County Championship/Bob Willis Trophy 2021

First topic message reminder :

Starts in eight days time on the 8th of April, so we may as well have a thread for it. It's another revised structure for this year, with two trophies up for grabs: the County Championship and the Bob Willis Trophy.

The 18 counties have been split up into three seeded groups:

Group 1: Derbyshire, Durham, Essex, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
Group 2: Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Somerset, Surrey
Group 3: Glamorgan, Kent, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Sussex, Yorkshire

Counties will play every group opponent home and away - a total of ten matches. After ten matches, the top two teams in each group advance to Division One. Teams finishing 3rd and 4th go to Division Two. Teams finishing 5th and 6th go to Division Three.

In the division stage, each county will play a total of four more games. They will not, as far as I'm aware, play again against their initial group opponents. For instance, if Essex and Warwickshire make it through to Division One, they won't play each other in the division stage, just the top two from groups two and three.

After these four extra games, the team that is top of Division One will be classed as the County Championship winners. The County Championship winners will then play the team that finished second in Division One in the five-day final to determine the Bob Willis Trophy winners.

The group stage will run from April-July. The division stage will start late August and conclude in September. The final is set to be played from the 27th September-1st October (the ECB know it rains and gets dark then, right?).

I can't say I'm a fan of this format, to be honest, as the County Championship trophy has been relegated in stature, but I hope it all works out well.

With SkyBet, defending champions Essex have been installed as favourites at 5/1 to win the Bob Willis Trophy. Perennial runners-up Somerset are the second favourites at 13/2, then Yorkshire at 7/1. Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Kent a bit further back at 9/1. Forum favourites Surrey at 12/1. No-hopers such as Durham, Glamorgan and Leicestershire way out at 66/1.

I really like the conference system. It gives every county the chance to win at the start of the season which should allow a more even spread of players as well. If we are to continue with 18 first-class counties this is the model I by far prefer. Though I too agree with Soul that it's too many games. A minimum of 10 FC games a summer for each county with a max of 12 for the stronger performing counties in each summer is a better balance.

Quality over quantity is the key.

sirfredperry wrote:Could be that this format is better than the two divisions where some of the cricket in Div 1 is ultra cautious as everyone is afraid of relegation.

Weather forecast looks a bit iffy for later this week but at least three rounds of matches have been played in sunny conditions.

Watched quite a bit of the last day at Edgbaston. Yates looked very good.

Do try to read the Notts last-day report on Cricinfo. Some purple prose.

Cricket writing tends to be stronger than coverage of other sports. Speaking of which here's a good article about the quest to 1,000 runs before the end of May.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/apr/28/wg-grace-don-bradman-race-to-1000-runs-before-end-may-cricket

Weather does look awful for this set of matches. Might be difficult to have any positive results this weekend.

Hameed out for a duck this week. Mark Wood picking up a wicket in the second over of his return for Durham.

Bowlers mainly on top today and some of the run-glut teams/players having to come down to earth.

Alastair Cook, though, is bucking the trend with his 68th hundred at Worcester.

Yeah, it's been a bowler's day in about half of the games. Some of the scores I thought we'd be more likely to see at this time of year turning up - Derby 86/8, Warwickshire 87ao (not bad from 30/8!), Hampshire 92ao, Kent 138ao. That said, Middlesex and Sussex got over 300, and Essex and Leics have been barely troubled by the ball.

Wood got 3/28, C Overton continues to pick away with 2/54 and ten maidens, and Burns notched up another 50.

Of course Darren Stevens got Labuschagne out the day before his 45th birthday. Stevens for the NZ series with Stokes missing...? 

Stevens has a five-for now! Batting average around 45 for the season, bowling average around 20. Aussies won't know what's hit 'em when he gets on the plane.

Stevens is the ultimate troll, looks like he's got another season or two left in him now. Wonder if he wishes he made the switch to bowling earlier?

Hameed with another fifty, going at a decent lick too to show he can play some shots. Burns and Pope in the runs too for Surrey against an on paper good Hampshire attack. Zak Crawley yet to score any meaningful runs for Kent could see his place under threat.

