County Championship 2022 Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

With howling winds, snow, and minus temperatures hitting the green fields of England and Wales, it's a perfect time for the County Championship to return.

Back to basics this year. Two divisions. Ten teams in Division One, eight in Division two. Two get relegated from the former, two get promoted from the latter. The team that tops Division One are the County Champions, with no five-day final or conference system this season.

Division One
Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire, Yorkshire.

Division Two
Derbyshire, Durham, Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, Sussex, Worcestershire.

Essex (7/2) and Lancashire (9/2) are considered the leading favourites to be County Champions. Lancashire fell just short last year, while Essex had a Covid-induced aberration of a season. It is tightly contested, however, and Somerset, Yorkshire, Hampshire, and defending champions Warwickshire should all be in the mix. Gloucestershire, Northants and beautiful Kent will be the ones battling to stay up.

Division Two may be somewhat mismatched, with Nottinghamshire (13/10) strong favourites to canter onwards and upwards, and Middlesex, Durham and Glamorgan are the most likely teams to be fighting for the second promotion spot. Derbyshire and Leicestershire will no doubt be looking at the wrong end of the table.

Will Warwickshire defend their title? Or is this the year Somerset finally win the main event? Are Nottinghamshire going to breeze through Division 2? And will Darren Stevens finally get the England call-up we all want to see?

[king_carlos]

Back in 2018 when Surran was smashing counter-attacking, Test swinging half-centuries against India I bet you'd have got some odd looks if you'd predicted that Turran would have the same number of F-C centuries at the end of the 2022 summer!

[Duty281]

A fantastic conclusion to Yorkshire v Essex today. Essex had to chase 162 for victory. Patterson tore through their top order to leave them imperilled at 64/6. But Snater, batting at 8, earned full honours with a 65* from 51 balls that just about won his side the game with one wicket remaining. The scores were actually tied when Essex lost their ninth, and Porter (the number 11) had an agonisingly close play and miss which would have seen a tied game had he nicked it. Snater hit the winning runs next ball, which was richly deserved.

Northants and Surrey could be going to the wire. After Tom Curran's counter-attacking 115, Surrey got a first innings lead of 82. Northants are 209/5 at stumps, leading by 127. Surrey have regularly chipped away with wickets, but never wickets in bunches - 15/1, 47/2, 72/3, 114/4, 161/5. Surrey are 15 overs away from the second new ball, so the overnight batsmen have a good chance to settle in tomorrow and push the lead towards 200. On a pitch with turn and some low bounce, plus plenty of cloud around tomorrow, a chase that is above 200 could be a challenge for Surrey. There are set to be 104 overs on the final day, I believe, but light could be an issue towards the end.

Somerset are on course to beat Warwickshire after an unusually strong top order performance in the third innings. Warwickshire could be champions one year, relegated the next.

[Duty281]

Warwickshire survived, only six wickets down in the fourth innings so it was quite comfortable. Means they're level with Kent on 115 points in the second relegation spot, and Somerset are on 123 points.

Northants and Surrey didn't go to the wire, as Northants were able to bat out about half of the day after a tired Surrey effort in the field. Puts Surrey 8 points ahead of Hampshire with two games left, but Surrey have the harder two games - they play Yorkshire (6th) next week, then Lancashire (3rd) the week after, while Hampshire's games are against Kent (8th) and Warwickshire (9th).

[king_carlos]

Just seen that Max Waller is retiring. Good bowler who did at a tough place to bowl in limited overs cricket. He was one of a trio of white ball specialist spinners in County Cricket along with Stephen Parry and Will Beer who I often thought were a touch underrated.

Waller forged a really good career for himself as a white ball specialist. The sort of player with a slightly different path through the game that I could see transferring well into coaching if he wished.

Michael Bates is a good example of a player with a slightly different path doing that as a fielding and wicket-keeping coach with a very good reputation.

[Duty281]

Looks like the weather will be good for the final two weeks of the county season.

Somerset aren't allowed to select Jack Leach for tomorrow's game (and presumably next week's) as England have put their foot down. So much for wanting to give spinners more overs in the county game, eh?

