Gloucestershire(A) and Somerset (A)

[dazedpenguin]

On the off chance there will be some play (more likely for Somerset on Friday). Same squad for both games. I didn't expect to see Elgar there. No Snater, Porter or Khushi.

Harmer, Ben Allison, Charlie Allison, Beard, Benkenstein, Cox, Critchley, Das, Elgar, Pepper, Richards, Rossington, Sams, Thain, Walter

Maybe the XI will be something like: Pepper, Rossington, Das, Cox, Critchley, Walter, Sams, Benkenstein/ Richards, Harmer, Allison, Beard

[JasonP]

On the off chance there will be some play (more likely for Somerset on Friday). Same squad for both games. I didn't expect to see Elgar there. No Snater, Porter or Khushi.

Harmer, Ben Allison, Charlie Allison, Beard, Benkenstein, Cox, Critchley, Das, Elgar, Pepper, Richards, Rossington, Sams, Thain, Walter

Maybe the XI will be something like: Pepper, Rossington, Das, Cox, Critchley, Walter, Sams, Benkenstein/ Richards, Harmer, Allison, Beard

The weather forecast looks pretty good for both the BBC and Met Office as far as I can see.

Surprised Khushi is not there.  Bowling looks very weak.

[SirChef26]

Rightly resting our Championship bowlers, if it were up to me Snater would be sitting the whole block out alongside Porter. Just hope four weeks is enough for Cook to recover. Load the batting up and try to outscore the opposition every game. Khushi has clearly pissed somebody off, maybe the ECB have finally come back to us with a punishment on the bat...

Rosso
Das
Pepper
Cox
Walter
Critchley
Sams
Harmer
Allison
Beard

Assuming Walter can bowl that's four seam options and two spinners. Drop Das for Benkenstein if we want to play an extra spinner and open with Cox instead.

[JasonP]

Rightly resting our Championship bowlers, if it were up to me Snater would be sitting the whole block out alongside Porter. Just hope four weeks is enough for Cook to recover. Load the batting up and try to outscore the opposition every game. Khushi has clearly pissed somebody off, maybe the ECB have finally come back to us with a punishment on the bat...

Rosso
Das
Pepper
Cox
Walter
Critchley
Sams
Harmer
Allison
Beard

Assuming Walter can bowl that's four seam options and two spinners. Drop Das for Benkenstein if we want to play an extra spinner and open with Cox instead.

You've only picked 10 players!

[CostaDelEssex]

Khushi played a second eleven game yesterday, makes no sense that he is not in the squad. He must have pissed someone off; dropped from the 4-day team, now from the T20.

[JasonP]

Khushi played a second eleven game yesterday, makes no sense that he is not in the squad. He must have pissed someone off; dropped from the 4-day team, now from the T20.

He did only sign a 1 year deal last summer.  This was around the time of the season last year that Lawrence announced he was off so perhaps he's decided he's going elesewhere?

15 seems a pretty big squad.  I was surprised Elgar made the squad but having put him in it, I would think he would likely play. 

[dazedpenguin]

15 seems a pretty big squad.  I was surprised Elgar made the squad but having put him in it, I would think he would likely play.

His strike rate is far worse than the other batters, and much worse than Westley and Khushi, so it's very surprising. Maybe he wants to reinvent himself as a T20 smasher.

[Niel01]

Surely Sams, Harmer and Elgar cannot play in the same team and certainly can?t see Captain Harmer or Sams missing out. So why is Elgar in the squad unless there is an injury doubt concerning one of the other two overseas ??

[dazedpenguin]

Surely Sams, Harmer and Elgar cannot play in the same team and certainly can?t see Captain Harmer or Sams missing out. So why is Elgar in the squad unless there is an injury doubt concerning one of the other two overseas ??

It has been mentioned that he doesn't count as an overseas player because he has a British passport, but I haven't seen that confirmed anywhere. Of course if all 3 play we'll know for sure.

[Slogger]

If Elgar is classed as a local player we should sign an overseas quick bowler to boost the championship squad

[essexfan548]

Surely Sams, Harmer and Elgar cannot play in the same team and certainly can?t see Captain Harmer or Sams missing out. So why is Elgar in the squad unless there is an injury doubt concerning one of the other two overseas ??

It has been mentioned that he doesn't count as an overseas player because he has a British passport, but I haven't seen that confirmed anywhere. Of course if all 3 play we'll know for sure.

All 3 are in the team listed on the BBC.

[dazedpenguin]

Benkenstein in as well:

Rossington, Elgar, Pepper, Cox, Walter, Critchley, Sams, Harmer, Benkenstein, Allison, Beard

Essex lost the toss and will bat.

[nat]

Benkenstein in as well:

Rossington, Elgar, Pepper, Cox, Walter, Critchley, Sams, Harmer, Benkenstein, Allison, Beard

Essex lost the toss and will bat.

Could reverse the batting order and it wouldn't be any worse.

[Niel01]

Rossington never survived 3 overs in T20. Not worth his place in any form of the game.

[nat]

At least 30 runs short of par. Harmer seems to have an over-inflated opinion of his own batting. Should be batting at no. 11 in this team.