
Try our newest merchandise
Key occasions
An enormous sigh of aid from Scott Currie who was the responsible occasion at slip a number of overs in the past, as Abbot nails Sibley in entrance of his stumps. Surrey 19-1.
And a giant pleasant good day to Luke McLaughlin, who has escaped the Guardian desk for Lord’s.
“Middlesex bought off to a useful begin after selecting to bat, 29-0 off 5 overs, earlier than Sam Robson clipped a poor stroke off his legs straight to mid-wicket: success for Ajeet Singh Dale and Robson gone for 14. There was naturally a minute’s silence for Dickie Chook earlier than play, and now there may be heavy metallic clanging emanating from the Allen Stand subsequent to the pavilion, which is being redeveloped in usually advantageous model by the MCC. Singh Dale is getting a good bit of motion bowling from the Nursery Finish whereas Matt Taylor is bowling an honest tempo from the Pavilion Finish.
“Newest rating: Middlesex 33-1 off seven overs.”
Even the eternally-cheerful Kevan James just isn’t too proud of the Hampshire’s batting this season – a few the youthful gamers actually struggling to press on. Appears to be like pretty on the Rosebowl thoughts you, autumnal sunshine and shirtsleeves as Wheal wheels in. Surrey 19-0.
David Hopps is at Headingley, the place Dickie Chook’s dying will go away an enormous gap:
“It’s onerous to magnify how fond, and in some ways protecting, Yorkshire cricket was of Dickie Chook. The county has marked his passing this morning with a minute’s applause (a full minute – that have to be value 10 minutes wherever else within the nation!) and the gamers are sporting black armbands.
I downed a few reflective beers in his reminiscence final evening and determined midway by way of the second that the explanation I used to be so keen on him was that his innocence helped reacquaint me with my internal little one. Maybe others felt the identical approach.
On the backside of the lifts at Headingley, going as much as the media centre, I realised that was one of many final locations I had met him.
The dialog went one thing like this:
“How are you lad, how are you? How are you?”
“Excellent Dickie.”
“Are you continue to working?”
“A bit. I’ve simply written your Obit for the Guardian.”
“Will I prefer it?”
“Effectively, you’ll be useless received’t you? So that you’ll by no means know.”
“I’ll need to belief you then lad. Ha ha ha.”
(Accosting unwary passing strangers)
“I’ll by no means see it. I’ll need to belief him received’t I? I’ll need to belief him, received’t I?”
There have to be extra fond anecdotes about Dickie than simply about any cricket character who has ever lived .”
On the Rose Bowl, Surrey received the toss and plumped to bat. They’re with out Ollie Pope, Gus Atkinson and Dan Worrall, in addition to Australia-bound Will Jacks and the unwell Jordan Clark. However they do have Indian legspinner Rahul Chahar. Liam Dawson performs for Hampshire – who get off to a tough begin by dropping Dom Sibley at second slip earlier than he’s scored a run.
A spherical of applause echoes across the stands at Headingley in reminiscence of Dickie. The solar is out, Durham received the toss and are having a bat. The umpire calls play.
England pack the heavy artillery for Australia
And a left-field alternative in Will Jacks. Ali with the lowdown.
14-match Championship to proceed
With one breath left within the season, readability eventually. The counties have voted to reject the proposed adjustments to the Championship construction, so the 14-match, two tier competitors stays till (I used to be instructed) 2031 on the earliest.
These in favour of reform wanted 12 counties to vote for the brand new construction, a quantity they failed to assemble when the votes got here in.
Dickie Chook 1933-2025
Some unhappy information yesterday, with the announcement of the dying of Dickie Chook. A person with out aspect whose dedication to the sport was each tender and shifting. RIP Dickie in your white coat within the sky.
Vic and Hoppsy did him proud:
Division Two desk
1 Leicestershire 218 Champions
2 Glamorgan 189 promoted
3 Derbyshire 164
4 Gloucestershire 163
5 Middlesex 159
6 Lancashire 153
7 Northamptonshire 140
8 Kent 113
Division One desk
1 Nottinghamshire 203
2 Surrey 189
3 Somerset 179
4 Warwickshire 168
5 Sussex 150
6 Essex 150
7 Yorkshire 146
8 Hampshire 142
9 Durham 140
10 Worcestershire 100 relegated
Fixtures
Chelmsford: Essex v Somerset
Southampton: Hampshire v Surrey
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire
New Highway: Worcestershire v Sussex
Headingley: Yorkshire v Durham
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Lancashire
Canterbury: Kent v Derbyshire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Gloucestershire
Wantage Highway: Northamptonshire v Leicestershire
Preamble
Good morning from a brilliant autumnal day within the north, the canine’s stomach moist from the heavy dew, sunflowers straining for one final present. By some means, we’re right here once more, the ultimate spherical of the County Championship.
And, as luck might need it, there may be (practically) all to play for. After final week’s umbrella gnawer at The Oval, Notts go into the ultimate spherical with a 14-point lead, needing a most of ten factors to knock second-placed Surrey off their perch. Surrey want a win and for Notts to crumble beneath stress.
On the different finish of the desk, relegation candidates Yorkshire and Durham battle it out at Headingley. Ten factors will maintain Yorkshire north of the drop, whereas Hampshire, Sussex and Essex additionally sit nervously with their calculators.
We already know that Leicestershire are champions and rise to Division One alongside Glamorgan, and that Worcestershire play their final match within the prime tier.
Play begins at 10.30am around the grounds, do be a part of us for one final hurrah.