County Championship 2021

May 6- 9 (11 am)
Group 1
Warwickshire v Worcestershire - Edgbaston
Nottinghamshire v Essex - Trent Bridge

Group 2
Leicestershire v Surrey - Grace Rd
Middlesex v Gloucestershire - Lords
Hampshire v Somerset - Ageas Bowl

Group 3
Yorkshire v Kent - Headingley
Lancashire v Glamorgan - Old Trafford
Northamptonshire v Sussex - Northampton

Group 1
Tm M W L D Pts
War 4 2 1 1 54
Dur 4 1 1 2 53
Wor 4 0 0 4 52
Not 4 1 1 2 51
Esx 4 1 1 2 49
Dby 4 0 1 3 40

Group 2
Tm M W L D Pts
Glo 4 3 0 1 74
Som 4 3 1 0 60
Ham 4 2 1 1 59
Sry 4 1 2 1 46
Mid 4 1 3 0 37
Lec 4 0 3 1 25

Group 3
Tm M W L D Pts
Lnc 4 3 0 1 79
Yks 4 3 0 1 73
Ssx 4 1 2 1 48
Glm 4 1 2 1 44
Nht 4 1 2 1 44
Knt 4 0 3 1 24

Thought it would be worth looking at the current tables, as not are teams have fixtures in the next few rounds, with Derbyshire & Durham missing out this week. Group 1 looks tight, with only 5 points separating the top 5 places, & Derbyshire are only 14 points off the top, so not out of it. Group 2 looks the strongest, & it will be good to see if Gloucestershire are worth their 14 point lead, when meet & underperforming Middlesex at Lords. Group 2 sees the Roses Rivals taking up the top 2 places, & have already opened up quite a gap over 3rd placed Sussex. Lancashire are worthy leaders, as they are winning games comfortably, unlike Yorkshire, who are having what seems to be a yearly issue of first innings runs. If they go onto to gain a place in Division 1, the lack on batting bonus points may come back to haunt them.

A final word on the century count & 5 wicket hauls from the previous round of matches, with the bowlers being generally holding the edge over the batsmen as you would expect early in the season. Teams the got on top stayed on top & the margins of victory were much greater on the whole.
It was mention at the start of the season that they expected more injuries to bowlers than at any other time. This could be a knock-on effect from the shortened Championship last year, with bowlers lacking match fitness. Measures were taken last season, with players coming out of lockdown & a short turnaround into 4 day cricket. With limits on 1st innings overs, to protect bowlers. Even with all the sports science & strength & conditioning coaches, it just proves that bowlers need to bowl to stay fit.

Let’s go Lancashire

Rain scuppered a lot of play in the Championship on Saturday.
Shame really as some intriguing contests looked likely to develop .

^^ Sky got lucky with their choice in covering the Middlesex Gloucestershire clash. Yesterdays play was delayed, but they got going after lunch, with Gloucestershire winning with a day to spare. Hampshire & Somerset managed only 9.3 overs at the Ageas Bowl.

(04-05-2021 18:36 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  May 6- 9 (11 am)
Group 1
Warwickshire v Worcestershire - Edgbaston
Worcestershire won the toss & elected to field
Warwickshire 343 & 70-3
Worcestershire 364-8 dec
Match Drawn

Nottinghamshire v Essex - Trent Bridge
Notts won the toss & elected to field
Essex 99 & 194
Nottinghamshire 323
Nottinghamshire beat Essex by an innings & 30 runs

Group 2
Leicestershire v Surrey - Grace Rd
Leicestershire won the toss & elected to bat
Leicestershire 496
Surrey 324
Match Drawn

Middlesex v Gloucestershire - Lords
Gloucestershire won the toss & elected to field
Middlesex 210 & 152
Gloucestershire 273 & 93-3
Gloucestershire beat Middlesex by 7 wickets

Hampshire v Somerset - Ageas Bowl
Somerset won the toss & elected to field
Hampshire 79 & 258
Somerset 336 & 2-0
Somerset beat Hampshire by 10 wickets


Group 3
Yorkshire v Kent - Headingley
Yorkshire won the toss & elected to field
Kent 305
Yorkshire 321
Match Drawn

Lancashire v Glamorgan - Old Trafford
Glamorgan won the toss & elected to bat
Glamorgan 344
Lancashire 309-9 dec
Match Drawn

Northamptonshire v Sussex - Northampton
Northamptonshire won the toss & elected to field
Sussex 106 & 215
Northamptonshire 441-9 dec
Northamptonshire beat Sussex by an innings & 120 runs

(09-05-2021 07:52 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ^^ Sky got lucky with their choice in covering the Middlesex Gloucestershire clash. Yesterdays play was delayed, but they got going after lunch, with Gloucestershire winning with a day to spare. Hampshire & Somerset managed only 9.3 overs at the Ageas Bowl.

They were merely schedule filling in the absence of the IPL. Do not give them too much credit! Couldn't be bothered to use their own resources, and relied on Middlesex stream feed. Doubtless they will say that they had no time to do anything different!

I may be on my own here, but I hope this 3X6 team league format, is due only to the prevailing circumstances, and Is not a glimpse into the future.

(09-05-2021 19:39 )hornball Wrote:  

(09-05-2021 07:52 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ^^ Sky got lucky with their choice in covering the Middlesex Gloucestershire clash. Yesterdays play was delayed, but they got going after lunch, with Gloucestershire winning with a day to spare. Hampshire & Somerset managed only 9.3 overs at the Ageas Bowl.

They were merely schedule filling in the absence of the IPL. Do not give them too much credit! Couldn't be bothered to use their own resources, and relied on Middlesex stream feed. Doubtless they will say that they had no time to do anything different!

I may be on my own here, but I hope this 3X6 team league format, is due only to the prevailing circumstances, and Is not a glimpse into the future.

I genuinely believe that they wanted to show Gloucestershire., who would have been a Div 1 team last year, only for a shorten regional comp to take place. They've been a surprise form team to many & Bracey is pushing for England selection.
Maybe the fact that Lords ws the venue, it was an easy choice, & a chance to get an early look at the new Compton & Edrich stands.

The jury is out on this format, let's see how it plays out after the group stages & we move to the 3 division stage. Whatever happens, next year is back to the 2 division format, & it will be interesting to compare the pros & cons then.

Round 5
Centuries
Zaib 135
M Stoneman 119
S Mullaney 117
S Evans 112
H Swindells 103
R Yates 104
M Burgess 101
M Harris 101

5 Wickets
S Snater 7-98
D Payne 6-56 & 5-31
L Fletcher 6-24
A Virdi 6-171
G Berg 5-18
B Sanderson 5-28 & 5-71
J Davey 5-30
C Wright 5-60
C Overton 5-66