Yet Another Cycling Forum
Off Topic => The Pub => The Sporting Life => Topic started by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 21 December, 2023, 06:23:53 am
-
Because the season starts on 5 April. And here is one of the reasons why - hybrid pitches - was news to me, additional plastic fibres sewn into the pitch. I always wondered how groundsman were able to prepare pitches at a time when I'd only just about cut my grass for the first time in the year.
https://turfcareblog.com/help-from-a-hybrid/
-
Interesting - hadn't really thought about it before, but it makes sense.
I know lots of football clubs are using similar technology to keep pitches in good condition
-
I recall from yesteryear the absolutely appalling state of some of the pitches, even of the big clubs with lots of money, after a wet autumn and winter. The goal areas at our local village football ground became a veritable slurry-pit every January because it was an active village side with a fixture on the ground pretty well every week. I'm sure pictures must exist of people like Nobby Stiles covered in shite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwEevs5q6Pk&ab_channel=ClassicManUtdVideosandClips Some mud in that.
-
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2024/mar/27/the-spin-wealth-gap-county-cricket
A piece on the different financial state of our 18 counties.
I recall years ago (1980 to be precise - I could have sworn it was 1979) going to Worcester for the Benson & Hedges semifinal v Essex. It was a glorious June morning after overnight rain. We arrived at the ground around 10.30am and had to wait for play to start at 2pm because the pitch was waterlogged. Even when play began, some of the Essex players rolled their trouser legs up because part of the outfield was still so wet that you could see the water splashing as they ran. We watched 11 overs before it rained again and it was obvious that play would be abandoned for the day. It took 3 days to complete a 1-day match.
Worcester is undoubtedly the most picturesque of all the county grounds but its playing area is spending an increasing amount of every year submerged beneath the swollen River Severn as climate change takes its toll. In some of the buildings around the ground there are brass "lines" attached to the walls to indicate the height of the floods in the wettest years. THe ground is often under a metre of water as the Welsh rains feed the river.
-
Mrs CET and I were discussing this topic at lunch, having discovered that Jordan Cox, one of Kent's finest young cricketers is moving across the river to Essex. It makes entire sense for an aspiring-to-be test cricketer. At Kent, he is likely to deployed in a series of rearguard actions, which probably won't help get the attention of the England set-up. Kent can't afford to be competitive across all formats, so for them it makes sense to place a bet on T20 - large home crowds and the possibility of a lucrative finals day. And so if they have future test-cricketers they will probably thing the same, but if you lose your brightest and best, then you slide further down the pecking order.
I think, however, the possibility of a team gelling and doing a Leicester City is much higher in cricket than it is in football, and so I will entertain that faint possibility as we enter a new season. At least they won't have to play a second XI when test cricket or the Hundred are on.
-
I’ve not followed the shenanigans closely but I think Dan Lawrence, Essex’s rising star batsman, has gone to Surrey. I gain the impression from the Simon Harmer quote in that piece that Essex is one of the richest counties, which is a very far cry from how it was when I first started attending matches. Their first ever trophy was in 1979 after 103 years in existence, but since then they have regularly been one of the strongest sides.
The only format that interests me is the multi-day game. One-day stuff is ok for a change, but has no lasting interest for me.
-
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/01/county-championship-2024-team-by-team-guide-to-the-new-season
The Graun's predictions for the new season.
1st Surrey
2nd Durham
3rd Essex
How lovely it would be if Surrey were relegated... ;)
-
It would, as that would assume results did not go to from and Kent somehow manage to survive relegation. Although given the rain over Easter, I fear conditions are better for ornithological ducks than sporting ones.
-
The season starts tomorrow. My lawn is too saturated to walk on. My heart goes out to those who have to prepare a surface on which a semblance of cricket can be played tomorrow. Today's horse race meeting at Warwick has been abandoned due to waterlogging and Fontwell and Wetherby tomorrow are praying for no further rain.
-
We had almost twice as much rain in March 2023 as we did in March 2024. But even so, I've been trying to find the opportunity to cut My Pal Penelope's lawn for her but it's been too wet. Her son did it in the depths of winter and I've done it once, either in late Feb or early March. We haven't had a single frost round here since January, and it's been "growing weather", to quote my dad, in all that time, but not warm enough to evaporate the moisture. Saturday promises to be reasonably warm and dry though.
