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Scotland made a bit heavy weather of that but am I right in thinking Italy are the only other team apart from Ireland that might spring a surprise? 

England i reckon will need another 40 overs unless Broad goes on one of his mad spells or Wood blasts a couple of quickfire wickets, whether they'll get that I don't know 

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Just now, Fuctifano said:

Scotland made a bit heavy weather of that but am I right in thinking Italy are the only other team apart from Ireland that might spring a surprise? 

England i reckon will need another 40 overs unless Broad goes on one of his mad spells or Wood blasts a couple of quickfire wickets, whether they'll get that I don't know 

I felt this was really the trap game. Looking at beating Italy, Austria, and Denmark to render the Ireland game a free hit. 

Scotland avoid the embarrassment of losing to an article of clothing 👍

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1 minute ago, Boo Khaki said:

I felt this was really the trap game. Looking at beating Italy, Austria, and Denmark to render the Ireland game a free hit. 

Scotland avoid the embarrassment of losing to an article of clothing 👍

Worded that poorly, obviously Ireland are a good team, but sure I'd read something that Italy have or are about to get a few good imports 

Edited by Fuctifano
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Italy have Gareth Berg, Wayne Madsen and Grant Stewart, all very capable county players. It had been rumoured that Spencer Johnson would play for them in this as well but he isn’t here. Joe Burns becomes eligible to play for them at some point in the next 12 months or so as well and is apparently keen. They definitely have players capable of throwing a spanner in the works. 

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Feel England been significantly the best team this series and wouldn’t begrudge them the win (hard to admit!) but will be interesting to see how they’ll be judged if this test is a draw and so last one is meaningless. That declaration in the first test was mental and the forecast for the last two days here has always been terrible, so batting on so long today was a risk. All very well Bairstow having an amazing innings today when they’re well on top, but been a net negative for the first three tests. Great series though, so hopefully get a meaningful fifth test.

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I was at Goldenacre yesterday for the Germany game, and The Grange this afternoon for the Jersey match. Contrasting performances, to say the least. We were imperious with the bat against Germany on Thursday, with Oli Hairs regularly dispatching the German bowling over the boundary ropes and down towards Warriston. I’m told 8 balls were lost on Thursday, and they were rapidly running out of replacements.

I thought it was going to be the same again today, when we were 23-0 after two, with Munsey stroking a succession of sweetly-timed fours. However, Hairs got out cheaply, and we proceeded to lose a succession of wickets, with Cross and (more surprisingly) McMullen continuing to struggle to make an impact in the tournament so far. When Leask went, shortly after Berrington, leaving us at 88/6, Jersey looked favourites. Watt and Greaves did a decent salvage job, to get us up to 149, and give the bowlers something to work with, but it felt like a sub par score, and 150 seemed very gettable. 

We started well, taking three quick wickets, but I was surprised Watt took himself off after opening the bowling with a wicket maiden. Brad Currie and Sharif bowled quite well, but McMullen and particularly Main (his last over was a shocker) were expensive, but we persevered with the medium pacers when taking pace off the ball seemed like a better option. I was surprised how long Watt waited before bringing himself back into the attack,  and when he eventually came back, he had an immediate impact, not just taking wickets, but in exerting control and pushing the run rate up.

Tbh, while Scotland were control for most of Jersey’s innings (a disconcerting spell in the middle overs apart), the final margin was closer than it should have been (Main going for 20 in the last over took the gloss off a bit), but I thought Scotland were a bit slack in all departments today. The batting didn’t really fire, the bowling wasn’t great, and the fielding was uncharacteristically sloppy at times. We’ll have to play much better against Italy and Ireland if we’re going to qualify.

Jersey were quite impressive. They’re a very young side, and in a few years time they could be a genuine threat to some of the more established associates. Their fielding was excellent, all their catches stuck (unlike Scotland), and a few of their bowlers and batsmen showed real promise. Scotland made hard work of it today, but we got away with it, and (weather permitting) I expect to see a much improved performance against Italy.

 

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Edited by Frankie S
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2 minutes ago, Frankie S said:

I was at Goldenacre yesterday for the Germany game, and The Grange this afternoon for the Jersey match. Contrasting performances, to say the least. We were imperious with the bat against Germany on Thursday, with Oli Hairs regularly dispatching the German bowling over the boundary ropes and down towards Warriston. I’m told 8 balls were lost on Thursday, and they were rapidly running out of replacements.

I thought it was going to be the same again today, when we were 23-0 after two, with Munsey stroking a succession of sweetly-timed fours. However, Hairs got our cheaply, and we proceeded to lose a succession of wickets, with Cross and (more surprisingly) McMullen continuing to struggle to make an impact in the tournament so far. When Leask went, shortly after Berrington, leaving us at 88/6, Jersey looked favourites. Watt and Greaves did a decent salvage job, to get us up to 149, and give the bowlers something to work with, but it felt like a sub par score, and 150 seemed very gettable. 

