County Championship Division 1 Thread 2016

[Arthur Crabtree]

Warks look a bit too good to go down. That's a good team out there, even without the Mighty Woakes.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Finn can more than hold a bat, and Rayner is an all rounder. Hard work this morning.

[hopeforthebest]

As Hants have a big 400 on the board and Durham two down, Warwickshire have one foot in the grave, or at least in Division 2 of the CC.

[budgetmeansbudget]

As Hants have a big 400 on the board and Durham two down, Warwickshire have one foot in the grave, or at least in Division 2 of the CC.

Lancs 79/5, so I would suggest you currently have the upper hand in your game, with a result almost a certainty.

[hopeforthebest]

As Hants have a big 400 on the board and Durham two down, Warwickshire have one foot in the grave, or at least in Division 2 of the CC.

Lancs 79/5, so I would suggest you currently have the upper hand in your game, with a result almost a certainty.

Warwickshire are even worse batting in the second innings than in the first and they seem to buckle under pressure this year.

[sussexpob]

If Somerset win, and Yorkshire win... Somerset win the title? Or can Yorkshire catch up on bonus points?

Id like to see anyone but Yorkshire win, bit of a change would be nice.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Somerset have a point fewer than Yorks, but will triumph on level points as Yorks have lost a game more. So if they both win, it's down to bonus points.

Opener gone for Yorks.

No need for alarm. Tim is batting at five...

[Arthur Crabtree]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/coun ... -one/table

[Durhamfootman]

I'm pinning my hopes on the Middle

I don't want to see Yorks win 3 in a row, because Durham didn't manage it, and I definitely don't want Somerset to win it given the way they've doctored their pitches and reduced the integrity the county championship down to a farcical new low

[Durhamfootman]

I thought Lancs winning the CC on dreadful pitches at outgrounds was as low as things could get, but it seems that Somerset have managed to take it lower

Next year we could have 8 counties all producing terrible pitches, have all matches finishing early on day 3, and the ECB will probably think that this is an excellent solution to the problem of player burn-out

[Arthur Crabtree]

Obviously I want Yorks to win, but I don't mind Middx doing it, as they've gone unbeaten so far, done well when under pressure and have to play on a pretty moribund strip. And Yorks haven't been as good this season as previously. Somerset and Middx have been fortunate in having teams of good players, few of whom have caught the attention of the England selectors. Finn has been called up in only one format (though he missed some with injury).

I'm not sure I mind Somerset preparing spinning pitches, given the alternate may have been the usual flat Taunton tracks. I think it's good for the CC teams to be tested by different pitches, and in this case, an examination of their spinners, and batting v spin. It makes the competition more interesting. I might be missing something though.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ballance goes for zero! Bloody hell. No Jake Lehmann to fall back on. Leaning more or less unselectable. For right or wrong, this is why Yorks were desperate to play Bairstow.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Three ducks in the top four. Gale next.

[Alviro Patterson]

Three ducks in the top four. Gale next.

That top 4 wants splitting, too many left-handers for my liking allowing Roland-Jones to get in his groove. Middlesex had that mix of left-right-left-right in their top order, making it difficult for Yorkshire's bowlers to settle particularly Willey.

[hopeforthebest]

On the face of it Warwickshire having an 60+ lead starting their second inning should seem significant but this Warks batting is confidence free in the way coffee can be caffeine free.