-
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/04/rain-rain-go-away-groundstaff-fear-worst-on-eve-of-new-cricket-season
Another article about how wet it is.
(https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7aa9a5cc2fb60f2d7e4856b5e1b5675427ba076/0_0_6000_4000/master/6000.jpg?width=1900&dpr=1&s=none)
New Road, Worcester, last weekend. It wasn't quite that wet when I watched Essex play on it 44 years ago, but it wasn't far off.
-
I went to watch Kent play Worcester in a 40-over game a long while ago (pre-Duckworth-Lewis). Steady drizzle set in during the Kent innings, chasing a target. The rain started to get heavier, and Matthew Fleming (a cricketer who would have thrived in 20 over cricket) hit the ball into the covers for what looked like a sharp single. To the bemusement of us all (including the Worcester fielders) he turned for a suicidal second, which he made because no one was expecting it. He then looked up to the heavens, which obliged with a further increase in rainfall, and the umpires obligingly called them in, with Kent wining by 0.00012 of a run per over.
Kelso and Fontwell have been called off today for water logging. Neither of them are in flood plains, and Fontwell invested in an all weather surface for the bottom bend precisely to stop fixtures being called off, so if it is too wet to race there then it is very wet indeed.
-
There is cricket at Lords and Edgbaston. Chapeau to the ground staff.
-
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/04/rain-rain-go-away-groundstaff-fear-worst-on-eve-of-new-cricket-season
Another article about how wet it is.
(https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7aa9a5cc2fb60f2d7e4856b5e1b5675427ba076/0_0_6000_4000/master/6000.jpg?width=1900&dpr=1&s=none)
New Road, Worcester, last weekend. It wasn't quite that wet when I watched Essex play on it 44 years ago, but it wasn't far off.
It looks like they are thinking about moving away from New Road and developing a new ground away from the river. They are playing their first home games at Kidderminster.
-
It seems Essex have an opening batsman by the name of Elgar. I wonder if his variation of strokes is enigmatic?
He's 28 not out. Essex 55-1 at Trent Bridge.
-
I don't think I've heard of Sam Northeast before. He's played an amazing innings for Glamorgan - 283 not out in 507-3. A Kent lad apparently, and given that he's already got a first class score of 410 not out under his belt, and he's 35, I'm a bit surprised I haven't heard of him, or that he's found his way at some point into the England team.
-
He was a rising star at Kent but plateaued and went to Hampshire, seeking a stronger team and more recognition. But he still didn't get recognition and his form tailed off a bit, so he sought new pastures at Glamorgan - where he has really thrived. The 410* was something else - it featured partnerships of 400 and 300 - which had never been done before, and was scored at a pace that allowed Glamorgan to win the game - whereas most 400s have been against weak opposition or in a high scoring draw - it was a proper innings.
As I type he has just matched Graham Gooch's 333.
And declared on himself at 335*
Here is the scorecard of his 410* - Leicester scored 584 and lost by an innings - https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/county-championship-division-two-2022-1310355/leicestershire-vs-glamorgan-1297754/full-scorecard (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/county-championship-division-two-2022-1310355/leicestershire-vs-glamorgan-1297754/full-scorecard)
-
Glamorgan 620-3 dec. Northeast 335no, Ingram 132no. I'm not going to be putting any money on Middlesex to win that game...
I remember Gooch's 333 very well. He was the only player ever to score a triple century and a century in the same match.
-
The question now will be whether Sam Northeast can reach the magic 1000 runs before the end of May - which has only been done 9 times before.
-
How many fixtures do Glamorgan have in that time?
-
Notts are building steadily v Essex. Both batsmen in their 50s.
-
How many fixtures do Glamorgan have in that time?
It looks like 7 complete matches and the first day of the 8th is 31st May. After a start like this one, two or three more good innings would put him within reach.
-
Quite an achievement for Northeast - the highest ever score at Lords.
And Sam Cook takes a hat-trick for Essex, who trail Notts by 40 runs.
-
Essex have knocked off the deficit without loss. A well-balanced match at this stage...
