There’s a bit of a kerfuffle among the Yorkshire supporters with the news that Kane Williamson isn’t returning to the Yorkshire squad in September as planned. This is because Aaron Finch is, contractually speaking, Yorkshire’s overseas player and he is fit and available for the rest of the season so he’s the man they are sticking with. There are some supporters who think Williamson would have been a better option but that’s the decision.
They have a Somerset old players reunion here tonight – I’ve already bumped into Andy Caddick, Ken Palmer and Alan Whitehead – and they will have enjoyed the cricket here so far.
Somerset lost a couple of wickets in the afternoon session but are still on top at 228 for three. Trescothick has been such a successful opening batsman that’s it’s easy to forget that he is such a wonderful player of spin, and the way he worjed Saeed Ajmal down to the third man boundary, time and again, was a joy to watch.
But it was a spinner, Brett D’Oliveira, who did for the former England player. Trescothick attempted a sweep and had his off stump knocked back by what appeared to be a googly. He had made a very good 85, not ony full of fine shots but also a great deal of application.
At the second break Hildreth had moved onto 59 and Tom Allenby has made 12. It’s hard work for the Worcestershire bowlers on a good looking track.
It’s tea here at Hove and it’s time for a slice of Vicki Sponge whilst the hospitality guests get stuck into more vin blanc. They’re in raucous voice having been entertained post-lunch by an end of the pier type comedian.
Oh there’s some cricket going on too. It’s pretty much honours even as Yorkshire head into tea 227 for 5. Three wickets taken in the afternoon session and 124 runs. Gary Ballance is demonstrating why England went for him – before dropping him – he’s playing a range of superb shots from aggressive back foot punches to delicate dabs to third man and it’s most enjoyable to watch. The Sussex seam bowlers are having to toil hard though and are carrying heay workloads. Oliver Robinson has picked up the bulk of the work having bowled 20 overs picking up three wickets inncuding the important one of Glenn Maxwell who was motoring along.
I had a little perambulate earlier and it’s quite interesting listening to the Sussex members having a chat. Some seem very positive that Sussex can avoid the drop whilst others are convinced it’s all doom and gloom.
It’s been a pretty steady afternoon of cricket here at Hove although Glenn Maxwell isn’t poking about – he’s going at about a run a ball in partnership with England’s unwanted man Gary Balance who’s ticking along considerably slower. It’s much harder work for the Sussex seamers this afternoon and they’re hanging out for the new ball. They have picked up two wickets since lunch – those of the skipper Gale who looked to on drive off Jordan but straight out missed it and was plumb for 39 and then Alex Lees, who continues to look a very competent player, was heading nicely towards a century was bowled by Oli Robinson.
When Robinson came to Sussex to revive his career, neither he nor Sussex expected him to have as much of a workload as he has had but he’s stepped up to the plate admirably and has become one of the main components of the Sussex attack.
We’ve not seen much spin today – just three overs of Luke Wells legspin. I was having a look at the averages of the spin bowlers across the two divisions to look who might be in contention to be taken to the UAE this winter. It’s slim pickings for sure.
Joe Leach ended the second wicket stand of 108 between Trescothick and Cooper. It was the third ball after lunch when Cooper edged to Alex Gidman in the slips. His 57 came from 77 deliveries and there were ten fours.
Since then, James Hildreth has fitted in very comfortably and has dominated the run-scoring in the hour after the interval. Tresco has been subdued. After 50 overs Somerset are 180 for two, Trescothick 64 and Hildreth 45.
I was right: Taunton looks even lovelier after my lunchtime pint of Worcester Sauce. No, not that Worcester Sauce, but a lively little number that I found at the beer festival on the ground. It uses both English and American hops and weighs in at 4.3.
It was also brown coloured. Hurrah! Why is beer served to you these days as if it were a legal contract, in black and white (pale ales and brooding porters dominate). Best bitters, a little like Worcestershire at the moment, are on the back foot.
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While I am, of course, Switzerland-esque in my neutrality, I have a special affection for Sussex. There is nothing nicer than a trip to Hove. I drive up to the gate and am greeted with a big smile by Sam the car park man who guides me expertly into my car parking space and helps me get my bags out of the car. Then there’s a smile from the wonderful media manager Adam Matthews who sorts out lunch. And nothing is too much trouble for the staff, the chief exec, the players. It’s genuinely an absolute joy to come to Hove. It would be a real shame to see Sussex get relegated but it’s been a really difficult season for them. They’ve not been in division two since 2010 when they came back to Division 1 immediately after being relegated.
The evidence from this morning is that the bowling attack is strong now it has Jordan back In its ranks and, of course, Magoffin is metronomic in his accuracy and has such a pleasing action that has seen him stay fit.
Yorkshire though are champions elect for a reason and have such depth they can afford to leave out a bowler of the calibre of Jack Brooks but Bresnan has retained his place because of his ability with the bat.If the weather holds, I’m relishing the prospect of this match – I reckon it’s going to be a corker.
