Iām disappointed in myself tbh
I wonder if it started because he upset someone in an Indian restuarant by repeatedly swearing during a phone conversation?
Hampshire are in kind of the flipside of the situation yorkshire were in - if they can make 350 and win in 3 days when the chips are down, they deserve to stay up.
Sibley doing well today @asita
Donāt think they need to do that much. I think they only need 7 points from the fixture, so 3 bowling and a draw is good enough.
ahhhhh I misinterpreted what I read - it said Hampshire need to win, make 350 and bowl warks out in 110 overs to stay up - but I think thatās just to guarantee they stay up regardless of other results.
Thought it was a bit different to what Iād previously thought the various teams needed!
Kinda hoping David Warner was in the area but playing in the India series innit
Itās quite confusing. I think thatās what theyād have needed to guarantee being above Somerset, but then if Somerset win, Middlesex wonāt get many points, so in reality its less to avoid relegation. I think!
Marlon Samuels saluting as Stokes is put in the back of the police van.
I hear he punched a rather heavy set lady in the face, who gave her name as Marlene Samƶelles
He might actually get done for ABH
He was in Mbargo. Needs arresting just for that.
In exciting pitch based chat, the pitch inspector that is at Taunton as Middlesex had a cry was supposed to announce his decision at close of play today. Has now decided to wait until the end of the game. Meaning that even if Somerset win, they canāt celebrate safety until the ECB press release comes along.
Oh, and on this ādodgyā pitch, Somerset made the highest first innings total in this round of games in division 1, and are currently making a decent fist of their second innings. If they get docked points here it will be an utter farce.
yeah, I donāt think thereās any real chance of it happening. Itās cricket in autumn for heavenās sake (although the spin dominating is slightly contrary to that), and the scores have been decent enough.
Well. High enough.
I really hope not. But the fact that even if there is no deduction we wonāt know for certain at the end of the match who has gone down is bad enough (assuming Somerset win).
Notts currently doing their very best to stuff up promotion.
I canāt believe that in this disaster of a season, my own sodding team is going to win and deny me a trip to Lords to watch them next year. The one time I donāt mind them losing.
Idiots.
Hah. Although I think if Warks win then its Hampshire that go down. I thinkā¦
Being as Yorkshire are getting a thumping at Essex, that 8th wicket partnership last week has saved us from relegation. But after narrowly failing to drag us down with you, you now have Hants in your grasp!
yeah thatās what I mean - I want Middlesex to go down so i can go to a county championship game at Lords to watch warks next years. But it looks like weāll do in Hants, which will save Middlesex (I think?)
It IS nice to directly take a team down with you though.
Ah yeah, of course. But its when teams are 7 down that you let them have a few easy runs, so should be looking at parity on first innings!
So, Vic Marks is predicting recalls for James Vince and Balance, along with Crane, Craig Overton and Ben Foakes.
I saw Foakes earlier this summer and he looked assured with both bat and gloves, donāt know much about Overton, but his numbers are good this summer. Vince would appear to be earmarked for three and then a shoot-out between Ballance and Malan for 5?
Foakes, Woakes, Stokesā¦
I wonder how Sam Vokes is with a bat or ball in his handā¦?
Foakes is a must, I think. Probably good enough to be picked as a specialist batsman, and may end up playing as one the way things are going. Iād be surprised to see Vince again, he hasnāt done that much to convince in the CC this summer, unlike Ballance. I do like him though, so I wouldnāt mind. I think they will (and should) go for Rashid over Crane, too early for him.
Doubt there will be many bolters, if any, but maybe Joe Clarke or Jack Leach from Worcs, and Jamie Porter must have a chance after the last few seasons. I think they said no surprises though, so perhaps not.
*Joe Leach