2014 county championship discussion thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

A place to discuss all the happening's of the 2014 county championship!

A bit of news Chris Jordan shall not play in Sussex's opener, been told to rest by the ECB

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

And Durham have signed Sangakkara for the first few games

[guildfordbat]

A place to discuss all the happening's of the 2014 county championship!

A bit of news Chris Jordan shall not play in Sussex's opener, been told to rest by the ECB

Fortunately for Surrey, Dernbach's been told by the ECB to rest as well!   

Mind you, more seriously, it's doubtful he would have made the starting XI anyway for Surrey's CC opener against Glamorgan. Tremlett is in the twelve man squad but not guaranteed to play - could boil down to the last spot being between him and Matt 'Clive' Dunn.

[Shelsey93]

A bit of sad news to start off with. The Leicestershire v Derbyshire game has been postponed until June after Derbys wicket-keeper Tom Poynton's father was killed in a car accident yesterday evening. Tom was in the car with him and is in hospital with broken bones and other non-life-threatening injuries.

On a brighter note the season starts tomorrow.

The four matches going ahead are:

Div 1:

Notts v Lancs
Sussex v Middx

Div 2:

Hants v Worcs
Surrey v Glam

DEC have previews and team news for each match here - http://deepextracover.com/category/match-previews/#.U0A8HvldWSo

The weather isn't looking great for the first two days but there should at least be some play with a better chance at Trent Bridge and The Oval than at Hove and the Rose Bowl.

[Sangakkara]

Looking forward to seeing what Sanga does at Durham. Nice addition! (Hopefully he's a World T20 champion by then too!)

Hoping Glamorgan can show up the Surrey Superstars. What's the story on Pietersen? Is he due to play?

I saw that Peter Siddle didn't get his visa approved in time for tomorrow.

Such anticipation around the start of this county season. Really looking forward to it kicking off.

[Shelsey93]

Looking forward to seeing what Sanga does at Durham. Nice addition! (Hopefully he's a World T20 champion by then too!)

Hoping Glamorgan can show up the Surrey Superstars. What's the story on Pietersen? Is he due to play?

I saw that Peter Siddle didn't get his visa approved in time for tomorrow.

Such anticipation around the start of this county season. Really looking forward to it kicking off.

Pietersen won't feature until some time after the IPL. He's contracted for T20s but is expected to play some County Championship. He is also involved in the CPL - it is believed that that will take precedence over the Championship and 50-over but not the T20.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Also looking forward to the new season.  This time last year I have a feeling I tipped Durham for relegation so I'm not making too many predictions.  Other than that Surrey will at least finish above Leics in Div 2.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Lancashire made a good start against Nottinghamshire, James Anderson amongst the wickets

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Middlesex struggling against Sussex.  81 - 7.  4 wickets for Lewis..  

[guildfordbat]

Middlesex struggling against Sussex.  81 - 7.  4 wickets for Lewis..  

Evening Corporal - this is the sort of weather for Lewis to be bowling in though. Do you remember he started well for Surrey in the opening weeks of the 2012 season before falling away when the sun came out and never really getting his place back?

[Shelsey93]

Tough batting conditions all round the country yesterday so Notts will have been pretty chuffed to get up to the score that they did. Despite being bowled out for 105 I don't think Middlesex are quite out of their game yet. Sussex are 86-3 overnight but with a longish tail they could yet be dismissed for under 200 and will have to bat last.

The forecasts are pretty atrocious today. The best chance is at Trent Bridge but even there the wash-out is probably the favourite.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Prior goes to a hundred for Sussex

[NickisBHAFC]

Form is temporary, class is permanent. Something the England selectors will never understand.

#JusticeForPrior

[guildfordbat]

Form is temporary, class is permanent. Something the England selectors will never understand.

#JusticeForPrior

Unfortunately, fitness is not permanent for any of us. Prior is currently unable to keep wicket due to problems with his achilles tendon and is playing solely as a batsman. That might be fine for Sussex (and such a shame it means Hamilton-Brown doesn't make the starting XI) but I'm sure the England selectors will want to see him behind the stumps before considering a recall.

[chrisss]

Form is temporary, class is permanent. Something the England selectors will never understand.

