NOT Test Match Special but...

Beau Nash wrote:The competition was a good idea, especially the 120 overs rule, but the one thing that was wrong was the way to decide a winner.  The last day, as I predicted, was a bit boring with the negative batting; a better solution in the event of a draw after say 4 days and two sessions could have been a "super over" or more than one...

I don't think the ECB get many things right regarding the counties but this competition plus the T20 and a very full international programme deserves a lot of praise. I'm sure the first innings rule was used in case the match was decimated by bad weather and light and was certainly preferable to the idea of super overs which would have reduced it to a farce. I've no problem with it in T20 but this is first class cricket.  

Forums and social media all have uninformed / irrational opinion...which is why I ignore most of it when making my own judgments. Certainly the case with many football forums I'll concede, but most cricket forums I visit are inhabited by those who love the game and appreciate good play by both teams. I've always found the Somerset forum to be cricket's equivalent of Liverpool with some huge chips on shoulders.

Luton Roman wrote:What took you so long Comrade ! I didn't want to gatecrash a wake!

It was a competitive game between 2 well matched teams with Cook the difference. Agreed. Not many international stars have returned to county cricket in recent years - he and Tres are noticeable exceptions and supporters of all clubs should be very grateful.
Essex have that streetwise swagger I have seen in football teams rolling over City in days gone by. Somerset need to somehow find that extra edge. Perhaps our bowling wasnt as good as we hyped with a largely Div 2 group against a largely Div1 set in your group. Some of our players didnt quite stand up, but Cook's innings was the significant difference, a high quality player who will be there for another year at least. And he threatened in his second knock to win the game - I was a bit surprised that Essex appeared to settle for the draw once he was out but I guess it was always on the cards.

As for the forum, I imagine your'e the only Middx fan who goes on there, and not many of those Yorkies can read.

At least we will start in Div1. I'll be very surprised if there are two divisions next summer. Seems to be a groundswell of opinion within the game that the positives from the BWT should be retained.Would have preferred the final on a Div 1 ground, but for an unfinished Div2 ground its not bad tbf. You played more fc cricket on it this season than we did! For all its splendour, Mx get very little out of playing there.