County Championship 2023

[Durhamfootman]

There's a couple of things in the Essex Surrey game which is catching my eye

Cam Steel is in the Surrey squad as a back up to Will Jacks, but in this match both are playing, which might be a nod to his early season ton in terrible conditions, which pretty much stopped Surrey from making the worst possible start to the season, but equally that opportunity has presented itself by having Foakes bat at 4, rather than 6 or 7

So I'm wondering why Foakes is batting at 4. As sure as eggs is eggs, it won't be to get Steel into the side. Has to be the Bairstow factor, I think. YJB has kept for seconds and now in the CC. Harmy reckons it isn't because England are asking him to keep wicket, but because YJB is telling England that he doesn't want to open. Foakes might be trying to let England know that he is a front line batter as well as a good keeper and the solution to fitting YJB into the ashes side doesn't necessarily mean that Foakes has to drop out of it

[Durhamfootman]

I'm not a huge fan of the nightwatchman, even if it does get re-titled nighthawk, unless you genuinely have a lower order player who can bat and could come out the next day and score 50, so it seems to me that Yorkshire have sacrificed 2 wickets just to try and protect YJB from having to bat in the last couple of overs in the day. They failed to do that, they lost 2 wickets in the process and he survived anyway. Yorks could have ended the day 62-3, but instead they ended it 62-5 trying to help YJB prepare for the ashes

maybe, as a club they know what's coming and have stopped caring about this year

[Arthur Crabtree]

One of Glamorgan's Aussies slicing open the Yorkshire batting.

[sussexpob]

Going to need the Pujara-Smith dreamteam to fire instantly..... Sussex have turned 40/5 into 270 with the ball, and have wobbled this morning with the bat. Need one of these two to make a big score now

[Durhamfootman]

they're doing their best for you, SP. 28 runs added in 10 overs

[Durhamfootman]

Notts are now 7 down, although Ando remains wicketless. Hameed accounts for almost half of Notts runs, unbeaten on 67 on a card that reads, 67, 5, 2, 9, 4, 10, 27, 7, 0 not out

[Durhamfootman]

Yorks are finally underway..... time for the England batters roadshow

[Durhamfootman]

Hants/Warks can't get on

Essex/Surrey and Derby/Leics can't stay on

[Arthur Crabtree]

Can't see Bairstow taking his time.

[Durhamfootman]

he might have to. I think at this stage in his comeback runs volume will mean more than strike rate

[Durhamfootman]

The Pujara/Smith axis is approaching its 50 partnership

[Durhamfootman]

Hants are on and Abbott has broken Warks opening partnership immediately

[sussexpob]

Smith goes for 30.

[Durhamfootman]

Neser takes Malan followed by Hill and Bess for a hat trick

YJB clinging on, 13 not out

[Durhamfootman]

clean bowled Hill and Bess too, so he must have built up a head of steam