I think it was Rob Key who initially saw Stevens forcing nick after nick in the nets bowling with a new ball and decided to let him open the bowling. A very shrewd call in the end. Kent absolutely capitulating after that five-fer though.

Hameed fell 6 short of a third century of the summer sadly. Another good innings though.

87 for Ben Duckett as well which is nice to see after a very lean start to the summer for such a good player. I sometimes feel his talent warranted a longer Test run but being parachuted in against Ashwin and Jadeja did for his confidence for a while it seems.

Good to see Liam Livingstone straight back in with Lancs after returning from the IPL. Though he got a duck today I do think there's a talented red ball player there even if his white ball prowess has taken the forefront.

Does anyone know if Matt Parkinson had a niggle yesterday or just wasn't landing them? Livingstone bowled 25 overs whilst Parkinson only bowled 9. Livingstone was much more economical so it could have been tactical but still seems odd.

Hameed close to three hundreds in four innings. I think most batsmen would settle for a nought if it was surrounded by two hundreds and a ninety.

Some strange scores today. Mountains of runs at The Oval, for instance, and some tumbling-wickets matches elsewhere.

Yeah Kent were bowled out for 74 in their second innings, meaning they lost 19 wickets for 124 runs. Like how Glamorgan set about their chase of 19 - one opener played out a safe maiden, then the other smashed 19 off 8 balls to win.

Most of the other games look pretty one-sided, but Yorkshire-Northants is heading for a close finish, with Yorkshire leading by 19 and three wickets down in their second innings, while Somerset-Middlesex is pretty even at the moment.

As noted, another good effort from Hameed, and another ton from Pope.

Looks as if Middx will manage to lose to Somerset AGAIN after being in a winning position.

Notts won their first county game since 2018, smashing Derby by 310 runs. Broad 4/37 in the second innings. Durham also won by a boatload, Wood picking up a few but getting outshone by Raine, Carse and Rushworth. Roach's 8/40 got Surrey a first win.

Three close games that could go either way going into Sunday:

Northants 94/4, needing another 126 to beat Yorkshire. Numbers 8, 9 and 10 for Yorkshire contributed over 100 with the bat in the second innings.

Lancashire 124/2, needing a further 129 to win against Sussex. Lancs collapsed horribly in the first innings, so they'll know it's far from over.

And Somerset 104/4, needing another 103 to win against Middlesex. Middlesex took two late wickets to possibly tip the balance, including that of night-watchman Jack Leach.

Thrilling finish at Headingley where Yorkshire squeezed home by ONE RUN to beat Northants who were chasing 220.

38 and 41* on debut from Lewis Goldsworthy to guide Somerset home. Well batted fella.

That is an amazing finish between Yorkshire and Northants. It was a really good ball as well, from Patterson, to take the final wicket.

Good win for Somerset, too, able to repel Finn and Murtagh. And ex-England opener Jennings had a starring role as Lancs held their nerve to beat Sussex.

After four games, nearly halfway, the picture isn't clear as to who's going to make Division One. Lancashire and Yorkshire have built up a solid lead over the rest in Group 3, they should both get through from their current standing. Somerset/Hampshire/Gloucestershire are the tightly congested leading trio in Group 2, with Surrey not out of it. And only three points separate Warwickshire/Durham/Notts in Group 1, while the remaining three of Worcestershire/Derby/Essex are still in contention.

Another victory for Gloucs! Even though Leics have been the whipping boys of the county game for a while, Gloucs had no right to win this one after trailing by 146 first dig.

Wow, that's an amazing chase. 348 in 78 overs is incredible, especially considering they were 52/3 at one point. 16 no-balls helping them along the way.

Puts Gloucs in command of Group 2.

TRJ having a knee operation today, that will keep him out for an extended period. He really can’t catch a break.

Most of the batting sides making solid starts. But not Sussex. Sussex are 25/7, against Northants.

Only eight fixtures this round, as Durham and Derbyshire are not playing. Unsure why, but the symmetry of the fixture list starts to fragment from here.

Hampshire 79 all out vs Somerset. Bizarre how the wheels have just totally come off their batting in the last two rounds.

