We’ll see. I agree though, our batsmen need a kick up the arse, especially Tom Lammonby. His total for the season so far is the 5 he scored in the first innings at Lords last weekend, with 3 successive ducks since. He’ll come into form eventually, he is a class act, but it needs to be soon.
In what will actually be a short session, this could be a long session for Middlesex. Abbas in theory could bowl right through. And maybe turn that one into another six.
I was torn between following Hampshire v Middlesex, or following the build up (on not606) to the Saints v Leicester match. However, it seems that the Hampshire team also want to get their feet up in front of the telly long before kick off. Middlesex are 8 down, so I am confidently predicting a Hampshire victory. Mystic Meg, or what?
The fact that we've signed Steel on a two month loan as injury cover gives an indication as to how much longer Donald will be out. If it was just another week or two, I doubt we'd have bothered. If it was the full season, Steel's loan would probably be longer. Hopefully Abbas can get this last wicket.
Holland will most likely get MOTM with his runs and wickets in the 2nd innings but Abbas won it for us with his devastating spell of bowling on Friday.
Abbas gets my vote, a 10fer (if he gets it) is probably equivalent to two centuries. and as you say they were mostly top order batsmen.
It's only after one performance, but I'm already dreaming of Abbas becoming a long term signing for us. He doesn't really play t20 cricket, so it's not like he'll be preferring the IPL or CPL (and being from Pakistan, the IPL isn't an option anyway). And with most of the international calendar empty during the IPL season - except for England home matches - it'll rarely be that he's required by Pakistan during April and May. Hence, Abbas is in an incredibly unique position of being an international cricketer with great availability to play county cricket each year.
These two hanging around is risking Gloucs very temporarily knocking us off the top of the table. Race to win first.
I can create a not606 league if anyone is interested, needs a minimum of four, beginning with the next round of matches, can play head to head each week. https://cricketxi.com/county-championship-2021/league/create/