County Championship Division 1 Thread 2016

[hopeforthebest]

All the talk of Ian Bell could return to England duty is I hope premature. As far as I'me aware there's no one in the squad worthy of a first team batting place to replace him and with Sam Hain struggling the team would be greatly weakened. One must also wonder if the form shown by Chopra and Trott is in part due to the confidence Bell's presence in the team gives them.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Looks like a squad will be announced next week. James Vine seems to be getting talked into a place.

A couple of contestable comments by Vic Marks in the Guardian.

The modern way is to back the man long identified as possessing the attributes of an international cricketer rather than the man in form. In the 21st century England’s management are not so likely to be swayed by the hundred made last week in county cricket as the fine impression made by some youngster on an A tour or at some winter training camp in Dubai or Potchefstroom.

Isn't that exactly what England weren't suggesting when Cook and Bayliss suggested that Hales, Ballance and Taylor would have to make early season runs to keep his place.

The likelihood is that he will retain his place, but those two innings of such contrasting tempos hint at an important reservation. There is no cast-iron evidence that Hales knows how he plays best in the longest form of the game. At Test level the best players generally bat the same way in every innings without bending too much to the situation; they know exactly how they will score their runs and how aggressive they will be. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not, but the method employed by Cook or Joe Root, Kane Williamson or Virat Kohli never really changes.

Isn't that exactly what the press exaustingly criticised KP for, playing the same way? Even though, really, he didn't.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Lovely day for the round of championship matches.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yorkshire unchanged. Surrey win the toss and bat.

[hopeforthebest]

Lovely day for the round of championship matches.

Most away teams have chosen the toss and winners have chosen to bat.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Another wicket before lunch would make it a good morning for the champions.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Lovely day for the round of championship matches.

Most away teams have chosen the toss and winners have chosen to bat.

And most are making a decent fist of it, all except Hants!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yorkshire fighting back against Surrey, with two quick wickets from Brooks and Plunkett. Sangakkara out.

[westoelad]

Ansari not in the Surrey XI.

[ianp1970]

Ansari not in the Surrey XI.

Injured v Durham, I think?

[captaincolly]

Ansari not in the Surrey XI.

Injured v Durham, I think?

He was but Surrey were hopeful he'd be fit for the Yorkshire game. The injury was diagnosed as bruising rather than anything more serious. Either he's just taking slightly longer to recover or the injury is more serious than first thought.

[westoelad]

Ansari not in the Surrey XI.

Injured v Durham, I think?

He was but Surrey were hopeful he'd be fit for the Yorkshire game. The injury was diagnosed as bruising rather than anything more serious. Either he's just taking slightly longer to recover or the injury is more serious than first thought.

It's barely five days now since he sustained the bruising so it would be foolish to rush him back. Thankfully it wasn't the opening of the old wound which was my initial concern.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Surrey out for 330. A good day's work for Yorkshire. All the seamers chipping in.

Wonder why Bell hasn't come in at three for Warks.

[captaincolly]

Surrey out for 330. A good day's work for Yorkshire. All the seamers chipping in.

Wonder why Bell hasn't come in at three for Warks.

He was off the field this afternoon - a hamstring twinge apparently.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Cheers.