Key events
The Birmingham rain comes just too late to save Jordan Thompson, who dabbed the ball in the area of slip where Paul Walter scooped it up. Warwicks 113-7, a pretty and undefeated 44 from Sam Hain, and a rain delay at Edgbaston.
In Division Two, Lancashire’s George Balderson is the great destroyer at Bristol, taking out the Glos middle order after Cameron Bancroft self-destructed. Glos 94-4.
Zen Malik can have no real complaints about that lbw decision – a fourth for Porter. Warwicks 96-6.
And more wickets at Southampton, where Hampshire have lost three, sorry make that four, wickets since lunch. Lehman still there on 37, Hants a sorry 126-7.
It is sunny and springlike in Southampton, where Jake Ball has just picked off Ben Mayes, lbw for 15. Looks as if Jake Lehmann (35 not out) may have already inherited the James Vince prop-up-the-innings boots . Hants 123-5.
The slips at Edgbaston have hands so deep in their pockets, they could tickle their knees. Sam Hain nudges Akhter’s last ball of the first over after lunch down to the rope. Warwicks 82-5.
Heavy rain here now in Manchester – coming your way if you’re east of me.
But the players are out in the middle. I can’t spot too many spectators in the stands, but the floodlights, and florescent type on the scoreboard, are shining boldly.
The stream shows ominous skies over Birmingham.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire 112-4 v Somerset
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 78-5 v Essex
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 80-2 v Lancashire
Northampton: Northants v Middlesex 106-4
A couple of notes about Lancashire’s decision to put CC games behind a paywall have landed with a thud of disgust.
“Lancashire, as everyone is increasingly aware, is the worst run club in the country, in my opinion,” writes Will Unwin. “The constant desperate cash grab is depressing to see. The viewing figures for games on YouTube are not exactly spectacular but it provides a fine service for hardcore supporters and makes it easily accessible for others. The platform will be more difficult to access; currently I can flick it on my television, not something I can say about LancsTV.
I have not spoken to a fan who has praised the move nor does it inspire confidence that the link the club points to is something that cannot be found.Anyway, good to have Jennings back and looking forward to seeing how Shetty does.”
And Tim Maitland: “Looking at Lancashire’s figures for Blast and other limited overs fixtures on their Youtube channel (over 100,000 views for Blast matches against Yorkshire last year) I can understand that they might think going behind a paywall could work, but why include County Championship games?
”A quick and unscientific scan of their archive would suggest a day’s play gets around 40,000 views per, which, if we’re being generous might mean 10,000 people watching at some point each day. A proportion of those would be supporters of the visiting county, who of course now won’t be able to watch their team going on and off for the interminable breaks for rain that, from my experience, is always falling somewhere in Manchester. Let’s say 8,000 Lancashire sympathisers per day.
”I wonder what the conversion rate would be of those 8,000 faced with paying the 20 quid. As many as 1,000? I swear, it seems some of the counties are doing their darndest to kill off the long-form game.”
I’’m a big fan of the free streams, for the same reasons as free-to air TV, and hope they will be able to sustain themselves with advertising and good will. But if this really isn’t possible, the suggestion BTL of a cross-county subscription for the season is an excellent one.
And a debut Essex wicket for Zaman Akhter! The umpire’s finger loops upwards and Ed Barnard is not happy to be given out lbw, but must shuffle away. The commentators aren’t sure if he got an edge onto pad – to be honest, I can’t tell. He’s out anyway and Akhter gets mobbed by his teammates. Warwicks 65-5.
Also, I take it back, Akhter’s run-up isn’t dinky at all. Quite a solid acceleration.
Nice to see Zaman Akhter, a SACA graduate, bowling for Essex after moving across from Glos in the great winter raid on Bristol’s bowling stocks. He’s got a woodchopper’s build and gets good pace from quite a dinky run up. Warwicks 65-4.
Another wicket at Southampton – this time for Lewis Gregory, fit and firing again. Hampshire 83-3. Another catch for James Rew, who gets a mention in this piece about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and young talent:
A delay at Bristol, where wicketkeeper Matty Hurst has hurt himself, but seems to be fit to continue after a bit of physio patchwork. No news yet on ASD or possible replacement.
