V Gloucestershire 26th-29th April

[MIDDLE EXILE]

One change to the squad, Kaushal replaces Cullen.

[Jim Panzee]

Put into bat
1 change Brookes in for Roland-Jones
Du Plooy as captain

[adelaide]

I did wonder whether part of the carrot for Du Plooy was the captaincy post-Toby.

Odd day. At 55-0 the idea that we would get no batting points seemed laughable, with the openers in full control. Then Max goes for something extravagant before he is in and the ball starts doing something. Funniest thing was Kevin Hand betting that de Lange's career average against Middlesex must be better than his overall career average, only be told that before today his average against us was 55. We did get the old Tom Helm was the next cab off the rank thing. Perhaps we should play Handy Bingo!

[John Fitzgerald]

It's a hybrid wicket according to Middlesex report. Are those allowed in first class cricket? They should not be IMHO. Fine for white ball

I actually liked the stream as it was BBC commentary so Hand was on.

Really dislike the Middlesex (and other) stream which have adverts so cannot use BBC hence no visiting commentator and awfully parochial and one sided.

[John Fitzgerald]

To answer my own question. My ECB mole tells me there were no fit wickets so both sides agreed to play on a hybrid rather than sit out 4 days,

[John Assirati]

Useful centuries by Holden and Higgins - chance of a Middlesex win but weather forecast not good for late afternoon. All results possible.

[adelaide]

If nobody had told us it was a hybrid pitch, we would have been none the wiser and it seems to be flattening out like a normal Bristol wicket. Which is why I wouldn't go for a generous declaration (assuming we don't contrive to collapse). The weather will probably win. Take the draw points and move on.

Two centuri3es completed within three balls is quite something but I dare say has happened before. Anyone seen two in two? (Not intended as a quiz question!)