Key events
Then there was one
Essex, after losing Das in the second over, have sailed along to 61-1 against Surrey – who visited Old Trafford in the last match of the 2022 season, already champions, and fell to pieces against Lancashire, defeated within three days.
It’s now raining in Taunton too – though TKC has enlivened things with five four in his 22 not out. Somerset 52-3.
The first email of the day: Hello Phil Withall. “Evening Tanya, from a mild and overcast Queensland.
“There is s certain irony in the summer sport reaching it’s finale and the weather deciding it would be a good idea to just “rain on everybody’s parade”. However, if it means Yorkshire are promoted I’ll happily take it…”
I really can’t see how Yorkshire fail to go up… if you have a subscription (I don’t) this looks like it would be an interesting interview with the departing Ottis Gibson.
And Tom Abell follows the procession: Mohammad Abbas with his scalpel. Somerset 35-3.
Comings and goings
Thanks to JamesMoriarty below the line for jolting my memory:
Lancashire’s Stephen Croft has retired from all cricket, after signing a T20 contract for 2024.
Dom Bess has signed a new two-year contract with Yorkshire.
If you know any more, send them my way!
Promotion/relegation equations
Yorkshire go into today with a 15 point lead over Middlesex, so ten points would confirm their promotion after two seasons in Division Two. Middlesex need to win and hope Yorkshire lose, or draw with maximum points and hope Yorkshire have collected just one point.
At the miserable end of Division One, Lancashire are favourites to go down, currently 15 points behind third from bottom Notts, and 20 points behind fourth from bottom Warwickshire. Notts will be safe if they collect 10 points, Warwickshire need five. Lancs must win with max bonus points and cross their fingers.
Division Two Table
1 Sussex (PROMOTED) 221
2 Yorkshire 201
3 Middlesex 186
4 Northamptonshire 152
5 Leicestershire 145
6 Gloucestershire 141
7 Glamorgan 128
8 Derbyshire 110
Division One table
1 Surrey (CHAMPIONS) 221
2 Hampshire 195
3 Somerset 193
4 Essex 179
5 Durham 158
6 Worcestershire 151
7 Warwickshire 146
8 Nottinghamshire 141
9 Lancashire 126
10 Kent (RELEGATED) 85
Oh dear. Another. Somerset now 4-2. Andy Umeed trudges off.
A late September LBW to start things off – as Tom Lammonby becomes Kyle Abbott’s 47th Championship wicket of the season.
Action at Taunton and Chelmsford – which could have been the denouement to the season, but no longer after Lancs beat Somerset and Surrey squashed Durham last week. Somerset and Hampshire battling it out for second place behind the Champions.
Lots to read though as we wait for things to dry out, starting with this, an account of Glamorgan’s triumph in the one-day cup!
Somerset woe doubled by Glamorgan in One-Day Cup after Championship agony | One-Day Cup | The Guardian
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
TAUNTON: Somerset v Hampshire
CHESTER LE STREET: Durham v Kent start delayed. Lunch at noon.
TRENT BRIDGE: Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire start delayed. Inspection at noon
NEW ROAD Worcestershire v Lancashire – No play before lunch
CHELMSFORD: Essex v Surrey
DIVISION TWO
HEADINGLEY: Yorkshire v Northamptonshire start delayed
SOPHIA GARDENS Glamorgan v Gloucestershire start delayed
HOVE Sussex v Middlesex start delayed
GRACE ROAD Leicestershire v Derbyshire start delayed
Delays, delay, delays
Late starts at Chester le Street, Trent Bridge, New Road, Sophia Gardens, Grace Road, Hove and Headingley. Which leaves only Taunton, where Somerset won the toss and will bat against Hampshire, and Chelmsford, where Essex won the toss and will bat against Surrey.
Weather watch
Damp. According to the Met Office: A band of heavy rain will affect Northern Ireland, northern England, parts of north Wales, and for a time southern Scotland. Brighter to the south, but with heavy, locally thundery showers. Drier, brighter, but colder further north. Blustery in places.
Preamble
Hello! Apologies for the late start as we roll, in our bed socks, into the last round of the season. The weather is seasonable, the Champions crowned. But we do still need to work out who is joining Kent in Division Two and who is dancing up to join the big boys alongside Sussex. Play is due to start in eight minutes, but will the weather be kind?
