2014 county championship discussion thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

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

[msp83]

All the more reason to play with a proper spinner. So the sensible choice is between Panesar and Kerigan.

[guildfordbat]

All the more reason to play with a proper spinner. So the sensible choice is between Panesar and Kerigan.

Msp - I definitely agree with your general point about playing ''a proper spinner''. I'm just not convinced it boils down to a choice solely between Panesar and Kerrigan. If it does, I'm uncomfortable as I have concerns about both.

That's largely why I was tending towards Tredwell - he wouldn't have set the Test scene alight but I was thinking he could use his nous and experience to bowl 20 overs for 50 runs and maybe pick up 1 or 2 wickets in the process. That would also have allowed a challenger a bit more time to find his feet and come through. I fully accept though that he's out of the equation if he's out of the Kent side.

All I would say for sure is that we don't need to rush to a decision now ... let's see how the next month of the CC season plays out.

[alfie]

I am fine with "playing a proper spinner" as long as he actually does something that adds value to the team ; ie takes serious wickets or does a significantly better job as a holding bowler than the part time alternatives. But if all he is going to do is bowl more overs at the expense of a seamer , and has no impact with the bat , then I'd sooner go with a batting all rounder of sorts , especially in view of the arguably fragile batting lineup.
Of course , this depends on what one thinks the various contenders are likely to do if given the chance...and that is something on which we probably wouldn't all agree. And which we won't know until it happens.
Guess my point here is we shouldn't feel forced into playing a "proper spinner" for the sake of it. If nobody looks up to it , then go with other players who can fill at least one role adequately and see how it works in practice. As Shelsey says , pitch conditions are a factor. But I am reminded of great West Indian teams who saw no need for a spinner at a time when they didn't really have one handy anyway ; and indeed Indian teams who had no respectable seamers and just went ahead and filled up with a variety of spinners : playing to your strengths I think they call it.
Not wanting to be dogmatic about this : who knows , Kerrigan (or
Panesar) may start dismantling teams over the next few weeks ...but
in the absence of any strong evidence to the contrary I am happy to go into the Sri Lanka Tests with a battery of seamers and a long batting lineup. Might be safer...though the over rate could be an issue...

[skyeman]

Durham for once failed to finish the job off last week aginst Northants, but can they seal the deal against Somerset in the final session after the total washout on day three?

A victory for Durham or the draw for Somerset are the only possible outcomes for the final session.

[LondonTiger]

Pleased to see Yorkshire record their first win of the season. Worrying signs for Northants already though.

Interesting to see who is left out when, probabbly, Root and Bresnan return to face Middlesex.

[NickisBHAFC]

All the more reason to play with a proper spinner. So the sensible choice is between Panesar and Kerigan.

Think Panesar has had his day. Kerigan would be my choice.

[msp83]

I am fine with "playing a proper spinner" as long as he actually does something that adds value to the team ; ie takes serious wickets or does a significantly better job as a holding bowler than the part time alternatives.  But if all he is going to do is bowl more overs at the expense of a seamer , and has no impact with the bat , then I'd sooner go with a batting all rounder of sorts , especially in view of the arguably fragile batting lineup.
Of course , this depends on what one thinks the various contenders are likely to do if given the chance...and that is something on which we probably wouldn't all agree. And which we won't know until it happens.
Guess my point here is we shouldn't feel forced into playing a "proper spinner" for the sake of it. If nobody looks up to it , then go with other players who can fill at least one role adequately and see how it works in practice. As Shelsey says , pitch conditions are a factor. But I am reminded of great West Indian teams who saw no need for a spinner at a time when they didn't really have one handy anyway ; and indeed Indian teams who had no respectable seamers and just went ahead and filled up with a variety of spinners : playing to your strengths I think they call it.
Not wanting to be dogmatic about this : who knows , Kerrigan (or
Panesar) may start dismantling teams over the next few weeks ...but
in the absence of any strong evidence to the contrary I am happy to go into the Sri Lanka Tests with a battery of seamers and a long batting lineup. Might be safer...though the over rate could be an issue...

