The Reverse Sweep

Somerset has a really, really bad day at the office

 
We all know what it is like to have a bad day at the office. The big deal didn’t come in. The boss acted like a prick. You had an argument with a colleague. All are eminently possible.

But have you ever had a cataclysmic day at the office? Did you set the building on fire? Were you got caught with the Managing Director’s PA in a compromising position in the disabled loo? Was the aforementioned PA also the MD's wife? Or maybe you are just Nick Leeson.

Somerset had one of those days on Saturday.

On paper, the favourites for the Division 1 County Championship should have had too much firepower for what had seemed to be a weak Warwickshire side.

But after winning the toss and putting the opposition into bat, Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick presided over a disaster akin to the Titanic’s maiden voyage – albeit without the drastic loss of life.

Firstly, Ajantha Mendis didn’t bamboozle county batsmen as had been predicted. Indeed, he bowled like a drain as Varun Chopra and Chris Woakes helped themselves to hundreds and Warwickshire racked up 642. Somerset’s much vaunted bowling attack was as impotent as a particularly inebriated drunk with a chronic problem of erectile dysfunction.

But surely Somerset’s stellar batting line-up would be able to play out a draw? It was the batting featherbed of Taunton after all.

Not a bit of it. If capsizing in the first innings for 210 was bad enough, what happened when they followed on was downright embarrassing.

50 all out in just 88 deliveries.

The losing margin of an innings and 382 runs was the sixth largest margin of defeat since 1921.

It was Somerset’s largest defeat since 1895.

You know things must be bad when Rikki Clarke takes seven wickets in less than 12 overs.

And who predicted that Somerset would finally win its first Championship and that Warwickshire would be relegated?

Guilty as charged, your honour.

Where next?

Ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

An England under-23 XI - the future looks bright

County Championship Previews - Division 2: Derbyshire, Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire,  Kent,  Leicestershire,  Middlesex,  Northamptonshire,  Surrey

County Championship Previews - Division 1:  Yorkshire,  Worcestershire,  Warwickshire, Sussex,  Somerset,  Nottinghamshire,  Lancashire,  Hampshire,  Durham

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

County Championship Preview - Division 1: Somerset

 
Last year’s continuous bridesmaids are the favourites with the bookies to win their first ever County Championship, but will the boys from Taunton finally get to visit the winners enclosure?

Strengths

Along with Mark Ramprakash, captain Marcus Trescothick is still the best English batsman and is likely to score heavily. He will be ably supported by James Hildreth who had a stunning 2010, as well as Arul Suppiah, Nick Compton and the promising Jos Buttler. Craig Kieswetter seems to have recovered from his trough of last season and should get back in the runs.

The bowling ranks have been strengthened with the addition of Steve Kirby, Gemaal Hussain and Ireland’s spin sensation George Dockrell. It will also be fascinating to see how county batsmen fare against Ajantha Mendis when he covers for Murali Kartik.

All in all it looks like a very strong squad.

Weaknesses

The batting paradise that is Taunton is likely to yield a more than average number of draws and the runs of Zander de Bruyn will be missed. Apart from that, there doesn’t appear to be many weaknesses although England calls could deprive Somerset of Hildreth and Kieswetter for the climax to the season.

Main man

It has to be Marcus Trescothick – how England could have done with him at the top of the order in the World Cup.

Look out for…

The continued development of Buttler, Hildreth and Kieswetter. There are some seriously talented young cricketers at Taunton.

Prediction

Champions – finally the promised land for Somerset and who’d argue with the bookies?

Where next?

County Championship Preview - Division 1: Lancashire

County Championship Preview - Division 1: Hampshire

County Championship Preview - Division 1: Durham

2010 County XI of the season

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

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Sri Lanka vs India in the World Cup Final - Preview and Prediction

 
Back before the World Cup started, which seems like 1995, The Reverse Sweep predicted that India and Sri Lanka would meet in the final - see the links at the bottom of this post if you don't believe us!

It’s not often we get things right here at The Reverse Sweep, so the fact that we did on this occasion leaves us feeling slightly too smug and self-satisfied.

Even Bollywood couldn’t have scripted it any better: Sachin Tendulkar will go for his 100th international hundred in the World Cup final in his home city of Mumbai whilst Muttiah Muralitharan plays his final international match.

So who will be smiling come Saturday evening? Sachin or Murali?

We tipped Sri Lanka to win the trophy beforehand and the form of their top four means we could end up being right. Dilshan is the leading run scorer in the tournament and Sangakkara and Tharanga are fourth and fifth respectively. If the top four don't fire though, there isn't much to follow.

Sangakkara also has the most balanced attack in the competition available with Malinga’s pace and yorkers dovetailing with the wily spin of Murali, Mendis and co.

However, Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of the final – and even though cricketwithballs will doubtless claim that because he doesn’t exist, it won’t matter; Mathews is actually a key member of the side.

Although India have an injury concern with Nehra, they look in good shape coming into the final. But can they cope with the added pressure of winning on home soil – something no other host in World Cup history has achieved?

Sachin and Sehwag are crucial for them. If Sachin does register his 100th hundred the other players will visibly relax, and if Sehwag gets going then Sri Lanka will be in real trouble especially with the likes of an in-form Yuvraj to follow.

India’s bowling has been a bit hit and miss, but was much improved in the semi-final and Zaheer Khan is an inspirational leader of the attack.

It will probably come down to the fine margins and the toss could prove crucial – without stating the bleeding obvious, chasing under lights to win a World Cup would be a tall order for either side if the other has put decent runs on the board.

But we’ll stick with our original prediction and tip Murali to win the day over Sachin – whatever happens, let’s hope it’s a classic.

Where next?

India: Glory or effigies?

Sri Lanka: Will lightning strike twice?

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

The renaissance of Yuvraj Singh

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep