An usual event will occur tomorrow when all 18 counties will be in championship action with a reasonable spread of matches across the country. This rarity will be repeated twice more before the season ends on September 26th.Following yesterday's events at Old Trafford some of the fizz has gone out of the final test beginning at The Oval on Wednesday and once that finishes on Sunday only the T20 finals day on Saturday week is left to distract our attention from cricket's oldest competition. Plenty remains to be resolved and if we can have the sort of weather we enjoyed yesterday and not the rain that is falling as I type, then there should be some good cricket to watch.
In the first division match of the week is at Taunton where Yorkshire are the visitors and while I am usually reticent to use the phrase 'must win match' this is one occasion when it is justified for the white rose county. 35 points behind Somerset and a further two behind top side Essex are big gaps to close and should Essex win at Edgbaston and Yorkshire not do so at Taunton then even the most optimistic would have to concede the title will not come to LS6 this year. Yorkshire's squad still appears to be under wraps but is sure to include Maharaj in what will be his last game of the season and he was certainly given plenty of bowling in Yorkshire's practice game at Weetwood last week. He will be replaced for the last two matches by Mumbai born but New Zealand test player Ajaz Patel. Spinner Ajaz is leading wicket taker in the Surrey Championship, albeit his club Cranleigh play in the second tier
Somerset too have strengthened their side for the run in being joined by India top order batsman Murali Vijay.
Down at the bottom it looks pretty dire for Notts, 42 points behind seventh placed Warwickshire and without a win in 18 championship matches, a run stretching back to last June. A glance at the Trent Bridge website suggests they are well and truly focused on the T20 finals. If they do have hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon and the single relegation spot then the 'must win match' phrase needs to be used again. Otherwise the doors of the last chance saloon which have been swinging in the wind all summer will be well and truly shut. Neither Essex's twitter account or website give any indication that they are expected in Birmingham for a 10:30 start tomorrow but presumably a coach containing players and backroom staff will be making its way up from Chelmsford to Edgabston today.
With three promotion places on offer in the second division there is plenty to play for over the next three weeks and even 8th placed Derbyshire might be considered to have a chance. Lancashire, who threw away their Blast quarter final against Essex last week, are twenty nine points clear and the visit of the Peakites to Old Trafford should guarantee enough points to justify opening the champagne. Behind them Gloucestershire have a 14 point advantage over Northants but can expect a tough fight when Sussex come to Nevil Road. Should Glos go up then that would give them at least one game against Somerset next season which will be a must see for me, number 152 out of 153 in my quest to see every county play every other county.
Northants will fancy their chances at Grace Road, and Durham who having lost their first four matches have gone unbeaten in seven will be looking forward to their trip to Lord's to face a Middlesex side that have disappointed their followers this season. The last time these two met at HQ in 2016 Middlesex were en route to the championship and give Durham a fearful pasting. From the Durham XI that played in that match only two, Burnham and Rushworth are likely to play tomorrow. The remaining match in this division is at New Road where third placed Glamorgan are the visitors. Remember it is 10:30 start in all the games. Try and get to a game for who knows what the championship will look like next season.
MCC member anticipates a big crowd at Lord's tomorrow.
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