English Domestic Season 2017

WTF?!

Was SOK bowling?

Terrific. Now any wannabe terrorist/troublemaker has been given the great idea of firing arrows into cricket grounds from outside the ground......

T20 finals day today, can Notts finally add this one to the trophy cabinet?

Chance of a treble of sorts, even if the four-day title would be the second division... would be a farewell for Chris Read to match that of Rice and Hadlee 30 years ago.

Well, Read not in action in this format of course. Fat Sam and Zimbot Taylor rebuilding after a shaky start v Warks/Brum Bears...

Double for Notts... well played Samwell Tarly and co. So many years of near misses in this, nearly everyone contributed to get them over the line this time.

So, a couple of weeks left in the County season?

Essex about to win the CC with a couple of games of the 14 to spare. Richly deserved - 8 wins from 12 matches.

For some reason, Red bangs on a lot about Abbott being a great loss to South Africa. But off-spinner Harmer would no doubt be another such asset to his country too, if he could be paid enough to secure his living & future. He's collected hatfuls of scalps in England.

Well played the Chavs. A Leicester City-like achievement really, first non-Test ground county to win it for a decade and in their first season after promotion, with something to spare.

A quarter of a century since their last title which was still in the Graham Gooch era, now his protege Cook can add this one to his career honours list as well.

Notts imploding with promotion having been seemingly in their grasp. Seem to have thrown in the towel after Sussex fought back from a shaky start to post over 500.

No idea how a batting line-up like this ever managed to be well clear at the top in the first place... it's all bits and pieces all-rounders and young players who look well short of FC standard, even Pujara has been a let-down. Chris Read won't want to go out like this, maybe he will reconsider and play another season?

Oh and when will they make Leicestershire have a play-off with the minor county champions to keep their FC status? 3 winless seasons in 4 years FFS.

Or, say, Scotland.


While it's still connected in some way. ...

Yorkshire 38/8

What a recovery from Notts, from 50-odd for 5 to post over 470, and Chris Read completing a century in possibly his last FC innings with a six. Billy Root made three figures as well, and the tail wagged furiously, as they say...

Just need to see out a draw now, if Pants complete a win over Leicestershite (which is less certain than it looked yesterday as well). Will Sussex declare and make a game of it? Notts' top order needs a major revamp to compete in the top division though.

I’ll be mightily pissed if rain denies Somerset a relegation-avoiding win here......

Middlesex relegated a year after winning the title. Notts did that a decade or so ago, has anyone since?

Top flight cricket returns to Trent Bridge after Sussex decided against making a game of it with a declaration. Take a bow Chris Read, ending with a promotion-sealing century after 19 years at the club.

Batting reinforcements are certainly needed though. Particularly openers, we have a converted all-rounder and an inadequate youngster at present. Sam Robson perhaps? He will need a move to get back into England contention now...

Is that it for the season?

beamer wrote:Middlesex relegated a year after winning the title. Notts did that a decade or so ago, has anyone since?

Top flight cricket returns to Trent Bridge after Sussex decided against making a game of it with a declaration. Take a bow Chris Read, ending with a promotion-sealing century after 19 years at the club.

Batting reinforcements are certainly needed though. Particularly openers, we have a converted all-rounder and an inadequate youngster at present. Sam Robson perhaps? He will need a move to get back into England contention now...

Champs to Chumps (since 2 divisions introduced, 2000):

Yorks, 2001, 2002
Notts 2005, 2006
Lancs 2011, 2012
Middlesex 2016, 2017

skully wrote:Is that it for the season?

Yeah... we've never quite crept into October with the domestic or international season, but probably only a matter of time!

Indeed, beams. It seems an interminably long season, destined to get longer.

Weather and daylight will probably be factors that prevent the English season creeping into March or October, though with more forms of day-night cricket the options are increased these days. The fact it's just likely to be bloody freezing (for players and spectators) won't change though... well, not that quickly anyway! Even if it's equally likely to piss it down in mid-July.

I did Leicestershire a disservice there, it's 3 winless seasons in 5, not 3 in 4...

I wonder if some sort of pyramid system will ever be introduced? A bit tricky given some of the lesser counties have strengths in the shorter formats, but the new T20 franchise competition could change that anyway. And I guess most of the minor counties probably don't have a tradition or infrastructure that would allow them to step up and compete unless someone put a lot of money in.

Pears promoted as champions!!!

Warwickshire relegated as well. Life is sweet for Worcestershire supporters. Huge rumour at New Road on Thursday that The Belf is joining us next season.

New Road drowning in Worcester tears, then?

Don't know what I think about Bell to be honest. He has the pedigree but he also has the resilience of a chocolate fireguard.