will be a bonus. As VP says the drinkers will turn up regardless on a evening game.

I think Gloucs will surprise a few. Very geared towards one day cricket.

[pieinthesky]

Our best T20 campaigns that I can remember were when we used a pinch hitter at three, whether it was Gough or Napier. Get Coles in there, he’s wasted down at 8.

Agree he should come in with a license to hit.

Although didn't work when we gave DK license!!

[squarelegumpire]

Different three letter word. Began with ‘b’

[honkytonk]

Missed tonight's game, any reason zaidi did not bowl

If we want a pinch hitter, Walter is scoring for fun in the seconds

[CostaDelEssex]

awful display - team selection rotten, dreadful....

Back to the days of Larry...

[nat]

awful display - team selection rotten, dreadful....

Back to the days of Larry...

Agreed. What is the point of Coles batting at no. 9, coming in with 20/over needed? I wasn't joking when I said Coles and Wagner should open the batting. Says it all when your overseas player is not selected for the first T20 game.

[JasonP]

awful display - team selection rotten, dreadful....

Back to the days of Larry...

Don't insult Grayson.  We were a far better twenty20 team under him.  Putting out a team with Harmer batting at number 7 is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen.  Having an overseas bowler in Wagner who's not needed for the t20 side when we are crying out for an overseas batsman runs it very close.  McGrath is starting to look a bit inept.  Batting Harmer at 7 in the Notts game was crazy and he's not learning from his mistakes.

[ytsejam]

awful display - team selection rotten, dreadful....

Back to the days of Larry...

Don't insult Grayson.  We were a far better twenty20 team under him.  Putting out a team with Harmer batting at number 7 is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen.  Having an overseas bowler in Wagner who's not needed for the t20 side when we are crying out for an overseas batsman runs it very close.  McGrath is starting to look a bit inept.  Batting Harmer at 7 in the Notts game was crazy and he's not learning from his mistakes.

Careful now!!...I'm not sure that's allowed!!

Back to tonight's farce, I know that a lot of us didnt have much hope for the T20 thrash but I don't think many expected anything as inept and embarrassing as that!
A team full of bits and pieces cricketers with 4 spinners in it (remember, for a time 2 seasons ago, Westley was our number 1 spinner!!) without any leadership. inspiration or direction it seems from those "above" and very little idea about who and when anyone is going to bowl and bat.
And the icing on the cake is that 50% of our allowed overseas "stars" are not considered good enough to even be picked!
Shambles and I cant see what can be done to change it.

[SirChef26]

I watched on the stream and that’s the first time I think I’ve heard a Chelmsford crowd turn on its own players when Zaidi and Chopra were jogging singles when we needed 13 an over. Says it all really, shocking but not unexpected. I hope the club have sold out their remaining home games because they won’t be selling anymore tickets after that shambles.

[mawallace]

There were even crys of bring back Napier.  Bit ironic that they were celebrating his record when we have no one to match him.

Last year I recall Silvers s saying the t20 game has changed and we needed to keep up. I fear we have gone backwards

[honkytonk]

Didn't go so cant comment too much but....

Why didn't zaidi get a bowl when we were getting tonked

Our batting is not up to it.  Fair too long a tail also. 

With Porter, Cook, Beard, Quinn, Coles, Walter and even Plom taking wickets in the second eleven, do we need an os seamer??  (plus the fact we have bopara and rtd for some dobbers and Harmer, Zampa, Westley, Lawrence and Zaidi as spin options).
We should have got a batter in to go hard up the order and then bring Siddle in for the end of the CC season.

[mawallace]

Read Ryan's interview here:-
http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk//sport/cricket/essex-not-good-enough-says-ten-doeschate-1-5592056

“Tactically we might need to change the team a little bit. I think we had too many bowlers there, we might need to be brave and play another batter. But I certainly don’t feel we had all the bases covered.

“I know we’ve been beaten convincingly, but for a first run-out I’m not overly disappointed about how the guys went about it. The fact we don’t know what our best team is, that’s never a good sign.”

[Chief Brodie]

Thought they would try something different. Walters or Cole at 3. Nope more bits and pieces players. No reason for Harmer and Zamper to play. Afghani was good.