End of Season - well done Glos

[kenners1]

The collapse I was fearing post the T20 exit and the Warwicks CC game never arose. in fact the contrary unbeaten in 5 games or so and some good cricket. the lack of pressure on places due to injuries, rather than leading to complacency, seemed to give confidence to a settled side.

Miles was probably the standout player in this phase, and although somewhat bittersweet it was good to see him giving everything to the end. but all the team contributed.

Would still love an experienced top order bat, another seamer and a no 1 spinner in the mix. 2 of 3 would be great!

Be interested in others thoughts

[procswrongfoot]

Well, my pre-season prediction was that we would finish 7th in the Championship (previous 5 seasons finished 6th on 4 occasions and 7th in 2014.

Given our available. (and fit) resources this season and lack of overseas, I personally feel that we have overachieved. In the circumstances, well done to the players, battled hard often in rearguard situations. Our bonus point tally of 15 batting and 37 bowling points gives an accurate reflection on our season. Highlight of he season was our narrow 4 day defeat to Sussex at the Festival. An absorbing and wonderful advert for the longer form of cricket. Can only think of Northants and Warks away where the performance as somewhat dismal.. Specific praise to our bowling unit and to our batch of younger players.

Promoted Kent only lost 3 matches all season, which included losing to us in the opening match. Winning rather than drawing was their route to a successful campaign. Whereas wooden spoonists Glamorgan only won twice, including beating us at Bristol.

Now for my dose of realism. Yet again we remain in the group of also ran counties, never in contention for promotion. Only 31 points separated us from 9th placed Northants. Somewhat surprisingly, Leics managed at least to attemp to break out of our pack, only to fade away in the latter stages of the season.

Our apparent strategy for the season was clearly based on putting all our eggs in the T20 basket.. No wonder players with ambition leave the club. The prospect of continuing to always meander along in Division 2 is frankly demoralising.

The GCCC Executive Board lack the dive and ambition to turn us into a more competitive county. I certainly do not share their vision for the club. Seems a real lack of cricket expertise at Board level. Desperate need for an ambitious, driving force injected into the club. I know....get real......but nice to dream sometimes.......sadly we all know the reality that the status quo will remain and we will continue to meander along, whilst some will still want to merely bask in staging more ODIs.

As to our T20 campaign, I thought that it was an exciting and entertaining effort. Shame that we rather lost momentum towards the end, which robbed us of a home tie. Could not understand the rather OTT reaction to losing away in the quarter final to Worcs (the eventual T20 winners). Always very fine margins and some degree of luck/lottery.

Final thought, quite amazing that Kent were promoted whilst only amassing 16 bonus batting points. Would we have achieved a most unlikely promotion if we had signed Matt Henry? A quite magnificent return of 75 wickets from 11 matches, he effectively bowled them to promotion. IF only.....a rather sobering thought!!!

Next season, no doubt more of the same.