Somerset match

[JasonP]

https://www.essexcricket.org.uk/2018/08/03/match-preview-essex-eagles-v-somerset-3/

He's been a real asset, Mascarenhas.  Brought in to help us improve in T20.  This is what he come's up with.

“I think our bowling generally in T20 cricket this year has been pretty good. It’s always a tough game for bowlers with the small grounds and flat wickets but I think our bowlers are just ahead of our batters at the moment.

“If we can just get a few more runs on the board, I think our bowlers are more than capable of winning matches for us.

“1 or 2 overs per game have caused up problems but when you look back, other factors have contributed to our indifferent start. Dropped catches for example and a costly over here and there have caused us problems.

“If we could just cut out that over that’s been costing us 20 or so runs a time and get that down to 9 or 10, then I think we’d be fine.”

The bowlers are just ahead of our batsman at the moment.  With 2 50's in the tournament they're exactly setting a high bar! 
Having the odd over here and there that goes for 20 odd is hardly unusual in T20 cricket.  If that's the best he's got, then God help us.

Tonights solution to improving our T20 form is the same old.  Just swapping Pepper for Lawrence.  Harmer at 7 again! with 7 specialist bowlers again!

[ytsejam]

No comment really apart from to say that I rate this joker even lower than the hapless McGrath!!

[JasonP]

Another masterclass in T20 batting.  135-9.  I know he didn't come off today but the McGrath and Mascarenhas solution to improve things after watching us yesterday is to move Bopara one place DOWN the order!

[Andy]

Another masterclass in T20 batting.  135-9.  I know he didn't come off today but the McGrath and Mascarenhas solution to improve things after watching us yesterday is to move Bopara one place DOWN the order!

There's trouble at mill.

[Valentines Park]

 Opposition openers carrying their bats must be a record for T20.

Wouldn't put it past this side to score less than 100 runs before the group stage is done.

[ytsejam]

That was just a shambolic embarrassment from a team of so called professionals.
Arguably the lowest point in our T20 history.
Just what are these humiliations doing to the frail confidence of the players and is that going to spillover into the inevitable fight ahead against CC Div 1 relegation?

[nat]

That was just a shambolic embarrassment from a team of so called professionals.
Arguably the lowest point in our T20 history.
Just what are these humiliations doing to the frail confidence of the players and is that going to spillover into the inevitable fight ahead against CC Div 1 relegation?

No.

[ytsejam]

That was just a shambolic embarrassment from a team of so called professionals.
Arguably the lowest point in our T20 history.
Just what are these humiliations doing to the frail confidence of the players and is that going to spillover into the inevitable fight ahead against CC Div 1 relegation?

No.

Wish I had your confidence in the team.

[JasonP]

Opposition openers carrying their bats must be a record for T20.

Wouldn't put it past this side to score less than 100 runs before the group stage is done.

Surrey chasing down 220 with ease.  They could get near 300 if they bat first on Sunday.

[IlfordEagle]

I wouldn't normally watch Surrey v Middx but what a game & you feel for Stirling who got a marvelous ton to no avail, Surrey won with ease with Roy & Finch absolutely murdering the bowling. They showed how to bat & Finch proved that it is batsmen that win T20 matches, possibly Essex couldn't afford the likes of him but if you don't try or don't get somebody of quality in you will struggle like we are, BTW I mean no disrespect to either Zampa, who has done very well, or Siddle both decent performers. Sorry to go off at a tangent but it is relevant in context to Essex's dismal displays this year.

[SirChef26]

That was just a shambolic embarrassment from a team of so called professionals.
Arguably the lowest point in our T20 history.
Just what are these humiliations doing to the frail confidence of the players and is that going to spillover into the inevitable fight ahead against CC Div 1 relegation?

No arguably about it, it is!

[spirali]

“If we could just cut out that over that’s been costing us 20 or so runs a time and get that down to 9 or 10, then I think we’d be fine.”

That's absurd from Mascarenhas. It flies in the face of reality - suggests that the defeats have been by narrow margins in hard-fought games, which is very far from the case.

The bizarre team selections, and the failure to learn from glaring, obvious mistakes, suggest that this is more than just a run of poor results - it feels like something is going badly wrong behind the scenes (again). And what has happened to Zaidi? Is he injured? Out of favour?

[spirali]

Oh I've just seen that Zaidi was discussed on another thread. Fit, well and playing for the 2nds apparently. Baffling.

[Valentines Park]

I see Hants beat us to the punch on scoring less than a 100 runs.

It's obvious why Essex are shocking but them less so.

[Oldhasbeen]

IMHO McGrath has still got credit in the bank as he's been a major part of the coaching setup in our promotion and championship teams. Despite this season's disappointments, I think his job is, and should be safe, until next season, UNLESS there really is some huge dressing-room turmoil he can't get a grip of - and I have seen or heard no evidence of this. Let's leave the knee-jerk managerial sackings to the football world (where they rarely do much good.)

Mascarenas, however, is a different case. He was brought in specifically to improve our T20 - abject failure - and what he's doing to bring out the potential of our younger bowlers like Paul Walter, or to help Matt Coles fulfil his early promise, is a mystery to me, and I suspect just about everyone else on this board. And talking b*ll*cks like the quote at the start of this thread just insults the intelligence of the fans, and, I suspect, the team and the chairman. Can't see him lasting beyond the end of this season