Despite the NatWest T20 Blast clicking into action on Friday night the latest round of Specsavers County Championship fixtures begin on Sunday when four more matches in both divisions begin with some pretty tasty matches among them as ever.
Division One
Hampshire host Nottinghamshire, Middlesex welcome Somerset to Lord’s, Warwickshire take on Durham at Edgbaston and Lancashire face Surrey at Old Trafford in the division this week.
The Hampshire vs Nottinghamshire game could turn into something of a farce it has to be said. Jake Ball is being released by England to play in the first two days of that match but then he will leave for England duty again. With Nottinghamshire being the visitors they have the choice of bowling first so you would think they will take up that option while Ball is around and then replace him with a batsmen which isn’t cricket, well it is but you see what I mean!, but that is the weird world we’re in.
Hampshire are without James Vince who hasn’t been afforded the same luxury as Ball and with the likes of Fidel Edwards and Chris Wood on the sidelines the home side are down to the bare bones. I’m not an 8/13 player but if I was I might well be tempted on Nottinghamshire there.
The prices look about right in the matches at Lord’s and Edgbaston so I will leave them alone from the outset but I do like a bet in the other game at Old Trafford.
Surrey will be missing their leading wicket taker in Ravi Rampaul as he has picked up an injury and that severely weakens an attack which has looked pretty weak this season anyway. Stuart Meaker comes into the squad but he hasn’t been without his own problems in recent times (if you’ve not seen what I mean use a search engine but the outcome is pretty graphic!) so he might not hit the ground running.
Lancashire are without Jimmy Anderson now but in Kyle Jarvis and Neil Wagner they still have a decent new ball pairing and there enough seamers up there to support him and if they can keep Kumar Sangakkara in check, easier said than done admittedly, then there could be plenty of joy for the Red Rose.
I think in terms of strength Lancashire have that over Surrey with the bat and the ball particularly with Zafar Ansari also missing for Lancashire so with all that in mind I’m happy to get on the hosts here.
Division Two
The matches in this division sees Derbyshire taking on Kent, Gloucestershire face Northamptonshire, Leicestershire play Worcestershire and Glamorgan host Essex. Sussex are the side who don’t play.
Initially I was looking at taking Derbyshire on. They played a T20 match in Manchester on Saturday which finished later than scheduled due to a delayed start and that isn’t ideal but I see Kent are without Darren Stevens which is even more of an annoyance and with Chesney Hughes in decent touch there is just enough for me to leave that alone.
I’m tempted by Gloucestershire I have to say especially now that Michael Klinger is around but can their attack take 20 wickets? I’d need to see that they can before I can back them. Essex are massive favourites at Glamorgan which looks about right to me so I’ll leave them alone as well.
Leicestershire are another side I fancy this week but you have to respect the excellent form of Brett D’Oliviera and Joe Clarke while Tom Kohler-Cadmore showed how well he is hitting it on Friday night too. Worcestershire had a boost over the weekend with the excellent news that Tom Fell has overcome cancer so spirit is good there.
I still think Leicestershire have what it takes to win that one but the batting form of those Worcestershire youngsters is just enough to put me off taking them. Hopefully I don’t regret it!
Tips
WON – Back Lancashire to beat Surrey for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
Back them here:
