LVCC: Warwickshire v Somerset Preview

WARWICKSHIRE v SOMERSET

County Championship, Division One

Warwickshire will realistically need to beat struggling Somerset to keep their hopes of a fairytale title defence alive. A disappointing start to the season saw the Bears slip into the relegation zone at one point but, following a three match unbeaten run, still have an outside chance of retaining the pennant.

Despite the winter change of coach - Dougie Brown replacing Ashley Giles - Warwickshire’s return to form has been driven by similar strengths to those which saw them clinch the title last year. In particular, a clutch of all-rounders - Chris Woakes, Rikki Clarke and Keith Barker - have scored valuable lower order runs as well as taking their share of wickets. That will be diminished slightly in this match, as Woakes is in the England Test squad, but Clarke and Barker will both play.

Somerset too will feel the effect of international call-ups, with two players selected for England Lions’ three one-day matches against Bangladesh A. Jos Buttler will be missed but perhaps not as much as Jamie Overton, the 19 year-old quick. Overton has been sensational this season, giving batsmen the hurry up as well as bowling consistently enough to build pressure. Marcus Trescothick does have other high quality seam bowlers to call on, but nobody with the pace and aggression of Overton.

In the absence of Overton significant responsibility is sure to be burdened by Piyush Chawla, the Indian leg-spinner who has been signed for the final part of the season. Chawla hasn’t quite lived up to the potential he showed as a teenager but, against English batsmen who are unaccustomed to facing spin, is likely to be a threat as the match goes on.

These two sides last met in late April when Warwickshire held on for an unlikely draw thanks to the efforts of last man Oliver Hannon-Dalby. The failure to win that match will be of major regret for relegation threatened Somerset and that could well act as an incentive over the next four days.

Team News

Warwickshire are without their front-line seam attack due to the international call-ups of Chris Woakes and Boyd Rankin, though Woakes may return on day two if he is excluded by England. Jim Troughton returns as captain after an extended absence and will have to decide which of youngsters Tom Milnes, Recordo Gordon and Ateeq Javid to omit. Were Gordon to play he would make his Championship debut.

Warwickshire Squad: Jim Troughton (c), Tim Ambrose (wk), Keith Barker, Varun Chopra, Rikki Clarke, Laurie Evans, Recordo Gordon, Ateeq Javid, Tom Milnes, Jeetan Patel, William Porterfield, Ian Westwood

Somerset are without Jamie Overton and Jos Buttler. However, Piyush Chawla will make his county debut and there are no significant injury worries. With George Dockrell in the squad two spinners might be risked but it is perhaps more likely that seamer Adam Dibble will get the nod with the Irishman unluckily missing out.

Somerset squad: Marcus Trescothick (c), Alex Barrow, Piyush Chawla, Nick Compton, Adam Dibble, George Dockrell, James Hildreth, Chris Jones, Craig Kieswetter (wk), Steve Kirby, Alfonso Thomas, Peter Trego, Max Waller

Key Men

With the other senior seamers absent left-armer Keith Barker will have a major role to play. Fresh from an outing for England Lions against the Australians he is sure to bowl a lot of overs with support coming only from Rikki Clarke, Jeetan Patel and the youngsters. The former footballer hasn’t quite matched the season he had in 2012 but has returned to form lately, putting in a particularly impressive display during the match against Middlesex at Uxbridge in early July.

Given their current plight it is high time that Marcus Trescothick, enduring an unusually lean season, stepped up for Somerset. The captain is without a first-class hundred in 2013 but that will be forgotten if now, with his side thick in a relegation fight, he finds the form which has long seen him viewed as one of the most devastating batsmen in the county game.

Prediction

Warwickshire look good at the moment and, despite the absence of Woakes and Rankin, should have enough to see off Somerset. Bet365 agree, making the home side 8/11 favourites for this fixture. Somerset are priced at 11/10.

