Its weird. A host of aspiring cricketers get cherry-picked. no doubt being advised go to Surrey if you want England selectors to look at you. Local boys lose out and some of these players aren't really there for or have any affinity for Surrey when it matters. Buying superstars doesn't always work

At last a bit of grit from Surrey. Match drawn.

Amla the master. A great effort.

Kent have got a draw as well.

The downside for us is that we will be in Division Three in September.

Credit to Surrey for not just rolling over and coming away with a draw

All the batsmen spent time at the crease especially Hashim Amla batting for nearly six and a half hours for 37 not out

As a Hampshire fan I raise my hat to Amla - what a lesson in how not to get out! Saved the day for Surrey

So no Amla, Pope or Jacks tomorrow. We have got in Tim David for the last 2 games. Never heard of him. A hard hitting Singaporean by all accounts.
Things looking bleak in this comp for Surrey.

Indeed. I’ve lumped on Kent….

Played in the Big Bash & Pakistan Super League this year, so should be match ready

Kyle Jamieson's injury has brought to an end his brief stay with Surrey

Damn!

Let's hope so. Will be annoyed if Jacks does not get a game for England Saturday.

It’s mercenary cricket, no? I heard an interview with Richard Hadlee the other day, where he said he couldn’t have imagined playing for another team during his time at Notts. Jeremy Coney was saying that when NZ were touring England, Hadlee would often join the NZ camp a day before a Test was due to start, once he’d finished his County game with Notts. How times have changed.

How many black cats has Alec Stewart run over lately, crikey can it get any worse? but you have to ask how the hell did we get away with a draw v Hampshire. Oh forgot all down to the old boy Amla, what a player.

Surrey are 16/3 after 6 overs.

Think it's fair to say that our chance of the Quarters are slipping out of sight.

59/5 after 12

Tbh England playing completely killed our 20/20 chances this season.

I suspect that’s the worst T20 team Surrey have ever put out. Can’t see where runs, wickets or economy is going to come from. Still, it was easy money to make…

In other news, just found out Jade Dernbach gone on loan to Derbyshire, for the remaining 2020 games

Yes followed you tonight and backed Kent at 5/6. It was easy money and a bit of consolation. Glad I gave my ticket to someone.

Thankfully I couldn’t go tonight but a mate of mine went & left after 10 overs of the Kent innings :D

That was woeful from Surrey last night. The first ten overs were excruciatingly bad.

On a different note, me and a mate, both members, have set tickets for tomorrow's CC game. I see tickets are available to the general public for £15. Are guest passes able to be used for this does anyone know?

I asked them this question on Thursday and got this reply.

The Somerset game is socially distanced, and tickets are being sold in that fashion on the website and over the phone. The website ensures the distance between bookings automatically.

Unfortunately at the moment only 1 guest per member is permitted, but this may increase tomorrow.

It will be possible to use your passes at Guildford, subject to availability. Booking in advance would be advisable!



I am planning to take 2 guests Tuesday. They say they only have 4500 capacity and want to make sure the members get seats. I doubt they will get 2k on Tuesday. There could be a few more tomorrow but unlikely 4k. They said they had 4 k for an earlier game, probably Middlesex.
They have to allocate your guest a seat.
All a bit vague I know. I am sure if you arrange in advance you will get guest seats. Everyone has probably given up after the last couple of games:)

Thanks. As you say, as very vague! The website is atrocious and never clear. Dropped them a email but might try and call in a bit.

It is better to call. Can take up to 2 days for a email reply.

A Kent player has tested positive for COVID-19. As a result anyone involved for Kent on Friday is now isolating and a different side will play against Sussex instead. The start has been delayed by an hour as a result.

R Ashwin opening the bowling for Surrey at Ovalpindi.

Drinks break extended for a few seconds to allow Rory Burns to finish fixing his ponytail.
Surrey 2021 in a nutshell.

Good show from Kent’s bowlers, newby Jas Singh took 4 wickets. He is right arm fast medium apparently.

Indeed, great effort at covid isolation short notice it seems. First XI have had a poor championship season, so why not give the seconds a go :p

3 late wickets have probably kept Surrey in this game. At least I think. The result matters not. Another poor season for Surrey.

Left at five ish so missed those late wickets. Seemed all quite placid, Somerset at ease. Was Overton injured?

Don't know about Overton. Did you get your guest ticket?

I suspect that with Surrey playing 3 spinners, Overton is there for his batting as much as anything. A sad state of affairs.

I had a ticket for tomorrow but returned it because the forecast doesn’t look great. Hope you had a good day today

I went yesterday- didn't know Ashwin had signed until I saw the line-up on the screen. I think it's only for one game though.

Seemed odd he only bowled four overs

Mate that would have used any guest pass decided not to come in the end, so not sure! No reply when I rang on Saturday

Even when Surrey are crap, a day spent watching county cricket is always time well spent!

30,000 cases a day, 60,000 people rammed into a football stadium last night.

Cricket match abandoned due to a single case.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/57798706

You mean 90,000 rammed into a football stadium. Didn't look like there was a spare seat going by the TV pictures.

Is there no one day 50 over final at Lords this year?

At Trent Bridge I think

Yep, on Thursday 19th August. I’ve no idea why but the cynic in me immediately (possibly incorrectly) thinks it’s one more thing that’s been ****ed over by The Hundred

I can't keep up with all these changes. Our last chance for glory this year. What sort of team will we be putting out? Then do we play some more County games in a meaningless league ?
Great weather forecast next week. No games at the Oval though.:D

Put it this way - based on what Alec said at the Forum today & allowing for The absence of England players & The Hundred, you might get a game….

Can't wait for that then:( What did it mean when it said on our membership we had access to the 100 games at the Oval?

Exactly that. Members can attend any The Hundred games at the Oval - it’s included in the Membership. I assume this excludes those who ‘just’ have T20 Membership. I’m not sure of the ticket logistics (whether you need to reserve a ticket in advance or just show your card on the day). I’m not going to bother out of principle but it is free cricket….

I was not going to bother but I have seen so little cricket this year I might. I looked on the 100 site and it said sold out for the first game so I think that you probably would have had to book in advance. No info on our site.
Yes it will exclude t20 and just County game membership.

The only reference I've seen on the Hundred was in the email from Surrey on Friday, tucked away in text only at the end, that Surrey members:


All well and good, but you can't do bookings linking up with multiple Surrey memberships, but if you are wanting to book three tickets for the hundred, with, say two Surrey members and one or more non-member general ticket sitting together, can't see a way of doing that, only one Surrey member ticket at a time, plus paid for tickets. All very confusing! (I'm 35, work in digital and this is all too confusing/shouty for me!) My mate and I linked our membership on the Surrey pages, so we can sit/book tickets together, can't seem to do that for the Hundred.

I'm not really that fussed about the Hundred, but was planning on going to a couple out of curiosity more than anything, one each of the men and women, but not sure if there will be two of us (in which case, turn up and sit in the member areas), or three or more, which requires a bit of planning. More likely to go to the Surrey cup games, if I can though. Surrey (and other counties) will be very poor in the RL Cup! Take your boots!

Have not seen that. So next week I can just turn up and seat in the pavilion? I may go tomorrow so I will find out for sure. The first game is sold out according to the 100 ticket site. Weather is great next week so might be worth a visit. No I am not a supporter of the 100 but it is a night out.

Hampshire giving it a go for promotion v Glos

Surrey made a healthy start too

Hang on, Stoneman's approaching 25. Does he get on the honours board?

Yes, I think that’s true - as it would normally be for a Surrey T20.

I agree with you. I had this problem recently where I couldn’t book tickets for me & a mate (both Members) & my non-Member son. Can’t remember which game/format it was but it did seem nonsensical.