[king_carlos]

7 CC matches with Somerset and 7 Tests with England is a good work load for a summer to be fair. Not sure what Leach will really get from turning his arm over at Ciderabad again. A case where I probably agree with the decision. Especially with the tour of Pakistan ahead. Were Leach to play and break a finger I expect many of the same fans noting that's he's missing CC games would be up in arms about him getting injured playing unnecessarily!

[guildfordbat]

7 CC matches with Somerset and 7 Tests with England is a good work load for a summer to be fair. Not sure what Leach will really get from turning his arm over at Ciderabad again. A case where I probably agree with the decision. Especially with the tour of Pakistan ahead. Were Leach to play and break a finger I expect many of the same fans noting that's he's missing CC games would be up in arms about him getting injured playing unnecessarily!

Can't agree with you there, Carlos. Leach is not the finished object. If he is to have any chance of improving, he needs to bowl more; not be hidden away. More importantly though imo, it shouldn't just be about what Leach and England might get from him turning his arm over at Ciderabad but also what his county Somerset and their supporters might get from it. Sure, he could get injured playing but don't forget England players have recently shown an uncanny knack of getting injured when not playing, even including when cleaning a fish tank!

[alfie]

Yeah I can't see that letting a spinner - who isn't required again for International duty until December - have a game or two at County level , is going to do any harm. Agree with guildford Somerset should have rights too !

Really shouldn't try and wrap players in cotton wool all the time - though having pace bowlers manage their workload during a season makes sense. And yes , other accidents happen. If Bairstow had a cricket match to play a few weeks back he wouldn't have been playing that dangerous sport of golf...

[Duty281]

Leach has only played five games in the last two months, and his bowling workload in those hasn't exactly been exhausting, so I don't think there's any danger of overexerting him. Presumably he won't play again until the Lions match in November. That's a shame.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Yeah I was going to actually start a discussion on Leach on the main England thread - (obviously he took that 10-for against NZ in the 2nd test, 10 wickets obviously great, even if a fair few were lets say, gifted, to be kind...) pointing out he actually after that game basically did bugger all for England the rest of the 5 tests in the summer. I think it would be good for him to get a game or two with Somerset in, before what will presumably be a heavy workload in Pakistan

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

https://twitter.com/hantscricket/status/1572158215244103681

Absolutely sensational

[JDizzle]

Looking forward to Essex’s points deduction…

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Looking forward to Essex’s points deduction…

23 wickets on day one so far - embarrassing

[JDizzle]

Looking forward to Essex’s points deduction…

23 wickets on day one so far - embarrassing

A one day FC game is on.

[Duty281]

As well as the nonsense at Essex, Hampshire have been bowled out for 57 in response to Kent's 165. That could be the title for Surrey right there.

[Duty281]

26 wickets falling at Essex. Lancashire have a lead of 49, so another 80 and it might be a game? Top score of the day was Cook with a 40 that may have been worth 400. Lancashire 7/6 in their second innings at one point, amazing...

23 wickets fell at Hampshire. Kent leading by 128 currently, but three wickets in the last seven balls of the day has just about kept Hampshire's title challenge alive. Just.

Everywhere else was pretty normal. Sibley made a century, making sure we don't forget about him, and Pope notched a glamourous 136 off 131.

[JDizzle]

Good to see Pope and Foakes weren't too tired to play some red ball cricket. Half surprised Craig Overton didn't need a rest from carrying drinks...

[Duty281]

Essex chasing 98, cruising at 28/1...then Balderson takes a hat-trick to throw the game back into the balance.

Cook, Lawrence and Critchley - not a bad trio to get!

[dummy_half]

Essex now 48-6, so half way to their target but only 4 wickets in hand. Obviously big issues with the pitch

And following Sam Northeast's 400 for Glamorgan a couple of weeks ago, David Lloyd currently 307* for them, showing there are runs to be had in some matches.

[Duty281]

Essex bowled out for 59 in pursuit of 98. Fitting that the county that prepared the woeful pitch is the one on the losing side.

131, 107, 73, 59.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Essex bowled out for 59 in pursuit of 98. Fitting that the county that prepared the woeful pitch is the one on the losing side.

131, 107, 73, 59.

When you get folk saying that county cricket isn't fit for purpose, pitches and games like this one don't exactly help the case to defend against that. An absolute farce

[JDizzle]

Watched the final four wickets - the ball that bowled Snater jagged back about a foot. Absolute comedy.