-
At the close, Essex are 25 ahead with 9 wickets left. All to play for...
The forecast for Nottingham tomorrow makes it look as though a good deal of tomorrow's play could be wiped out by rain.
-
Definitely Nott's morning but Essex seem to be making a game of it. 5 wickets left, 148 ahead and they could do with at least another 100 runs.
-
Essex 329-8 at the close - a slightly curtailed day, presumably due to rain. I'd say Essex got the better of it by quite some way. The forecast tomorrow is for mostly dry weather, so I'd expect it not to be drawn.
It seemed that runs were much easier to come by for the Essex lower orders than the upper echelons today. Who knows how it will play out tomorrow?
-
A pretty good day for Essex v Kent. But the Durham bowlers were rally put to the sword.
-
And now a very good day for Kent v Essex.
When teams find pitches difficult to bat on, sometimes umpires report the home county to the TCCB for sanctions. Have they ever done this when a pitch is so flat that the bowlers have no chance?
-
If Kent can get to 245-1 in the first innings - then the experiment with the Kookaburra Ball has proved something - we will need more than 4 days for most teams to get a result. Over the last 2 years we've struggled to make 245 all out in the first innings. Although it is nice to see Daniel Bell-Drummond getting back to back centuries.
-
Yes, I've been wondering about this, too. It's looking like Warwickshire may have misjudged the situation against Durham by batting on for 700 or so and then finding that Durham can bat, too. Warwickshire could still win but they may need help from the weather. Some crazy scores in the first couple of rounds.
Thinking about Wow's inference that umpires don't report pitches which offer no help to the bowler, I can't think of an umpire who is an ex-bowler. I suppose there might have been one but nobody springs to mind.
-
I thought the same - that umpires were typically batsmen, so I had a look at those standing in the current County Championship matches. There were slightly more batsmen than bowlers, and some all-rounders - but the following were all known for their bowling rather than their batting:
Alex Wharf
Martin Saggers
Richard Illingworth
Peter Hartley
James Middlebrook
Tom Lungley
So perhaps things are now changing. Alex Wharf and Richard Illingworth have both umpired at international level
-
Neil Mallender was the one who occurred to me. I don't know if he is still umpiring.
A lot blame for the high scores is being placed not on the pitches but but the ball. The Kookaburra being used this season doesn't doesn't give as much help to pace bowlers as the Dukes, according to the pundits I've heard.
-
Yes, apparently it swings in the first 20 overs or so then spends the rest of the time being damaged by the seats.
-
Oh dear, hush my mouth. Durham already a wicket down needing to bat all day to avoid an innings defeat. There would be "a hush in the close" if it wasn't an away match.
-
There is probably a hush anyway. County matches attract tiny “crowds”.
Essex seem to be trying to get a result ve Kent. Hopefully will have a lead of 300 tonight and declare after 30 minutes’ slogging tomorrow.
-
Well, this last session has been very fruitful for Essex, leading by 374 and still in play. Jordan Cox has 116 of 89 deliveries. The forecast for tomorrow is for showers, so probably a draw.
-
https://www.bristol247.com/sport/cricket/enjoying-cricket-free-tea/
Free cricket after tea. I live about a mile and a half away. I'm not really into cricket, but well, maybe I should give it a go.
-
Follow on enforced at Edgbaston and two wickets snaffled by close, however I suspect not one ball will be bowled tomorrow, so it'll probably fizzle out to a draw.
-
Yes, always a danger when you are too greedy for runs!
-
Kent will need the weather to save them. Rain or a very cold wind to neutralise Simon Harmer's spin and hope that the Kookaburra does die after 20 overs. Hopefully Essex will have a good run this season.
-
I’m rather torn to be honest. My county loyalty has always been with Essex and when I first watched them in the late 1960s, they were perpetual underdogs, so poor that their scoreboards was an old furniture van that had been painted matt black and used to travel about to each of their grounds - Chelmsford, Southend, Leyton, Colchester, Ilford. Then suddenly in 1979 they won a trophy - two actually - and it was a great time to watch their matches.
