Gloucestershire skipper Alex Gidman: We have blown it
GLOUCESTERSHIRE captain Alex Gidman apologised to his side's supporters after they frittered away their chances of promotion with a cataclysmic defeat to Derbyshire.
The hosts are now 23 points behind second-placed Glamorgan in Division Two and would need a cricketing miracle to be playing in the top flight next season.
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Gloucestershire skipper Alex Gidman: We have blown it
Gidman's men were 70 all out, chasing just 125 to win, to lose by 54 runs despite bowling Derbyshire out for 44 on day one.
In a shocking few days for Bristol sport there have been painful defeats for City, Rovers, Bristol Rugby and now the cricket side.
"It is hard to sum up," said a disbelieving Gidman. "I am in a state of shock more than anything. It is really weird and I don't know what to say.
"We failed to learn from previous day and, when you haven't performed consistently over a period of time, something like that can always happen.
"I think we have blown our chances of getting promoted and it is bitterly disappointing to do it in that fashion."
Members were united in their anger at a performance that was all too familiar.
"I can understand the frustration completely," said Gidman. "We are all as frustrated as each
other. I am as much to blame as the next bloke. It has been a question of saying the right things but not doing the right things.
"It has been a question of the batting all year and I guess that when we do not apply ourselves in the right manner, it is like a ticking time bomb.
"I knew we were going to do what we did in the first innings with the ball at some stage because we are such a good bowling outfit, but the warning signs were there unless we really thought our way through our innings and, unfortunately, we didn't and we let ourselves down."
As on day one, Hamish Marshall was top-scorer with an innings in the 40s and Gidman revealed he had spoken to the batsmen about how to play.
"We spoke this morning about learning from yesterday," said Gidman. "Hamish spoke about how to bat in the conditions and it was a case of batsmen listening and agreeing but not following suit.
"When you are chasing 125, one partnership is pretty much all you need and we failed. There is no hiding place and no excuses. We are all bitterly disappointed and I guess all we can do is apologise to the fans and admit we have let ourselves down."
Downbeat Gidman added: "There is not a huge amount you can say. This has not been a one-off. We have failed with the bat many times. We are not being responsible enough with the bat.
"There are only so many times Jon (Bracewell, director of cricket) and myself can talk about it.
"Emotions are running high and I wouldn't want to say too much too early, but we have made the same mistakes too many times and at some stage we have got to address that but that is probably something for later on in the year."
8 Comments
by Lydney Bob, South Glos.
Thursday, September 02 2010, 3:56PM
“Sadly, the GCCC committee room resembles the aftermath of a pensioners tea party to the extent of causing potential investors to run a mile.
When too worn out to achieve anything, they self elect themselves as vice presidents to add to the 'clutter',
The club desperately needs many wise budget creators, not unwise and unrealistic budget spenders.”
by Martin, BS7
Thursday, September 02 2010, 2:32PM
“If the club wants to make money they need to win games and put bums on seats. This is never ever going to happen until they start winning, who wants to watch rubbish cricket? Look what happened when we won all them trophys? Had to book in advance to get a ticket. Took my son to a T20 game this year and there was nobody there. Not doing a great job of trying to run a company. I wish them luck for next year cause me thinks they will have nothing left in the pot to buy any decent players let alone develope a ground.”
by R Cotswold, Cotswolds
Thursday, September 02 2010, 1:48PM
“Posted for the second time - can't explain why it didn't appear earlier.
Recent inexplicable events - well explained by really loose poor professional batting - have let the team, members of GCCC, and GCC staff down, badly.
Questions: Is Gidman a captain? Has the second coming of Bracewell improved the team? How successful has his signings been: Batty, Redmond and Butler? Time for the "Executive Cricket Committee" to look closely at themselves for the future of GCCC. Success financially we know will lead to success on the field; but we do need to realise a drammatic improvement in aproach, application and effort. Probably, sadly all too late.”
by Glenn, Any where is better than GCCC
Thursday, September 02 2010, 1:24PM
“Ian Harvey.....Bristol Cream”
by steve, bristol
Thursday, September 02 2010, 1:19PM
“Mike I am right behind you on this one. Ian Harvey even lives in Bristol full time now and is truely needed on the coaching staff. Jack would be good too as they seemed to get along well in the glory years. Why leave it till the end of the year Gidman? work it out now. I for one will not be renewing my membership next year if they don't get the ball rolling and bring in better people for behind the scenes.”
by Mike, Frenchay
Thursday, September 02 2010, 1:01PM
“Well at least Gidman has owned up on this one instead of making the usual excuses, but I think the club as a whole needs to take a hard look at itself.
I still can¿t believe that we have lost to a side that were 9-6 on the first innings
The season started with embarrassing early defeats in the championship and some shocking performances the T20 (how many times were we bowled out inside the 20 overs).
But to fair we seemed to pull things together in the Championship and will only just miss out in the CB40.
I think the management should take the blame for throwing away a win at Cheltenham when taking the bizarre decision not to enforce the follow-on against Worcester and to be honest I am not sure if the club has gone forward since the return of Bracewell, in fact it has gone backwards.
From what I hear the coach is well paid, but surely it is time for him to move on and maybe go for someone with a winning mentality like Ian Harvey who was an absolute legend in his all too short time here. I am not sure what role Jack Russell has at the club, but he to has a winning attitude that should be used more.
And although Gidman is a good all-rounder he definitely lacks leadership and has a habit of changing the bowling when they have the opposition tied down.
And finally we then have Richardson telling the world that there was nothing wrong with the wicket?
I think he needs to act fast before the club turns into a complete circus.”
by Anon, Posted from my iPhone
Thursday, September 02 2010, 12:26PM
“What can you say about a team that scores 480 in the first innings - and LOSES!
Then dismisses the opposition for 44 - and LOSES!
You really couldn't make it up :(
The Hedgehog (serving a life sentence as a GCCC member)”
by Lydney Bob, South Glos.
Thursday, September 02 2010, 9:03AM
“Could it be a case of the batsmen getting such an 'ear bending' that it creates negative application, I wonder.
Turning up to find a green, soft and damp looking pitch won't inspire batsmen on either side, especially when the pitch used for the one day 'thrash' on monday was white in comparison. After all, there a five batting points to play for too.
Whoops, I am guilty of describing it as it is, a pitch. I should modernise my mind set by writing, track or deck.”