As mentioned a page or so back, was trying similar for the County game at the moment for the sunday play. Part of the reason it was just the two of us (both members) in the end, was that it was such a faff trying to work out if a guest pass could be used or not, rather than just buying a general ticket for £15 in advance on the gate and then quietly coming to sit with us, and how the logistics worked with the 2 already allocated member seats confirmed a few weeks prior. Friend decided not to bother in the end and went elsewhere - missed revenue for the club from beer and food, plus potentially a new member next year frustrated at the first point of contact. Can't wait for these restrictions to be done, as I'm sure the club. Will be so much easier just being able to rock up.

I get it's tricky logistics wise during covid and with everything changing so often, but it's not very good. Still no reply from the club from my email sent on Friday asking, plus calls not answered (Saturday), in addition to email sent yesterday specifically about the Hundred issue mentioned above I'm still in the dark about, trying to organise a group of friends but can't give them an answer.

The member section of the website is woeful, really awful considering our relative resources (well, until recently)

As a 'new' member this year (well, last year), it would have been nice to have a new member induction process or similar, rather than just a brochure. Sat loads in the OCS stand for internationals, t20s and county games in the past, but don't really know my way around the pavilion, etc.

Amla will need another long stint at the crease if Surrey can avoid defeat. Smith next then not a lot. Still 150 odd to avoid follow on.

Just seen that Hampshire's total of 486-7 yesterday included 81 extras, including 48 byes and 20 no-balls. Talk about making life difficult for yourselves.

What's Kents problem this year have not won a game yet.

Surrey only bowling spin so far and Somerset collapsing to 66-8 in their second dig, leading by 255.
Although with the runs unlikely to be chased down in less than two sessions, Surrey could be doing the cricketing equivalent of scoring too early.

Farcical scenes at Yorkshire yesterday and this morning.

Originally the game was scheduled at Scarborough.
Was moved to Headingly to accommodate more people and be Covid secure.
Lancs post a solid score on day 1.
Day 2 rained off.
Day 3 Play didn't start till gone midday despite having lovely weather. After 25 overs, Dom Leach crashed into a concrete block when fielding a ball, and badly injured his leg. Were told it would take 2 hours for an Ambulance to get there so the physio had to drive him to the hospital. Play was then suspended.
Day 4. Match suspended because the bowlers run up was considered unsafe before play started.

Rumors going round that they are cancelling the 50 over competition this year to accommodate "The Hundred ". I guess because there are not enough players to play in both with all of the withdrawals.
Just cancel The Hundred ! It was a a load of bollox anyway but now nobody big is going to play in it it's hardly going to pull in the crowds and enthusiasm they had hoped for. I for one have zero interest in this and would much rather watch the counties third elevens in the 50 over competition which would bring valuable experience for many young cricketers who don't get a game and we might even uncover a couple of gems.

I will be upset if this is true. The 50 over games are my favourite these days. Feck the 100. Will be surprised if they do this.
At the oval for 3 1/2 hours today. When I got there and saw the score 33/4 I thought it was Surrey following on. Amla held up the end again and a good innings from Smith.

Surrey get another draw and it's Division 2 next season

There are a lot of southern counties in Division 2 next year

Hope this is not true, as looking forward to the Guildford match on the 27th and the Oval on the 30th, without the restrictions.

Hampshire do their usual squeak in at the end...

They will not cancel the Hundred again. It’s now or never for that.

Never sounds preferable.

Surrey have announced that they have sold out for Guildford for non members. No way can I see them cancelling the 50 over comp. A bad rumour.

Here’s the Dobell article about the potential scrapping of the RLC tournament. I can absolutely see it being cancelled, ECB must be so desperate for The Hundred to go ahead. RL must be furious. ECB will blame it on COVID.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/d...-sides-1269618

Kent drew with Sussex. In the circumstances I thought that was a very good result.

The County Championship Divisions in September are:
Division One: Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Somerset, Hampshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire
Division Two: Durham, Essex, Gloucestershire, Surrey, Northamptonshire, Glamorgan
Division Three: Worcestershire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Kent, Sussex

That phase starts on August 30th after the One Day Cup, The Hundred and T20 quarter finals. It's four games against the counties not your original group. Each side carries over half the total points from the games against the team who were in your group.

