Hampshire and Saints winning on the same day. Doesn't happen often. Slept well last night, might have been aided by the liquid supper.....
Turner has got a back issue and is out for the season. There's Baker of course but isn't there an England series that conflicts with this - would that not affect Dawson as well?
Ah. Think Dawson will be available for the QF but not Finals Day if we get there as he's only in the T20 squad. Baker is unavailable as he's also in the ODI squad. Wheal or Jack in for Turner then.
Weather radar for tomorrow suggests localised showers rather than a band of rain in the London area but I don't suppose the ground has good drainage so hopefully any showers that hit won't be too heavy.
The Middlesex squad announcement (with Gohar and Higgins available, as predicted) states that Friday can be used as a reserve day if required. I'm not sure if they'd have to start the match again from scratch or if they'd be able to carry on where they left off on Thursday if play had to be abandoned.
Hampshire squad has been announced. No Albert, Fuller or Barker but Wheal, Abbott and Dawson back. My team: Orr, Gubbins (c), Middleton, Brown (wk), Dawson, Mayes, Organ, Neal, Abbott, Jack, Wheal So leaving out Lumsden, Kelly and Prest. I know that would give us 3 frontline spinners, but Organ (in this format) is probably worth a place as a lower order batter and he may not be bowling his full 10 this time. I can see a case for putting Prest in for one of Organ or Neal - it would look a little stronger on paper but not with Tom's current form.
For me it's a straight shoot-out between Prest and Organ. The other 10 pick themselves (unless anyone is made available at the last minute). Prest's poor form, coupled with Organ's bowling, heavily tilts things in Organ's direction. But I wouldn't be surprised if they go with Prest.
OK then, Fuller's suddenly available and has taken the Organ or Prest spot. Yes, it does strengthen the team but I always feel a bit sorry for those left out (like Organ and Kelly in recent matches). I think we all have to admit that Felix has really performed well in this competition in its current guise, often bailing us out with the bat in the lower order and taking a few wickets.
Don't like batting first at Radlett - feel like anything can be chased. Probably need 350 (assuming no rain of course).
Great news about Fuller. There was always the possibility that someone could be made available at the last minute. On paper we do look stronger than them. But they do still have match winners in their side.
The scores at Radlett haven't been enormous so far. If this was at Mercants Taylor instead, then par could have been ridiculously high. 289-7. Chased down after 47.3 overs. 129. Chased down after 27 overs. 279-6. Chased down after 45 overs. But yeah, clearly there's a benefit to chasing.
Oh is it Merchant's Taylor that has the ridiculously small boundaries? Couldn't remember which one it was.
I disagree with what the commentator said earlier about the reserve day taking priority over DLS. The rules state that you try and get the game completed today, even if that requires a loss of overs. Only if we can't get the 20th over of Middlesex's run chase should this go into tomorrow (in which case it will pick up exactly from where today is left off, including any over reductions which might have already been implemented).
Cricinfo reporting that the Hundred squads will be overhauled for next year, which is good news for the Brave men's team! I'm assuming this will mean teams will be able to retain fewer players and there will be a bigger draft.
It really helped level the field in the women's competition after the second year, when they only allowed each team to retain four players. Us and Oval were miles stronger than the rest in those first two years, but since then we've seen huge improvements with the likes of NSC, Fire (not this year) and Spirit. I hope they don't do that again with the women, but I'd be fine with them doing it for the men. That said, there are lots of rumours about the draft system being ditched altogether, and replaced by an auction.