Alfie, I think being able to bowl a decent number of overs is actually important for the player picked to do the spin role. It is not just letting
the seamers to have a bit of a rest in between spells. It is also about the overrates. It will be difficult for England to play without Cook for half of their games. There is Anderson who is among the better bowlers of his era. There is Broad who can be enigmatic. But they are nowhere near the class of a Holding or a Marshall or an Ambrose. None of the preferred regular seam options England have used in recent times have the kind of pace to remain effective when the ball gets old unless it reverses. So the comparison with the great West Indis is an absolute non-starter. As for the India comparison, you would have noticed that the moment India had the option of picking a Ravindra Jadeja as the 3rd spinner and all-rounder, they gave up on the additional batsman and played the 2nd seamer. Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar didn't do a lot of bowling in that series, but there were moments where they stepped in and made a telling impact in that 4-0 whitewash of Australia last year.
I haven't really followed Ali much, but is he as good as Samit Patel?

[NickisBHAFC]

Nick Compton is a player i would certainly look at giving another chance to. 

James Vince has had an impressive start to the season, but i think id leave him in the Lions this summer. That being said, he is a very exciting player coming through.

Good to see Cook and Ian Bell making impressive starts as well.

[skyeman]

Good to see Captain Cook scoring big runs again  

[Shelsey93]

Kerrigan did a good job today. A couple more of them and he stands a good chance of making the Test team.

I'm really looking forward to Yorks v Middx next week, LondonTiger. I believe Bresnan will be left another week, at least as far as the 1st XI goes, but Root will play. Gale has floated the idea of leaving himself out. Its certainly a dilemna but I think Gale's a really good player and captain and would probably, if I were them, leave Lyth out. Last year Yorks v Middx was a one-sided Yorks win, and it must be said that on paper Yorks look formidable again. But with Finn and Morgan available for Middx it should it should be a cracker.

[alfie]

I am fine with "playing a proper spinner" as long as he actually does something that adds value to the team ; ie takes serious wickets or does a significantly better job as a holding bowler than the part time alternatives.  But if all he is going to do is bowl more overs at the expense of a seamer , and has no impact with the bat , then I'd sooner go with a batting all rounder of sorts , especially in view of the arguably fragile batting lineup.
Of course , this depends on what one thinks the various contenders are likely to do if given the chance...and that is something on which we probably wouldn't all agree. And which we won't know until it happens.
Guess my point here is we shouldn't feel forced into playing a "proper spinner" for the sake of it. If nobody looks up to it , then go with other players who can fill at least one role adequately and see how it works in practice. As Shelsey says , pitch conditions are a factor. But I am reminded of great West Indian teams who saw no need for a spinner at a time when they didn't really have one handy anyway ; and indeed Indian teams who had no respectable seamers and just went ahead and filled up with a variety of spinners : playing to your strengths I think they call it.
Not wanting to be dogmatic about this : who knows , Kerrigan (or
Panesar) may start dismantling teams over the next few weeks ...but
in the absence of any strong evidence to the contrary I am happy to go into the Sri Lanka Tests with a battery of seamers and a long batting lineup. Might be safer...though the over rate could be an issue...

Alfie, I think being able to bowl a decent number  of overs is actually important for the player picked to do the spin role. It is not just letting
the seamers to have a bit of a rest in between spells. It is also about the overrates. It will be difficult for England to play without Cook for half of their games. There is Anderson who is among the better bowlers of his era. There is Broad who can be enigmatic. But they are nowhere near the class of a Holding or a Marshall or an Ambrose. None of the preferred regular seam options England have used in recent times have the kind of pace to remain effective when the ball gets old unless it reverses. So the comparison with the great West Indis is an absolute non-starter. As for the India comparison, you would have noticed that the moment India had the option of picking a Ravindra Jadeja as the 3rd spinner and all-rounder, they gave up on the additional batsman and played the 2nd seamer. Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar didn't do a lot of bowling in that series, but there were moments where they stepped in and made a telling impact in that 4-0 whitewash of Australia last year.
I haven't really followed Ali much, but is he as good as Samit Patel?