Notts have got the taste of victory from last weekend and eagerly want more - they bowled Essex out for 99, Fletcher with 6/24, and then racked up 188/4 to leave that game as all but over. Presuming Essex don't come back from here, it'll only be one win from five for them, and they'll be struggling to make Division One, a position that seemed unthinkable at the start of the season.

And another strong day for Ollie Robinson - 4/31 as he tore into Northants. Not enough tearing, admittedly, to reverse Sussex's diabolical start, but more notice for the England selectors.

Craig Overton also keeping his England hopes alive with 2/16 for Somerset today as they rolled out Hampshire.

Overton currently has 27 wickets @ an average of 14 and a SR of 37. Robinson has 24 wickets @ 13 and a SR of 29.5.

Duty281 wrote:Notts have got the taste of victory from last weekend and eagerly want more - they bowled Essex out for 99, Fletcher with 6/24, and then racked up 188/4 to leave that game as all but over. Presuming Essex don't come back from here, it'll only be one win from five for them, and they'll be struggling to make Division One, a position that seemed unthinkable at the start of the season.

And another strong day for Ollie Robinson - 4/31 as he tore into Northants. Not enough tearing, admittedly, to reverse Sussex's diabolical start, but more notice for the England selectors.

Craig Overton also keeping his England hopes alive with 2/16 for Somerset today as they rolled out Hampshire.

Overton currently has 27 wickets @ an average of 14 and a SR of 37. Robinson has 24 wickets @ 13 and a SR of 29.5.

Fletch is a massively popular figure on the county scene with players and supporters alike and rightly so. A very effective bowler who always gives it everything.

Meanwhile, Gloucs staying under the radar but also keeping their taste for victory. They dismissed Middlesex for 210 at Lord's. Only blemish was the run out of skipper Dent to end their reply tonight on 19/1. Subject to the weather gods, seems there'll be a positive result.

Awful inevitability about Middx cricket at the moment. The batting collapses, the inability to knock over the opponents' tail, the failure to hold on to good young players, the slide into mediocrity.

Having said that, the county championship has been gripping so far. There have been England players on view and a number of young players have come to the fore. There have been fine finishes, too. The pity is that when crowds return there will be no four-day cricket for many weeks.

C Overton had another top day. 3/24 with the ball, preceded with a 74 with the bat, as Somerset close in on a comfortable win over Hampshire. Certainly doing all he possibly can for an England recall.

Sussex used 9 bowlers in their match vs Northants. Always love to see that.

Somerset also had 9 players make double figures vs Hampshire - only Lammonby and Davey letting the side down.

My other note is a word of praise for Ben Sanderson of Northants. He has 7 wickets in the match vs Sussex, and he has 250 FC wickets at an average of 21! He was Shropshire's Minor Counties pro around 2014/15, and in his mid 20s it perhaps looked like he would never get another gig. But incredible perseverance to carve out an exceptional county record.

Should also note James Anderson who took 3/40 on his return for Lancashire.

Duty281 wrote:C Overton had another top day. 3/24 with the ball, preceded with a 74 with the bat, as Somerset close in on a comfortable win over Hampshire. Certainly doing all he possibly can for an England recall.

In his brief England chances I felt that Overton's height and the sort of bowler that makes people expect him to be worked against him. He's a big bloke who can get steep bounce but primarily his success has come as a very good seam bowler. His stock delivery his full enough to still threaten the stumps, he's very accurate and moves the ball off the pitch. Similar to Ollie Robinson. Both remind me of Angus Fraser a bit at times.

If Overton is recalled or Robinson given a debut I hope they are instructed to bowl those lengths that have brought them success rather than banging it in shorter because they are tall. We've seen it happen with Archer to an extent due to his pace and height. When Jof pitches it up, then uses his yorker and bouncer as a change up he's lethal

https://www.cricviz.com/ollie-robinson-englands-secret-weapon/

This was an interesting read on Ollie Robinson from CricViz. You can see Craig Overton’s numbers too if you hover over some of the graphs.

Gloucs escaped most of the bad weather yesterday and Duty's radar to register another win! This time by 7 wickets against Middlesex at Lord's. David Payne the star of the show with career best match figures of 11/87.

The wonderfully named Felix Organ and my man Keith 'Ronnie' Barker defending resolutely for Hants and making Somerset, COve and JDizzle work hard for their win at Southampton.