Then, I lost interest around the time the county championship became 2 divisions and cricket disappeared from mainstream television, rekindling my interest when I retired. I discovered in my absence that Essex has been the most successful post-war county, and continues to impress. From what I have read, they are now amongst the wealthiest of counties and it is this wealth shared by a very limited number of sides that ruins the sport as a spectacle.
So yes, because they are Essex, I want them to win, but will probably raise only two cheers rather than three when they do.
-
I seem to remember reading somewhere that they managed to win the County Championship on a squad of 13 players, which is a far cry from the revolving door of guest overseas players who drop in to play a few matches and then jet off somewhere else.
-
“Essex were, and still are, a great county to play for,” said Trevor Bailey, a cricketer who remained loyal to his county when it was so skint that members were encouraged to give the county their Green Shield stamps, the income from which helped pay the players.
From https://www.thecricketpaper.com/features-and-columns/2584/county-archives-essex-1979/
-
Kent 4 wickets down in 18 overs. Meanwhile, Somerset’s lower orders are doing a decent job of trying to thwart Surrey.
-
Joe and Jaydn Denny are keeping Essex out for the moment. I don’t recall an uncle-nephew partnership in first class cricket before.
-
Joe and Jaydn Denny are keeping Essex out for the moment. I don’t recall an uncle-nephew partnership in first class cricket before.
That is definitely an Ask Steven question for Cricinfo
-
And Durham have batted out the draw, thanks to a 150 from Potts, their opening ... bowler, who went in as night watchman. All results were possible until pretty late on.
Further to an earlier conversation about umpires who used to be bowlers, I just noticed Richard Illingworth was standing in this game!
-
Somerset were eventually all out, leaving Surrey chasing 209. They are 90 without loss after 8 overs. Essex, meanwhile, need 3 more wickets.
That’s a shortcoming of the BBC site: so far as I can see, it doesn’t show how many overs are left.
-
The Graun is more forthcoming. Raining in Chelmsford but otherwise Essex have 6 overs in which to take 3 wickets. Surrey need another 104 off 9 ish overs. Both likely draws, I think.
-
Draw at Chelmsford. Meanwhile, Surrey have lost 4 quick wickets. 97 runs, or 6 wickets, off 46 deliveries, required for a result. Can Surrey contrive to lose?
-
I'm staggered there's been any play at Edgbaston today. The weather here - 20 miles away - has been atrocious. Still, well done Durham. That must've been a daunting score to follow.
-
Draw at the Oval.
-
I'm staggered there's been any play at Edgbaston today. The weather here - 20 miles away - has been atrocious. Still, well done Durham. That must've been a daunting score to follow.
:thumbsup:
In the lower division all teams have now played 2 games and every one has been a draw. I know there has been weather but I wonder if they are using the K ball, too?
-
I'm staggered there's been any play at Edgbaston today. The weather here - 20 miles away - has been atrocious. Still, well done Durham. That must've been a daunting score to follow.
:thumbsup:
In the lower division all teams have now played 2 games and every one has been a draw. I know there has been weather but I wonder if they are using the K ball, too?
I've noticed over the last few years that there are a lot of high scores early in the season. I wonder if it's the challenge of preparing a pitch so early in the season. I know my lawn is not a good example, but it only recently had its second cut and it is not growing at normal summer pace. And I would be surprised if the ground is truly dry and hard. From my times playing village cricket that made the ball sit up and wait to be hit.
-
Essex is the only team in either division to have won a match after two rounds. Even though it is early in the season, it is gratifying to see Surrey at the foot of the table.
-
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ecb-trial-kookaburra-english-county-cricket-fantastic-worst-decision-ever-1429486
Interesting article weighing up the merits of the kookaburra ball. Made me reassess things - I've long since pondered why, when spinners run through a side, the ground gets reported, but when its a low scoring seamer's paradise, it doesn't. But if the ball allows an average professional to skittle out a side and leave batsmen with a mindset similar to British cyclist descending (fearing potholes and loose gravel around every corner), then perhaps there is merit in making things harder for the bowlers for a change and seeing who really can take wickets on an easier surface. Plus restoring the balance between spin and seam - where the talk so far this season has been that England spinners are struggling to get a game for their county side.
