{"id":19874,"date":"2025-09-08T13:15:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T13:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=19874"},"modified":"2025-09-08T13:15:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T13:15:54","slug":"leicestershire-v-gloucestershire-somerset-v-yorkshire-and-more-county-cricket-live-county-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=19874","title":{"rendered":"Leicestershire v Gloucestershire, Somerset v Yorkshire and more: county cricket \u2013 live | County Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A delay at Hove <\/strong>where a handrail in the stand is being covered like the legs of a Victorian piano to stop any glare. A couple of wickets for Ollie Robinson have reduced Hampshire to 107-4.<\/strong> Ben Brown has been joined by Tom Prest.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s happening<\/strong> to the Champions-elect? They\u2019ve been Barnard-Bambered into mid-afternoon mediocrity, 148-4. Fifties for Pope and Burns but neither could go on. Dan Lawrence and Ryan Patel the men at the crease.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a009.00 EDT<\/p>\n

Chris Wright sends an in-nipping death-knell<\/strong> to Ben Charlesworth. Gone for a rather charming 74.Gloucestershire 145 for three as James Bracey comes out.<\/p>\n

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Good afternoon Tom Driscoll.<\/strong> \u201cLovely to be back with some CC cricket, particularly with it still being tight (albeit seemingly a two-horse race) at the top of Div1.<\/p>\n

\u201cHad some thoughts recently on the CC structure going forward and wondered whether something akin to some of the American sporting structures might work well. Six \u2018divisions\u2019 of three counties each – grouped locally, i.e. Notts, Derbyshire and Leics in one division; Durham, Yorkshire and Lance in another, say – with each team playing each other team in their \u2018division\u2019 home and away. You\u2019d then have six more games – three home, three away – against teams from the other divisions, so that every cycle of a few years you\u2019d ultimately play all 17 other counties home and away. Then each \u2018division\u2019 winner, plus the two best second-placed sides, go forward into the quarter-finals (being seeded based on where they finish in the top eight, with 1st playing 8th, 2nd v 7th etc. and home advantage to the top four teams) with semi-finals and a final. Perhaps could even split it to have two \u2018conferences\u2019 to add some additional spice.<\/p>\n

\u201cAppreciate that some may not like the \u2018Americanisation\u2019 of this idea and it\u2019s not to everyone\u2019s tastes but you retain local derbies – and could plan these games around specific weekends e.g. bank holidays – and you could even maintain some interest throughout the non-cricketing months by making something out of schedule release days and then getting people excited about planning their trips for the next year.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome might see this approach as more appropriate for the crash-bang-pop of The Blast (and I don\u2019t necessarily disagree with that either) but a max 13 games per year must be better than current situation?\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks Tom \u2013 very thorough! I love the novelty of it but, personally, I like the simplicity of the current system. It\u2019s a table, I understand it, and it lasts all year.<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s room in any XI for introverts a<\/strong>nd extroverts: Sol Budinger bouncing all over the place and full of vocal enthusiasm, Shan Masood fielding quietly on the rope. Gloucestershire 143 for two, Charlesworth advancing towards three figures.<\/p>\n

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Excellent vegetables<\/strong> from the Grace Road kitchen. Watch a couple of overs from a warm green bench as a man behind me does the Times crossword. To any NHS commissioners reading \u2013 can Drs prescribe late season sunlit county cricket? Specifically at Grace Road, with a couple of shaggy dogs and home-made cakes from the Meet thrown in.<\/p>\n

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Time for some lunch,<\/strong> back soon.<\/p>\n

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Lunchtime scores<\/h2>\n

DIVISION ONE<\/p>\n

Chelmsford<\/strong>: Essex v Durham 133-1<\/p>\n

Taunton<\/strong>: Somerset 114-2 v Yorkshire<\/p>\n

The Oval<\/strong>: Surrey 127-3 v Warwickshire<\/p>\n

Hove<\/strong>: Sussex v Hampshire 81-3<\/p>\n

New Road<\/strong>: Worcestershire 80-6 v Nottinghamshire<\/p>\n

DIVISION TWO<\/p>\n

Canterbury<\/strong>: Kent 122-1 v Lancashire<\/p>\n

Grace Road<\/strong>: Leicestershire v Gloucestershire 129-2<\/p>\n

Lord\u2019s<\/strong>: Middlesex v Derbyshire 105-1<\/p>\n

Northampton<\/strong>: Northants v Glamorgan 115-4<\/p>\n

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Off go the players<\/strong> at Grace Road, after a good morning for Gloucestershire and a rusty one for the Foxes, as they take lunch around the grounds. Scores to follow.<\/p>\n

