English Domestic Season 2017

Lancs absolutely thumped by Mrs Vaughan's county.

10 wickets.


Add a "10" to Hameed's scores above.... .... how's Keaton Jennings coming along?

I worry that Hameed has been told by Bayliss that he needs to be more "aggressive". He was brilliant last season for Lancs, digging way the f*ck in, seeing off the new ball and fresh bowlers, and then eventually expanding his stroke play and cashing in once beyond 50, usually after 3-4 hours already spent at the crease.

I don't see how he gets picked on form for the 1st test. Needs runs.

In the London Wotsit - the 50-overs competition, anyway - what's come out of the odd qualification structure?

The 3rd in each division had to play away to the 2nd in the other division (in a sort of QF); the winner to play at the home of the top of the latter division (who received a bye to the sort-of-SF).

In both cases, the third in the division has won both away games to go through to play the final. Surrey v Notts.


I claim the trophy for Lancs, who came fourth in the North division.

Unless the fourth - or possibly ninth and last? - in the South division claims a right to play them for it. ....


It's a bit like Pakistan in the Champs Trophy: "And the last shall be first."

A 16 year old has bowled Derbyshire to their first CC victory in two years.

Thought I'd show up for the first time in a couple of years with Notts landing a domestic trophy...

Remarkable effort from Alex "Hurricane" Hales (or perhaps Alex "Hodor" Hales given the way he carried the rest of the side). One of the great one-day innings. Two overlooked openers in terms of the England Test squad getting well over half the runs in the match. Different game, I know... but the old September finals certainly used to sway the selectors' thoughts for the winter tour. And Chris Read gets a fitting send-off whatever else happens this season (surely promotion, weather permitting).

Remarkable achievement from Hales all right - in his element!

Good to see Stoneman in the runs too ... even if galling he had to go to the Oval to blossom.

https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/883038645049065472

Wouldn't mind if this celebration became the norm.

A horror blow for Luke Fletcher in the T20 as he took a full-blooded drive from Sam Hain right on the head in his follow through. Was able to walk off the field with assistance but the game held up for some time with the players visibly shocked.

I'd imagined the possibility of this happening to an umpire (which one is it who has employed a plastic shield?) but hadn't really thought of it with a bowler. Hopefully he's reasonably OK anyway, Jake Ball has since tweeted a picture of him sitting up in the ambulance.

It's happened at least once before. Kevin Badcock to Viv Richards in an Australian Domestic ODI, late 70s IIRC. Badcock was a good bowler, but Viv monstered a drive back at him and it hit him, like in the famous Monty Python sketch, 'right between the eyes, never a chance to move'.

Yes, less predictable accident with a bowler than with a close fielder or of course a batsman, who is by definition always 'in the firing line'.

But again, as lardy has pointed out, not impossibly rare. A ball not spotted coming back at great speed is a dangerously hard and potentially lethal thing.

I hope he's all right. Scary moment indeed.

Probably more likely with a fast bowler, or at least medium fast, than with a spinner ? ... I'm thinking the spinner at least has the extra time his delivery takes to get to the other end before the batsman hits it in which to set himself and react. The fast bowler is still off-balance in his delivery stride when that ball flies back.

As a pie-throwing 'spinner' these days I can only hope so!

I remember playing against a Keith Stackpole type in my teens. He had a habit of smacking drives straight back at the bowler/umpire. On this day it was my turn and he pounded an attempted yorker (that ended up a half volley) straight back at me and straight into my right knee (never had a chance to move). I went down like I'd been shot.

I am due to have that knee operated on in the next 6 months. I'm sure that blow contributed to the structural damage in my knee.

lardbucket wrote:It's happened at least once before.  Kevin Badcock to Viv Richards in an Australian Domestic ODI, late 70s IIRC. Badcock was a good bowler, but Viv monstered a drive back at him and it hit him, like in the famous Monty Python sketch, 'right between the eyes, never a chance to move'.

Did I ever mention that I was at the ground that day? I'll never forget the sound it made. Everyone was very concerned for his health.

He was lucky to survive!

Can I please offer my support for the Towie dicf*cks? They're almost as tinpot as Northants. Can't believe they're still doing the do.

Lumb's retired due to an ankle injury

Reece Topley has yet another stress fracture. I have a horrible feeling that this will be a career that's over before it really started.

95 off 30 balls for Hales. 106-0 for Notts after 6 overs

Most bizarrely, three bowlers were required to complete one over. The first was taken off for bowling two beamers, his replacement was then injured!

Chavs march on seeming unstoppably to the title...

Hameed 77* (off 219!)

One swallow, and all that.

But thank the Lord for a start, at last.

Yorkshire rack up 260 in a T20 against Pants... Lyth with 161. Opening bowler Sanderson went for 77 in 4 overs...

Bloody hell, that makes Mick Lewis appear frugal!

PeterCS wrote:Hameed 77* (off 219!)

One swallow, and all that.

But thank the Lord for a start, at last.

Pete: what about this Matt Parkinson? he looks the goods and gives the ball a proper rip.

Belf quits the Warwickshire captaincy, with both he and the team struggling for form this season. Is it possible he will call it a day completely soon? His career seems to be fizzling out really.