I
Icarebecauseyoudo
Guest
In a sense it's good our main strike bowlers have managed only 1 wicket between them. Still strength in depth in the bowlingGoing off the commentary and the scores so far it seems like a good pitch still. The outfield is like lightning and runs have flowed pretty much around 4 an over in Days 2 and 3.
It's pretty difficult to call without being there. It'll be interesting to see whether Colly targets a specific score or perhaps just a specific time. Whether or not he wants to dangle the carrot for Northants by tempting them to go for the runs.
From my vast experience of First Class captaincy (on International Cricket Captain ) I'd like to see us give ourselves a go before Lunch. A tricky little 12 overs or so with the new ball. If you can pick up 1/2 then you're in the game. That scenario would give you around 78 overs which you could turn into a few more overs if you bowl the spinners for long periods during the afternoon. Obviously if you're going for runs you slow it down and bowl only the minimum.
For that idea you'd probably want no less than 330 - but on this pitch, with runs so far flowing quite well that figure may be higher.
Normally you'd back yourselves 99 out of a hundred to defend 300 on Day 4, but it'll be in the back of Colly's mind that it's still a good pitch.
You'd rather be in our position but how the lads play it from here is anyone's guess. What we want is for it to start turning, but according to the comms there's no real sign of that yet. Middlebrook's wickets were more attributed to our lads forcing the issue rather than massive turn.
Perhaps tomorrow is the day for Scotty to send a message to the England selectors. Here's hoping.
On the subject of yorks, slight chance they could lose after scoring 450 1st upTry and get to 350 as soon as possible tomorrow, you've got to play the situation and not worry about things like the Yorkshire game last season, that was a freak result.