-
Interesting stuff, CAT. On the last point, Lyon (Australia) has played both games for Lancashire, while Hartley was absent from the recent one. Perversely, Anderson has played neither. They will be milking Lyon because he is only going to play half the season, now because of his Test team's requirements. Not that that will be any consolation for Hartley. Maybe Hartley is injured, too because he batted better than most in the first game.
-
It seems as though the rain is in the south-east at the moment. No play yet in Kent, and a delayed start at Chelmsford where Lancs are 11-0, having been inserted (!) by Essex. (I’m not sure but I think that silly expression might have been coined by Trevor Bailey).
-
Surrey seem to have been very unlucky with the weather so far. Hardly any play in their first match in Lancashire, and no play before lunch today in Canterbury.
Meanwhile, Essex seem to have made a decent start thanks to Snater (what a lovely name!) whose figures so far are 2 overs, 1 maiden, 1 run, 2 wickets.
-
10 balls so far at Canterbury. Zak Crawley 1 of 1 (100 scoring rate). Ben Compton 0 off 9 (scoring rate 0).
-
Heavy rain in Saarfend at lunchtime. The forecast for the afternoon is a bit better, but cold and not at all conducive to cricket.
-
This must be the longest Kent have gone without losing a wicket to Surrey for quite some time.
-
The Lancashire 9 & 10 put up a good knock but Harmer came on and after being knocked for 4 first delivery, took a wicket with the second. 145-9.
And Lancs 146 all out.
-
I've just discovered that championship matches are being shown live on YouTube.
-
Yes, I just stumbled across Essex v Lancs by accident.
-
Khushi has bashed 53 off 31 deliveries and as I type he’s been caught at slip. Essex 62 for 1.
-
Essex have overhauled Lancs for the loss of just one wicket. Hopefully they will build a winning lead today and skittle Lancs in the scone innings.
-
Lancs over 220 behind on first innings, are scoring at 1 per over in the second. 10-1 after 10 overs.
-
A good start for Essex: Lancs 43-4.
Hants -Warks is a high- scoring game seemingly heading for a draw at the moment.
-
And all wrapped up before a (slightly delayed) lunch on Day 3, a total contrast to that crazy match 2 seasons ago between these two sides at Chelmsford.
In other matches, Surrey are building a monster lead over Kent, and it will take a good rearguard batting display by them to save the match, and Durham are almost certainly going to beat Worcestershire.
-
Surrey have declared 299 ahead. Kent have 4 sessions to negotiate...
-
Hmm. Kent are 110 for 5. Surrey will have won by lunch tomorrow.
-
Kent are outgunned in this division. It is going to be a tough year for us supporters. We live in hope that a few players will suddenly come on and turn things around.
-
The only consolation for Kent is that their first three matches have been against Essex, Somerset, and Surrey, arguably the three strongest sides. In a battle for survival, it is the results against fellow strugglers that matter more than those against title challengers.
-
Who's touring this season? I need to get some money on them: so far, England's central contract batsmen have scored almost nothing (or less) and most of the bowlers haven't even turned their arms over.
Thumping win for Essex over weak opponents and a great one for Durham over Worcestershire with a day to spare. Shame to see Brett D'Oliveira, Worcestershire capt and grandson of Basil, get a pair, including a first-baller. Been even more of a shame to see him get runs, though!
-
The Kent pair at the wicket at the moment (Evison & Parkinson) are putting up a bold fight: 198-6. I fear that it's merely delaying the inevitable, though. There is the possibility of a shower this afternoon, but it's not forecast to amount to much.
-
The other two games look like stone-cold draws. For Notts, Young and Clarke have added 392 for the third-wicket partnership. Warks might declare soon, but will need to skittle Hants in 2 sessions. The lead is currently 274.
-
Kent 9 wickets down now. A cloudburst would be timely, but unlikely, I fear.
-
And Surrey win. The Kent no 11 scored 22 off his first 11 balls before going into his shell, but was the not-out batsman. Bad luck Kent - a valiant effort.
-
Who's touring this season?
West Indies in July, Sri Lanka in August/September.
-
Thanks!
-
And Surrey win. The Kent no 11 scored 22 off his first 11 balls before going into his shell, but was the not-out batsman. Bad luck Kent - a valiant effort.
