County Championship 2026

[andy]

Surrey strike immediately sussex 2-1!!

[Arthur Crabtree]

No Benco for Yorks. But Honest Joe is still around.

[Arthur Crabtree]

And he and Captain Blameless ar turning the innings around.

[sussexpob]

After the world's most boring game v Essex on a pancake, Surrey have seemingly gone a complete 180 degrees and served up a pitch which describing as "green" wouldn't come close to doing just how green this is justice. It literally feels like they have set stumps up on a random patch of the outfield, and you can't even distinguish the pitch from its surrounding on the boundary camera.

The ball has bounced and jagged around all over the shop. You can actually see the pitch they used last week is behind deep backward square by 2 pitches, so this one must be half way to the boundary on one sized.

[sussexpob]

Problem with wickets like this, they will jag around all over for a little bit, but as the longer grass covering starts to dry, die out or be condensed from impact into the pitch, that layer of plant matter on top of the clay will form a cushion for the ball that will take all the bounce and pace out of it.

Got a feeling Sussex will be bowling on a completely different wicket tomorrow, especially with unseasonably high temperatures this weekend.

Can't play properly on decks like this, so Fynn has the right idea. Just T20 charging and swiping every ball now.

[Arthur Crabtree]

And he and Captain Blameless are turning the innings around.

All out. Disaster. Where is Harry Brook? Get him in for the second innings.

[sussexpob]

Problem with wickets like this, they will jag around all over for a little bit, but as the longer grass covering starts to dry, die out or be condensed from impact into the pitch, that layer of plant matter on top of the clay will form a cushion for the ball that will take all the bounce and pace out of it

Just as I thought, this afternoon the wicket is dead.... and the 8/9/10 have all scored 50s.

Expect Surrey to be 700/4 at some stage on Sunday

[sussexpob]

Carson hits his hundred, Robbo makes it... then declares.

Robbo thinks there might still be something around to utilise for 10 overs tonight

[sussexpob]

Robbo bowls a hand grenade to Sibley twice in a row, the first is mms from the edge, the second loops off the inside edge but bounces 10 cms from short leg's hand... dammit. Sibley nearly runs himself trying to get off strike, then Fynn rips one through him too...then a close lbw shout.

The ball did everything, then did nothing, now everything.... what a weird pitch this is

[sussexpob]

I have no idea how Sibley is still there, could have been out 7 times in 9 balls

[Arthur Crabtree]

44 for Crawley is an improvement.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Expect Surrey to be 700/4 at some stage on Sunday

Looking a good bet.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I was expecting a day of punishment for Yorks, but they've fought back a bit. Still well behind though.

[sussexpob]

Simpson just dropped an absolute clanger ...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Expect Surrey to be 700/4 at some stage on Sunday

700 is definitely on the cards!