Some of the 50 over matches against National Counties (including Kent v Suffolk) have been cancelled but I can't see them going as far as cancelling the One Day Cup.

ECB : Hold my beer

I think I may be losing the will to live

The Hundred will be along to finish you off soon enough :p

It's your age. I thought it was the end of the County games for the year. Now we have 4 more I think:confused: So if we win them what happens next year?

On another note if Glamorgan beat Somerset and we beat Gloucester do we qualify as Gloucester's last game is Somerset. Or we win tomorrow and Somerset beat Gloucester ? Jacks back tomorrow but we will still be underdogs.

It doesn't affect next season - these Divisions are for the last games of this season.

Yep as you say

It's me being an idiot - I got told that the three teams finishing at the bottom of each group in the round finishing this week would form Division 2 of the Championship next year and believed what I was told

Good performance by Surrey and the David chap done his job. Can Glamorgan do us a favour.

I think we need:
(Glamorgan to win tonight against Somerset
or
Somerset to beat Gloucester on Sunday
or
Sussex to lose both their games)
AND
(Hampshire to drop a point or fail to overcome a 58 run deficit)

Glamorgan already three down so I don't think they'll be helping much.

I’m a Surrey fan but congrats to Kent on a superb win with a side of many names I don’t know of.

Hampshire look like they're going to win tonight as well so this is going to be very very close

Well I am certainly supporting them Sunday:)

Somerset as well need to win to get home draw.

The new mercenary at Surrey looks ok. He likes to hit the ball extra hard to the boundary but with orthodox shots.
......but he's off somewhere else now after two games.

Hampshire - 6th v. Glamorgan - 8th
Somerset - 2nd v. Gloucestershire - 5th

Somerset and Glamorgan wins and we qualify.

Attachment 54974

I was very happy with the Kent win last night.

It was once again a team put together at short notice. They had the players who normally don't play T20, a few from the second XI, three Scottish players who were in the side who beat England a few years ago announced earlier in the afternoon and Crawley as he was away when the Surrey game took place.

I thought after the way we started we were about 20 runs short but it was more than enough. It was a very good bowling performance.

It's great we finish top. Hopefully we can win the quarter final when it comes round and get to finals day for the first time in 12 years.

:eek:

Surrey have signed Durham leg spinning all rounder Cameron Steel,initially on loan

If Sussex lose to Kent then Surrey should overtake them on Net Run Rate (unless they score over 190 and lose by a run or 2)

Also Hants need to win by approx 51 runs or with 6 overs to spare.

.

So. With Hants easy win I think it means Somerset and Kent have to win for Surrey to get to the qtr's. Can see Somerset winning but not Kent

You’re like Andy Zaltzman but much more loveable :love:

Hampshire knock off 187 in 13 overs. Fix.

Sussex won by four wickets. Kent started well in the powerplay but were not able to build on it scoring 130-7. Sussex chased it down relatively easily. I'm not disappointed as it was always going to be tough tonight and we had already won the group. I have enjoyed watching different players in the last week and hopefully I can see some of them during the One Day Cup over the next month.

Somerset beat Gloucestershire to finish second. Tom Lammonby scored 90 from 36 balls.

The quarter-finals are:
Tue 24th Aug: Yorkshire v Sussex
Wed 25th Aug: Notts v Hampshire
Thu 26th Aug: Somerset v Lancashire
Fri 27th Aug: Kent v Warwickshire

Yorkshire will be playing at the Riverside because of the test match starting the next day at Headingley.

Friday night home tie - perfect!

Sussex very dangerous. Unless international games interfere, a bowling attack of Archer, Jordan, Mills, Rashid Khan, Robinson and Bopara is better than some international sides

Tuppenny ha'penny competition.

I don't know why teams bother with it :hmph: ;)

As I am going to the Finals Day again I would like:

Yorkshire/Nottinghamshire/Lancashire/Warwickshire - with a strong preference to Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire through family connections.

I knew you would be more interested in The Hundred. :)

Where are people parking at Guildford these days.? Not been there for years.

Rikki Clarke calling it a day at the end of the season.

What, he's not even 40!!