Briggs absence is definitely telling. Lintott in this match has just struggled to keep it tight enough for long enough to build the pressure necessary to take wickets in red ball cricket.
However, you’d think considering the state of the Durham game, the bonus points achieved here, and the growing likelihood of a draw, considering there’s going to be at least the best part of 2 innings needed in 1 day, on a pitch that’s had almost 600 runs for 16 wickets; division 1 seems to have been secured.
And that is a huge step forward, and I hope the many naysayers that regularly appear on Facebook and Twitter acknowledge that.

Briggs wasn't selected again today. Fortunately it doesn't look like his absence will cost us a place in Division 1, but it could cost us a place in the T20 quarter finals. Hopefully he'll be available on Friday.

Barring a freakish set of events over the next 28 hours Bears are through with Notts.

Durham now 12 points behind Warwickshire so need to beat Notts tomorrow which is very unlikely and they also need Warwicks to lose tomorrow.

Notts should beat Durham sometime tomorrow and reach 159 points but will only carry 5 points through to the next phase starting August 30th.

Warks will hopefully secure the draw with Worcester there is no point setting a run chase up with the bowling at our disposal unless it is ragging square for Lintott, Yates and Lamb. Warks will finish therefore on 145 points but will carry 21 points through to the next phase.

A huge advantage at this stage. I wonder when the fixtures will be released? Scarborough away and Bristol away would suit me so long as Gloucestershire hang on against Hants tomorrow

For someone who has only been bowling leg spin for a few months Matt Lamb has done a superb job with the ball today. Rob Yates has also done well in his longest ever bowl in first class cricket.

Agree Lamb and Yates have been good. Though I think we’re seeing why Lintott might be a white ball only phenomenon.

I haven't seen any of his bwl in this game.e so just hypothesizing... But could he be the left handed Adil Rashid? Fine in white ball but the batsmen can just wait until they get a bad ball and hit it away in red ball? I hope we see a bit more of him though - love a wrist spinner.

BristolBear wrote:

Agree Lamb and Yates have been good. Though I think we’re seeing why Lintott might be a white ball only phenomenon.

I think he and Rashid are similar in regards to being more effective in white ball, but for different reasons.
Rashid lacks patience, he can’t bowl 3 or 4 overs on the same spot with his stock ball. He wants to try things.
I think Lintott lacks the control to do so, which is just part of being a wrist spinner, but you can get away with it more in whit ball because as you say, players can’t wait, they just go at everything.

BristolBear wrote:

I think he and Rashid are similar in regards to being more effective in white ball, but for different reasons.
Rashid lacks patience, he can’t bowl 3 or 4 overs on the same spot with his stock ball. He wants to try things.
I think Lintott lacks the control to do so, which is just part of being a wrist spinner, but you can get away with it more in whit ball because as you say, players can’t wait, they just go at everything.

This is spot on.

Re. Yates and Lamb. Them both getting a good bowl is great for their development. Yates has good control and bowls a really tight line. Lamb has less control but gets good dip and looked threatening enough to keep the batsmen on their toes.

As it stands points wise Division One when they restart August 30th

If Gloucestershire avoid defeat today
Bears 21 points
Lancs 16.5
Gloucs 16
Somerset 9.5
Notts 5
Yorkshire 4,5

If Hampshire beat Gloucestershire today
Bears 21 points
Somerset 18.5
Lancs 16.5
Hampshire 8.5
Notts 5
Yorkshire 4.5

The 4 fixtures are scheduled as below

1. Monday August 30, 31, Sept 1, 2
2. Sunday September 5, 6, 7, 8
3. Sunday September 12, 13, 14, 15
   T20 Finals Day Saturday September 18th/19th
4. Tuesday September 21, 22, 23, 24
   BWT Final Tuesday September 28, 29, 30 October 1, 2 venue tbc

I expect Bears 4 fixtures will be away, home, away, home but remains to be seen

How wonderful that yet again, the games will feature hardly any weekend cricket and a final that goes into October from Tuesday-Friday. Shows how much value is put on first-class cricket.

Looks like the game is drifting peacefully to a draw, with runs for Yates and Malan.

Fixtures for the next phase will be released by the end of next week according to reports

Praying for Scarborough away. If the season is still going...

Yates and Malan pumping their averages here.

paulbear wrote:

How wonderful that yet again, the games will feature hardly any weekend cricket and a final that goes into October from Tuesday-Friday. Shows how much value is put on first-class cricket.

But look what happens when England get pumped in the Ashes down under. Everyone will be looking for an answer. It’ll be obvious, it’s on the ECB for mismanaging first class cricket, or the players for not performing.
But the ECB and their lap dogs like Root and Silverwood will come out and blame the counties and county cricket. They’re shameless.

When England lose, blame the County system.

When England win, praise the England set up.

Andy wrote:

Praying for Scarborough away. If the season is still going...

Yates and Malan pumping their averages here.

Anyone know what week Scarbados will be? Is it August Bank Holiday or one of the September weeks I'm guessing the latter

When I saw Notts, Essex, Durham and Worcestershire, I wasn’t particularly optimistic.
But they got more wins in these first 10 matches than in the previous 2 seasons combined. So that’s a massive step forward.
Hopefully they can get Bresnan and OHD fit by September. Briggs back too. Get Malan re-signed and back in this form.
And anything can happen in just 4 matches and some momentum.

Dobell's match report would suggest that we're more likely to see Vihari back than Malan.

Wouldn't be a bad shout. I know people scoff at his suggestion but he played a vital role in the win at Trent Bridge and by late August will be more in tune with English conditions and would be handy to have around on late summer spinning tracks like Taunton or Old Trafford

Vihari over Malan makes sense for a number of reasons. That he's presumably going to be in the UK for the India tour means he'll be better tuned to UK conditions. If Malan goes back to SAf I can't see him coming back and if he does he's back to square one. Keeping him here to not play for six weeks makes no sense. All this is only a small part of the picture though. Getting some seamers back fit and some form into our homegrown batsmen I think are bigger factors in succeeding or failing in the post season.