Key events
Make that three, on at Lord’s as well, where Middlesex haven’t yet lost a wicket.
No play anywhere in fact, except in the big two Division One games, at The Oval and Chelmsford.
It’s now raining at New Road, the leaves on the old horse chestnut yellowing by the hospitality tent.
Delays, delays…. at New Road, Old Trafford, the County Ground and Grace Road.
The lanterns were lit crossing the bridge to New Road, which wasn’t a great sign. Sure enough the covers are on and the wind screams over the ground.
Weather watch
Autumnal:
Cloud and rain quickly spreading in from the west through the morning, though after a spell of rain, drier with some bright spells for southern parts of the UK. Windy with a risk of coastal gales. Met Office.
Background to Sussex’s promotion-ending penalty points:
Division Two table
1 Durham (12) 198
2 Worcestershire (12) 154
3 Leicestershire (12) 133
4 Glamorgan (13) 131
5 Sussex (12) 124
6 Derbyshire (12) 96
7 Gloucestershire (13) 95
8 Yorkshire (12) 81
Division One Table (all sides have played 12 games)
1 Surrey 205
2 Essex 187
3 Hampshire 153
4 Warwickshire 149
5 Lancashire 146
6 Somerset 128
7 Nottinghamshire 122
8 Middlesex 95
9 Kent 93
10 Northants 63
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex v Hampshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Warwickshire
Taunton: Somerset v Kent
The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Sussex
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Yorkshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Durham
Preamble
Good morning! The bells have been peeling damply over New Road this morning, the roof tops wet, the hills pulling on their cobweb cardigans through the mist. Welcome to mid-September and the penultimate round of this year’s County Championship, with every team on the field except Glamorgan and Gloucestershire.
I’m at New Road today, to watch what seems likely to be the two clubs promoted to Division One next season. Second-placed Worcestershire’s hopes look sunnier thanks to Sussex being landed with an automatic 12-point deduction after picking up four fixed-penalties in the season. Jack Carlson (level two penalty breach) and Tom Haines (level one penalty breach) have both been dropped by Sussex for today’s match against Derbyshire, while Cheteshwar Pujara receives an automatic one-match suspension as the captain on the field. Ari Karvelas has also been withdrawn, pending an investigation. A sad end to what has been an encouraging season at Hove, and which leaves them down in fifth place, 30 points behind Worcestershire.
Durham need just five points at New Road to secure the Division Two title, while Leicestershire, new magnificent one-day cup Champions, can keep the pressure on Worcestershire if they can turn over Yorkshire at Grace Road.
In Division One, Surrey can win the title this round if they turn over cellar dwellers Northamptonshire and Essex lose against Hampshire; while Northants fate will be sealed if either Middlesex or Kent – divided by just two points in eighth and ninth – win. Relegation, promotion, a chance for the title -what more could you ask for? Play starts at 10.30am. Don’t forget your anorak.
