Tough one to take tonight, I feel very much the same as I did in the home game against them - slightly undercooked with the batting and some poor bowling throughout cost us. Everytime we seemed to be getting on top in the game and/or enjoying a good phase of play we did something to give away momentum.
I think overall, we’ve been beaten both times on reputation rather than overall ability because while they’re still a very good side (and we’re still improving and closing the gap) I’ve been quite underwhelmed by them this year. It seems clear to me that for a number of their big guns, their time is coming to an end.
One thing I do feel we must learn from them though is their bowling variation, both by way of the styles of bowler and when they use them. It still seems like we’re too rigid to stick to pre-determined plans of who to bowl when as opposed to adapting on the fly. Trev took a wicket in the first over of the game but didn’t then bowl another in the powerplay. Notts however had no such issue bowling spin early and often.
I’d LOVE to know what the f*ck is going on with Turner too, cause we NEED three spinners. Criminal how little he’s bowled.
It’s clear our biggest weakness is pace bowling - but as I’ve mentioned to the point of being blue in the face, we’ve got three international quality bowlers, plus a usual starter unavailable. Show me any team that can compete in this competition with that problem.
De Leede and Glover simply aren’t good enough in this moment and time to get the job done for us, to the point they’re somewhat of a liability.
Parnell hasn’t played as well as we’d all hoped, but I think that if he was in a side with Potts and Carse, or maybe even Coughlin we’re having a different conversation because he’s posing far more of a threat. It’s probably the same for De Leede to be fair to him, if he’s bowling maybe 2 overs a night and doing a filling in role, he’s probably much more effective but because of the selection issues I’ve already mentioned we’re having to rely more on these lads than we probably wanted to.
We’re improving, let’s not lose sight of how far we’ve come. This is the first T20 campaign since maybe the Albie Morkel season that I’ve been this engaged in. I said after Tuesday that I’d be satisfied with one win from this road double header and my feeling hasn’t changed. Win tomorrow in Leicester and we’re well in the mix.
I’ll say it quietly for now but if we can get into the knockout stages I fancy us to beat anyone, anywhere. ESPECIALLY if we get our pace bowlers fit and available.
