Specsavers Championship, Thursday, September 14, 2017

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3rd & 7 37yd

Dave if that chip on your shoulder gets any bigger
you can open your own shop

by Lawrence Payne via email 9/14/2017 9:41:34 AM
nah, can't see it and there haven't been any noises about getting rid of 2 up 2 down

by Joe Williams 9/14/2017 9:41:20 AM
Even then 2 and 2 would be better though.

by StaggerBreaths 9/14/2017 9:40:57 AM
One up one down would be fine... for three divisions of seven.

by StaggerBreaths 9/14/2017 9:40:24 AM
Its a tough world where a 1/4 of the teams go down every year but div 2 would be awful if there is only one promoted an 10 teams. Although it would bring back to golden age of English spin when there were 13 dead games a summer and every team had two decent spinners and somehow Giles was in the England team...

by nickcricket 9/14/2017 9:40:23 AM
I can see the 'bigger' counties lobbying to make it one up and one down in the next couple of years to form a 'closed shop' like the have in Rugby Union.

by Dave Knibb 9/14/2017 9:38:12 AM
Surrey going with double spin

by nickcricket 9/14/2017 9:36:00 AM
George Dobell at Warwickshire (201 and 9-1) v Essex (369 for 9 dec)

Morning from Edgbaston where there is an excellent chance of Essex securing the title today. And of Warwickshire confirming a relegation that has seemed inevitable since April. Despite overnight rain, play has started on time and Jamie Porter has struck already. Dominic Sibley, lured into a drive, was beaten by a bit of swing, and edged to slip.

by George.Dobell 9/14/2017 9:34:22 AM
Alan Gardner reports on Yorkshire's attempts to shore up their Division One status at The Oval

by Alan Gardner edited by David Hopps 9/14/2017 9:33:59 AM
Northants on for an Innings win here

by nickcricket 9/14/2017 9:33:33 AM
WICKET: Glamorgan 63/2 (15.5 ov, trail by 40 - 2nd inns) v Northants
JR Murphy lbw b Kleinveldt 15 (42) Partnership: 42 (12.2 ov)
RK Kleinveldt 3.5-0-15-1 JA Rudolph 26* (37)

by ESPNcricinfo Live 9/14/2017 9:32:56 AM
All very good points.

by Dave Knibb 9/14/2017 9:32:24 AM
WICKET: Warwickshire 9/1 (2.4 ov, trail by 159 - 2nd inns) v Essex
DP Sibley c Chopra b Porter 3 (10) Partnership: 9 (2.4 ov)
JA Porter 1.4-0-8-1 SR Hain 6* (6)

by ESPNcricinfo Live 9/14/2017 9:31:43 AM
@DaveKnibb - partly that yes. Suspect it is also Div 2 plays on more result pitches and the approach is often somewhat more shit-or-bust to use a professional phrase

by David Hopps 9/14/2017 9:31:34 AM
UPDATE: Match start delayed (Play due to start at 11am), Lancashire 28/0 (12 ov, trail by 174 - 2nd inns) v Somerset

by ESPNcricinfo Live 9/14/2017 9:31:29 AM
Possibly Dave, there's also for me that in D1 there is the Oval and Lords to contend with, don't get many results there.

by Joe Williams 9/14/2017 9:31:04 AM
@DaveKnibb Lumb was saying he feels the one of the differences in the divisions is that div1 teams, fight a bit harder when they are behind which makes sense in a comp where 25% go down. In div 2 once promotion looks unlikely there is little to fight for which has two effects losing doesn't have the same consequences so teams can give up and also on the reverse why not take a risk and try and win

by nickcricket 9/14/2017 9:31:02 AM
Not better than the modern Bradman?

by nickcricket 9/14/2017 9:27:57 AM
I noticed that in Div 1 there have been 21 draws from 44 games, but only 18 draws from 57 games in Div 2. Any thoughts as to why? Could it be that the Div 1 teams are of a closer standard to each other?