Sorry , msp ...I probably didn't make myself clear enough. I did not intend a direct comparison of the current England attack with West Indies greats at all ! What I was trying to demonstrate was that sometimes it is prudent to depart from the usual (sensible) approach of selecting a "balanced" team... The Indian team to which I was alluding , by the way , was not the current outfit , but that commanded by Bishen Bedi , decades ago. They didn't have anything like West Indies success , outside India ; but arguably contested far better overseas than they might have done had they tried to balance the side by preferring inadequate seamers to a full bank of excellent spinners.
I am not suggesting than England has a supergroup of pace men (though if all are fit they aren't bad) ; but simply pointing out that if there is a choice between a "proper spinner" who is neither in great form or possessed of any other notable cricketing skill and a part timer (or newcomer) who has the potential to help out in other areas as well as providing a (perhaps less than ideal) spin option ; then my money is on the latter.

I am also only talking about the early Tests (against Sri Lanka). After the horror stretch , the main thing England need right now is some confidence boosting results ; and so I might want to err on the side of safe...

Having said that , I see Kerrigan got some wickets yesterday. If he keeps that up , I could be persuaded to give him another try sooner rather than later. But I still think the pace attack is what will win Tests this summer against Sri Lanka and India.

In any case , I remain fairly open minded about the team for now , and am keeping an eye on county scores ...pleased to see your pal Finn seems to have regained some form , as I'd like to see him back...

[Mad for Chelsea]

surely if we assume Stokes has the n°6 spot down for the moment that means we need to pick a spinner? Unless people are suggesting picking Stokes, three other seamers and relying on part-time spin? For me Stokes is an attacking bowler and is better used in short bursts, so you'd be asking Anderson and Broad to do the donkey's work (or Bresnan? not that he seems particularly popular at the mo...), something I'm uncomfortable with.

Also, is Moeen Ali really a good enough batsman to play in a Test match? That, rather than his (agreed) more than useful part-time spin, should be the main question. For me there remain a few question marks, I'm not sure his technique is quite compact enough, and he seemed to struggle against high quality spin (not great at manoeuvering the ball, seemed to rely on the slog/sweep as a pressure-release shot). I'm not saying he shouldn't be considered, but I'm not sure he's a top-6 batsman at that level.

So I would say we need to pick a specialist spinner. Tredwell I just feel won't hurt the best teams. I also feel India (in particular) could really get after him. Panesar has surely had his time. In the last two series where he was the only spinner he's been successively poor (in NZ) and appalling (vs Aus in Melbourne especially). His batting and fielding are still a bit of a joke too, so if he's not contributing with the ball you don't get anything from him. Reports that he has attitude problems too, unfortunately. Monty at his peak would be the right choice, but you get the feeling he's a long long way from that at the moment.

That leaves for me Borthwick or Kerrigan. Borthwick for all that I love his attitude, that he adds with the bat and in the field, just isn't ready for me to be the main spinner in a Test match. He could probably do with a move to a County who play at a more spin-friendly venue than Durham, if only to bowl more regularly. Could be one for the future, but not now. Kerrigan seems to be bowling well so far this season, and has been probably the best spinner in County cricket over the last few seasons. There is the fact that he froze against Aus at the Oval, but I hope that was more just letting the occasion get to him, and that he will come back the stronger for it. He would be my choice.

[msp83]