Date: 20^th – 23^rd August

Umpires: Rob Bailey and Steven Gale

Weather: A mild week with no real threat of rain

YB40: Middlesex v Gloucestershire Preview

Yorkshire Bank 40, Group C

The glory days of Russell, Harvey and Snape are now but a distant memory for Gloucestershire fans more familiar with tales of financial woe, ground redevelopment and wooden spoons. However, a new generation of one-day Gladiators have quietly given themselves the opportunity to bring back the good times. They have won six of their nine Yorkshire Bank 40 matches an, should they win at Lord’s tonight, will be in pole position to emerge from the congested Group C.

The shrewdest decision made by Director of Cricket John Bracewell, the common demoninator between today and the treble winning season of 2000, has been the appointment of Michael Klinger as captain. The South Australian has no international experience, and only a moderate record at domestic level, but has been a revelation for the Bristol-based outfit. In nine List A games he has scored 529 runs at the remarkable average of 105.80, often marshalling run chases. Since the Twenty20 break he has been unbeaten for 220 runs, most recently guiding his side to a seven wicket victory over Leicestershire.

But it is not only with the bat that Gloucestershire have been well drilled in this competition. James Fuller, previously a bowler of pace but limited accuracy, has really kicked on this season whilst Craig Miles, at just 19, looks immensely talented. They have also performed well in the field, just like the teams of old did, with Fuller among the most athletic.

Middlesex’s YB40 campaign finally came to a juddering halt last night in Cardiff after threatening to recover from two early defeats. The batting line-up, strong on paper, has chased extremely well at times but crumbled under pressure at others. Last night was an example of the latter and, not for the first time this season, will leave supporters hopeful of reaching the knock-out stages of a one-day competition for the first time since 2008 disappointed.

Team News

Despite their elimination Middlesex’s Director of Cricket, Angus Fraser, has named an unchanged group from that which travelled to Wales yesterday. That means Steven Finn is again likely to feature, along with Toby Roland-Jones and James Harris. Ollie Rayner could find himself rested with the coaching staff keen to get Ravi Patel involved.

Middlesex squad: Neil Dexter (c), Gareth Berg, Joe Denly, Steven Finn, James Harris, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Patel, Ollie Rayner, Toby Roland-Jones, John Simpson (wk), Paul Stirling, Adam Voges

Gloucestershire are without Tom Smith, whose loan from Middlesex has ended. Ed Young therefore returns to the squad. Will Gidman, usually used mainly in four day cricket, could join brother Alex in the team today.

Gloucestershire squad: Michael Klinger (c), Hamish Marshall, Chris Dent, Iain Cockbain, Alex Gidman, Benny Howell, Gareth Roderick (wk), James Fuller, Ed Young, David Payne, Craig Miles, Matt Taylor, Will Gidman

Key Men

It could be a big few weeks for Eoin Morgan. Since bursting into England’s one-day side in 2009 he has been regarded as a world class player, particularly in the final 15 overs of the innings. But 2013 has been an annus horibillis for the Irishman. He has failed to score even a half-century on English soil all season and, following a hand injury, has found all manner of ways to get out since returning to the Middlesex side. With Alastair Cook likely to be rested he might well captain England in the upcoming limited-overs matches but, if he doesn’t start scoring runs soon, his international place might be in jeopardy. Tonight would be a good time to find his touch.

Opening batsman Michael Klinger has been simply sensational for Gloucestershire since joining them at the start of the season. He averages over 100 in this competition and, on a usually placid Lord’s pitch, will be looking to add even more runs. Many of the Gladiators victories this season have come when the Australian has led a successful run chase.  Therefore, if he falls early a lot of pressure will be placed on a middle order not accustomed to setting up victories.

Prediction

Gloucestershire are the team that still have a realistic hope of reaching the semi-finals and so ought to be favourites for this one against a Middlesex side that will be starting to think about the County Championship run-in. Nonetheless, the Gladiators (11/10) are still seen as the outsiders by bet365. Middlesex are priced at 8/11.

Dates: 15^th August (3. 40 pm)

Umpires: Mark Benson and Nick Cook

Weather: A dry and increasingly bright evening