There’s a seriously decent sized crowd here today as well. I’m hopeless as estimating but I think it’s probably about 2k. We’re about to resume with Yorkshire 102/2
The morning has been won by Somerset, who have just gone to lunch on 112 for one off 31 overs. Trescothick beat Cooper to his half-century, just, but the Australian scored his off fewer balls, 71 against 94. There were 10 fours for the Somerset captain and nine for his partner.
They have played really well. Even the sight of Worcestershire’s athletic fast bowler Charlie Morris didn’t disconcert them. Morris, remember, had match figures of nine for 86 when Worcestershire beat Somerset by an innings and 86 back in May.
This feels a little like watching the first day of the Test at The Oval. The decision by the Worcestershire captain, Daryl Mitchell, to bowl was a sound one, given the conditions. But just as the players took the field the sun peeked out, shyly, from the sullen clouds. Just as it did at The Oval yesterday. And the ball has done very little, either off the pitch or in the air.
There have been some vintage drives by Tescothick, who is hurtling towards 40 (years, that is) but who can still ooze class. When he had reached 20, with a searing straight drive for four off Shantry he reached 23,000 career runs in first-class cricket.
At the other end Tom Cooper, the Australian who plays his international cricket for Holland, has also caught the eye with a sequence of cover drives. And he raised the Somerset fifty when he on-drove Leach for four. He is matching his master stroke for stroke and run for run – they are both on 34 and Somerset are 76 for one.
This is one of the finest cricket grounds in the country. I love the town centre location and had a real skip in my step as I approached the ground down Whirligig Lane. I’ll probably feel even better after I’ve investigated the small beer festival beside the Andy Caddick pavilion.
Well it’s been a tricky start for Yorkshire who have lost two wickets in the first hour. We’re on the side of the square at Hove that has been the most lively this season and it’s doing quite a bit. Chris Jordan on his return to fitness is making a statement and has worked up a head of steam coming down the Hove slope.
He was in action straight away with his bucket hands pouching Andrew Hodd off Robinson for 11. Then Leaning went without scoring ct and bowled by that man Jordan – it just stopped on him and popped back towards Jordan.
Robinson is bowling seam up although as we discovered at Lord’s last week he’s a more than handy off spinner too. Andrew Gale and Alex Lees are rebuilding things steadily but Gale has been dropped by Matt Machan. There’s life in this pitch which the decent attack of Magoffin, Jordan and Robinson are exploiting well.
As ever it’s glorious here at Hove and I’m off to get an ice cream.
The news from Taunton, in what is a vital anti-relegation tussle, is that Worcestershire have won the toss and asked Somerset to bat. The pitch looks green, but that is often misleading in these parts. It is warm and very overcast. The weather is forecast to be dodgy all weekend – but we have made a prompt start.
Somerset’s Johann Myburgh has come in for Tom Abell, who has failed a fitness test, and both Overtons are playing, with Jamie coming in for Tim Groenewald, while Lewis Gregory has replaced Alfonso Thomas.
Worcestershire are looking for their first away win in the first division since they were last in the top flight, back in July 2012. It is a vital game because two of Somerset, Worcestershire, Sussex and Hampshire look certain to be relegated. First blood has gone to Worcestershire. In the fourth over Myburgh was lbw to one that came into him from the left-armer Jack Shantry. But Marcus Trescothick has announced himself with a rasping cover-drive for four off Joe Leach.
A very good morning to you on this muggy day. Welcome to the County Blog. We’re into the business end of the season and there’s some tasty fixtures.
I’m at Hove, where Sussex, who are sitting uncomfortably second from bottom, take on Champions elect Yorkshire. It’s been a very difficult season for Sussex and there’s a bit of pressure on Mark Robinson. Yorkshire march on towards retaining the title having won eight of eleven matches. They’ve won the toss and will bat and controversially have left out Jack Brooks. This is the first time Andrew Hodd has played for Yorkshire against his old team Sussex.
At the other end of the table, Paul Weaver is at Taunton for another important match - Somerset and Worcestershire are still in the mix for relegation and are just eight points apart.
There’s a full programme of fixtures this weekend and there’s a topic for discussion after ECB head honcho Tom Harrison let it slip yesterday that next year may see a reduction in the championship fixtures to 14 matches. It’s still to be voted on but it seems the powers that be are dead set on reducing the amount of four day cricket. This correspondent is less than impressed with that decision
Grab yourself a cuppa and let us know BTL your thoughts on how the schedule might be sorted out – or left alone.
Morning all,
Today we have Lizzy Ammon at Sussex v Yorkshire and Paul Weaver at Somerset v Worcestershire. Lizzy will be along soon with a preamble but, in the meantime, here’s the final over of the week from Gary Naylor:
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