I am fine with "playing a proper spinner" as long as he actually does something that adds value to the team ; ie takes serious wickets or does a significantly better job as a holding bowler than the part time alternatives.  But if all he is going to do is bowl more overs at the expense of a seamer , and has no impact with the bat , then I'd sooner go with a batting all rounder of sorts , especially in view of the arguably fragile batting lineup.
Of course , this depends on what one thinks the various contenders are likely to do if given the chance...and that is something on which we probably wouldn't all agree. And which we won't know until it happens.
Guess my point here is we shouldn't feel forced into playing a "proper spinner" for the sake of it. If nobody looks up to it , then go with other players who can fill at least one role adequately and see how it works in practice. As Shelsey says , pitch conditions are a factor. But I am reminded of great West Indian teams who saw no need for a spinner at a time when they didn't really have one handy anyway ; and indeed Indian teams who had no respectable seamers and just went ahead and filled up with a variety of spinners : playing to your strengths I think they call it.
Not wanting to be dogmatic about this : who knows , Kerrigan (or
Panesar) may start dismantling teams over the next few weeks ...but
in the absence of any strong evidence to the contrary I am happy to go into the Sri Lanka Tests with a battery of seamers and a long batting lineup. Might be safer...though the over rate could be an issue...

Alfie, I think being able to bowl a decent number  of overs is actually important for the player picked to do the spin role. It is not just letting
the seamers to have a bit of a rest in between spells. It is also about the overrates. It will be difficult for England to play without Cook for half of their games. There is Anderson who is among the better bowlers of his era. There is Broad who can be enigmatic. But they are nowhere near the class of a Holding or a Marshall or an Ambrose. None of the preferred regular seam options England have used in recent times have the kind of pace to remain effective when the ball gets old unless it reverses. So the comparison with the great West Indis is an absolute non-starter. As for the India comparison, you would have noticed that the moment India had the option of picking a Ravindra Jadeja as the 3rd spinner and all-rounder, they gave up on the additional batsman and played the 2nd seamer. Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar didn't do a lot of bowling in that series, but there were moments where they stepped in and made a telling impact in that 4-0 whitewash of Australia last year.
I haven't really followed Ali much, but is he as good as Samit Patel?

Sorry , msp ...I probably didn't make myself clear enough.  I did not intend a direct comparison of the current England attack with West Indies greats at all ! What I was trying to demonstrate was that sometimes it is prudent to depart from the usual (sensible) approach of selecting a "balanced" team... The Indian team to which I was alluding , by the way , was not the current outfit , but that commanded by Bishen Bedi , decades ago. They didn't have anything like West Indies success , outside India ; but arguably contested far better overseas than they might have done had they tried to balance the side by preferring inadequate seamers to a full bank of excellent spinners.
I am not suggesting than England has a supergroup of pace men (though if all are fit they aren't bad) ; but simply pointing out that if there is a choice between a "proper spinner" who is neither in great form or possessed of any other notable cricketing skill and a part timer (or newcomer) who has the potential to help out in other areas as well as providing a (perhaps less than ideal) spin option ; then my money is on the latter.

I am also only talking about the early Tests (against Sri Lanka). After the horror stretch , the main thing England need right now is some confidence boosting results ; and so I might want to err on the side of safe...

Having said that , I see Kerrigan got some wickets yesterday.  If he keeps that up , I could be persuaded to give him another try sooner rather than later.  But I still think the pace attack is what will win Tests this summer against Sri Lanka and India.

In any case , I remain fairly open minded about the team for now , and am keeping an eye on county scores ...pleased to see your pal Finn seems to have regained some form , as I'd like to see him back...

Alfie, Tiger pataudi ones experimented with a 4 spinner attack as well, that too outside India. Even Sunil Gavaskar opened the bowling with his medium pace at times, until Kapil came along, there was no half-decent seamer available for India. Yet, they did try to play the likes of Madan Lal as much as possible. And the other thing we should remember is that those days, there was no overrate issues really. In today's world of overrate bans, it just isn't practical to go in without a proper spinner on a regular basis.
Tredwell seems to be struggling for a county place at the moment, so it has to come down to a choice between Kerigan and Panesar really, unless there is someone else who can step up, and that someone certainly isn't borthwick, at least in the near future.
Glad to see Finn finding his way back.
Has the ECB found/poached a new bowling coach as well?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Moores becoming coach should help Kerrigan's chances you'd think (Lancashire connection)

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Wickets tumbling on day 1 of latest round of matches in what are presumably bowling friendly conditions.  Both Yorks and Lancs have already lost 7 wickets.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Root got a duck in his first game back, Finn amongst the wickets again

[NickisBHAFC]

If Finn keeps up this superb form, i really would start him against Sr Lanker. 

