Can't complain at that day at all! Would have been lovely to have taken a wicket or two at the end there - taking ten wickets in less than a day (our lead is almost certainly not big enough that we can afford to use the full 96 overs in trying to bowl them out; we'd need some left over at the end to chase something down) is going to be a tough ask - but that doesn't at all take the shine off of, for once, a great batting performance. Fortunately with Warks losing, and Durham facing an uphill struggle to avoid defeat, a draw would not be the end of the world - particularly given that we dropped just one bonus point in this match. But a win would just be brilliant, we'd almost certainly jump all the way up into 5th, and be just 11 behind Surrey in 4th.
You probably have to say that these days, he is Mr Hampshire: A second Great Escape, according to Ervine, after the illness of Michael Carberry, the injuries of all and sundry, and the departure of Dale Benkenstein, would "top any season I've ever been involved with Hampshire. Given all that's gone on, staying up would feel like winning the Championship."
One point in the bag so far for Lancs. Four points in the bag so far for Durham. Big day for both tomorrow - chance for Durham to take full control of their match, and quite the opposite for Lancs. Sounds like Durham might well leave out Stoneman and Borthwick against us next week (due to them both leaving for Surrey), if they win this week to secure their survival. And, quite obviously, such a result would leave them with a whole lot less to play for next week than us. So it's far from clear cut that a Durham defeat here is the best outcome for us. Absolutely though the best outcome is for a Lancs defeat. The last thing we want is for (a) us to be unable to catch them, and (b) them to have nothing to play for next week, and potentially roll over for Warks.
So Surrey are the Manchester City/United of cricket. Hoovering up the talent. Pity they are not going down again. These bonus points could be absolutely precious at both ends of the table. Is there a team with nothing to play for in Division 1?
Well, Surrey. (Plus Notts, as Tom says). Durham could well join them, going into the final round next week. Half way through this penultimate round of matches, and it looks like we're heading for a final week three-way title fight and a three or four-way relegation fight. (With Somerset being the big winners when it comes to fixtures)
He's an interesting one. He choose to give the gloves up at Surrey last year (or was it the season before that?), but yet the suggestion now is that he wants to leave Surrey (and a bumper contract) because he's behind Foakes in the pecking order for the gloves. Now if that is true, then we sadly aren't an option for him. If we weren't willing to move McManus aside to let Wheater have the gloves back, then we're not going to sign Davies to be our new keeper either. But absolutely, as I batter, I would love us to sign him. So hopefully its another reason why he wants to leave Surrey.
As for incoming new eight team t20 league, I think my position on it is a very biased one. If one of those sides is based at the Rose Bowl, I'll be in support of it (at least to start with). If no side is though, I'll be against it. Ultimately, as a supporter, the ability to go and watch matches is probably my number 1 concern. Regardless of how biased or selfish that is. Unfortunately, I do very much fear that of the nine test grounds, we would be the one to miss out. I think our only saving grace could be that ticket sales for t20 up in Durham are generally very poor. So maybe it might be they who miss out. That said, we did vote in favour of it (and Rod has been openly in favour of it for some time now). So maybe they have reassurances behind the scenes? (Only Surrey, Sussex and Kent voted against it). PS. If this is the start of the path to three divisions of six in the Championship, then great. For me, the CC is crying out to be three divisions of six rather than two divisions of nine.
I suspect a lot of cricket fans are willing Somerset to their first ever County Championship. For that to happen Middlesex need to draw or lose against Lancashire, draw against Yorkshire and Somerset to beat Nottinghamshire. As Middlesex seems to play mind-numbing cricket at times, often crawling along at 2 an over, it would be better for Somerset to win as they have played entertaining cricket throughout. Hope the weather is set fair for the final round of matches. Good luck Somerset!!
Is how it will be from next season, yes. But if they want to clear July and August for limited overs cricket, and in particular this new t20 competition, then 14 matches may still be considered to be too many. Three divisions of six cuts it down to 10 matches, whilst giving all 18 counties something to play for. Right now there are too many counties not good enough to challenge for D2 promotion, and too many yo-yo counties who can pretty much always be found in the bottom three/four of D1 or the top three/four of D2. Three divisions gives everyone something to strive for (which hopefully, over time, improves them), and a platform which fits their level. And if you have two-up two-down between the divisions (which may or may not be the case), then almost every match will mean something. It would also eradicate the mismatch will exist in D2 from next season, where everyone has slightly different fixtures.
Did I hear things correctly? The city based 8 T20 will run at the same time as the T 20 Blast? This cricket should be shoved to the end of the season after the 4 day game has come to its conclusion. It just seems ludicrous that the counties are playing 3 or 4 games at the end of August into the beginning of autumn in September in the 4 day game. Thankfully the weather gods have been kind thus far, but in past years the autumn rains have come much earlier. As 4 day cricket is the creme de la creme, the blue riband event of the county game, surely this should receive priority over the T20?
How do Surrey manage to get three players into the England squads and Somerset possible champions none, and Middlesex also possible contenders, one. I would have thought Gubbins should have been put in the test squad given his record this season. Obviously doesn't play for the right county (Surrey)
Can't be too often that there is so much on the last round of D1 matches. Three sides going for the title, three sides looking to avoid relegation, all four matches having something on them. Toss up for us whether we go for Andrew, Crane or Carter as the final member of the bowling attack. Suspect the other 10 names are pretty set in stone.
