Really pleased for Somerset. I used to support Middlesex but with.their reluctance to find good Afro Carribean and Asían players, which they should be able to do given this is a London team, their inability to find a spinner, and the fix with Yorkshire in 2016, I hope they lose every match and finish bottom.
I think Worcestershire should be given some crédit for a good draw against the much fancied Essex. Keeping fingers crossed that mighty Surrey are humbled by Gloucestershire.
An excellent - and surprisingly easy - run chase for Gloucs. Whilst I don't expect Gloucs to finish in the top two, I do expect them to beat more than just Leics. So seeing them win isn't a huge surprise to me. Surrey meanwhile should be stronger once they get Clarke back.
Didn't Gloucestershire win promotion in 2019. Underestimated team and could be the surprise package. Would love Surrey and Middlesex to occupy 5th and 6th when this stage of the competition is done and dusted.
BBC cricket web page still only showing Group 1 of the County Championship table, even after a full round of results
Who is second? Unfancied Gloucestershire. Well done to all three winners in the group. These days, I like the unfancied teams to do well, so if Gloucestershire do progress good luck to them. Likewise with Hampshire, Leicestershire and Somerset. My support for a particular team has lessened as I have grown more mature. In the 70s I would spend my summer holidays.watching either Hampshire or Middlesex. Greenidge was my hero and I loved it when he took an attack apart, and Andy Roberts tearing the heart out of the opposition with his fearsome fast bowling.
Growing up in Hampshire as I did, in the days of Barry Richards, Roy Marshall and co., that’s who I supported. My allegiance changed, however, when I started working in Bath in the late 70s, and especially in the 80s, when Somerset had those amazing West Indians Viv and Joel, and the incredible Ian Botham.
Richards had amazingly quick hands and each time he went out to bat, he threatened to pulverise the opposition attack, which he often did. Garner, an underestimated bowler, bowled with real menace. As for Botham, his amazing athleticism in the slips, and when captaining Somerset played with adventure. The county also had a more than useful supporting cast, Vic Marks, Peter Roebuck(very sad about his demise) and Popplewell.