County Championship 2016 - Division One

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Discussion thread.

Winners?
Relegation?
Most runs?
Most wickets?
Breakthrough player?

Feels slightly off but I cant blame either side. Playing out the draw does absolutely nothing for either of them.

Andy Carroll's B*tch wrote:Feels slightly off but I cant blame either side. Playing out the draw does absolutely nothing for either of them.

True, but as a Yorkshire member I feel it would be a stolen championship if we did it. Somerset have been much better than us.

Maybe slightly morally. But both teams have to look after their own interests, not Somersets.

So the answer was clearly - yes there will be collusion! Not really surprising given both sides want the win.

Somerset also failed to get full batting points from 302-2

They've only got themselves to blame ultimately

They'd do exactly the same in this position

Am I right in saying if Somerset hadn't collapsed so badly, they could have got the extra batting point, then Yorkshire winning wouldn't actually matter?

I think Olly posted at the same time and alludes to the answer - if that is the case then I can't have much sympathy

I think losing to Middlesex when they chased 302 in 45 overs was crucial points dropped.

And all out for 390 against Yorkshire is another batting point we possibly should have got

lt would be interesting to know whether there is any agreement as to whether - if Yorks chase becomes hopeless - are Yorks morally obliged to keep throwing bat at ball rather than shutting up shop!

There's really no point in not throwing the bat anyway. Drawing is losing.

Lees 2nd to go.

Still 200 from 30. Not time to panic just yet

Under 100 with around 12 overs to go.

You sense the gamble isn't going to work out for Middlesex

Bresnan can't see it home, 87 from 10 needed. Middlesex need 5 more. Somerset need neither

I feel sorry for Somerset, though I'm sure their players will be the first to say they would have done exactly the same in this situation. Also, captains contriving a positive finish is not the newest thing ever, though what made this one slightly different was that Yorkshire had no incentive whatsoever in the draw.

Brilliant from Roland-Jones it must be said, 10 in the match and finishing it off with a hat-trick

Commiserations to Yorkshire, who gave it a good go, and in particular to Bresnan, who's been heroic in this match.

Final point on the declaration bowling. Yes you had half an hour of farce, but in terms of spectator interest surely it's better to have that and then a meaningful end to the game (regardless that this was with the title on the line) then have both teams go through the motions for most of the last day as it becomes clear neither can win?

Though I appreciate Somerset fans may see things a tad differently...

Relegation

Hmm ... gotta feel very, very sorry for Somerset: bridesmaid again.

Over the season the table reads fairly enough. The top three were the best three teams and the Champions undefeated. Durham and Surrey eventually earned mid-table safety, while Warks and Lancs - especially - were only slightly better than Hants who looked very good at times but not often enough: big commiserations to our good friend jimbob. Notts' season, alas for them, peaked in their opening game against us and they ended up comprehensively the least effective of the nine teams.

It will be a very, very competitive CC1 next year. Winter (ugh!) well everyone.

Yes, I feel there can't be too many complaints about winner and two teams relegated. Middlesex were dominant much of the season while Notts were dire and Hants' bowling not quite of quality needed for Div 1.

Gutted, but what a fitting end to the season in that one of the standout bowlers of the summer finishes it off with a hat trick!

Congratulations Middlesex

Just back from Lord's having seen the entire match. Shame about the declaration-bowling interlude and, but for 24 overs being lost over the first three days, it may not have been necessary.
But it set up a thrilling finish. Should Yorks have blocked out the last five overs once they were eight down? Possibly. Altogether, a wonderful match. Probably Middx biggest crowd for a championship match today than for many years.
Not sure about this but it could be that this was the first time they clinched the championship while playing at Lord's since Plum Warner's famous farewell in 1921. Seem to think that most (all?) of the subsequent titles were won on opponent's grounds.
For me it was 1976 all over again. A long wait for a championship (1950 to 1976) ended and now 1993 to 2016 wait ended as well.