Ian Bell hitting 120, great to see him in good form.

[Shelsey93]

Day one of Middx v Yorks at Lord's today. The press box turnout showed how mouth-watering a game it was - Vic Marks from The Guardian, Derek Pringle from The Daily Telegraph, Richard Hobson from The Times and George Dobell from Cricinfo were among a host of big-wigs in attendance. Joe Root, Gary Ballance, Steve Finn, Eoin Morgan, Sam Robson, Kane Williamson and Chris Rogers headlined a line-up including a number of other top players.

Middx bowled first under cloud cover and on the whole bowled pretty well. For the first hour the pitch seemed to keep low (perhaps the result of having been under cover) and the ball didn't do a great deal, but Murtagh got Lees early and Lyth gave his wicket away when looking good. All of a sudden Finn and Murtagh (who was at his best as usual) then found something a bit more and ripped through the middle order, including Root - the youngest Yorkshire captain since Lord Hawke - for a duck. Plunkett scored a quick 50 - not all slogging - and was supported by Sidebottom to take Yorks to an eventual score of 178. Still, a good effort by Middx. The pitch wasn't that bad but, having had them 113-7, they will have wanted to polish things off.

Yorkshire's bowling attack are outstanding - the best in the division in my opinion, though Durham and Sussex fans might have something to say about that. Brooks, who will enter the England discussion if he keeps up this form, looks to be bowling quicker than I remember him in the past and removed both Rogers and Robson early. Malan counter-attacked but fell himself shortly before bad light. There is batting to come - Morgan is still in, Denly has returned for Rossington and Simpson scored a ton last week - but, to speak in cliched terms, the morning session tomorrow will be pivotal. Yorks will be confident of keeping Middx to around their first inns score, whilst Middx still have a lot of batting to do to get into a winning position.

DEC has technical problems today, so my post-match piece on my personal blog - http://jacksheldon93.tumblr.com/post/84038175670/root-takes-yorkshire-reins-with-eye-to-england

[Corporalhumblebucket]

At one point this morning five wickets fell for one run (and that a leg bye) in the Notts / Warks match.  (Last 4 Notts wicket plus first Warks wicket)

Middlesex crumbling (110 - 9) against Yorks who look likely to have a useful first innings lead in context of low scoring match.

[NickisBHAFC]

Petersen has hit 50 for Somerset. After been dropped twice by Sussex this morning. ffs.

[JDizzle]

First hundred today in God knows how long for Trescothick. Legend.

[liverbnz]

63 for Joe Root on his return. Yorkshire well in charge against Middlesex. However, good news for England as Steve Finn continues his return to form with 7 wickets in the match so far.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

The wickets are piling up for Finn, but we need to really know how he's bowling?

Shelsey?

[Mat]

Just the 4 first innings wickets for Ajmal on his return to New Road. Bowling's looking good this season so far, early days yet but promising signs all the same.

[Shelsey93]

The wickets are piling up for Finn, but we need to really know how he's bowling?

Shelsey?

He's bowling well - I'd say around where he was a couple of years ago - but nothing out of this world. He bowls at 90mph off a long run so will get wickets in county cricket, in fact in all cricket. He's good at coming back late in the day and creating something from nothing, and often takes wickets in batches. The major problems with an ever-changing run-up and knocking over the stumps seem to be in the past. He also often bowls disappointing spells, though, and that would cost him more at the highest level. He drops short at times - its hard to tell whether intentionally or not - and sometimes seems to lose his rhythm. It remains my firm opinion that he should be left in the domestic game until he is ready to bowl better than he has done previously for England.

Today was another horror show from Middlesex, something which happens with the bat far too often for a team that's good on paper. They had the worst of conditions, but must take some blame for being bowled out before lunch and thus missing out on the sunshine that replaced thick cloud cover and mizzle after the break. Yorkshire have an awesome attack - Sidebottom is as good as ever, Plunkett is suddenly the bowler Duncan Fletcher hoped he would be and Jack Brooks is edging into the England frame - and they deserved to skittle Middx, but some of the batting was inept. There are big questions over Joe Denly, recalled at number six for this game, whilst Malan and Dexter really need to step up.

