Kent (A)

[dazedpenguin]

Unchanged squad. Unless Sams makes a fast recovery, probably an unchanged team with Das, Beard and Sams missing out.

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

And then the county championship starts again on Sunday!

[nat]

All three match officials are ex-K*nt players, how does that work?!

[nat]

Walter out to a spin bowler. Quelle surprise.

[dazedpenguin]

Walter out to a spin bowler. Quelle surprise.

Paul Newton making the point that he really needed to calm down a bit, given the rate at which Essex were scoring.

[nat]

Walter out to a spin bowler. Quelle surprise.

Paul Newton making the point that he really needed to calm down a bit, given the rate at which Essex were scoring.

He panics. Only has two options, block or bash.

[SirChef26]

Dean Elgar scored 7 runs from 11 balls. Jordan Cox scored 26 from 8. Gerron with it!

[essexfan548]

Good win

[spirali]

Yeah, Walter's brief and frenetic innings was rather predictable. However it proved to be only a minor glitch in another commanding performance. Pepper is becoming a really special player in this format, seriously impressive the way he nails the big shots time and time again. Somehow he scores at a frightening rate without ever seeming to do anything really crazy.

[dazedpenguin]

Another good win. Pepper is having a terrific season and the bowling has been a lot better the last few games.

So now of course they change formats again, although I can't decide if I prefer the different tournaments played in blocks throughout the season or two formats in the same week.

[nat]

Yeah, Walter's brief and frenetic innings was rather predictable. However it proved to be only a minor glitch in another commanding performance. Pepper is becoming a really special player in this format, seriously impressive the way he nails the big shots time and time again. Somehow he scores at a frightening rate without ever seeming to do anything really crazy.

Pepper has improved by (largely) by cutting out the reverse sweep.

[bwildered]

 Another Pepper innings which took the game away significantly. Job done, but in vital games needs to be there at the end. Been a revaluation in this white ball format. A white ball career beckons, has his scores are now hard to ignore for franchise. Hitting the ball hard and getting under the ball with  strong wrists has improved his game, a winter in the gym and the white ball world is his oyster.

[SirChef26]

Another Pepper innings which took the game away significantly. Job done, but in vital games needs to be there at the end. Been a revaluation in this white ball format. A white ball career beckons, has his scores are now hard to ignore for franchise. Hitting the ball hard and getting under the ball with  strong wrists has improved his game, a winter in the gym and the white ball world is his oyster.

It's the one glaring weakness we've got with the bat, that cost us the trophy last season. No Bopara or ten Doeschate to come in at any point and make sure that they are there at the end. Walter isn't good enough to do it and whilst I initially had high hopes that Critchley could've done it, I've not been convinced. It's not cost us yet (almost did against Glammy), but when we get to the knockouts that will probably change.

As Nat says, it's Pepper's shot selection that has kicked him on this year. No more reverse sweeping and far less conventional sweeping has eliminated most of his usual out balls, meaning he is now converting 20s into 40s, 30s into 50s etc.

[Cricketmad]

But can he play proper cricket ?

[dazedpenguin]

But can he play proper cricket ?

I think he has the best technique of any of the younger players. Other forum members may disagree.

But the most important thing is that the tantalising possibility of Pepper opening the batting for England with Phil Salt is no longer just a headline writer?s dream.

[nat]

Any win is a good win so well done. My man Ben Allison is growing into the team by finding ways to contribute. He's a terrific athlete and we must keep him.