What is this "fan" thing? Devotion to one side? And wanting other results to go in your favour? I am beyond that aspect both in football and cricket, and like teams that don't always succeed to have some success.
Yeah. Your ideal outcome is that you beat us next week, but we still manage to pip Surrey and Gloucs to the other qualifying spot. We're the only one of the three sides who you can potentially beat twice, and hence take through a victory worth of points. Whereas if we finish in the top two, we definitely can't go through alongside someone who we'd have beaten twice. Which is problematic.
But you’d rather go through I assume? Your logic is correct, but Hampshire are my second team anyway.
Oh of course. But clearly starting phase two on (say) five points, compared to the side we qualify alongside starting phase two on (say) 20 points, isn't ideal. One side from each of the other two groups might also start phase two on (say) 20 points too. But at least we'd have the opportunity to then play them in phase two, and potentially rectify that deficit. But that opportunity doesn't exist with the side you qualify alongside. That said, just because we can't beat Somerset/Surrey/Gloucs twice doesn't necessarily mean we would definitely progress with a lower points tally (although in the case of you or Surrey, it's highly likely!!).
I completely see your point, but of course Somerset have shown it’s possible to overcome a points deficit! Of course there aren’t so many opportunities to make up the difference in phase 2, but it’s better to be there than not.
Barring a miracle it looks like Glos will come away with just their 2 bowling points. 181-8, still need 134 to make Surrey bat again.
Surrey will have 22 points and go 7 points ahead of us, so annoying that we couldn't get that last Gloucs wicket. This group looks like going to the wire.
It's good that it's Surrey's turn to have a week off next. Helps to prevent them building up momentum. With a squad as strong as theirs, two wins in quick succession could have turned into an unstoppable train. (I appreciate that Surrey not playing also means that they don't have to play another match without Burns and Pope. But in all honestly, their squad is so deep than that they overcome that.)
There's quite a big gap between the NZ test series and the India test series. We play white balls matches vs SL and Pakistan in between, and neither of those two are likely to be involved in them (although Roy, the two Curran's, and potentially Topley could be). Last day of the NZ test series is 14 June. First day of the India test series is 4 August.
Not that it has any impact on the top two, but Leicester are so far making a good job of their run chase vs Middlesex.
Really looking forward to the test series against NZ. Will certainly be a tough test for England's batsmen against world class seam bowling, even minus Boult. Hope Craig Overton plays which will 100% rule him out of the Somerset - Hants game.
Would have gone with Overton over Robinson personally but glad we've gone with 4 seamers. Will be interesting to see who (if any) England release to play county cricket. Hopefully neither Leach or Overton!