#JusticeForPrior

Unfortunately, fitness is not permanent for any of us. Prior is currently unable to keep wicket due to problems with his achilles tendon and is playing solely as a batsman. That might be fine for Sussex (and such a shame it means Hamilton-Brown doesn't make the starting XI) but I'm sure the England selectors will want to see him behind the stumps before considering a recall.

Judging from the past when Prior's been available, I'd think that Brown would have played and kept wicket even if Prior was fit to keep.

[guildfordbat]

Chrisss - quite possibly, yes.

The opening weeks of this CC season have been described as ''an audition for the Test side''. It's hard to see how Prior can pass the audition if his only covers half the part!

[NickisBHAFC]

Yeah Brown is a better keeper tbh.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Surrey crumbled this morning from 50 for 2 to 81 all out. There will be a result in that match.  Middlesex collapsing too - currently 103 - 6.  They will do very well to escape from that one.

Kerrigan digging in for Lancs, taking advantage of going in as a night watchman.

[guildfordbat]

Middlesex now almost gone, 113/8. All the wickets to the trio of 'Surrey rejects' (as Nick might say) of Magoffin, Anyon and Lewis.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Big win for Sussex as Guildford alluded to

Big collapse by Surrey has left them on the brink of defeat to Glamorgan

[Mat]

Looks like our first innings is going to be a reflection of the season to come, if Mitchell and Moeen don't score runs, we are going to be in trouble. Mitch is quite an under-rated player in my view, very solid at the top and does tend to go big when he gets a hundred, like today.

[Guest]

Form is temporary, class is permanent. Something the England selectors will never understand.

#JusticeForPrior

he was dropped 3 times during the innings..

[JDizzle]

Does anyone know if Jimmy Taylor is injured? He didn't play in the MCCU game and now he isn't playing in this one. It's just I can't find anything about it on the internet!

[Guest]

yeah he's got a side strain

[guildfordbat]

Hi JD - Notts played a pre-season t20 tournament in Barbados where Jimmy Taylor picked up a side strain. My understanding is that it's not too serious and he should be available again before long.

Good win today for Notts. They're a strong, well rounded team with Read embodying fire and nous.

[JDizzle]

Cheers, I assumed it wasn't too serious as I couldn't find a mention of it on the BBC/Notts website. He just tweeted he'll be back for next week hopefully too, good stuff.

Peter Siddle joining up soon too, they could be a threat.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I see Jonny Bairstow has got injured for six weeks, terrible timing with spots up for grabs in the test side

[NickisBHAFC]

Great start for Sussex.

Mind you, Middlesex at home is usually you're bread and butter game where you expect to win. 

Warwickshire away on Sunday, we have a terrible record at Edgbaston.

[guildfordbat]

Another round of matches began today.

Stand out honours at lunch belong to Sussex playing at Birmingham. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Warks have been skittled for 87, Trott top scoring with 37. 3 wickets each for Jordan, Magoffin and Lewis with Anyon snaffling the other (all ex-Surrey!   ). Certainly won't harm Jordan's chances of a Test call up - he took both the openers and Bell.

One possible concern for Sussex and England. Prior played Sussex's opening match purely as a batsman with an achilles problem preventing him keeping wicket. It has now kept him out of this game altogether. With Bairstow out with a broken figure for a few weeks, it looks as if the opportunity for the likes of Davies and Buttler might have increased.

[NickisBHAFC]

What an amazing start!!!!!

Chris Jordan wow! Don't think we ever thanked Surrey enough for him!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Finn has also had a good start to the season

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Fifties for Cook, Bell and Robson so far today, Morgan closing in on one too

Moeen and Sir Chris amongst the wickets

Good for England prospects

[TopoftheChops]

It's time to give adil rashid a chance, another 100 yesterday

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hundred for Robson now

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Teams which collapsed badly on the first day of this round are recovering somewhat - Essex against Derby and Warks against Sussex

[NickisBHAFC]

Ian Bell rescuing Warwickshire. 

Good to see Robson get 100, if he can get scores like that on a consistent basis he could be a good shout to open with Cook.