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Squinting at the scorecard<\/strong> from Canterbury and wondering if it really says Kent are 117-1. Compton and Ben Dawkins both closing in on fifty. No Anderson for Lancs, who are<\/em> playing England fancied Mitch Stanley \u2013 who took the only wicket of the morning.<\/p>\n

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Hello to Mike Daniels,<\/strong> somewhere to my right in the Grace Road scorebox. \u201cWelcome back to the centre of the Div 2 universe, Tanya!\u201d Why, thank you.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeicestershire\u2019s, how shall we say, experienced seamers not making much headway against Gloucestershire\u2019s openers. Ben batting much like I remember his Dad, Graham.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the ridiculously small world that is cricket, Graham coached my daughter cricket at university and she was a huge fan.<\/p>\n

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Some pre-lunch fruity flavours at Grace Road as Hammond flays van Beek<\/strong> for six and Gloucestershire roll prettily along. MEanwhile at New Road, Worcsestershire are now six down after a calamitous run-out against the laser-sharp pick up and throw by HH.<\/p>\n

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It isn\u2019t clear who<\/strong> will fill the Jamie Overton shaped gap in the Ashes squad \u2013 Sonny Baker is full of potential but raw and could be eaten alive (see Headingley), the same for Hull. Ali points out that, in a reversal of the usual routine, Matthew Potts has pulled out of the international T20 series to play three Championship games for Durham. Sam Cook, incidentally, is injured and not playing for Essex.<\/p>\n

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Here at Grace Road<\/strong> a second wicket for big Josh Hull, who seems sure to get a place on the Lions tour to Australia. Josh Tongue, who seems sure to be travelling with the main party, has just had a tasty lbw turned down on a hat-trick ball at New Road. Worcestershire stare at their boots, 47 for five.<\/p>\n

Five wickets for Worcestershire seamers at New Road already this morning … unfortunately for Worcestershire, they play for Nottinghamshire these days… expect Joe Clarke and Jack Haynes to be in the runs when the visitors get their chance…<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) September 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a006.54 EDT<\/p>\n

With an hour gone,<\/strong> a stroll around the grounds, a bucket of conkers in one hand, a cup of coffee in the other.<\/p>\n

In Division One:<\/strong> a boundary-lashing Alex Lees has taken Durham to 69-1<\/strong> against Essex; George Hill has added Tom Lammonby to his tally (for one) \u2013 Somerset 59-2<\/strong> against Yorkshire; Burns and Pope purr along at The Oval, Surrey 58-1 v Warwicks;<\/strong> Sean Hunt and Jaydev Unadkat have a wicket apiece at Hove, Hampshire 50-2;<\/strong> while Worcestershire\u2019s<\/strong> September is going very much the way of the other months \u2013 37-3<\/strong> against Notts, two for Pennington, one for Tongue.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Essex captain Tom Westley.<\/span> Photograph: Gavin Ellis\/TGS Photo\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a006.46 EDT<\/p>\n

At The Oval,<\/strong> Warwickshire inserted Surrey and Ethan Bamber has pinched out Dom Sibley for six. Surrey are boosted by England\u2019s Ollie Pope and Gus Atkinson, as well as ex-England Ben Foakes, Rory Burns and Sibley, and near-England Dan Lawrence, and one Test Matt Fisher, and England-speculated Dan Worrall, plus Tom Lawes, Ryan Patel and Jordan Clark. Surrey 37-1.<\/p>\n

And a wicket for one-Test<\/strong> Josh Hull at Grace Road, a spicy yorker through the defences of Joe Phillips. Gloucs 53-1.<\/p>\n

