If we hadn't made a hash of the Hampshire game, we would be looking at a few bonus points and a washout for the title v Somerset. I really hope the men from Taunton do not suddenly find some form.

GerryShedd wrote:

Mikkyk wrote:

Not sure I've ever seen a batsman refuse to walk after edging to first slip like Thompson just did!

Stuart Broad did it in a Test v Australia - but I agree that it's slightly bizarre. In the case of Broad, the Australians were infuriated because the umpire gave it not out and they had no reviews left.

Also, Broad edged it to slip via Haddin's gloves so to the umpire, it looked like it had gone straight from bowler to wicketkeeper to slip and that he didn't think Broad had touched it. A big moan if you consider whole tours where Australia's umpires just blatantly cheated England in Australia even in tours where England won.

Less amused at seeing one of our 'old Boys' doing so well in the last 2 games. When he and Chris Wright left us on the same day, I really did pine for that golden Summer of 2012 when we were so good.

The latest table is if we beat Yorkshire tomorrow
Hamp 58.5
Warw 55
Lancs 54.5
Notts 52
Yorks 44.5
Soms 26.5

We are favourites as I think Bess is 2 places higher than he should be and I think the further 174 is too much for them although Ballance is the key wicket. If we win then we will be wondering how we let the game escape us v Hampshire and would almost certainly be eyeing up the title. There are other certain results in other games tomorrow/Wednesday so it could be a 4-way fight during the last round of matches.

I agree, GD is a writer who speaks about the game as a fan first and his sticking up for the CC, cricket at weekends and the ridiculous fixture lists, means that I know we have people on our side rather then the Vaughan's and Tuffnel's of this world who just care about clever soundbites and only the really showpiece events. He will have no problem getting more writing opportunities along with his great column in 'The Cricketer'.

Oops, spoke too soon.

Time for a Woakes special or this could be a very short game. Interesting to see what we might have done on winning the toss.

Cannot see any reason why we shouldn't have Woakes back. After all, he would have been in the Test team now so there appears to be no difference apart from interfering ECB idiots who might say he needs resting after barely playing all season. It would not be a shock to see him not in the team.

I would be pretty ** off if I had a ticket and had taken time off work. It's not just the tickets that need to be refunded, but you can bet all the caterers will have lost money and the food itself will not keep so someone out there needs to get the calculator out. But never mind eh! The IPL will still go ahead with all it's precious playboy millionaires, able to play their pyjama cricket. We had 2 touring sides here last season and it all went fairly well with just the odd hiccup when the pandemic was at it's worst. Sorry Virat mate you aren't going to chalk this down as a win. Cannot believe for one minute that they couldn't have found 11 players.

Good to see new members joining, welcome.

Infuriating to see Notts at the top. last time we had a 'proper' county season in 2019, Notts were relegated with a terrible record of played 14, lost 10 and drawn 4. I wonder how Northants and Gloucester are feeling after they were promoted in 2019.

Massive disappointment but if you fail to 'Clean-up' when the opposition is 7 down, then you will always make it difficult for yourself. We didn't make the most of getting them out for 89 and perhaps were looking for 'Demons' in the pitch and not for the first time, we make an average Hampshire look good.

Malc wrote:

Dear me Paul, cheer up a bit.

We could still win this game - I think we will. We qualified for the top group of the CC. Watching some of the young lads come through has been so exciting. Yes, the T20 QF was disappointing, but we did still re@ch the knockout stage. The injuries to key players has been devastating at times. The RLC was a brilliant tournament with some ‘development’ players.

You are right and typing now (20.33pm as we sit 136-2) you could see a win. Unfortunately I have seen all my cricket for this year as work and the good old ECB not wanting CC cricket at weekends means that Sunday was it for me as far as watching goes but yes I would gladly share a cuppa/banana with you at any time. Yes it might not be all bad but I suppose I want it all, a consistent Test team and a successful County side. Cheer on the team in my absence. Paul

Cheer up, pal. Come and sit in block 16/17 today and I’ll share a banana and a cuppa with you 👍.

PS There’s more to the departure of KB to Hampshire than you’ve suggested.

It is still a source of wonder as to why we let him go in the first place. The fact that during his last match (The Div 2 title decider, Trott's last game) he still wasn't sure at lunch, if he would still be staying. No wonder he looks like a man on a mission. It looked a poor decision then and still does. We seem to come up with some 'Left field' choices on overseas players and I often think, "If they are not Test standard, then why bother". Don't think we will get a 4th innings score to win, it already looks 30 too many. I am glad in a way that it (The season) is coming to an end, what looks like 2 Test series defeats, a poor T20 Q.F, lack of a decent fixture list (Same as usual) a stupid unwanted competition, I am almost glad it's whimpering out with the hope of better seasons to come.

A strange day and I felt they bowled better than us. Hampshire gave too many wickets away with bad shots whereas I felt Abbas in particular was superb and gave us nothing. I would rather be in their position now but perhaps the pitch isn't as bad as the scores suggest and we might see more runs tomorrow.

'Tiger' Smith used to stand up to Foster so I am not sure just how 'Fast' he would have been even though Smith was a Test wicket-keeper. The book on Foster by Robert Brooke, 'And The Fields Were Sudden Bare' is an excellent read and a great insight into how used and abused cricketers were before WW1.

A very good day for us and I did think that once we were 2 down we might capitulate but well done to the Benj/Hain partnership. Onwards and upwards.

Of course, I was forgetting that Buttler is not playing.

Typical, he is ready - but not for Warwickshire. He would have been a prime swap for Curran who has no real form and is not that good anyway. Trouble is though, Wood is fit and they might want a bit of pace. I doubt they will drop any bowlers apart from Curran so they won't have both Wood and Woakes in the side.

It just goes to show how important it is to start your innings with a decent scoring rate and not lose early wickets. It may sound obvious but we often get found out by relying on Hain too much because the first 3 have failed. Never felt we ever looked that convincing in this competition and in the end we just came up short as is often the case in this format.