Gloucester Saint

Spoke a bit too soon. Sussex also look set to beat Leics, wiping out their minus points. Long way to go but Leics and Hants look strong favourites to drop.

Putting to one side Jihadi John’s alcoholism, that’s astonishing language for a US President to be using, especially on Easter Sunday. Wonder how all of the evangelical hypocrites justify it?

Easter Sunday can be a problem time for very lonely, alcohol dependent elderly men in Lowford I’ve heard.

Needs to be loaned to D2 if anyone will have him (market for low/slow scoring opening with limited defence technique is vanishingly small), or more likely Minor Counties for Dorset or Wiltshire combined with a non-cricket job. Prest by contrast does have talent and needs to convert this fifty into a hundred now he’s got himself in. Gubbins can stick around.

Abbott and Jack at least getting Hants to lunch. Some awful dismissals this morning again. Porter, Cook and Snater are very handy bowlers at this level but peak Anderson, Broad and Harmison they are not. Really shouldn’t be 140 ao in blameless conditions. Backbone lacking again amongst the batsman. I know they’re facing higher end D1 bowlers and our squad is really D2 but at least make an effort. Look at Saints last night. Domingo reckons he’s a disciplinarian, let’s see.

Shearer was shouting himself hoarse at the final whistle on BBC as well. Clearly still has a soft spot for the club.

He did but should have scored, THB just said the same.

If we win this, any way you like.

Tonda is very particular about his dry cleaning though.

Had it whilst playing for us.

I’d certainly recommend contraception at least.

Wouldn’t be much better with a hard on tbf

#SholingGooners

That appeal was a load of Ben White.

Young, old, any age, No Manning Land getting skinned is a given.

The ‘Spirit of 76’ banner

Imagine if Dowman opens the scoring? Crispy stains in the studio and commentary box.

I’m sure he does, pal.

He’s been Caspar the Ghost for a few weeks.

Happy to pick up his pension top up for two years though.

Nathan isn’t an advocate of the song ‘Close to You’ when it comes to centre forwards and marking.

Realistically Kevin James is right, we’re a poor red ball side and staying up under our own steam would represent progress. There’s a bit of Saints 08/09 there. Key will be the Leicestershire and Sussex games plus anyone else drawn in at the bottom. Win/do not lose those and it doesn’t matter about the other games where we get a few hidings by an innings off Surrey/Essex/Notts/Warwicks and at least a couple will be rain draws.

Prest at #3 is mystifying as well. He can score a few when the mood takes him in white ball - although was poor even in One Day Cup last year - but very little defensive technique and better off trying to develop his bowling and have him coming in at 7 or 8 to smack a few runs with the tail. Horrible dismissal today. Or maybe use him for white ball only. Lehmann looks like he is motivated at least which is a rarity in this squad. Relying on him to go on tomorrow, Brown and Dawson. Because there isn’t much else really in terms of Division One calibre batting.

Bad light, Essex declared at 461/7. Possible play will re-start but less likely. Assuming it doesn’t, new ball didn’t do anything today unlike yesterday and Harmer, who is a decent lower order bat but not an all rounder, getting 71 no removes any excuses for the Hants top order. Getting past the follow on figure is the first key task.

Eddie Jack is a good prospect, Baker bowled well earlier in the day. Weatherley’s drop of Tom Westley might hurt us if he hasn’t broken a finger and returns tomorrow. Key learning for our batters is to keep it tight first 20-30 overs when it’s doing plenty and then the conditions get better and you can cash in like the Essex middle order has.