Notts have got to lunch on 96 for 1. After being inserted, you'd have to say they've done us a favour, though I don't like the look of their batting line-up all that much.
I am staggered by how many players are not playing for their counties today and hope it comes back to haunt some of them who have made short term signings or Kolpaks.
du Plessis - missing for Lancs as he has gone back to South Africa
Sreesanth - returned to India so missing for Warks
Imran Tahir - returned to south Africa so missing for Hampshire
ryan Mclaren and van Jaarsveld missing for Kent as returning to S Africa
Diepenaar and O'Brien missing for Leicts as they have returned home
Is this a consequence of the ridiculously late end to our season, the general malaise and lack of commitment of overseas players and the general short term panic measures taken by some counties?
Whats happening in South Africa that requires so many of the Kolpaks to rush back to secure their place in their teams over there?
This is going as badly as it could have to be honest, but I'm only mildly worried at this stage. Surely not even Yorkshire can mess this up.
We all bang on about the silly bonus points system and how easy they are to get. We need 6 of the 8 available and can still lose the game safely. That's bowl them out inside 120 and score 300.
But Sussex are doing very well and making it interesting.
If Sussex and Lancashire wrap up wins in 3 days we could be battling for survival on Saturday. Now wouldnt that be fun to watch.
In the fight for what James "Carnegie" Buttler calls "survival" (a bit melodramatic I'd have thought), we're currently getting plenty of help from Mark Wagh, who has been the backbone of the Notts innings.
He owed me this, as I once tipped him to play for England (even before he'd played for his county, which was probably the big mistake), and one or two of my former team-mates never let me forget it.
It was Dickie Bird who tipped Bairstow to play for England (within 4 years, I think). I'm much more restrained.
Why is this Harry chap saying "Thank you for that"? Does he think I got Wagh out by commenting on how many runs he'd scored? There's nowt so queer as folk, eh?
For younger readers, Pigott was around in the early 80s, when I used to be a regular at Hove. I suppose they may offend him at Old Trafford if they're not aware his name is pronounced pie-gott - presumably to avoid the association with vulgar farm animals. This reminds me of the old "Sir Vivien Fuchs visiting Wigan" joke, but it only works orally.
I must admit I don't particularly give a damn about finishing one point above/below Lancashire or above/below Hampshire, but I'd be mighty relieved if Sussex are bowled out tomorrow for 199!
Luke Fletcher has just been dropped by Hamilton-Brown in the slips and has responded by hitting a four through the covers. Pitch still has a "healthy greenish tinge".
its bizarre how the Sussex bowling attack can contain 3 international overseas players in Chawla (has his arm dropped off yet through overbowling?), Smith and Colleymore.
Chawlas presence is depriving the chances for Hamilton-Brown and Olly rayner and Will Beer who are not playing to progress their bowling in 4 day cricket.
When was the last time you saw a county side with 2 double-barrelled players in their team?
its also strange that for the last round of CC matches in Div 1 the matches are being played at northern outposts in Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham with Durham actually being away at worcester to avoid the full set.
Surely the fixture schedulers would have thought the prospects of a full 4 days play would be increased at Taunton, Hove, Southampton and Birmingham and factored this in to their scheduling?
Sussex are rather ominously on 59-0. They have a great chance of winning that match, so we'd better start getting serious. This is not going to script.
Sussex now 208-5 so to get max points from their game v Notts they have to win and also score 400 in the 120 overs. Looking less and less likely.
If they are all out for 350-399 then we only need 5 points.
If they are all out for 300-349 we only need 4 points.
If all out for 250-299 we only need 3 points - and we already have these in the bag so our batting score is irrelevant as is whether we win lose or draw.