We started well, taking three quick wickets, but I was surprised Watt took himself off after opening the bowling with a wicket maiden. Brad Currie and Sharif bowled quite well, but McMullen and particularly Main (his last over was a shocker) were expensive, but we persevered with the medium pacers when taking pace off the ball seemed like a better option. I was surprised how long Watt waited before bringing himself back into the attack,  and when he eventually came back, he had an immediate impact, not just taking wickets, but in exerting control and pushing the run rate up.

Tbh, while Scotland were control for most of Jersey’s innings (a disconcerting spell in the middle overs apart), the final margin was closer than it should have been (Main going for 20 in the last over took the gloss off a bit), but I thought Scotland were a bit slack in all departments today. The batting didn’t really fire, the bowling wasn’t great, and the fielding was uncharacteristically sloppy at times. We’ll have to play much better against Italy and Ireland if we’re going to qualify.

Jersey were quite impressive. They’re a very young side, and in a few years time they could be a genuine threat to some of the more established associates. Their fielding was excellent, all their catches stuck (unlike Scotland), and a few of their bowlers and batsmen showed real promise. Scotland made hard work of it today, but we got away with it, and (weather permitting) I expect to see a much improved performance against Italy.

 

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Good write up. Berrington is the skipper though, rather than Watt, so it was him keeping Watt back rather than Watt himself.

I find the call to keep Cross at 3 absolutely baffling. He’s simply not good enough at hitting out to be a top order T20 player (I don’t think he should be a top order ODI player either, but that’s for a different day). He’s an exceptional gloveman, and I think the side has enough all round talents (McMullen, Leask, Greaves and Watt are all all rounders to various extents) that you can carry a specialist keeper. I’d have him down at 7 though and get Leask up to 3. The hardest hitters should be the top 3. If you want your keeper to contribute with the bat then Craig Wallace should be in there. 

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1 minute ago, die hard doonhamer said:

Good write up. Berrington is the skipper though, rather than Watt, so it was him keeping Watt back rather than Watt himself.

I find the call to keep Cross at 3 absolutely baffling. He’s simply not good enough at hitting out to be a top order T20 player (I don’t think he should be a top order ODI player either, but that’s for a different day). He’s an exceptional gloveman, and I think the side has enough all round talents (McMullen, Leask, Greaves and Watt are all all rounders to various extents) that you can carry a specialist keeper. I’d have him down at 7 though and get Leask up to 3. The hardest hitters should be the top 3. If you want your keeper to contribute with the bat then Craig Wallace should be in there. 

Yes, of course, forgot Berrington was captain. I like Berrington, but I’d have Watt as captain myself. He’s been absolutely outstanding with bat and ball recently and he exudes confidence. Like you, I just don’t get it with Cross opening the batting in ODIs, or coming in at 3 in T20. I agree he’s very good behind the stumps. We definitely miss Coetzer and MacLeod. Not entirely convinced McBride is the answer (as an ODI opener) either. We had to rely on the lower middle order digging us out of a hole a few times in the recent qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

Hairs and Munsey looked like a great pairing as openers against Germany in this format, but it’s the first time Hairs has made a score for Scotland, and he’s 32 now. Munsey hasn’t quite looked himself since he came back from injury or illness (whichever it was) in the ODI WC qualifiers, but he’s got bags of natural talent, and can win a T20 match on his own. He’s had good starts in the first two matches, but I’m hoping he racks up a big score in at least one of the remaining games.

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2 minutes ago, Frankie S said:

Yes, of course, forgot Berrington was captain. I like Berrington, but I’d have Watt as captain myself. He’s been absolutely outstanding with bat and ball recently and he exudes confidence. Like you, I just don’t get it with Cross opening the batting in ODIs, or coming in at 3 in T20. I agree he’s very good behind the stumps. We definitely miss Coetzer and MacLeod. Not entirely convinced McBride is the answer (as an ODI opener) either. We had to rely on the lower middle order digging us out of a hole a few times in the recent qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

Hairs and Munsey looked like a great pairing as openers against Germany in this format, but it’s the first time Hairs has made a score for Scotland, and he’s 32 now. Munsey hasn’t quite looked himself since he came back from injury or illness (whichever it was) in the ODI WC qualifiers, but he’s got bags of natural talent, and can win a T20 match on his own. He’s had good starts in the first two matches, but I’m hoping he racks up a big score in at least one of the remaining games.

I’m in complete agreement with you. I can understand why they went with Berrington when Kyle gave up though. Watt was just in the door with Derbyshire and had missed games for county cricket, he hadn’t yet signed his new deal which gives priority to his Scotland commitments, so if he was given it then there was a real risk that the captain wouldn’t be available through the summer. Given it is now established that he’s always available, I’d have him as captain.

Hairs can be filed amongst several other talents, such as Craig Wallace and Michael English, who have fallen victim to Cricket Scotland’s player management. They really are terrible on that side of things, unless you have money, of course. The real answer to why Cross is at the top of the order can be found on the front of the shirt. 

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