Couldn't really ask for more than that. Excellent bowling helped by some dodgy Essex batting at times. Massive session coming up, should be a great watch.

Only a small lead then, would be nice to be 200 ahead with wickets in hand by the end of today.

Top order fails yet again

Needed to address this in the winter. Fingers crossed for middle order revival

Mousley, since his brilliant ton v Surrey, has barely made a run and that this afternoon was a particularly poor dismissal.

paulbear wrote:

Farrell does appear to have a good reading of the game, seems to know about the players she's commentating on and I do think she is a genuine lover of county cricket.

I really like her knowledge and enthusiasm. I'd prefer her to most. The dreadful heavy-breather Clive Eakin has resurfaced on the stream. I had hoped he would have packed it in last season but it looks like we will have to endure his banality for another year.

ajones1328 wrote:

Top order fails yet again

Needed to address this in the winter. Fingers crossed for middle order revival

Nail on the head. We have been desperate for a quality top order batsman for some years now. I really want Mousley to do well but a Marcus Harris type is what we need.

They've all made runs this season at times, as individuals, we're just not putting partnerships together as a unit.

Also, time and again, it just feels as though no matter how well we bowl whatever the surface, the opposition just bowl better. Hopefully we buck that trend in the 4th innings...

Skipper needs a score...

Need to eke out another 130 minimum you'd think from here?

Come on Beau...

Yep, bowling at anything above 230 would be nice but even then, we have to bowl well.

feels very similar to Yorkshire away last year. Every run vital and it's Beau getting them...

I always look forward to the Essex fixtures each year as they mean the opportunity to listen to the brilliant Don Topley on the radio coverage.

That would be the Don Topley about whom Derek Pringle said: "A strange cove, not always popular with his team-mates, Topley often gave the impression that he felt hard done by."
My own experience of him is that he joined me at a table for two at the back of the Lord's press box and totally ignored me - not a "do you mind if I join you?", "Hi, I'm Don" or "Ahoy, matey!". Just a blank stare.
Despite all of that, he might be an excellent commentator (or not).

He didn't make himself popular amongst old Essex team-mates when he mentioned the 1991 'Game-Swap' in his autobiography when he told of Essex and Lancashire 'Giving' each other victories during August Bank Holiday Monday, Essex played an insipid JPL game on the Sunday when their openers were told to go easy and not try and score too quickly and eventually Lancs got a very meagre target to chase in their pursuit of the JPL title and then on the Monday, on a very flat pitch, Lancs gave Essex 270 in the CC in about 70 overs. Both umpires (Duddlestone or Holder), were old hands at the ways that counties often exchanged games if both were chasing titles in separate game over a weekend and one of them was so baffled by the 'Target', that he stood by the stumps when the declaration came and gave it the old 'Double Teapot' stance and stayed like that for a while, it appeared dodgy at the time and The Times correspondent called it "A Christmas hamper for the starving.." and both side ignored questions until Topley admitted that the whole saga was planned before both games. I can remember that more than Topley's bowling.

GerryShedd wrote:

That would be the Don Topley about whom Derek Pringle said: "A strange cove, not always popular with his team-mates, Topley often gave the impression that he felt hard done by."
My own experience of him is that he joined me at a table for two at the back of the Lord's press box and totally ignored me - not a "do you mind if I join you?", "Hi, I'm Don" or "Ahoy, matey!". Just a blank stare.
Despite all of that, he might be an excellent commentator (or not).

yes, that would be the same Don Topley
it wouldn't really be 'despite' any of that, though, would it, seeing as none of what you describe would necessarily factor into how good he is, or isn't, as a commentator. Two things can be true at once: Don Topley is a strange man, who was also rude once to a random in a commentary box. Don Topley can also be a good commentator. But let none of that get in the way of a good old forum bitching session.

I would imagine if you were new to cricket then Topley would be a good commentator as he describes the goings on in minute detail (often more than once) However, he loves the sound of his own voice and talks over the top of whomever he’s commentating with. I find him very biased and irritating.
That’s not bitching, it’s my opinion.

ITE7376 wrote:

GerryShedd wrote:

That would be the Don Topley about whom Derek Pringle said: "A strange cove, not always popular with his team-mates, Topley often gave the impression that he felt hard done by."
My own experience of him is that he joined me at a table for two at the back of the Lord's press box and totally ignored me - not a "do you mind if I join you?", "Hi, I'm Don" or "Ahoy, matey!". Just a blank stare.
Despite all of that, he might be an excellent commentator (or not).

yes, that would be the same Don Topley
it wouldn't really be 'despite' any of that, though, would it, seeing as none of what you describe would necessarily factor into how good he is, or isn't, as a commentator. Two things can be true at once: Don Topley is a strange man, who was also rude once to a random in a commentary box. Don Topley can also be a good commentator. But let none of that get in the way of a good old forum bitching session.

I shall take great delight in my new identity as a random.

GerryShedd wrote:

ITE7376 wrote:

GerryShedd wrote:

That would be the Don Topley about whom Derek Pringle said: "A strange cove, not always popular with his team-mates, Topley often gave the impression that he felt hard done by."
My own experience of him is that he joined me at a table for two at the back of the Lord's press box and totally ignored me - not a "do you mind if I join you?", "Hi, I'm Don" or "Ahoy, matey!". Just a blank stare.
Despite all of that, he might be an excellent commentator (or not).

yes, that would be the same Don Topley
it wouldn't really be 'despite' any of that, though, would it, seeing as none of what you describe would necessarily factor into how good he is, or isn't, as a commentator. Two things can be true at once: Don Topley is a strange man, who was also rude once to a random in a commentary box. Don Topley can also be a good commentator. But let none of that get in the way of a good old forum bitching session.

I shall take great delight in my new identity as a random.

taking delight in things is good for you, I hear

Inside-edge wrote:

I would imagine if you were new to cricket then Topley would be a good commentator as he describes the goings on in minute detail (often more than once) However, he loves the sound of his own voice and talks over the top of whomever he’s commentating with. I find him very biased and irritating.
That’s not bitching, it’s my opinion.

If i was to discount all of the comms guys working the county circuit on the basis of their bias I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be a single game I could listen to, they're all biased as hell!

I feel like it pretty much comes with the territory, mixed comms team from each country, each contributor is there to provide a bit of local colour and background knowledge specific to that county, which I always appreciate, those little asides 'of course he played for years for Sudbury CC in the East Anglian premier league' etc etc. happy days

Yes, two down already! Come on you Bears!

Just my opinion but I find his voice really grating and his knowledge suspect.

Anyway I enjoyed him having to describe 3 Essex wickets falling there!