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Leicestershire are without their<\/strong> pocket rocket Rehan Ahmed, kicking his heels with England, and here at Grace Road Gloucestershire have made a tasty start, Ben Charlesworth sending a half volley from Ian Holland dancing over the grass for four. Gloucs 39-0.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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At Taunton, Jonny Bairstow<\/strong> has followed up his admiration for the Taunton pitch with a catch to dismiss Archie Vaughan off George Hill. Somerset are 21-1 after being invited to bat. Somerset are not totally out of the Championship race yet \u2013 unlikely as it is with a 26-point gap to Surrey and 17 points between them and Notts.<\/p>\n

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The weather has been kind<\/strong> and we have games around the grounds. As well as Ben Green<\/strong> turning out for Somerset, we have Olly Stone<\/strong> on loan to Middlesex, and Mayank Agarwal <\/strong>spending his September in Yorkshire colours. There are undoubtedly more\u2026<\/p>\n

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Out stroll the umpires,<\/strong> onto the vast expanse of Grace Road. Leicestershire are without Ben Green, who has signed on the dotted line to become a Leicestershire player for the next two seasons but been recalled by Somerset for the final three weeks of the season. Ian Holland has been appointed captain for the rest of the season after Peter Handscomb returned home ahead of the Australian summer.<\/p>\n

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The County Structure (part 999)<\/h2>\n

Although the counties<\/strong> have agreed to cut the number of Blast fixtures, the future of the Championship remains up in the air. Following extensive discussion, the option that will be put forward to a vote by the county chairs is the 13-game County Championship version, <\/strong>with a 12-strong Division One divided into two conferences, and six-team Division Two.<\/p>\n

The Division One teams would play each team in their group twice, before splitting, with the top three teams in each group playing each other to decide the Champion. The bottom three would battle to avoid relegation, while the two top teams from Division Two will be promoted (after a 13-game season).<\/p>\n

A cut to the Championship would be sweetened by the addition of a couple of one-day cup games. If the proposal doesn\u2019t get the two-thirds majority needed, the counties will stick with the current 14-game season, and either decision will be set in stone till 2031.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a005.25 EDT<\/p>\n

Division Two table<\/h2>\n

1 Leicestershire 193<\/p>\n

2 Glamorgan 165<\/p>\n

3 Derbyshire 141<\/p>\n

4 Middlesex 138<\/p>\n

5 Gloucestershire 131<\/p>\n

6 Lancashire 127<\/p>\n

7 Northants 123<\/p>\n

8 Kent 97<\/p>\n

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Division One table<\/h2>\n

1 Surrey 175<\/p>\n

2 Nottinghamshire 166<\/p>\n

3 Somerset 149<\/p>\n

4 Warwickshire 148<\/p>\n

5 Hampshire 129<\/p>\n

6 Sussex 127<\/p>\n

7 Yorkshire 126<\/p>\n

7 Essex 126<\/p>\n

9 Durham 114<\/p>\n

10 Worcestershire 89<\/p>\n

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Fixtures<\/h2>\n

DIVISION ONE<\/p>\n

Chelmsford<\/strong>: Essex v Durham<\/p>\n

Taunton<\/strong>: Somerset v Yorkshire<\/p>\n

The Oval<\/strong>: Surrey v Warwickshire<\/p>\n

Hove<\/strong>: Sussex v Hampshire<\/p>\n

New Road<\/strong>: Worcestershire v Nottinghamshire<\/p>\n

DIVISION TWO<\/p>\n

Canterbury<\/strong>: Kent v Lancashire<\/p>\n

Grace Road<\/strong>: Leicestershire v Gloucestershire<\/p>\n

Lord\u2019s<\/strong>: Middlesex v Derbyshire<\/p>\n

Northampton<\/strong>: Northants v Glamorgan<\/p>\n

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Preamble<\/h2>\n

Welcome back!<\/strong> It\u2019s a heavenly September morning at Grace Road, neck-kissingly warm, a dappled blue sky, trees just starting the annual journey from lime green to mustard yellow.<\/p>\n

Leicester can clinch promotion this round if they can gather 20 points \u2013 a win against Gloucestershire and any four bonus points. What they are being promoted to remains uncertain \u2013 more on this later.<\/p>\n

Play starts round the grounds at 10.30 am, do grab a coffee and join us.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a005.08 EDT<\/p>\n