County Championship Division 1 Thread 2016

[hopeforthebest]

Is this the normal tea interval, I thought 3/10 was tea. If they are taking tea early that gives Yorks two extra overs. Are the umpires colluding in this arrangement.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Middlesex still batting?
:?
Lyth bowling? Lees four overs 2-51?
:panic
This is the kind of farcical situation which drives me around the bend with county cricket!
:angry
Finally, a declaration...359-6. It's tea, and this nonsensical session has finally ended.

Declaration bowling! I hoped we'd seen the last of that. I'm rooting for Somerset now.

[sussexpob]

Basically a run a ball required.... declaration I think has given Yorkshire as good a chance they good have hoped at other times in the day.

I have it 50 somerset, 35 Middlesex, 15 Yorkshire.

[sussexpob]

Declaration bowling! I hoped we'd seen the last of that. I'm rooting for Somerset now.

There was a clear intervention from Gale at one point, then Lees and Lyth came on bowling lollipops, then Middlesex decared far earlier than thought.

I reckon Gale must have said "we will give you the runs, but you need to give us some overs".... it seems unfair to Somerset if that is true, but then again, a deal like that was always likely with a title at stake between the teams playing.

[hopeforthebest]

If Hants and Durham had put their heads together in this way how would it look if Lancashire ended up in Div 2 because of it. Historically this used to happen but that was before two divisions were created. Maybe even when relegation is not involved this practice should be outlawed.

[Aidan11]

This should be a doddle for Yorkshire.


Generous declaration IMO.

[sussexpob]

It is generous to Yorkshire, but I guess you could also say Middlesex have overs now.

But yes, agreed. When a title comes down to an arrangement between teams, it leaves a sour taste. If I supported Somerset I would be very upset.

In fact, you have to think that Yorkshire make it or get bowled out.... so this arrangement has totally screwed Somerset. The likelyhood this ends a draw now is pretty remote.

[Aidan11]

I'm literally shaking with rage.

This is a walk in the park for Yorkshire. The Middle should have set a stiffer target. 6 an over in a session and a bit is a piece of piss.

[budgetmeansbudget]

I think if Yorkshire start to struggle and wickets are being lost regularly they probably owe it to Somerset to see out a draw instead of throwing the game away.

But then Middx could say we gave you a decent target so you should play to the death.

A tricky one morally wise. Let's face it contrived matches have been the norm for a long time.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Je Suis Somerset.

As someone posted in the Guardian.

Middx could have set 300 by now just batting with a bit of enterprise and ambition.

[hopeforthebest]

In view of the concern in cricket about match fixing and illegal actions affecting the result of a game surely contrived results should not be allowed. We accept that there's nothing illegal going on here but it opens up possibilities for such to happen.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I hope Yorks come out and park the bus for two hours, just as a bit of a sarcastic snub at the hosts' tactics, the declaration bowling being a wind up...

[Aidan11]

At least it will be a happy ending for Jason Gillespie.

[sussexpob]

In view of the concern in cricket about match fixing and illegal actions affecting the result of a game surely contrived results should not be allowed. We accept that there's nothing illegal going on here but it opens up possibilities for such to happen.

It does make a mockery of fixing laws and regulations....

Mo Amir bowls two no balls and gets a year in prison and a 5 year sports ban.....

Yorkshire and Middlesex shake on producing a result that changes the course of a Championship season, and .....

[Aidan11]

I hope questions are asked after this.