It was a reasonable 'rearguard action'. Hopefully there will be some 'foreguard actions' and a couple of reasonable first innings totals forthcoming.
-
And another round of games starts.
Durham won the toss and elected to bat. Currently 4 - 0 in the 4th over.
Surrey won the foss and put Hants in. 14 - 1.
Somerset 8 - 0 v Worcs.
Notts 15 - 0 v Warks.
-
Durham 12 - 2. A wicket each for Cook & Porter.
-
Quick runs for Durham, but Bedingham out for 52 off 51 balls. Meanwhile, Hants collapse v Surrey. 60-5.
-
I see that Sam Cook is captain for Essex. Tom Westley is hors concours as his wife is about to give birth.
Cold everywhere else.
-
Durham 129-3 at lunch. A pretty level morning I think, after two early wickets. Hampshire seem to have steadied the ship rather, but are still heading for a meagre first innings score. Notts have had a good morning - 110-1.
-
South Africa II recovering well against Essex.
-
Indeed they are!
-
Durham 358 all out. Now I think we'll see Essex's first proper test of this season. Their previous three matches were pretty one-sided and I think its fair to say that Kent's escape with a draw was rain-assisted.
The Graun's pundit gave a pre-season prediction of the county championship ending
1st Surrey
2nd Durham
3rd Essex.
-
Essex 5-0 at the close. Sam Cook took the decision to open the innings as a nightwatchman. He did a pretty good job v Lancs and ended up with 49, his highest score in the county championship.
-
There is good precedent at Durham, too: Potts made a big century for them as watchman and it was his highest score. Weather not looking good for Sunday but it's nicely poised!
-
Essex lose their first wicket - Cook for 25. He lasted 77 minutes, so I'd say that's a job well done for a night watchman. Khushi in now. He blasted a very rapid 50 v Lancs before getting out. I think a longer knock is called for today. 69-1.
-
Who's touring this season? I need to get some money on them: so far, England's central contract batsmen have scored almost nothing (or less) and most of the bowlers haven't even turned their arms over.
Thumping win for Essex over weak opponents and a great one for Durham over Worcestershire with a day to spare. Shame to see Brett D'Oliveira, Worcestershire capt and grandson of Basil, get a pair, including a first-baller. Been even more of a shame to see him get runs, though!
YACF has influence! Since I posted that, Root, Brook, Duckett and Bairstow have scored centuries. Still no sign of Hartley, Anderson, Robinson or Wood, though.
-
Essex lost a second wicket - Dean Elgar - just before lunch, for 46. Shame. But now they could do with a long partnership this afternoon to reduce the deficit. Still 261 behind.
-
Your wish is granted! Fine retaliation from Essex with everyone chipping in, a South African and Englishmen old and new and promising. Even extras doing well!
-
Yes, the Essex batsmen have done well. Given the state of the forecast, their best bet is to try to get maximum batting points if they can, but that's still a long way away.
Talking of extras, I was at a match a long time ago - Gooch scored 139 or thereabouts, and at the time it was his best first-class score - in which extras topped 50. There was a big round of applause for them. That was at Chalkwell Park, and I'm sure it was 1976, the last time Essex played at Chalkwell Park. Worcestershire were the opponents. I recall that Basil d'Oliveira and Imran Khan were in their team.
Edit: this one (https://wisden.com/matches/scorecard/108902/essex-v-worcestershire-at-westcliff-on-sea-county-championship). I hope that's visible - google found that page straight away, but I have a login for the Wisden website.
Surrey look as though they are heading for another big win. They are being held up by rain at the moment, but I think their forecast, at the Oval, is for pretty good weather compared to Chester-le-Street.
-
The Wisden link works for me, Wow. Fascinating match. There were over 50 no balls in it, though they are not shown against the bowlers although there is a column for that. Wonder why so many?!
Durham v Essex finely poised, with the onus on Essex to provide a result, which will be hard with the forecast, as you say.
-
That 499-8 in 100 overs (that was the 1st innings limit at the time) was hailed as a new record by the county staff/announcers under those rules. Unbeknownst to them, the very same day Hampshire knocked up over 500, courtesy of Barry Richards & co*.
And I've just noticed E. J. O. Hemsley in the Worcester team - one of the last players to play first class cricket and first division football - Sheffield United, I think.