[jimbohammers]

Fifties for Cook, Bell and Robson so far today, Morgan closing in on one too

Moeen and Sir Chris amongst the wickets

Good for England prospects

Vince 100 too....

  

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Haha you never know jimbo many places up for grabs!

Good to see Morgan get some runs also, Dundee he rejected the ipl obviousky he fancies a shot at tests again

[skyeman]

Quite a difference for Essex, now 259/2  

[jimbohammers]

Olly   

[skyeman]

Warwickshire doing similar from the mediocrity of the first innings.

At least a good fight.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Warks strong lower order batting giving full support to Bell.  So far Warks have scored 240 - 2 since the fifth wicket fell at 147.

[NickisBHAFC]

Good day of cricket for some England hopefuls and regulars.

Eion Morgan, Sam Robson, Ian Bell, Gary Ballence, Aldi Rashid, Aliistar Cook, Ravi Bopara and James Vince all doing very well with the bat.

[guildfordbat]

Meanwhile, a couple of wickets for Notts' Luke Fletcher against Middlesex. I mention that as a totally contrived way of flagging his nickname which I learned today and loved - it's Norman Stanley!   If you didn't watch Porridge, don't waste yout time ....

[Guest]

Essex boys now on top!!! As we should have been from the start!! If we bat well early doors tomorrow, then you never know what can happen!!

[skyeman]

Fantastic to see Captain Cook on a hundred + no saving Essex.

  

[skyeman]

While a few million Indians watch the crazy stuff, without the Brits (and others)? The English team can be in great form for the start of the summer.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Meanwhile, a couple of wickets for Notts' Luke Fletcher against Middlesex. I mention that as a totally contrived way of flagging his nickname which I learned today and loved - it's Norman Stanley!   If you didn't watch Porridge, don't waste yout time ....

   

What a strange piece of knowledge Guildford haha

[skyeman]

Meanwhile, a couple of wickets for Notts' Luke Fletcher against Middlesex. I mention that as a totally contrived way of flagging his nickname which I learned today and loved - it's Norman Stanley!   If you didn't watch Porridge, don't waste yout time ....

As long as he does not get to bat with Godber, they should go on the straight and narrow  

[Shelsey93]

I guess it is time to update v2 on the first two days at Lord's. Here goes.

Yesterday was a very even day's cricket. At the time I felt Notts had edged it - following the 250+ puts you in the pound seat in April rule - but in retrospect the pitch may be playing better than I thought. Finn bowled with pace and caused significant problems for the Notts batsmen, particularly Michael Lumb who was in all sorts of trouble before eventually tamely pulling one to square leg. He wasn't perfect, and I believe he needs to be left to play county cricket this year, but he now has 11 wickets in two innings which is pretty good going! Taylor played nicely, and felt he was unjustly given out lbw for 62, but Middx were quite good at pulling things back whenever Notts looked to be getting away.

After Notts were finished off quickly early on, it looked to be the same old story from last week when Rogers and Malan went early on. However, Robson played as close to faultless an innings as you could hope for at this time of year and Morgan finally got a score in the Champo. Notts's bowling was a tad disappointing but not so bad that all credit should be taken away from the batsmen. Morgan did ride his luck a couple of times with an unnecessary scoop for 1 and a heave over the off-side which landed between two fielders. However, he managed his highest Champ score since 2009. Rossington went cheaply (he needs runs now or might miss out when Dexter is back after the birth of his first child) but Simpson accompanied Robson to the close to ensure that Middx are now only 30 behind.

At the end of the day I got quotes from Eoin Morgan - http://deepextracover.com/2014/04/14/morgans-decision-to-skip-ipl-beginning-to-be-justified/

----

Elsewhere there have been two topsy-turvy games at Edgbaston and Chelmsford that should reach exciting conclusions tomorrow. Despite being bowled out for double-figure scores yesterday morning Warwickshire and Essex both now stand a decent chance of winning their matches. Both matches have followed a spookily similar course with a double-digit first innings, followed by an underwhelming response and then a big third innings total led by a big hundred from a senior England batsman.

Apart from Worcs-Kent, which is evenly balanced, the other games have been high-scoring so far and look like being drawn at this stage.

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