Somerset 2016

Oh Rogers you Aussie plonker.....

Oh Rogers you little beauty.....ahem

This county championship just keeps giving! Really wouldn't like to predict which of the 3 are likely to lift the title. Middlesex got out of gaol at Trent Bridge and can expect Lancs to be fighting for their lives in the next fixture. Yorkshire are always strong at home, but if Somerset can avoid defeat they must fancy their chances with Notts to play at Taunton and the other 2 clashing at Lord's.

Yes, a gripping end to the season and not one second will be televised. Quite why Sky have the contract I don't know, as they'd prefer to show endless limited overs dross throughout the season. Time for the ECB to put the 4 day game out to tender - BBC is happy to fill the schedules on multiple channels for fencing from Rio and Wimbledon fortnight - maybe Channel 5 would be interested, even if it's only highlights.

I wouldn't say it's dying a death everywhere - Somerset for one attract excellent crowds to 4 day games at Taunton. And that's part of the problem for me - the game has become based at a few centres with counties unwilling to take the risk of playing matches elsewhere. Bath, Weston, Yeovil, Glastonbury and even Frome saw first class cricket in the past. What would really bug me if I was a Somerset fan living in the north of the county is that even second eleven matches are played near to HQ, although they honoured Bath CC with their presence this summer. I spoke to a City fan who follows Somerset last week (not Bas) - he's thinking of watching Gloucestershire at Bristol next year.

Gloucestershire at Cheltenham and Yorkshire at Scarborough are two counties who recognise that festival cricket is worth keeping and they are rewarded with excellent crowds.

Another problem is of course the centralised contracts for TeamEngland players who play around four  first class games at most for their counties. Why should supporters take out membership when the stars won't be available for most games.

Then you have the scheduling of matches - at least 3 games are played in the glorious summer month of April, probably just one in August when a whole week is reserved for Sky to televise 40 overs/day involving just 8 teams. Matches start on different days throughout the season, with very little at the weekends. I believe the last Saturday play at Bristol this season was in May!

You couldn't make it up and the real villains are not Sky but the ECB who are clearly not fit for purpose....

We would have to win both and hope results go our way so that Middx result may yet haunt us. Probably get to day 1 of the Middx Yorkshire game.

Well your bowlers are doing their bit so far - 8 Yorkie wickets down! Cue moans about their England players being unavailable.

Lancashire need to get to that follow on figure to have a chance of taking the championship to the wire.

No they don't! I do wonder how soon they'll start tomorrow with the amount of rain Manchester had this evening. During the breaks in play today I listened in on the Headingley game - sounded like Yorkshire had virtually given up when they were in the field. Rub their noses in it tomorrow!

Superb win today. We have a chance!

Going to Lords next week... with a big umbrella and a spade. Google George Davis is Innocent...

If we don't beat Lanky tomorrow I make you firm favourites. Got a horrible though that it's going to be decided next week by the weather.

To temper that last post, I was awarding Somerset 10 more points than they actually have! So George Davis may not have to travel to Taunton on Tuesday...

Middx certainly don't look like they're going to take any risks today if the first hour is a sign of today's play at OT.

They appear content to take their chances next week. I would have thought they would have pushed on. As it is they will have to win if Somerset win, so they didn't have much to lose in this game.

With Middx 10 ahead assuming this will be drawn, Somerset win with a good haul of bonus points means Middx would have to go for it. Max bonus pts and a draw would give them 13 in a game.

What happens if teams equal on points and wins?

Middx going for it - just declared, setting Lanky 309 in 44

If teams finish level on points, most wins determines placing, then fewest defeats, then most points from head-to-head results, then most wickets taken, then most runs scored.

You had better hope it doesn't go to that

You will win on fewest defeats.

In the last round of matches Somerset need to:
get equal or more bonus points than Middlesex and two more bonus points than Yorkshire (then Yorkshire winning won't matter); AND Somerset must win with Middlesex drawing or losing but no tie.

