tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193495965695124697.post5773906029728185591..comments2024-03-29T03:00:43.730-07:00Comments on The Old Batsman: Meet the new boss, not quite the same as the old bossThe Old Batsmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376172807195747856noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193495965695124697.post-87747535437014729152011-05-31T02:34:32.495-07:002011-05-31T02:34:32.495-07:00There's much in what John says. I watched Mar...There's much in what John says. I watched Marcus from the time he came into the Sonmerset side and I always had doubts, right up until the time he made his England debut. He had a persistent weakness around off-stump which looked terminal and Lathwell was remarkably classy.<br /><br />Watching him going well at Taunton is now one of the greatest cricketing pleasures available anywhere in the world. <br /><br />His signature shot these days tends to be a straight drive which always beats mid-off on the inside. If he times one of those well early (and they never fail to hit the boards like a shot from a gun) the bowlers might as well give up.Brian Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10336241250446877498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193495965695124697.post-39844333320648019422011-05-30T02:04:48.495-07:002011-05-30T02:04:48.495-07:00Isn't it a bit too early to assume that a bats...Isn't it a bit too early to assume that a batsman who was injured in the off season and has had few chances to bat this year is already over the hill?Patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08687355969428943346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193495965695124697.post-66021650757684854612011-05-30T01:57:35.320-07:002011-05-30T01:57:35.320-07:00I'm sure the OB is right when he identifies Tr...I'm sure the OB is right when he identifies Trescothick as Ramp's successor. Although I would have preferred to see him playing in Cardiff these past few days, I do hope he has found an inner peace. When he came on the county scene, I didn't think he would make it at the highest level. I thought his opening partner would completely overshadow him. It was a joy to listen to the lunchtime scores: "At Taunton, Somerset are 110 without loss; Lathwell 78, Trescothick 29" (I know that's not original, but it always makes me smile).<br /><br />Diogenes' comments brought back memories of Proctor - that seemingly manic run-up, as if the devil were chasing him, the chest-on action, then release of the ball off the 'wrong' foot. How did it all work? He could be devastating. I bet he gave it everything whether playing for South Africa or Gloucestershire.John Halliwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12901514854360709519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193495965695124697.post-33408338565217702222011-05-29T15:31:56.029-07:002011-05-29T15:31:56.029-07:00a wondeful post. Proctor and Richards fated to ...a wondeful post. Proctor and Richards fated to leave residues of their undeniable greatness in Hants and Glos - though why did Middlesex and Surrey not bid for them? maybe they were happier to ply their trade for the locals? Boring at times but lacking the expectations. Was Richards a big match cricketer? we will never know - in that line-up, Richards can not have felt a great deal of pressure, and nor can Proctor, knowing that P. Pollock was at the other end. We know that Hicks and Ramps were not, sadly. I can point to the rest of the world series v Englnad in 1970 where Proctor and Richards achieved very little in serious circumstances...unlike Barlow and Sobers, Lloyd and Murray . Even G Pollock struggled. <br /><br />Crucially, I would ask you to assess the career of Roy Marshall - if england had decided to make him qualigied, I am sure he would have been the natural successor to Bob Barber and broken the hold of the defensive English opener - giving Boycott the attacking foilo he needed so badly.diogenesnoreply@blogger.com