Conceding a deficit of 55, Middlesex's heads were down just about as soon as they came out to bowl. Yorkshire batted effectively and weren't really troubled until Finn came back with one of his late spells to remove Root and Williamson in quick succession. The game seems gone - seems, because with early morning wickets and a pitch that has seen two heavy rollers a chase of 350 isn't entirely inconceivable if Rogers and Robson get in - which is quite a turnaround from having bowled Yorks out for 178 by tea yesterday.

[NickisBHAFC]

Wish SKY would show more County Championship games.

Sir Chris Jordan taking 5-76, give that man a test call up. 

Joe Root making 63
James Anderson taking 5-48
Jos Buttler unbeaten on 66
James Vince unbeaten on 122

The highlights for England players and hopefuls today. James Vince is certainly one to keep the eyes on.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I'm gonna need to pick my bandwagon to jump on.

So....

All aboard the Vince train!

[Shelsey93]

Vince's case is growing stronger by the game... for a long time he was all pretty runs in televised one-day games and nothing in Championship but he's started to kick on over the last couple of years. I can't see him getting a go this year - only so many places available and quite a long queue - but he's certainly getting closer.

The word on the circuit is that Jordan has been oustanding. Assuming he doesn't get injured I'd be shocked if he doesn't play the 1st Test.

[Mat]

There is still room on the Moeen Ali for England bandwagon. It's a tad lonely at the moment!

[guildfordbat]

As long as the weather holds, looks like there will be results today in the matches at Northampton and Nottingham. I fancy the visitors in both.

Lancs, with five 2nd-innings wkts remaining, lead Northants by 199 runs. In what has been a low scoring contest, I think that could already be enough. Buttler, doing his England chances no harm, is undefeated on 66 whilst Smith is on 44.

Over at Trent Bridge, Notts, with seven 2nd-innings wkts remaining, require 174 more to reach 300 and beat Warks. I suspect that'll be just too much although Jimmy Taylor on 0 not out over night has the chance to prove me wrong and give the selectors a considerable nudge.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

After a string of low scores, the James Taylor bandwagon has just phoned for assistance on the hard shoulder of the M6

[guildfordbat]

After a string of low scores, the James Taylor bandwagon has just phoned for assistance on the hard shoulder of the M6

  But don't tell JDizzle I laughed at that!

[Mat]

Moeen out for 99   

[guildfordbat]

After a flying start to the season, Sussex are looking down the barrel against Somerset at Hove. With seven 2nd-innings wickets left, they trail Somerset's first innings score of 372 by 146. Hamilton-Brown just out for 4 following his first dig duck ... now that is a shame.

[NickisBHAFC]

Sussex in a world of trouble.

The famous song rain rain go away come back another day, the perfect day would be for it to rain tomorrow.

Luke Wells hitting an unbeaten 79 though.

[Guest]

Greg Smith 1 run in 4 innings!!!!

Frak awful!!

also Ravi took the new ball for us today alongside Masters... strange decision..

[Mat]

A ton from Kervezee and a monster of an innings from the goose(Gareth Andrew)-71 from 54 with six 4's and five 6's-looks to have given Worcs a shot at another win tomorrow, if the bowling attack fires and the weather holds. Should be an interesting last day

[Guest]

Robson 77 surely nailed on his place for the 1st test against sri lanka!

[Gregers]

Robson 77 surely nailed on his place for the 1st test against sri lanka!

Another Hundred from Vince in this round of fixtures, must be playing himself into contention as well

[JDizzle]

After a string of low scores, the James Taylor bandwagon has just phoned for assistance on the hard shoulder of the M6

  But don't tell JDizzle I laughed at that!

   

Getting out LBW a lot too, is a concern if I am being honest.