What does 21.2.4 mean? Doesn't it contradict 21.2.2? If the scores are equal is that not a tie?  

21.2.7 Would negate the George Davis effect at Lords but kill Somerset's chances if happening at Taunton    


21.2 Scoring of Points - County Championship

21.2.1 For a win, 16 points, plus any points scored in the first innings.

21.2.2 In a tie, each side to score 8 points, plus any points scored in the first innings.

21.2.3 In a drawn match, each side to score 5 points, plus any points scored in the first innings (see also paragraph 21.2.6).

21.2.4 If the scores are equal in a drawn match, the side batting in the fourth innings to score 8 points plus any points scored in the first innings, and the opposing side to score 3 points plus any points scored in the first innings.

21.2.5 First Innings Points (awarded only for performances in the first 110 overs of each first innings and retained whatever the result of the match). a A maximum of five batting points to be available as under:

200 to 249 runs................................................... 1 point
250 to 299 runs ................................................. 2 points
300 to 349 runs ................................................. 3 points
350 to 399 runs ................................................. 4 points
400 runs or over ................................................ 5 points
b A maximum of three bowling points to be available as under:

3 to 5 wickets taken............................................ 1 point
6 to 8 wickets taken.......................................... 2 points
9 to 10 wickets taken........................................ 3 points

For the avoidance of doubt, "wickets taken" shall relate exclusively to batsmen dismissed under Laws 30 to 39 inclusive and to batsmen retired out.

If penalty runs are awarded to a team which at that time had faced less than 110 overs in their first innings, or completed their first innings before they had faced 110 overs, those penalty runs will be considered as counting towards the total as far as the award of bonus points is concerned.

If penalty runs are awarded to a team which had already faced 110 overs or more in their first innings, or had previously completed their first innings after they had faced 110 overs, those penalty runs will not be considered as counting towards the total as far as the award of bonus points is concerned.

21.2.6 If a match is abandoned without a ball being bowled, each side to score 5 points.

21.2.7 In the event of a match being abandoned due to an unfit pitch, the visiting team shall be awarded 16 points plus bonus points already achieved or 20 points whichever is the greater at the time of abandonment. The home team shall be awarded 0 points and any bonus points already achieved shall be rescinded. The visiting team shall be credited with a win and the home team a loss for tiebreaker purposes. Note that this does not preclude further action being taken against the home team through the disciplinary process. For the avoidance of doubt, over-rate penalties shall apply.

In a tie team batting last is all out. But scores can be level without being all out.

I see that Sky are showing the Lord's game now. A pity it's not on terrestrial as it deserves a bigger audience.

I'll be at days 3 + 4 - my first visit to HQ for a few years - will you be talking to me at Hemel, Gerry?

I'm sure we will be fine. I'm at Lords for Day 1 with my Somerset tie, Middx membership card and a Yorkshire mate - all bases covered. Least our lads won't have an England tour distraction....as laughable as it was entirely predictable.

While Leach especially deserved to be selected, look on the bright side. Once a player is hoovered up by England he is rarely available for his county. I thought Gubbins was in with a chance but Hameed is a real prospect.

At Taunton superb double hundreds by Rogers and Hildreth as Somerset declare on 500-2 leaving Notts an hour to play before the close.

At Lords Middlesex routed by a rampant Yorkshire attack are all out for 90 at lunch.  With an hour to play Yorkshire make slow progress to be 150-3.

It could be a gripping game at Lords if Somerset put themselves into a winning position. Yorkshire always had to win but Middlesex may well need the same if Somerset get maximum batting points.

Yorkie bowlers have been excellent and grinding Middx down. Yet another played on. But Yorkies will do well to match Somerset's likely batting points haul on this pitch and I think our bowlers will do well especially if it remains overcast.

Another oddity "Toss uncontested, Yorkshire elected to field first"