As I stated before, I think it would be a mistake to move up to the next level while our debt is spiralling out of contol. We should stay at this level and build a more balanced team instead of relying on the same key players. We need to develop a bowling attack that can take all 10 wickets of good sides. Some of our bowlers can bowl economically but we'd be a better side with wicket-takers.

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This is a good point. We are at least one quality seam bowler short of being a decent side. I don't think that getting promoted would necessarily mean an equivalent increase in attendances either. I definitely think selling Binnion would be good, and replacing him with a 'strong' batsman/keeper and a 'strong' seam bowler.

A 'strong' player would cost approximately £500k. If we sell Binnion, then whenever anyone logs onto battrick, could they do a search of the transfer list and look out for a 'strong' batsman, bowler or keeper whose current price is less than £250k. If we sell Binnion for £1m (which is a minimum to my mind) then we should be able to purchase three players to replace him for £750k, leaving us a cash flow benefit of £250k.

Just to underline how weak our bowling is in the first 10 overs I've done a comparison with Oldham CC who appears to have the best opening attack in our league.

In 10 overs:
Connells Estates CC
Carter/Castle: 0-49 Won
Carter/Castle: 2-54 Won
Carter/Castle: 2-54 Lost
Carter/Castle: 0-58 Won
Carter/Castle: 1-45 Lost
Carter/Castle: 1-42 Won
Carter/Castle: 1-27 Won
Carter/Castle: 0-38 Won
Carter/Castle: 0-40 Won
Leader/Castle: 0-47 Won
Ave: 64.85

Oldham CC
Corry/Whaley: 0-26 Lost
Corry/Whaley: 2-37 Won
Corry/Whaley: 2-38 Won
Corry/Whaley: 5-35 Won
Corry/Whaley: 4-41 Won
Corry/Whaley: 4-35 Won
Corry/Whaley: 4-36 Won
Corry/Whaley: 2-29 Won
Corry/Whaley: 1-55 Lost
Corry/Whaley: 2-49 Lost
Ave: 14.65

The average is calculated by dividing the total runs with the wickets taken. Our average of 64.85 is 4 times greater than Oldham CC due to fewer wickets taken and conceding more runs. Whaley is a medium pacer while Corry is fast-medium. Most of the pitches we play on in our league are Green, therefore, we should also aim to bowl medium-to-medium fast to control the ball better. Carter is a spinner which is inappropriate to open the bowling on green pitches. Leader is fast and expensive on green pitches. I suggest we keep Leader because Lancaster Bombers have a Hard and Fast pitch. But he shouldn't open on green pitches. I suggest we look for a one or two seam bowlers who average less than 20, strike-rate less than 30 and economy less than 4. If we play Carter he can play a containing role with his spin and Leader can bowl as 4th bowler. With Leader we should try not to give him 10 overs on green pitches.

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Keswick Bees: Green
Connells Estates CC: Green (attempting to get to: Green)
Oldham CC: Green
Bouncebackability: Green
Borobia LegEnds: Green
Lancaster Bombers: Hard and Fast
Scotland: Green
Phils hotspurs: Cracked

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I think my attack on most green pitches would be:
Mushtaq Macey
Curtis Castle
Gaz Leader
Andrew Midworth
Rob Wright

I notice Andy has rested Castle from bowling in the next match although he's still batting. Wright, the LFM bowler gets an opportunity as b2. Andy continues to bowl the spinner in the first 10 overs. Not sure I agree with this strategy as I mentioned in a previous post. What's the thinking with these bowling orders, Andy?
Midworth b1 - spin
Wright b2
Antoine b3 - spin
Leader b4
Macey b5

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The only two areas of improvement from the start of the season have been the Top Order which improved from mediocre to competent and the spin bowling which improved from mediocre to competent.

Reporter's Summary - first match
Connells Estates CC
Top Order: mediocre
Middle Order: woeful
Lower Order: worthless
Seam Bowling: feeble
Spin Bowling: mediocre
Fielding: woeful

Connells Estates CC - most recent match
Top Order: competent
Middle Order: woeful
Lower Order: worthless
Seam Bowling: feeble
Spin Bowling: competent
Fielding: woeful

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I've brought Wright in to bowl as he's a left arm seamer and his bowling skill is now superior to Castle's thanks to training. I did mean to open with Wright and Leader, followed by Macey as first change and then Midworth and Antoine to bowl through. Definately need to make a change there!

Have you noticed that there's a couple of players in our first team - Roy Mayo specifically - who are not good at either discipline!

Andy, you had these players on the transfer list:

Maurice Woozley 29/11/2005 18:53:17 £0
Roy Mayo 29/11/2005 19:01:02 £0
Aaron Ricketts 29/11/2005 19:01:42 £0

I notice they are still with us and costing us money. Why don't we dump them?

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I sacked Ricketts and Woozley - they would never play a game. I've retained Mayo in the short term until we can find some half decent replacements - hopefully from this week's youth pull!

You must have fired them today, Andy, because they were there this morning. Good move, anyway. How do you check the Youth Pull? Is there a link or are you notified by email?

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