Ballance smashed a hundred today, I am sure Shelsey will be better placed to comment on how it looked, but I would imagine he is above Vince at the moment. Think a huge season of scores in the CC could do Vince the world of good, although he does seem like a man who rises to the challenge and might get a little bored of dominating county bowlers.

[NickisBHAFC]

Please rain in Hove tomorrow.

Highlights for England players and hopefuls today

Gary Ballance hitting 130
Sam Robson hitting 77
Steve Finn taking 4-89
James Anderson taking 3-32

[Shelsey93]

What an odd day today!

Ballance started the day on 10 and soon looked at ease. Along with Rashid he rattled along from the start, though he only really cut loose when with number 11. He raced from 80 to 100 and then stepped it up even further before eventually being caught at third man. One of his six sixes went on to the roof of the Grand Stand, which is some hit, even if the boundary is quite short that way!

In an England context the significance of Ballance's stunning knock is that it falsifies the argument that Morgan is the only man who can be the 'aggressive middle order player' to replace KP. Barring a stunning run from Morgan over the next couple of games I'd think Ballance will have that place. As I said yesterday Vince is getting closer, but I'm not sure he'll quite be in the selectors thoughts this time round. He had a poor Lions trip to SL and only started backing up his talent with first-class runs last year.

Chasing 472 nobody gave Middx a hope in hell - unless the opening partnership did something special. And, as they often do, they delivered. As Robson reflected in interview at the end of the play a counter-attack from Rogers allowed Robson to play his game. Rogers reached a century in 110 balls and looked in awesome touch. It was a shame that Robson got out before the close but you can't really complain about 230-1!

Given the calibre of Yorkshire's bowling, and the fragility of Middlesex's middle order, I'd still back the visitors win. But it really is game on and everyone will be playing close attention to the morning session tomorrow!

433 runs were scored in all today. Who said FC cricket's boring?

For a bit more on Robson and Rogers, I wrote this: http://jacksheldon93.tumblr.com/post/84243543784/contrasts-make-the-two-rs-middlesexs-perfect-opening

[Mat]

Please rain in Hove tomorrow.

Highlights for England players and hopefuls today

Gary Ballance hitting 130
Sam Robson hitting 77
Steve Finn taking 4-89
James Anderson taking 3-32

And 99 for Moeen...

[NickisBHAFC]

Doesn't deserve a mention.

[Mat]

Why not? It was more than Robson scored, and he got a mention...

[liverbnz]

Yorkshire's quality bowling was given a bit of a licking yesterday afternoon! Game on today

[guildfordbat]

Yorkshire's quality bowling was given a bit of a licking yesterday afternoon! Game on today

I blame Gillespie!   

Only joking - he's been excellent for the English county game.

Game on today - for sure, as you say, liver. I still fancy Yorks to win but much closer than anyone thought a day ago.

I generally again go with the visitors in many of the other matches although some of those games could also still go either way -

Lancs to win at Northants although that's also looking as if it could be a close one. Lancs need to get Middlebrook and/or Duckett early doors.

Somerset to beat Sussex at Hove, probably by an innings.

Essex to beat Gloucs at Bristol provided Masters can again get amongst the wickets early on.

Probably the best chance of a home win is at New Road where I fancy Worcs to narrowly beat Derbys and the clock. If Moeen can add a couple of wickets today to yesterday's knock of 99, he'll at least keep his name amongst the possibles.

Unless some very inventive captaincy comes into play, draws seeming certain in the matches between Hants v Surrey and Leics v Glamorgan.

Probably all completely wrong but the beauty of the game is we don't know - let's see ....

[JDizzle]

That's a great win for Somerset against Sussex. Very impressive.

Lewis Gregory's last four bowling performances: 4/48, 5/49, 4/91, 4/59. Gregory for England!

[jimbohammers]

Chris Rogers 203* off 253 balls   

[liverbnz]

This would be a massive victory for Middlesex. The sort that can launch a season. Yorks had a similar win last year (possibly Somerset) and were on the receiving end the previous season (definitely Somerset) which seemed to set the tone for their respective good and bad seasons.

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