[Duty281]

Essex bowled out for 59 in pursuit of 98. Fitting that the county that prepared the woeful pitch is the one on the losing side.

131, 107, 73, 59.

When you get folk saying that county cricket isn't fit for purpose, pitches and games like this one don't exactly help the case to defend against that. An absolute farce

ECB should make an example of Essex with a hefty points deduction.

[JDizzle]

370 runs in Essex v Lancashire match is the lowest in a County Championship match with 40 wickets falling since 1980:
362 Essex 130 & 76 beat Kent 88 & 68 at Folkestone.

@AWSStats

Not a good track at Folkestone…

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Kent have taken their lead above 350, with a superb century from Jack Leaning. Hampshire going to need a miracle chase to get something from this game it looks like

[king_carlos]

7 CC matches with Somerset and 7 Tests with England is a good work load for a summer to be fair. Not sure what Leach will really get from turning his arm over at Ciderabad again. A case where I probably agree with the decision. Especially with the tour of Pakistan ahead. Were Leach to play and break a finger I expect many of the same fans noting that's he's missing CC games would be up in arms about him getting injured playing unnecessarily!

Can't agree with you there, Carlos. Leach is not the finished object. If he is to have any chance of improving, he needs to bowl more; not be hidden away. More importantly though imo, it shouldn't just be about what Leach and England might get from him turning his arm over at Ciderabad but also what his county Somerset and their supporters might get from it. Sure, he could get injured playing but don't forget England players have recently shown an uncanny knack of getting injured when not playing, even including when cleaning a fish tank!

I agree that Leach isn't the finished object just that I'm not sure the CC in its current form is where Leach will improve. Hence why I really like recent suggestions in the high-performance review about spinners getting more chances to play red ball cricket overseas.

The issue with the "what about the counties perspective?" argument often touted in these scenarios is that most the counties are almost entirely propped up by the ECB these days. Not to mention that Leach has his wages payed by his central contract.

I'd love a higher quality CC with fewer F-C games being played at a higher standard, on the right pitches, more in the conducive parts of summer that Leach could get a couple of games in. As the CC stands I have little issue with Leach missing these two games before the tour of Pakistan though.

[king_carlos]

I wonder if Chef's combined 44 runs is the lowest cumulative runs scored by a player to top score in both of his sides innings in a CC game?

One for Samson or Zaltz's perhaps. It would take a better statistician that I to find that out!

[Duty281]

Looks like Kent will beat Hampshire. Hampshire made a solid start to their chase, 76/1, but a late flurry from the Kent seamers has left Hampshire 105/4 at stumps and in a near-impossible position with another 273 to win.

Surrey could win the title tomorrow, but they may face a tricky chase after (surprisingly) making Yorkshire follow-on.

Warwickshire are 58/5 in the third innings of their game v Gloucestershire, leading by 77, on another minefield of a pitch. With Kent and Somerset both looking probable winners this week, Warwickshire have to win or survival looks very difficult.

I see in the aforementioned Glamorgan game that Glamorgan declared at 550/5, with Lloyd unbeaten on 313, missing the chance to get the second quadruple centurion of the season! Also in Division 2, Notts are heading towards a surprising innings defeat v Worcestershire, but it shouldn't deter them from finishing top this year.

[guildfordbat]

Looks like Kent will beat Hampshire. Hampshire made a solid start to their chase, 76/1, but a late flurry from the Kent seamers has left Hampshire 105/4 at stumps and in a near-impossible position with another 273 to win.

Surrey could win the title tomorrow, but they may face a tricky chase after (surprisingly) making Yorkshire follow-on.

Warwickshire are 58/5 in the third innings of their game v Gloucestershire, leading by 77, on another minefield of a pitch. With Kent and Somerset both looking probable winners this week, Warwickshire have to win or survival looks very difficult.

I see in the aforementioned Glamorgan game that Glamorgan declared at 550/5, with Lloyd unbeaten on 313, missing the chance to get the second quadruple centurion of the season! Also in Division 2, Notts are heading towards a surprising innings defeat v Worcestershire, but it shouldn't deter them from finishing top this year.

