County Championship

[NickDRFC]

Potential for a thrilling final week. Yorkshire missing a number of key players (3 best batsmen) & Rashid not up for it. Made a great start despite a couple of dropped catches. I reckon winning thiscould potentially be the finest Championship win yet!

[BobG]

And the bloody TCCB wouldn't allow Bairstow to play either. Last score I saw was Middlesex 72-3. Hope it 87-7 now!

Bob

[Muttley]

Sounds like Strauss has blocked blocked Bairstow and leaned on Rashid so that his beloved Middlesex have a better chance.

[Filo]

I don't know how they can block Bairstow when he has n't got a central contract

[NickDRFC]

Unfortunately (although it's probably been part of the national teams recent improvement), even on an incremental contract the ECB have that power. I can't see the logic in this case, though, given how little he played in the T20/ODI games.

I do like Strauss so don't want to think he's done it for anything but the right reasons but does seem odd that Plunkett and Willey were both free to play when either one or both would probably have missed out anyway, but our batting department was significantly weakened in Bairstow's absence.

[BobG]

I think the centralised control of who can and who cannot play for their employer prostitutes the game. It takes control away from clubs and gives decision making power to people who may have other agendas. I understand the idea is to help the England team, and that with central contracts the concept of 'employer' has become rather elastic but if the price of a decent England side is potential for favoritism between club sides then I think it's wrong.

Bob

[BobG]

168-5 at tea. Gubbins on 96 no.

Sidebottom 12 overs, 6 maidens, 0-13!!!

Get Gubbins and it looks like we could get the rest for not very many.

Bob

[GM-MarkB]

Somerset fell apart this afternoon too....Jake Ball took a 6for

[NickDRFC]

At first I thought that was a bad thing - Somerset winning means that Middlesex also need to win; if Somerset lose then that means Middlesex could just play for a draw. However I've just seen that if we were to finish level with Somerset, they would win for having lost fewer games or something like that - hopefully this means only 3 bonus points and they still skittle Notts.

[NickDRFC]

Astonishing morning for Yorkshire which lurched towards disaster but now it's back in our hands. Very well played Ryan Sidebottom for blocking out so many overs, Azeem Rafiq and in particular Tim Bresnan. If we can get a lead of 100+ and get 3-4 wickets tonight things are looking good.

I think there may be a small bout of flu hitting my household overnight. I'm sure I'll be well enough to get myself to Lords, though!

[RedJ]

We only need to win to win the title now, according to their twitter.

[NickDRFC]

Yeah, as I said it's now in our hands. If both us and Somerset win we will beat them by a point.

[roversron]

I'm going down there tomorrow 2 wickets down still in deficit no rain forecast. ..really looking forward to a good day

[Filo]

While these two are at the crease for them it's going to be a struggle, two or three early wickets in the morning and it's game on, lets hope for a bit of cloud cover to get that ball swinging, no point in either team playing for a draw, only a win from either of them prevents Somerset being champions

[Muttley]

While these two are at the crease for them it's going to be a struggle, two or three early wickets in the morning and it's game on, lets hope for a bit of cloud cover to get that ball swinging, no point in either team playing for a draw, only a win from either of them prevents Somerset being champions

Sunny morning forecast then cloud in afternoon.

[NickDRFC]

I can see Middlesex playing for the draw just to stop us winning it. Spineless w**kers.

[BobG]

It's a bit much though, isn't it, that Yorkshire have had to make do almost all season without the two best players in the country because the TCCB won't allow them to play.... Bloody fantastic effort to get as close as they have without the likes of Root, Bairstow......

BobG

[GM-MarkB]

I'd argue with you Bob and say the best 2 players ARE playing....Sidebottom & Brooks...consistant wicket takers with the ability to dismantle a batting side at the drop of a hat

Beats me how Jack hasn't had a run out with the Test side yet

[BobG]

Ha ha! Yes. It's not possible to argue with that tbh is it?!

Bob

[Sammy Chung was King]

Root is a class above any other english batsman we have in the country.

[GazLaz]

Root is a class above any other english batsman we have in the country.

He's not a class above Cook. He may be slightly better but he's not levels above him.

[Filo]

For Middlesex to win the Championship they're going to have to come out swinging the bat this morning, bat until lunch and then bowl Yorkshire out, a big ask, the title is between Somerst and Yorkshire now with Somerset the clear favourites in my opinion

[NickDRFC]

Ha ha! Yes. It's not possible to argue with that tbh is it?!

Bob

I'd argue that Bairstow is a bigger player than either of those two, or at least has been for the past two seasons. Admittedly not played much this season but when he has he has papered over the cracks in our generally brittle batting line up. For all his heroics in this match, Andy Hodd as his replacement isn't anywhere near as good, whereas if Siders/Brooks are out, there are better replacements. We are playing 5 seamers in this game and Liam Plunkett isn't playing!

[Filo]

The way Middlesex are playing at the moment they seem more intent on stopping Yorkshire winning the title than going for it themselves

[GM-MarkB]

This session is the most bizarre i've ever seen......

[GM-MarkB]

240 to make history then..........

[BobG]

6 an over for 40 overs about. I reckon that's quite generous by Middlesex tbh.

39-1 after 10......

Bob

[idler]

48-2 off 12.2 overs.

[GM-MarkB]

It's not going to happen........

[BobG]

79-3 off 19.

Odds on the draw but if a pair do get set and the bowlers run off their first enthusiasm then it's still possible. Wish we had another batsman though....

Bob