*Edit: at least, I thought they did. I can't find any evidence of it. It's amazing what 48 years does to your memory.
-
The forecast for Chester-le-Street is rain until 4pm with a maximum temperature of 7°C. That’s like asking people to play cricket in January.
-
The only play so far has been at Kidderminster & Bristol.
-
Hampshire capitulating as expected. 93-5, needing another 115 to make Surrey bat again. No play in Chester-le-Street.
-
A full day's play expected in Chester-le-Street - provided the ground isn't waterlogged, of course. Cloudy, but 5°C higher than yesterday's temperatures. Essex's plan ought to be to knock up another 150 to 200 before lunch and then declare, to have any hope of winning. Odds must be firmly in favour of a draw.
I doubt that Surrey will need more than 1 session to take the necessary 5 Hampshire wickets. Hants will do well to make them bat again.
-
And Surrey win by an innings & 11 runs so are currently top of the table. I think Essex will get maximum batting points from this match - if I've understood the rules correctly - so assuming they draw, they will still be 2 points clear of Surrey. In the unlikely event of Essex winning...
Essex are 92 ahead at lunch. They'll need to try to bat for another hour I reckon.
-
Essex clearly going for quick runs - two consecutive run-outs, which was a shame for Browne as he was on 184.
-
I think if Essex are going to score this slowly all season, they could well bore their way to the title.
-
Pah! Go and wash your mouth out! It was responsible batting! :P
Meanwhile Essex were all out for 488 which means Durham need 130 to make Essex bat again. Could be a difficult afternoon for them.
-
;) I think I've come to expect slightly more with the beach ball. But definitely a match Essex could still win ...
-
Durham 1 down... but I can't fond out how many overs are left. Neither the Graun nor the Beeb seem to show that, and it's an important part of the equation.
The Graun say that Middlesex have set Glos 331 off 58 overs, and that innings started at about the same time as Durham's.
-
I suppose Essex, to win this afternoon, will need to take a wicket roughly every 5 overs. A tall order.
-
The forecast for Chester-le-Street is rain until 4pm with a maximum temperature of 7°C. That’s like asking people to play cricket in January.
I have been time-travelling back to January on my bicycle quite a bit in the last couple of weeks. Discovering that modern aerodynamic clothing with modern aerodynamic zips is utterly useless when your hands are too cold to fasten the tiny little zip. Wonder if cricketers have similar problems.
-
Lees and Ackermann are old hands who know how to shut things down
-
I like the fact that they agree the draw with the home side 1 ahead! Two pretty evenly matched sides, though I think if we'd have had 4 full days, Essex would have been favourites.
-
I keep forgetting the bonus point rules. Apparently you only get your batting points in the first 110 overs, hence Essex only got 14 points for that match.
-
Quite right, too! Thoroughly outplayed by a cunning Durham side ... ;)
-
Only 5 matches today, two of those in the first division.
Essex looked as though reality was catching up with them when Somerset skittled them or 156. But then Somerset were bowled out for 128 (5 apiece for Cook and Porter). Essex are 6-0 at the close of Day 1, so there ought to be a result. It's a good job it was being played at Taunton as there would have been no play at Chelmsford today.
That lead of 34 could be very useful in a low-scoring game. It looks dry for the next 3 days so hopefully Essex can bad all day tomorrow and set Somerset a high score for the last innings.
-
Somerset v Essex highlights, day 1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEJ5NOcN9rk&ab_channel=EssexCricketTV
An awful lot of batsmen caught in the slips there, implying helpful movement for the seamers.
-
Wickets still tumbling…
-
...but Essex building what could be an invaluable lead in a low-scoring game. 83-4, 111 ahead.
Anyone scoring a 50 could prove a match-winner.
-
“The pitch is greener than the Notts game! There was torrential rain down here Wednesday and Thursday, which means it was damper too. It’s still moving around a bit but they usually get easier for batting. Good job it’s not spinning or we’d be on course for a points reduction.”
Quote from Graun, source Vic Marks
I note that 5 of Essex’s runs come from a penalty. I wonder if that is because the ball hit a unworn helmet?