Ronnie is making squeaky bum time indeed for Somerset, need Leach to come to the party on what is technically still a Day 3 wicket. There was some turn this morning when I was watching though.

Haynes 87 and Barnard 76* have done enough to secure another draw for Worcs vs Warks.

JDizzle wrote:Ronnie is making squeaky bum time indeed for Somerset, need Leach to come to the party on what is technically still a Day 3 wicket. There was some turn this morning when I was watching though.

Haynes 87 and Barnard 76* have done enough to secure another draw for Worcs vs Warks.

A successful jinx!

Only six fixtures starting tomorrow (don't really know why) as the schedule begins to fracture, maybe a blessing as more rain is set to thunder down over the weekend. Essex badly need a win to keep their title hopes alive.

Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer taking the new ball for Sussex tomorrow. Tasty. Looking forward to Darren Stevens outbowling them both!

Some matches getting underway on time which is better than expected. Including at Chelmsford where Derbys have won the toss and put Essex in.

Looking forward to how Derbys debutant Aussie Billy Stanlake gets on. Quick and at 6ft 8 inches a particularly intimidating opponent.

Aww shucks! The weather at Chelmsford was good enough to permit the toss at 10:30 but has since worsened and prevented play starting on time.

JDizzle wrote:Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer taking the new ball for Sussex tomorrow. Tasty. Looking forward to Darren Stevens outbowling them both!

An early wicket for Archer having Bell-Drummond caught in the slips.

Jofra starts with two wickets in his opening four overs, including that of England team-mate Zak Crawley. Don't think any side wants to be batting with conditions as they presently are!

Kent now 113-7, after being 70-2. Robinson and Archer have two a piece, but George Garton has 3-57 off 14 and is going at over 4 an over compared to the 25 overs Robinsons and Archer have sent down for 42 runs.

Garton is notoriously streaky, but definitely a case of trying to score when Robinson and Archer aren’t bowling!

Robinson ending up with 3/29, Archer 2/29. It seems as though Archer was used in 4-5 over bursts, which is probably how he's best utilised as a bowler.

Lees, of Durham, out for 99, with Josh Tongue (once tipped for a bright England future) picking up 5/39 in the same fixture.

Three games washed out entirely today.

First century of the season for Dan Lawrence, a breezy one, as Essex have raced to the 330s in 70 overs against Derbyshire.

Another three wickets for Darren the Destroyer. Give him that call Silverwood!

Elsewhere in CC news it was good to see James Coles get his first Sussex contract a couple of days ago. Sometimes players that debut very young drift away but Coles looks a very talented batsman and spinner so I really hope he can fulfill that undoubted potential.

A timely century up for Dan Lawrence. Judging by the scorecard it's an absolute road but clearly he's batted fluently from the how quickly he's brought it up.

Zak Crawley could do with some runs in the second innings.

I wonder if he could be under pressure with Bracey scoring well?

In home conditions, against New Zealand and India's seam attacks I get the feeling they will want Sibley and Burns opening so Crawley is presumably battling for that 3 spot.

I'd predict that Pope and Lawrence will be at 5 and 6 for T1 respectively with Stokes absent.

And Crawley's got a second innings fifty, against that tough Sussex attack. Hopefully he pushes on for three figures. Does mean that Kent have turned it right round and, if the rain stays away, it's set for an excellent conclusion.

Good on Crawley. With the squad named after this round of fixtures that should presumably keep him at 3 for the NZ series.

Hants have a handy 36 run advantage on first innings against Middlesex at Lord's. My man 'Ronnie' Barker clubbed 84 with nine 4s and four 6s. Rarely elegant but so often effective.

Following Middx this season has been purgatory. Twice against Somerset they were in winning positions and still lost.

There's an inevitability about their play. You know the batting will fail and that the opposition's tail will wag (witness Hants this morning).

They can't even get the weather right. Middx should be watching the rain coming down but for the second successive Saturday they are out there....and losing.

You got a ticket for Middlesex playing Surrey at the Oval next week, Sir Fred? That game might actually allow your boys to successfully convert a winning position!

A vintage Root 99 today - only 6 boundaries but striking at 50.