County Championship 2016 - Division One

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Discussion thread.

Winners?
Relegation?
Most runs?
Most wickets?
Breakthrough player?

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Three rounds of games into the season on only two positive results

New pitch/toss regulations working a treat eh ECB

Actually I'm happy with that stat. It will force bowlers to improve their skills for taking wickets on flat decks which is what is needed at international level. Rather that than Jessie Ryder wobbling to the crease and nibbling the new ball around at right angles. One of the main purposes of CC should be to produce England players, given it wouldn't exist in the current form without the funding the England team generate

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Three rounds of games into the season on only two positive results

New pitch/toss regulations working a treat eh ECB

Part of the problem being the atrocious weather which, of course, is exacerbated by playing games in April/early May and in September.

This is quite understandable because T20 pays the bills for county cricket, so it needs to be given the preferential summer period.

Oh for the days when First Class and List A cricket exist as a separate sport to T20 baseball; a real muse of fire that could ascend the brightest heaven of invention.

Vince run out for a duck; bit of a blow to his England prospects.

Batting sides in Div 1 not having things their own way on Day 1 of this round.  Hants have slumped to 66 - 7 against Lancs.  Meanwhile Somerset wobbling at 118 - 4 against Warks, with Tom Abell 58* holding things together at the moment. More evenly poised in the other two games (Notts 126 -2 against Middlesex and Surrey 113 - 2 against Yorks).

Fair to say Lancs are on top of Hampshire, 67-7!

Fifty for Alex Hales against Middlesex

Oh dear oh dear Hampshire...

Positives: We got more than 100.

Good day. Hopefully can push on all the batting points tomorrow

Duty281 wrote:Vince run out for a duck; bit of a blow to his England prospects.

Certainly not his finest performance although I suspect the selectors would be less influenced by that than, say, a scratchy and unconvincing 15.

guildfordbat wrote:I've always liked the look of Keith 'Ronnie' Barker since he bludgeoned a century for Warks against Surrey at the Guildford ground. Probably considered too agricultural for England but a mighty effective bowling allrounder on the county scene.

Another 3 wickets today for 'Ronnie'. Drat it! I never get round to filling in a ''choose your own county team'' for one of the various competitions but, if I did, Barker and Chris Read would be 2 of my picks. There again, the other 9 would probably be rubbish!

Lancashire certainly confounding all of us who predicted they would be relegation favourites right now. Even with their judicious use of Kolpak to bolster the seam bowling I still feel they will be vulnerable to injury and a small squad once Jimmy is away with England.


First division still waiting for a team to really stamp it's mark, but poor Hampshire have been so bedevilled by misfortune.

Poor start,just getting the extra bonus point before we're all out. Hopefully knock a few over to compensate

Meanwhile, Warks in trouble at home to Somerset. In reply to the Cidermen's 295, they're 60/4. Varun Chopra, my outside tip for most runs, hanging in there on 30.

Warks now 93/6 but Chopra still hanging on, probably by his fingernails, and inching towards a half-century. Currently on 45.

Whoops!

Just 1 wicket for Hampshire today. With Crane and Dawson doing the majority of the bowling. Surprised Vince hasn't brought himself or Smith on to have a bowl

A small positive for us today with Crane getting 3 wickets and by all reports looking very impressive.

An intriguing game between Warwickshire and Somerset. After being 145 behind in the first innings, Warwickshire now need 317 for the win after bowling Somerset out for 178. Should be a close one...

Hi Jimbo, agree with you about the Warks and Somerset game. On paper Warks look the stronger line up (to me anyway) but they'll need to score the highest innings of the match batting last. As often said, that is never easy.

guildfordbat wrote:Hi Jimbo, agree with you about the Warks and Somerset game. On paper Warks look the stronger line up (to me anyway) but they'll need to score the highest innings of the match batting last. As often said, that is never easy.

Hi Guildford Agree it will be tricky getting the most runs in the match but with Warwickshire's depth id still make them slight favourites. They bat all the way down, well until Rankin anyway!

Clearly the answer to all this rain is to play matches up in Scotland. It's absolutely glorious sunshine here, and hot too (short-sleeves are out)

Prompt start to final day's play at Old Trafford. Hants (two wickets down and 271 behind) will need to bat through the entire day to save the match. Delayed start to all the other three Div 1 matches.

Bresnan sadly still notbready to play, so Yorkshire's squad fo the trip tobTaunton sees Leaning, Hodd and Carver replace Root, Jonny and Willey. Unlikely we will play the second spinner so between Rhodes and Wainmain for Willey's spot.

Warks 7/2 off 10 overs against Notts who obviously aren't missing Broad and Ball too much atm.

Off 5 overs each, Bird and the recalled Fletcher with figures of 1/5 and 1/2 respectively.

Having won the toss and chosen (when did elected get introduced ??) to bat, Warks are in a right mess on 17/4 after 16 overs. Fletcher has bowled 8 on the reel. I described him as a ''proper bowler'' at the start of the season when he went on loan to Derbys. To my surprise, he had next to no success there but he's enjoying his morning back with Notts. Currently he's got figures of 8-5-3-3.

Somerset 154/1 - Yorkshire probably regretting the decision to forgo the toss and field.

Tresco on 79*, the obdurate Rogers on 54.

Chris Woakes :love:

Warwickshire battle back from 161-7 to 314-7. Woakes 116 not out, supported by Guildford's man Barker on 80.

Hi Jimbo - yes, Ronnie's started the season on fire with bat and ball!

