Interesting that McAndrew is coming in below Briggs. All-rounder would seem a bit generous?

Think we do have to write this one off. I understand why Rhodes chose to bowl so can't criticise too much but in hindsight clearly the wrong decision.

Firstly, a great win.

Was a pretty even contest on the whole I think, but decided by two things, the Essex collapse, and the Burgess innings. He has to be MOM purely for that knock.

I do also think though that he probably won't get a look in for England just yet due to the number of options available. Foakes is surely a shoe in when fit as hasn't let the team down really when picked, and hasn't even been tried in England yet, and I agree that Bairstow would be an automatic pick for when Foakes is injured. And even Buttler may come in based on IPL form - rightly or wrongly.

Norwell off for concussion still. Can anyone inform me how the concussion subs work, can Norwell come back on tomorrow?

Ah fair enough, should really have read the full preview from your link shouldn't I!

I don't recall him being injured in last game, so must have been training?

Two changes from the last game then.

Davies in for Mousley, and Norwell in for Miles. Seems slightly harsh on Mousley,

I thought the same thing re Woakes, but having him at the back end of last season was very much the exception rather than the norm. And based on prior years there is often no official wording on why he isn't available for us.

It's why i'm really hoping this is Brookes's breakthrough year (second time round), and not another one blighted by injury. And hoping the above message about him being slightly unlucky with his bowling is true, as I didn't watch much of the game but when I did watch he got smacked for four 4's in an over!

Late to the party but hey ho:

Where will we finish in championship? 5th - got a feeling we're in for a season of bad luck with bowler injuries
Where will we finish in Blast/Royal London? Semi's of Blast, won't get out of group in RL
Who will be player of the season? Batsman - Yates, Bowler - Briggs
Who will be breakthrough player of the season? Mousley (although we have a number of potentially exciting young players)

Not overly surprised we're struggling with the ball. When the XI was announced my immediate thought was only one seamer from the team that played in the post split Div 1 last season. Norwell really is key to the attack.

Very possibly.

It would be a shame and disappointing for us, but cannot begrudge him his opportunity if he does land it.

BBC article today re Bresnan https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59310948

Notable to me that Bresnan denies 'frequently using racist language' but doesn't actually deny using it.

Think you could well be right Lickey and we've seen the last of TB in a Warwickshire shirt and indeed any county team.

Championship player of the year - Norwell
Young player of the year - Yates
T20 player of the year - Hain
Overall player of the year - Norwell (made all the difference in championship compared to seasons of injury)

Batsman of the year - Yates
Bowler of the year - Norwell
Fielder of the year - Bresnan
Moment of the year - Briggs batting over for the bonus point that ultimately didn't mean a thing!
Clanger of the year - Would be Hampshire loss as described above but didn't ultimately matter so agree with T20 QF batting second
“Turning point” of the year - Burgess innings against Yorkshire. Title was gone until that.

A smidgen of rain in the air and very overcast at the moment. The first hour is going to be crucial.

Not sure I've ever seen a batsman refuse to walk after edging to first slip like Thompson just did!

Yesterday was my first day of CC cricket this season and what a day of cricket to witness.

Echo some of what was said above, tea came at the wrong time completely for Burgess and Hain - I said that as they went off. I did think Hain was out tbh from where I was so can't blame the umpire for giving that.

Hampshire threw some wickets away, which is slightly worrying in the sense that if they sort that out they could be in for a decent score. They're favourites for me.

Edit - we need to start scoring some batting bonus points.

It didn't strike me particularly as a second XI from Leicester. A couple of notable absences in Parkinson and Ackerman, but by and large that was their first team wasn't it?

A very similar side to the one they fielded against us in the T20 and in fact Ben Mike, who played in the T20, couldn't get in the team yesterday, so they weren't that much weakened!

A very interesting game of cricket. Not that it needed any proof, but that showed why 50 over cricket is so good. Ebbed and flowed so nicely, was convinced we would win with over 300, then when they put 150 on for their first wicket it seemed a foregone conclusion they would win and ultimately we came out on top - great fightback.

Lamb's innings was particularly good as we were in big trouble when he came to the crease. I really hope he can kick on from here. Brookes obviously also deserves a big mention.

And then Rhodes changed the game with his bowling. A quite unbelievable spell given how much our spinners struggled compared to theirs. He seemed to bowl a decent line and length and got it pretty much spot on for 10 overs (did get away with one over head no ball).

Garrett ultimately got good figures but I think there were a few full tosses he got away with and although it was good bowling at times, one wicket was a great take from Burgess and another was when the guy was clearly injured.

He did hold his nerve towards the end though, something they completely failed to do and I think Leicestershire fans will definitely be saying they lost it rather than us winning it - Patel played beautifully but did give his wicket away.

Having said that we've had a few this season where it's appeared that the oppo has thrown it away so we clearly have a fighting spirit that I haven't seen for a few years so long may it continue.

BristolBear wrote:

The ECB had to ask the counties for the players. And only players who agreed to play and who’s clubs agreed were released.
A number of notable players said no, in order to rest or prioritise the 50 over competition.

If there was any doubt to the approach we were going to take, I think it's clear now.

It does also suggest some other counties will not be taking the same approach as us and will use as many first teamers as possible.

Kelley is still only 18 so still has chance to establish himself, but clearly there are no short-medium term plans to use him.

If Davies and Burgess are to play in the same XI, I really wouldn't know who would be the one to miss out with the gloves.

Do any other counties use different keepers for white ball and red ball?

Yeah, he's due to play in the CPL. Can't see any reason why he wouldn't?

And I guess most teams will be in a similar position with their overseas T20 players in that they won't be available for quarter finals.

I thought it was strange how rugby dealt with it, it's almost as if they were saying it's the team's fault for having a Covid outbreak.

The BBC live text is suggesting that Essex are categorically not going to finish in the top two.