The follow on decision was heavily influenced by the poor weather forecast for Friday. Had Surrey not enforced, it would have been an even more difficult decision than usual as to when to declare; running the risk of not having enough time to bowl 'em out a second time or setting 'em an achieveable target.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hampshire under 150 to win now, Vince still at the crease being ably supported by James Fuller. They have a sniff

[Duty281]

Congratulations to Surrey who have won the title with a game to spare. Just one more game to see if they can have an unbeaten season. Looking at the stats shows a very strong team effort:

Foakes averages 73 for the year; Pope 70; Jacks 54; Clark 52; Amla 42; Burns 40. And with the ball four bowlers averaging under 25, five if you count CdG who played a few games.

At the other end of the table, with Kent winning, Somerset looking likely to win, and Warwickshire on the path to defeat, it seems last year's champions are on the way down, barring a herculean effort in the last game against Hampshire, and other results going their way.

[king_carlos]

A really good way to bounce back for Rory Burns as well after being dropped.

I'd have honestly expected Amla's average to be higher as he seems to have been scoring a lot of runs but maybe I just pick up on it more due to the name.

Interesting that only 3 batters - Hain, Jennings and Compton - have scored more than 1000 runs in div 1 this season. Brook would of course have made it as well if not for the England callup.

[JDizzle]

A really good way to bounce back for Rory Burns as well after being dropped.

I'd have honestly expected Amla's average to be higher as he seems to have been scoring a lot of runs but maybe I just pick up on it more due to the name.

Interesting that only 3 batters - Hain, Jennings and Compton - have scored more than 1000 runs in div 1 this season. Brook would of course have made it as well if not for the England callup.

Now joined by Tom Abell - who is sat at 90* and 1004 for the season.

[alfie]

Congrats to Surrey winning the Championship with a round to spare.

Very convincing performance over the season - and achieved despite a few injury and England-call up issues at times. Well deserved victory

[JDizzle]

Good to see Matthew Fisher back and bowling for Yorkshire after his injury - and he has the first four to fall vs Gloucs.

[Duty281]

Only real interest in the last set of games is if Glamorgan can overhaul a nine-point gap to achieve promotion at the expense of Middlesex, or if Middlesex themselves can overhaul a nine-point gap to beat Nottingham to the Division 2 title.

Warwickshire are not relegated for certain, but their chances of survival are minimal and not helped by the early rain.

[dummy_half]

More runs for Keaton Jennings as he approaches a double hundred - past 1300 runs for the season now at an average over 80. While we know he has some limitations as a Test opener, he's certainly doing all he can to put himself back in consideration for an England spot.

Hameed also with another century, making his 5th of the season, and currently the highest run scorer in D2, averaging 60.Maybe he's not lived up to his early promise, but this is such an improvement on the abject form of a couple of years ago.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Warwickshire need to defend 138 to send Yorkshire down and survive - unlikely you think, but Hampshire are 8-1 through the first couple of overs

[GSC]

14-2...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

49-4 with Vince gone now - they have a punchers chance here!

[GSC]

5 down but 66 required now. Need a clatter of wickets now

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hampshire 91/7, need another 47 with Gubbins the only recognised bat left (albeit Fuller now to the crease, can give it a biff!). Norwell with 6 wickets so far, really is how much longer he can keep going it looks!

[GSC]

Fuller trying to smash them over the line, target down to 24

[GSC]

Gubbins gone, 14 runs to win, 2 wickets left

[Duty281]

Wow, what a finish to the season. Norwell almost single-handedly keeping Warwickshire in Division One on the final day.

[GSC]

Entire season comes down to 5 runs in the final session.

[GSC]

Just the 9 wickets from Liam Norwell in under 2 sessions

[Lowlandbrit]

Should really figure out a way to schedule Durham vs Yorkshire when the England players are available next year.

[dummy_half]

And Yorkshire relegated by 3 points after losing their last three matches - well beaten by Surrey, but a 1 wicket defeat by Kent and 18 runs against Gloucestershire. Also contrived to lose to Surrey earlier in the year after scoring 500+ in the first innings. A couple of other draws that could have been wins early in the season

[Duty281]

Seems Root has upset many because he was playing golf (with three people you couldn't pay me to be with - KP, Vaughan, and Piers Morgan) while Yorkshire were being relegated.

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