-
Looking like a win for Somerset now... 45 needed, 6 wickets needed.
-
What on earth were Lancashire doing this morning? All out for 92. That's about 400 short of a par score against Kent's bowling in the last two seasons. I didn't notice until earlier as I was watching the Giro and distracted by the Green Army getting the goal they needed to stay up, oddly enough against Hull, which is another place I have lived.
-
Well, that wasn't what was wanted, a 2-day loss. Well done Somerset - I don't think the pitch was up to standard, but no-one can control the weather. Vic Marks suggested it would become truer as it dried out, so it was a good toss to win. So it appeared. The clincher was the 75-run partnership for the first wicket in Somerset's second innings. If Essex had had another 20 or 30 runs to bowl at, then I reckon they could well have won.
Kent ought to beat Lancs, given that there's a day to go, but they don't want Lancs setting them too stiff a target. I feel a bit sorry for Lancs - they seem to have become a weaker side this season: last year, and the year before, Essex and Lancs seemed to be well-matched, with a win a piece, and I think Lancs were the only team to beat Surrey last year. This year they simply haven't got going. Essex beat them with the greatest of ease a few weeks back.
-
Whoops - Lancs seem to be digging in well. Kent will need to bat with circumspection tomorrow, given that the Lancs lead is now 151 and they still have 3 wickets left. Both the not-out batsmen are well-set, being on 57 and 25 respectively.
-
Whoops - Lancs seem to be digging in well. Kent will need to bat with circumspection tomorrow, given that the Lancs lead is now 151 and they still have 3 wickets left. Both the not-out batsmen are well-set, being on 57 and 25 respectively.
3 quick wickets. Kent need 164 to win. Will probably be a nerve-wracking finish tomorrow.
-
Ha! Must have been my fault, that! ;)
Kent have a fairly tricky hour or so to face tonight.
-
And lose Zak Crawley on his second ball.
-
Looking good for Kent now - 93 needed with 9 wickets left.
-
At least Lancashire have put up a fight. I do hope the division continues to be this interesting.
-
I reckon Kent are pleased they are playing in Old Trafford rather than Canterbury because the latter is going to be Very Wet this afternoon, according to those writers of fiction at the Met Office.
-
Kent made it look pretty easy in the end, winning by 7 wickets.
-
Not Much Happening Elsewhere drew my attention to the Yorkshire v Glamorgan match. Yorkshire notched up a massive first innings total thanks largely to the Vegetables. Bean scored 173 and Root 156. In the end the rain came and assisted Glamorgan's rearguard action, which had probably done enough to ensure a draw anyway.
Joe Root's brother Billy plays for Glamorgan. I do hope they have a sister named Beatrice.
-
Apparently it was Kent's first win at Old Trafford this century.
-
Not Much Happening Elsewhere drew my attention to the Yorkshire v Glamorgan match. Yorkshire notched up a massive first innings total thanks largely to the Vegetables. Bean scored 173 and Root 156. In the end the rain came and assisted Glamorgan's rearguard action, which had probably done enough to ensure a draw anyway.
Joe Root's brother Billy plays for Glamorgan. I do hope they have a sister named Beatrice.
Beet, rice and roots - wok an opportunity for a stir-fry! Nice one, Wow!
-
No-one seems to publish the batting and bowling averages any more. They used to be regular features in daily papers.
Glamorgan's Sam Northeast must be top of the batting, having scored 335no and 173no so far. I assume he must have lost his wicket at some point this season.
-
A day for batting today, it seems. Warks recovered well against Surrey and were 318-8 at the close, having been 167-6 at one point.
-
Crikey! Worcestershire's pair put on 225 for the 8th wicket - that never fell because they declared teh innings closed at 618-7. 123no and 100no for Holder & Waite respectively.
-
Yes - if Worcester's 8 and 9 can score centuries on Kent's pitch, it doesn't look good for Kent's bowlers.
I feel very pleased for Nottingham opener Hameed. Several years ago the Bolton boy was featured (as a 19 year-old, I think) in one of the broadsheet colour mags as a star already made. Soon he was in the Test team, when almost immediately his career nosedived faster than someone featured in the Radio Times and he had to leave Lancashire for Nottingham to recover it. Well done!