Btw, I looked at the Middlesex home website last night to see what they were up to for their current game with Surrey. In the match preview, they correctly referred to Surrey having lost twice already this season but then said one of the defeats was to Hants - I don't think so, particularly as we haven't played you yet! However, I thought you might take confidence from it!!

I'll take that win, thank you Guildford, haha.
Warks closing on 372-9 at the end of the day. Barker making his 100. Notts must be pulling their hair out. 17-4, 60-5, 117-6. They did the hard work!

Poor decision by gale, poor bowling by the opening pair and poor catching. Recipe for disaster - but just a game.

Lyth and Lees first 100 partnership since 2014 (and Yorkshire's first for over 100 days). Admittedly these two did not bat tyogether much last season, but woudl be good for us if they can rekindle some of the 2014 spirit.

Second century of the season for Lyth just before the rain arrives. He has been in good form this season, but a little hamstrung by some iffy to awful decisions (at least one that was deemed a clear error by the assessors)

When runs have come for Lyth they have tended to come in bulk for the summer. His form is very good news for Yorkshire with Root and Bairstow now away, Gale struggling for runs and Williamson not yet arrived.

Rain back at Taunton and forecast for tomorrow not good.

Yorkshire's innings topped and tailed by decent partnerships - otherwise poor. Likely to be saved by the weather, which will have a major say in all games.

Cracking game going on at Trent Bridge. Notts 114/6, need 113 more to defeat Warks with 30 overs left. Patel on fire for Notts with 68 so far off 43 balls. My man Barker getting wickets for Warks, already has a fourfer.

Warks end up with a 50 odd run win despite Samit Patel blitzing a ton.

Fine win by Durham too. Bold overnight declaration by Collingwood gave his bowlers sufficient time to share all 10 Lancs wickets. Two tons in that match for Borthwick.

Quick burst from Fletch salvages the morning session, Ball picking up a wicket too.

Meanwhile, Warks doing well at home to Durham and my man Barker hasn't even been involved yet. 105/0 at lunch, Varun Chopra (my outside tip for most runs - he won't be but I've made a lot worse predictions!) on 63 and 20 yr old debutant Andrew Umeed on 33.

Somerset 88/1 at Lord's. Abell and Rogers resisting the Middlesex bowlers after a fine start from Toblerone Jones (1/10 off 8) accounted for Tresco.

Carnage for Surrey in Manchester as covered on that game's thread.

Hi Guildford, Warks slip from 120-0 and 195-1 to 278-8.
Somerset going well. 224-2. Rogers 100 and Hildreth (underrated in my opinion) passes 50.
A bit of fight from Hampshire yesterday. 80-4 now 156-4. The ever reliable Ervine closing in on a 50 supported by youngster Alsop who has come in to replace Vince.

Hi Jimbo - yes, Warks slipping badly from a very promising start. Lot of fight in that Durham team, unsurprising given their skipper is Collingwood. See that Carse has picked up 3 wickets - he looked useful when I saw him at the Oval last month.

Agree with you about Hildreth - tends to be overlooked but generally reliable imo.

If Ervine and Alsop can put on another 50 runs, your boys will be decently placed against a solid Notts team. Saw Alsop get runs for your seconds at Guildford in 2014 - needs to take his chance now.

Sorry, Jimbo! The ever willing Fletcher gets Ervine.

And i've gone and jinxed it Ervine falls for 42. I know the club think of highly of Alsop. He was a wicketkeeper but i think he has given that up now to play just as a batsman. Hm and Wheater need to try drag us up to 200 here, Mclaren can stick around too, but don't want him in this early!

Hildreth is a strange one, very consistent but never really been in the England conversation. 31 years old now

And the collapse begins.. 232-6 now 236-9.

jimbohammers wrote:And the collapse begins.. 232-6 now 236-9.

Ah well, at least you got a 2nd batting point. Best, Crane and Tomlinson at 9, 10, Jack doesn't seem the strongest tail!

After a slow start to the morning, Crane and Dawson pick up 3 wickets in 20 mins. With Read injured and unlikely to bat, we need to finish them off and try get a lead of 70+

Poor captaincy from Smith in my opinion, should have brought Crane on well earlier than he did!

189 all out. Crane gets 3. Best finishes things off, bowling Gurney. Lead of 81.

Another interesting game involving Warks. 100-7 against Durham. With a lead of 224

Hampshire close on 189-8. 270 ahead. Interesting to see the BBC going with 'Notts pushing for the win' - would personally have us on top at the moment. A 4th day pitch, Crane and Dawson with spin. Notts making 189 all out in their first innings, would need 270+ this time round. Or am i just being biased?

Warwickshire/Durham has been back and forth, Warks 114 all out, setting a reasonable target for Durham, who need just 83 more runs with 6 wickets remaining. No Woakes bowling for Warks?

Middlesex'Somerset heading for a draw. Robson out on 99

Jimbo - you may be biased but you are right. Whatever happens from now, if Notts are to win they will have to score the highest innings total of the match batting last. As often said (by me ), that's never easy.

Not to say you have the win wrapped up - Notts have a solid team and Read is regularly someone to turn things around. However, your boys are in the better position tonight. Should be a good test for Crane.

Could still be a tight finish at Edgbaston but Warks are going to need a couple of wickets early doors.

jimbohammers wrote:Warwickshire/Durham has been back and forth, Warks 114 all out, setting a reasonable target for Durham, who need just 83 more runs with 6 wickets remaining. No Woakes bowling for Warks?

Very good comeback win for Durham, sees them slot into second place in the table.

Woakes was up in Chester-Le-Street with England and replaced by Josh Poysden.