Eyes on Taunton

posted by John Winn

Listeners to Five Live Sports Extra can today follow events at Taunton where Middlesex, needing to score 250 to ensure safety , have already lost two wickets this morning.This on a pitch where of the thirteen wickets that fell yesterday, twelve were to spin and the other a run out. Wayne Noon, cricket liaison officer for this match, remember when we had pitch inspectors, made no comment last night but is expected to make some announcement at stumps today.

In the meantime I recommend you to go to cricinfo and read an excellent report on yesterday's play by George Dobell.

Those of our readers who know their Onions will be aware that he has failed to agree terms with Durham and consequently the current match at New Road will be his last for the  county that he has served since 2004 and for which just last week became its leading first class wicket taker. It is again tempting to blame the ECB's harsh punishment handed out to Durham a year ago for this departure but given that Onions is 35 and has a history of severe back problems one wonders if he would have been given the two year contract he desires even had the coffers been full.The rumour last week was that he was going to Kent, this morning's Guardian says it is Lancs. In the meantime, that phrase again, Lancs have announced the signing of Keaton Jennings on a four year contract, on recent form that must be for his bowling. This is the same Jennings who all along had been going to Notts providing they were promoted which as yet they are not. Keats' exit can be laid at Harrison's door for the contract Jennings signed a year ago had a get out clause allowing him to leave if Durham failed to win promotion this year, which given they started minus 48 was very very unlikely. And so it has proved and only Leicester have saved them from the wooden spoon which the Prince Bishops last held in 2004 when they wrenched it from Derbyshire's grasp.

Finally I note with mixed feelings that Onions has struck at New Road to remove Clarke, ct Collingwood bowled Onions, perhaps the last time that mode of dismissal will appear in Durham's records.