County Championship 2021

Going into the final round of matches, 4 teams had a realistic chance of becoming the County Champions. Hampshire led Division 1, with Nottinghamshire in 4th place only 6.5 points behind them. After 3 days, Lancashire, now top the table, as they beat Hampshire, which leaves Warwickshire needing to beat Somerset today. Somerset have a target of 273, & are currently 91-7.

Kent are the Division 3 Champions, after chasing a target of 373 against Middlesex. A win for either side would decide the title.

Despite the drama Booms and I dont know if you agree with me, but all things being equal post restrictions, this can not be the format for the CC going forward!! Kent are Div 3 champs - would they seriously figure in the shake up in a two div structure??

If there is to be a 3 div structure - or indeed 4 - then the minor counties should make up the additional competitors?? Warks surely home and hosed now at Edgbaston now

Warwickshire, are Champions after bowling Somerset out for 154 & a 118 run victory. Lancashire are runners up, 3.5 points behind, & just half a point ahead of 3rd placed Nottinghamshire.
Warwickshire & Lancashire will now contend for the Bob Willis Trophy at Lords on Tuesday 28th September, over 5 days.

(24-09-2021 14:19 )hornball Wrote:  Despite the drama Booms and I dont know if you agree with me, but all things being equal post restrictions, this can not be the format for the CC going forward!! Kent are Div 3 champs - would they seriously figure in the shake up in a two div structure??

If there is to be a 3 div structure - or indeed 4 - then the minor counties should make up the additional competitors??

I suspect that we will see a return to the 2 Division structure, if not next season, then the season after.
I was sceptical about the conference system when it was first mooted some years ago. But there are aspects of it that I like. The points system could do with some tweaking, in regard to the carry over from Group to Division stages.
It does appear that there have been fewer dead matches at the back end of the season. With four teams in the hunt for the Championship, & another trying to make in to the Bob Willis Trophy Cup match.
Kent were a poor side, in the group stages, going winless, Yet tuned things around to win all 4 games to take the division 3 title. This would not have been possible in a 2 Division structure.
Gloucestershire are a victim of the conference system. They narrowly missed out on a Div 1 place & have won the most matches across all the Groups & Divisions combined, with 8 wins.
Under the 2 Division format Gloucestershire were a county that but a heavy emphasis on white ball cricket, as many of the smaller Counties tend to do. It's been great to see that these sides can compete in the longer format.
I am a fan of the 18 Counties, & the Conference is ome way of protecting them all.

Looks like Warks are gonna finish the job on Lancs

(30-09-2021 20:18 )Doddle Wrote:  Looks like Warks are gonna finish the job on Lancs

It's a done deal Doddle!! Lancs have suffered a hang over from their efforts in the final group match which, it could be said, they over celebrated. Tough to get up for effectively a post season match (which doesnt need repeating) I do think though that their 2nd Inns showed the extent to which the 'conditions' led argument for their first Inns collapse, was oversold

All over Warwickshire win by innings and 199 runs in 70minutes this morning.
Warwickshire 518 Lancashire 78 & 241.

This comp seems a waste of time. Warks won the title so I can't see the point of it.

The ground was empty, and Lancs showed up with the 2nd team.

Good to see 2 relatively young sides contest this cup. Although in the case of Warwickshire, not that many home-grown players. This was a bit meaningless & Bob Willis deserved something more fitting. In a shortened season last year, it was to decide the Champions, but this time it just had the feeling of being tagged-on. Traditionally the top 2 sides have played, generally overseas, as the opening fixture of the new season, I would expect that, this will happen next season or the year after, when the return to 2 divisions is expected.