Amla, Roach, Pope, Burns. Surrey's international stars came to the party, ours didn't. Clarke, Clark, Smith. The size and depth of Surrey's Man City-esque squad shone through, our limited squad after putting in everything to try and beat Gloucs was shown up. All of our wickets were LBW or caught by keeper/1st slip/2nd slip. Which is always a good indication that the bowling was too good. On paper, Surrey are excellent - a tough choice between them and Essex for best looking team on paper - they just don't produce the goods on a regular enough basis.
Murtagh is such a good county bowler. We got incredibly lucky that Middlesex's bowling options are so deep that they rested him against us.
Still got quite a bit of batting to come, including Lewis Goldsworthy who is the extra batsman brought in for this game. No idea if the Covid substitute Jack Brooks can bat though. Still, halfway there with 6 wickets left, got to be in with a chance. A lot rests on whether the track at Bristol gives the Leicestershire bowlers any joy tomorrow!
It is certainly turning out to be a fascinating group. And if Leicester secure a victory it will put to rest the idea they are the whipping boys of the group.
Good start for Leics, but being a bowler down to injury could cost them. Plus, of course, Gloucs have the option of choosing to shut up shop at any point.
I think it's fair to say Hampshire v Somerset is the game of the next round of fixtures. Huge game, with only a point between the sides.
This was the team.my father supported being raised in P'Boro, a city which may have been in Northamptonshire at some stage in its history. The great Ollie Milburn opened for them in the 1960s. Not sure he would have got anywhere near a county team now as he made Phil Tufnell look like a supreme athlete.
I did say a few weeks ago, Gloucs will be the surprise package. The ex-Middlesex players, Tom Lace and Higgins are thriving with.them.
Massive game, and it would be nice to think that our top order will finally start contributing, after the bowlers have won yet another game for them. Our debutant batsman Lewis Goldsworthy looks good though! Oh, and please could Middlesex beat Gloucestershire without too many bonus points for either side?
It is a really good group with not a lot between all of them. Somerset and Surrey are on paper the two strongest teams, but in any given match all the others are capable of winning as we have seen with Gloucester turning both your team, Chilco, and Surrey over. There will be a few twists and turns to come.