Woakes and Jamie Overton are both not available for this series. But Sam Curran and Craig Overton are available. If either of them were walking out at no.8 - and ideally with an equally aggressive option at no.7 to pair them with - the chances of such are collapse are reduced. Sam is averaging 75 with the bat in D1 this season! And without any not-outs to inflate that average.
130 to win. OK, Lees and Crawley, you know what every England fan is thinking right now, go out there and prove us wrong.
As far as I can tell, England and South Africa are conspiring to make this a two-day, four innings, test match, with no declarations and a result other than a draw. What odds could you have got for that?
Ridiculous to come off for light now. Umpires should still offer the batsman the light. They’re clearly still seeing it ok and it’s ruined what would have been a wonderful finish. Tomorrow will be like a damp squib, as neither team will really want to be there …..
Going very well so far. New ball not too far off, but importantly Northants' batting is strengthened this week with the selection of Zaib.
Surrey's batting line-up is weaker than usual (no Pope, Foakes, Jacks or Sam Curran). But it's hardly a strong Northants bowling attack: Sanderson is half decent on his day, but that's it. If the pitch is flat enough, and the weather holds, I wouldn't be shocked if Surrey go big. Question is how much time there would still be in the game thereafter.
