Cricket Watcher

No chance for Liam Dawson then. Oh hang on...

I completely understand why the coverage has centred on Amy Jones this week. But be in no doubt: Tammy Beaumont is an extraordinary cricketer. What would the men give for an opener averaging 41 with 11 hundreds?

Oh totes agree but that ship has sailed over the horizon!

I think there are a couple of separate things going on here. A four-day County schedule with integrity - and there being enough stuff for members to watch. More women's cricket, a revived second eleven comp, three-day games v Combined National Counties/Universities/SACA/Lions. You get my drift.

Wasn't keen on paying extra for cricketers to play red-ball cricket in August. Isn't that what they're, well, sort of contracted to do? But it was that or only play 12 games so you forced my hand....

@thecricketer.com This drew a blank. Anybody in the award winning domestic coverage team help me out?

@somuchcricket.bsky.social any idea how CC D1 fixtures are worked out in a 10 team 14 game division? I assume each team gets 7 home 7 away but is there a formula for who plays whom twice? Seeding on past position or such like? It never seems to get explained at season start.

Rhianna Southby is the best keeper in the country by streets. Will be the next Sarah Taylor. Overlooking her to prop up a failing batting order is a Men's Game style mistake.

BBC 5Sportsextra Monday cricket coverage thrown into confusion as Surrey game ends early. 'Any motor racing practice we can go to?'

Oustanding stuff! Thanks so much for the reference.

Also: Two James, Two Jacks, Two Seans: one on each side in each case.

@somuchcricket.bsky.social Current Sussex v Somerset game: Six guys called Tom. Surely a record.

Good luck getting a drive past mid on.

@georgedobell.bsky.social I've just heard dark talk on the BBC County coverage of a three conferences of six reorgnaisation of the Championship. Are you in a position to confirm or deny? Seems plausible (as in believable rather than desirable) proposal but surely not in time for 2026...

Now you're talking. I was okay with the Singapore bit but why does everything have to fixate on London?

Another era. 'Referee gets knocked out by a fan, but he soon recovers'. These days there would be a three-year judge-led public inquiry. Live On the News Channel.

It's happened to Smeed and Lintott already, both of whom are recenly re-enthused by red ball cricket. Funny that.

I wasn't having a go, but thanks for the heads-up. It does seem quite a stark gender contrast though, given we'll soon probably get the Men's IPL shoved at us every day on 5Sports extra, even taking us away from county cricket when it suits.

@crickether.com Decent finish to a tight WPL final. Shame the BBC didn't even want to live text it. Watching a scorecard update for three hours isn't an optimal experience!

Eight franchises playing each other twice presumably. Going to be a tough decision on where to play Wessex home games. But no doubt it'll go to Mumbai Oval in Southampton.

Thank you! Longer than I expected. Withdrawing my piece arguing that statistically 50-over cricket *is* closer to Test Match Cricket than T20... 😀

@zaltzcricket.bsky.social In the context of recent chat about 50 over cricket being more akin to Tests than T20, I was idly wondering how long teams bat for on average in first innings in Tests. Say, in the last ten years? Say, just England?

@norcrosscricket.bsky.social Decent cameo from Duckett here, to be fair.

Nice to see you back in circulation. Some changes I may have to accept but Cricket without George is not one I'm ready for.

Scoop Dogey Doge.

Saw some aerial pictures of Swyncombe Avenue. Straight boundaries look about 45 metres tops.

Notable I thought that Huw Turbervill's recent Cricketer piece referred to '11 counties on the periphery', not 10.

And yet the post right above yours in my feed was @crickether.com saying 'here we go, blowing the windfall already...' There's a lot of Middlesex/Lords conflation happening at the moment. Middlesex's finances and ground infrastructure are dire.

That was Department S, I think.

So changes to the schedule in time for 2026! Rapid. I'd been assuming the can got kicked down the road to 2028.