Mmmm, curious choice by Beau Webster to open his shoulders and tee off against Shane Snater. Stumps splattered, though he does play an excellent forward-defensive as he walks off. Warwicks 48-4.
Interesting that a couple of the states – Queesland and New South Wales – are resistant to selling stakes in the BBL franchises.
Hampshire had the best of the first hour in Southampton, with Tom Prest tucking into Jack Leach. But Craig Overton has just sent him on his way, caught by James Rew for 17. A wicket too for the impressive young quick Alfie Ogborne. Hampshire, who won the toss and chose to bat, 51-2.
Not a huge surprise that Jamie Porter and Sam Cook are proving tricky April customers. Porter now has 3-16 from his five overs, Mousley the latest to be sent on his way, lbw for 10. Cook has had a catch dropped.
Warwicks 26-3, Webster and Hain with the toolbelts.
This is a great interview by Phil Walker with the idiosyncratic and brilliant Sarah Taylor.
Mighty Northants, flayers of Kent, have Middlesex 22-3, two wickets to Australia’s Harry Conway who has had a fabulous start to the season – 15 wickets and counting.
Good morning Em Jackson!
“Clearly, as an ex-Glos player, hoping that Ajeet Singh-Dale is OK after what looked like a horrible injury & what the subs rule was actually designed for.
“More generally, it’s’ the third week of three that schools around the country have had Easter holidays. So when the 4-day game is desperate for new fans, how have we only got 4 matches this weekend? Seems madness.
”Anyway, hoping Glos. are at the very least still in the game on Day 4 this week!”
Good point on the holidays. I do have sympathy for those in charge of the schedule, it’s not easy, and counties can make various requests that we are not aware of. I’m not totally convinced Glos will be still going on Monday – their banker Cameron Bancroft has just been run-out going for a dopey single – Glos 22 for one.
Bad news for Lancs at Bristol, where Ajeet Singh Dale seems to have done something nasty to his hamstring and has limped off. A real shame on his return to his old club. Glos 8-0.
A fascinating piece by Emma John, with a mention of Benny Howell of Hants, Glos and more.
No mistake this time for third slip Walter, as the ball nestles in his midrift. A second wicket for Porter – Rob Yates gone for 8. Warwicks 12-2. Looks a bit dank out there at Edgbaston.
A slippery drop at third slip, saves Warwickshire from the doldrums of 12-2. Sam Cook the bowler, Dan Mousley the lucky batter. Alex Davies, keeping wicket for the first time this season, was out first ball to Jamie Porter. Warwickshire 12-1.
Lancashire to charge for Lancs TV
A big announcement from Lancs between rounds – they are going to start charging punters to watch TV coverage of all men’s matches, starting with the CC match against Middlesex at Old Trafford on Friday 8 May. This will be via LancsTV+.
All women’s games will remain free via Lancs TV. For CC games, the first ten mins will be streamed and then viewers will be able to access radio commentary/scorecards.
Members get access to the stream for free, otherwise it costs £20 for the season.
It follows fast on the heels of the decision to end the agreement with production company Badger and Combes.
Wisden Cricketer’s Almanack No 163
The latest issue of the fat yellow book is out, the launch dinner at Lord’s on Tuesday.
The Five Cricketers of the Year are: Haseeb Hameed, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jajeja, Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj
Lawrence Booth, the original Spin correspondent, who was once my work experience kid and has been annoyingly brilliant ever since, is unsparing in his Editor’s notes.
Weatherwatch
Brrrr. Damp and chilly here in Manchester. The Met Office says:
A band of rain will gradually move eastwards across the UK today, although not reaching the southeast until evening. Largely dry, bright and warm ahead of the rain, with blustery and occasionally heavy showers following.
Gary Naylor’s talking points.
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire v Somerset
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Essex
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Lancashire
Northampton: Northants v Middlesex
Preamble
Good morning! We’re already rolling through the the weeks, picking up pace as the spring starts to blossom. Just four rounds this week – for reasons I can’t explain – but we’ll be able to keep a close eye on events at the RoseBowl, Edgbaston, Bristol and Northampton. Pull up a chair and join us, play starts at 11am BST.