by Dave Knibb 9/14/2017 9:27:30 AM
Middlesex should sign Shaun Marsh as an overseas, he'd fit right in at uxbridge

by NemoUKS 9/14/2017 9:27:11 AM
Working from home today. I wonder if i'll get any done?

by Dave Knibb 9/14/2017 9:22:53 AM
A scene-setter for the third day of Somerset's game against Lancashire at Taunton.

by Paul Edwards 9/14/2017 9:21:16 AM
UPDATE: Match start delayed (Start delayed due to a wet outfield), Lancashire 28/0 (12 ov, trail by 174 - 2nd inns) v Somerset

by ESPNcricinfo Live 9/14/2017 9:20:04 AM
yeah, had a look myself, looks like after those first few matches Middx have really struggled to make any kind of 1st innings score, there look to have also been a few draws where Middx were in the 'worse' position and the win vs Warks was only by 1 wicket too, so it could have been a hell of a lot worse

by Joe Williams 9/14/2017 9:16:43 AM
Looking at the stats., the first FOUR matches were all drawn, including one case of having Essex 8 down. Dramatic batting failures vs. Lancs., Essex, and Warwickshire of all sides (that was the game where Gubbins injured himself and otherwise looked like a fairly second-string side). Only two wins, Yorks. (innings) and the first Warwickshire game. So quite simply, too many draws early-doors. The Lord's pitch strikes again!

by StaggerBreaths 9/14/2017 9:12:14 AM
I guess a live blog is prob beneath your standard Middx fan....they must get their butlers to log on occasionally tho......lolz...

It does seem like this has been coming all season for us and Somerset, but Middx being down there has just kind of happened

by Joe Williams 9/14/2017 9:09:45 AM
(Sometimes I like to wear my guts on top of my head. They're warm.)

by StaggerBreaths 9/14/2017 9:08:06 AM
Not as many Middlesex fans Joe, no sign of Yaacov and I've reasigned my moaning to Durham. The middle-order batting has always been a concern, relying too often on all-rounders like Simpson and Franklin to pull them out of holes (I've always said Middlesex was like a microcosm of the English side). No Gubbins, less TRJ who was a standout performer, Compton's form not top, Eskinazi spent all his runs at the beginning of the season and now can't buy one, Rayner not been the force he was... This is my gut feeling off the top of my head, I'll look at the individual matches and see what they say.

by StaggerBreaths 9/14/2017 9:07:37 AM
YES! big ass afternoon meeting been rescheduled to next week so i'm here all day.....also oooohhhh not good for Middx this chances of bonus points seeping away and Lancs up next.....since the 2 tier system has a team won the CCC then been relegated the next season?
No one will have imagined that last years top 3 would be in 3 of the bottom 4 positions this season, with Somerset and Yorks shortfalls have been blindingly obvious - an inability to hold a bat at the right end....SB, what is it in your view that has impacted middx this year? There doesn't seem to have been as much moaning about performances as there have been from yorks and somerset fans

by Joe Williams 9/14/2017 9:03:28 AM
UPDATE: Match start delayed (No play before Lunch, wet outfield), Middlesex 76/3 (30.1 ov) v Hampshire

by ESPNcricinfo Live 9/14/2017 8:41:18 AM
Dock Middlesex points IMO

by Will Colwell 9/14/2017 8:40:07 AM
For F-Uxbridge sake.

by StaggerBreaths 9/14/2017 8:38:05 AM
Another stonking day of the greatest competition in the world awaits

by Will Colwell 9/14/2017 8:31:57 AM
Sangakkara inflicts more pain on Yorkshire, but openers respond in kind
Alan Gardner: A century stand from Yorkshire's newly minted opening partnership began the long climb in pursuit of Surrey's first-innings 592

READ all our other county reports at http://espncricinfo.com

by David Hopps 9/14/2017 8:31:21 AM
by David Hopps 9/14/2017 8:30:13 AM
Taylor ends Nottinghamshire contract for family reasons
David Hopps: Brendan Taylor has been allowed to return to his native Zimbabwe with Nottinghamshire's promotion back to Division One of the Specsavers Championship still in the balance

by David Hopps 9/14/2017 8:10:03 AM